I would be interested to learn more about the financials of those public utilities. Were they a money pit for the tax payers or did they turn a profit? If they at least broke even I would concede that it's a well balanced solution, although I would still need convincing it would work for groceries which have very diverse supply chains.
I was born in a fully communist country where everything was publicly owned and it resulted in staggering debt, stagnation, and ultimately war. Perhaps my experience is making me extra weary but when I hear someone suggest public ownership as the only solution I just can't get behind that. I need to see that it's a small part of a greater plan, which isn't what Avi is offering.
I strongly disagree that waiting is "fine for now" when we're being squeezed by the orange turd down south.