[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
#4857: On public-private provision of goods: Poincy replies to Gina Ulysse (fwd)
From: caineve@idt.net
The Privates’ involvement in changing Ayiti while the State is there to
assist/monitor/regulate activities has nothing to do with philanthropy,
redistribution, redistribution, total privatization, welfare system as
understood in the US. In fact it is neither. It is mainly activities regarding
the provision of public goods for which a co-operative type of membership will
take place. In other words to enjoy the benefits of the needed public goods,
those in need would enter in some arrangements that would allow them to become
a member provided that certain conditions are fulfilled.
Such a formation would not be exclusive, but limited in terms of the number of
participants. That would make both exclusive and inclusive. This is not a
contradiction: the fact that it would be limited to the number of participants
makes it impossible for some to participate. However, anyone would have the
right to join if the conditions are fulfilled and no additional member will
cause congestion and affect the quality of the public good to be provided. This
type could be replicated in small groups to cover a greater range of
population. Determining the conditions of participation and the maximum number
of participants are to be determined by the participants and the importance
placed on the desired quality of the goods to be provided. Keep in mind that
all participants would bear the cost to provide such goods.
Conceptually, it is neither of what GU is referring to in her inquiry. This
form of private-public association has great potential to alleviate the pain of
the population considering that Ayitian administrations are indifferent at all
times. For instance, let’s take the provision of electricity. Ayitians keep
pounding on the government without making any effort on their parts to improve
their lot. Those who are tired of waiting on the government to do things go and
buy inverters if they can afford it otherwise they are resigned to suffer.
Let’s say that in one block neighborhood of forty families, the neighbors
decide to enter in an association that would provide electricity only for that
area in light of the conditions outlined above. They would bear the cost of
buying a generator, providing fuel and maintaining it. In being a member of
this association all forty families would receive electricity as planned.
Adding in the association a family in the next block with very close proximity
to enjoy the benefits would not be without causing congestion and consequently
altering the quality of the provision. For that family to be added, the
capacity to provide electricity with the same quality would have to be
increased. In that case the entire block could join. What of those who can’t
bear the cost? Since the system would be set-up for that one block, those who
could not afford sharing the cost would simply don’t enjoy the benefits.
This is not a government neither a private project. It is that of a group of
willing individuals that want to take in hands their own well-being rather than
waiting for some international aids or the government to do what they can do
for themselves. One can think of any other type of activities that can take
this shape. Electricity is not the only one. The only role of government here
is to back up such initiatives and provide security to prevent potential
destruction. With the many inverters in one neighborhood, if those were
thinking in that line, believe me things would be better and less expensive to
maintain and everyone would have electricity. Aytians just don’t think that
far.
Ayiti has lived, lives and will live
Mozeb
---------------------------------------------
This message was sent through IDT.
http://www.idt.net/