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  Anyone who think nationalisation of these industries would work lives in a dream world. It would be utter madness. Prices would probably go up further due to inherant inefficiencies. The main driving force for price increase are world energy prices and a nationalised utility is not somehow immune from them. As far as the water and sewerage companies are concerned they are having to make huge investment for environmental reasons and this must be funded by investors, profits and borrowing.
  
  If you had you way where would the money come from, how much would have to be borrowed to buy the shares? Just think how that boost to the money supply would stoke more inflation. Perhaps you would want the Government to confiscate the shares... in other words steal them from your (yes, your..) pension schemes and ISAs.
  
  The dividends paid on these shares are benefitting many people who have 'income drawdown' pension or who are taking income from equity ISAs. These are far from being all rich people, many are living on a smallish income that is just above the benefit levels, remember I have direct knowledge of many such people. These are elderly people who depend on this income. These utilities are not an exciting share for investors. Those who invest in them do so for a steady reliable income stream from the dividends. being shares they also carry the potential for capital growth and an increasing income stream to offset inflation. These shares are simply a mainstay of the income stream for millions of low income pensioners.
  
  The result of doing what you want will be more inflation, higher energy prices and lower incomes for many, throwing thousands more onto subsistence living on State benefits.
  
  The US example is not a good one to be citing. Sadly this was a necessary move that has some potentially serious consequences for the American taxpayers but with an even worse alternative. There have certainly been some serious failings in the American credit system that has given rise to this that will need to be addressed to prevent similar problems in future.

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