Hawaiian Electric’s stock tumbled to a 13-year low Monday morning, plummeting nearly 40% after a class action lawsuit filed over the weekend alleged that Maui’s devastating wildfires were caused by the utility’s energized power lines that were knocked down by strong winds.
We have been shown over and over that investors will take profits during good times, build no resilience to handle disasters, invest the bare minimum back into infrastructure and jobs, drain the companies until bankruptcy arrives and taxpayers are left with the bill.
This could work with proper regulation. But regulation can be corrupted. Money corrupts. This industry involves lots of money. And so here we are.
When Jeremy Corbyn proposed to buy back utility companies here shortly before the energy crisis, people looked at him like a lunatic.
We have been shown over and over that investors will take profits during good times, build no resilience to handle disasters, invest the bare minimum back into infrastructure and jobs, drain the companies until bankruptcy arrives and taxpayers are left with the bill.
This could work with proper regulation. But regulation can be corrupted. Money corrupts. This industry involves lots of money. And so here we are.
When Jeremy Corbyn proposed to buy back utility companies here shortly before the energy crisis, people looked at him like a lunatic.
Really sounds like a capitalistic society.
Because communist societies did better?
Maybe it’s time to admit that the biggest flaw in our systems is human nature.