---
title: "> a private monopoly that owns a bridge you have to drive over…"
date: 2026-01-23
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships added a new photo.
---

# > a private monopoly that owns a bridge you have to drive over…

*January 23, 2026 · Facebook*

\> a private monopoly that owns a bridge you have to drive over functions exactly the same as a government monopoly\
\
No, it doesn\'t. Unlike private companies, governments:\
\
\* Ban competing private bridges from being constructed altogether.\
\* Force people to pay for the bridges, even if they never use them. (Government projects also receive funding from general tax funds, not just tolls.)\
\* Ban/restrict competing services, such as private ferries / private aircraft.\
\* Employ unionized labor, who receive legal privileges that private employees don\'t receive.\
\* Subsidize risks, by forcing taxpayers to be on the hook for any cost overruns.\
\* Subsidize risks, by immunizing government employees from misbehavior.\
\* Waste money, since they\'re spending \"other people\'s money\" extorted at gun point, not their own money, or money received from willing investors.\
\* Sluggishly adopt innovations, since government officials gain less by doing so. For example, bridges would flow faster, if they implemented congestion pricing.\
\* Fail to prevent bad actors from harming others. Private bridge owners have a stronger incentive to stop bad drivers, carjackers, and sideshows, since they lose money if they don\'t.

![\> a private monopoly that owns a bridge you have to drive over functions exactly the same as a government monopoly No, it doesn\'t. Unlike private companies, governments: \* Ban competing private bridges from being constructed altogether. \* Force people to pay for the bridges, even if they never use them. (Government projects also receive funding from general tax funds, not just tolls.) \* Ban/restrict competing services, such as private ferries / private aircraft. \* Employ unionized labor, who receive legal privileges that private employees don\'t receive. \* Subsidize risks, by forcing taxpayers to be on the hook for any cost overruns. \* Subsidize risks, by immunizing government employees from misbehavior. \* Waste money, since they\'re spending ](img/2026-01-23-fb-005-img01.webp){other="" people's="" money\"="" extorted="" at="" gun="" point,="" not="" their="" own="" money,="" or="" received="" willing="" investors.="" sluggishly="" adopt="" innovations,="" government="" officials="" gain="" less="" by="" doing="" so.="" for="" example,="" bridges="" would="" flow="" faster,="" implemented="" congestion="" pricing.="" *="" fail="" prevent="" actors="" from="" harming="" others.="" private="" bridge="" owners="" have="" a="" stronger="" incentive="" to="" stop="" bad="" drivers,="" carjackers,="" and="" sideshows,="" since="" lose="" money="" if="" they="" don't.\"="" style="max-width:100%; margin:1em 0"}