Politicians are the same the world over.

quote:
We are being told that it was a "one off" and that it would never happen again, but I want absolute assurance quite frankly."

Livingstone said it is possible the problem could be blamed on "that great wave of privatization that went round the world."

"All the utilities were flogged off, big share options for the boys at the top, but not the investment in modern infrastructure that you need. ... The lack of investment, I think, is bordering on the criminal."

Sorry dude, no one can assure you that a grid (or anything for that matter) will never fail. One hour offline in how many years? 100% reliability is about as attainable as a perpetual motion machine. Stop whining.

Also, nice generalizing there...must have been privatisation? Right. Because state run facilities NEVER EVER fail. They run 100% of the time in total perfection. Right.

Also, lack of investment is bordering on criminal? Right, and who do you suggest should do the investing? The grid WAS a state owned system before privatisation (which is only a RECENT trend) ...how much of the tax revenue was spent on modernizing it? Now that it's been sold off you want the market to invest in something that has seemingly no return?

Whatever.

(Apply same arguments to inane political threats and chatter re: the black out here.)