False dilemma when all private operation is presumed to be “cronies” (per Lenin’s New Economic Policy). With all due respect.
And I have no problem with genuine private-sector road tolling.
You do understand that genuine private sector tolling cannot exist for roadways, due to monopolies on rights of way.
In other words, 10 airlines fly between New York and Chicago and compete on a near-equal level...do we have 10 parallel highways doing the same, so that we can choose the one with the lowest price? Does any country? It’s difficult to imagine 40+ concrete lanes between NY and Chicago (10 highways), when only 6 or so are needed.
Bottom line...surface travel will always be in the hands of government...either directly or indirectly through companies that they choose. Same with ATC.
And yes, it is ALWAYS cronies. We dealt with that non-stop during the last decade in Texas, when Governor Perry’s Highway Department chief (Williamson) came over directly from Cintra (a major toll road operator)...and immediately demanded that toll booths be set up on 3 sections of I-10.