KZBlog

Chris Merriman has another suggestion for Kazakhstan that hits close to home. It’s understandable that the utilities company or the management of the building needs to do something to make sure people pay their bills. But shutting off heat or water to the entire apartment complex actually provides a motivation for people to stop paying the bills. Why should I pay if I don’t get service any way?

He also makes the point that some people don’t pay because they don’t live in the flat but 1) that means they aren’t using any utilities except heat (which usually can’t be shut off or isn’t billed by use) and 2) so what? You still have to pay even if you don’t live there. I’ll add number 3 which is that people who own more than one apartment are usually not poor. I think I can speak for both my apartment complex and Chris’ when I say that poor people do not live in either place. They have the disposable income to pay.

So please pay your bills so we can take hot showers again.