Is charging people for utilities unjust?

A few minutes ago a man with the city water service came and shut off our running water. Do you guys think it is unjust to charge people to use (a reasonable amount of) a basic necessity? Do you agree with my belief that it is wrong for someone to work 40 hours a week and still not be able to afford basic necessities?

I don't see how utilites could be supplied without someone paying for them. So not I don't it is unjust to charge for utilities. Now not having the ability to afford basic necessities on a 40hr/week paycheck is another issue.

Todd said:

I don't see how utilites could be supplied without someone paying for them. So not I don't it is unjust to charge for utilities. Now not having the ability to afford basic necessities on a 40hr/week paycheck is another issue.

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40% of Americans can't pay an emergency bill of $400

What I mean is paying for them in the form of a bill. I know they will have to be paid for, and I think the best way of doing that is through making utilities fully publicly owned and controlled and paying for them in the form of taxes. The price of water and possibly electricity is inflated beyond the cost of production to make a profit. If utility companies charged only the cost of production and we guaranteed that all citizens have a right to a reasonable amount of water and electricity, we would collectively save a lot of money (obviously rich people would rightfully pay more in than they get out) and ease a lot of what Marianne Williamson calls the "chronic economic anxiety" of many of our citizens and create greater economic stability and more spending money in the hands of most people.

Corporations intentionally want most people to be in a state of economic precarity, because greater participation in democracy on the part of poor and Middle class people will result in them losing a great deal of power. 76% of Americans believe that "big corporations have too much power over their families and communities". Economic precarity has everything to do with democratic participation, because if you're worrying about whether you'll pay the rent, the car payment, the medical bill, the gas, the lights, the water, etc. you don't have the time or energy to make an investment in a political system that works to your demise, but could work to your benefit.

This ties in with the greater current of what I believe to be the unjustifiable nature of a mostly capitalist society (I know some people here disagree with me). Why do a few people get to charge exorbitant amounts for things people need to survive? Why do I have to pay more than the cost of production so a few people can make a profit of far more than what is neccessary to have a dignified and enjoyable life?

Imagine the sigh of relief the people would have if the government mandated that clean water and electricity are a right.

Poll: https://theintercept.com/2018/11/28/monopoly-power-corporate-concentration

What's the difference between paying for them in the form of a bill versus taxes? If you think taxing people would make it more affordable you are sadly mistaken. Besides, how would you fairly tax people for the water or electricity they use? For example I think it would be unfair to my neighbors when I fill my 20,000 gallon pool with water paid for by tax dollars. On the other hand I would be pretty annoyed by my neighbors unnecesasarily leaving all their lights on all night, if I was paying for their electricity through taxes.

BTW, where do you live that a water or electric bill is $400?

Todd said:

What's the difference between paying for them in the form of a bill versus taxes? If you think taxing people would make it more affordable you are sadly mistaken. Besides, how would you fairly tax people for the water or electricity they use? For example I think it would be unfair to my neighbors when I fill my 20,000 gallon pool with water paid for by tax dollars. On the other hand I would be pretty annoyed by my neighbors unnecesasarily leaving all their lights on all night, if I was paying for their electricity through taxes.

BTW, where do you live that a water or electric bill is $400?

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1) The difference is that poor and Middle class people would pay less. Billionaires and millionaires would pay more. A billionaire doesn't need a billion dollars, and their billions of of dollars are created by labor of other people. However, us poor people need all the money we can get.

2)I said a reasonable amount of water and electricity. That could be 125% of the average in your county and you charge past that amount, I'm not sure about the specifics. There's people who go to college for water management and shit, so I could ask them what a reasonable amount is. Obviously filling a 20000 gal. pool is not reasonable.

Todd said:

BTW, where do you live that a water or electric bill is $400?

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I was referring to a survey done by the Federal Reserve that found that 40% of Americans have less than $400 if disposable money in their bank account.

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/40-americans-don-t-400-bank-emergency-expenses-172500547--abc-news-topstories.html

Water used to be free. So clearly we did it at one point in time somehow... cold water was free but you paid for hot, I remember it from when I was a kid. Atleast in my area of the country.

I don’t know if it should be free but it should be non profit

Z. T. Jacob said:

utilities fully publicly owned

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Fortunately, I live outside city limits. But, in town the utilities are owned by the city and are very expensive. Also, whenever the city feels it need more money it just raises the rates.

Lurker said:

Fortunately, I live outside city limits. But, in town the utilities are owned by the city and are very expensive. Also, whenever the city feels it need more money it just raises the rates.

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Speaking of which, they just approved a 6.4% electric increase. Raised property tax as well.

I think it's unethical to profit from basic necessities that people require to survive.

It's wrong to take ownership over the land and resources that people need and then require them to work for you or pay you in order to have access to those resources.