The problem with the 'loss' of our utilities to foreign ownership isn't really political. As a member of the EU and WTO we have to be 'non-protectionist', so were the government to stop (eg) a French company buying a UK company we would get hammered in other ways. And no, giving the big finger to the rest of the world wouldn't be a great idea, unless you want to be like Iran or North Korea.
I believe the reason for the loss is the same as the banking crisis, ie. half UK business leaders are focussed on short term profit to get a big bonus and comfortable (early) retirement for themselves. They don't give tuppence for the future except their own. The other half are probably like Mr Goodwin - incompetent (allegedly) (as well as greedy (allegedly)). The foreign companies that have grabbed a bargain are probably run in a more long term focussed and commercially astute manner.
The UK has always suffered from a top weight of rich idiots - France got rid of theirs in dramatic style, while the US seems to be developing their own at a pace. I wish there was an easy solution, but I suspect that heads will have to roll - figuratively or literally - before anything changes for the better.