Privatization Is the Problem, Not the Solution

[unhappycamper]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/05/16-7



Privatization Is the Problem, Not the Solution
Published on Friday, May 16, 2014 by Rabble.ca
by Mark Taliano

Canadians are forever being informed, explicitly or implicitly, that the solution to the crisis of the day, or decade, is a freedom-sounding word called "privatization." This, the free-marketeers tell us, will solve our problems.

The reality is invariably the opposite. "Privatization" -- also known as bailed-out, highly subsidized corporatism -- is in fact the problem, not the solution.

Furthermore, the crises being addressed are often manufactured for the express purpose of rolling out a parasitical regime of corporatization that profits from calamity, even as its "host," the public, is fleeced.

Canadian author and social activist Naomi Klein identifies the process as the "shock doctrine" and/or "disaster capitalism"; author, environmental activist and economist Winona LaDuke calls it "predator economics"; writers call it neoliberalism and corporate media pretends it doesn't exist.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. New Zealand puts this on display time after time.

Every time National (the major right wing party) gets in power, they start privatizing right and left. The private enterprises immediately start raising rates, service deteriorates, infrastructure is ignored and runs down, then Labour (the major left wing party) is left to buy back the run down services again and fix them so that the country has working services again. Rinse and repeat.

So the only real thing privatization does is screw over the country and transfer wealth into a few private pockets. Because that's exactly what it's intended to do.

[Enthusiast]

2. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations!

We better recognize this soon. No Democrats should EVER favor the privatization of any government service. This always ends up being less effective and more costly. Sometimes far more expensive.

[aggiesal]

10. We are already seeing it here, with the service side of our military ...

When Dick Cheney was Secretary of Defense, he privatized the part of the military that prepares and serves food. It use to cost around $3 per meal when the military did this themselves, but when Haliburton got their GOP (Greedy One Percent) hands on it, the cost per meal went up to $30 during Iraq War 2, and nobody batted an eye in congress.

When ever anyone mentions privatizing the postal service, I tell them to mail a letter to an address across the street from their home using FedEx or UPS, and let me know how much it will cost you. A stamp costs around 50 cents, while FedEx and UPS will charge you around $10.

We're such idiots to let this happen.

[Enthusiast]

11. I am with you on all that.

KB&R leased the US government standard GMC SUVs for $5,000 a month in Kuwait early in the Iraq War. I believe Suburban SUVs were $7,000 per month. These were not up-armored in any way. Then we had the monogrammed towels for exorbitant prices. It was a racket.

[aggiesal]

12. $5000, $7000, for standard SUV's? ...

these should only be between $500 - $1000 per month.
Literally 10x the actual cost when they are privatized.

10% waste by our government is a bargain.
50% waste is a bargain compared to privatized cost.

No doubt someone on DU will justify privatizing as cost efficient.

[Enthusiast]

13. Just wait until the results of privatizing education are in.

The nation will be even less well informed than now.

[chervilant]

18. And, with the propagandized pap

the M$M keeps feeding the Hoi Polloi, we'll remain complacent, or shrug our collective shoulders -- standing in our little "free speech" zones -- and adjure "whatever can we do?"

[CrispyQ]

14. Thirty dollars a meal, yet the repubs are pissed about SNAP.

Mean, heartless bastards.

[mdbl]

3. How destitute does the average American get before they stop voting republican?

This slide has been happening here since Reagan was elected. He waved the flag while his administrations started the policies of fleecing the public for the benefit of a few. It's still happening. The southern states are completely sucked into this and have the worst poverty rates, but you can't convince the person living in squalor to change his/her politics.

[kairos12]

6. The Rethugs win with a repeat performance of the 4Gs

Guns
Gays
God
Gynecologists.

Unfortunately, a winning formula for them.

[daleanime]

4. K&R....

[Cyrano]

5. Privatization only makes things disappear

Privatized schools made education disappear. Privatizing part of the military made the Geneva Convention disappear. Privatized prisons made fair sentencing laws disappear.

If the Republicans ever gain full control of the government, they'll privatize the Post Office and you'll never see a letter again. Not to mention privatizing health care and Social Security, which means you'll never again see a doctor or a monthly check in your old age.

[RoccoR5955]

7. When they claim that privatization is cheaper..

I tell them that when they have a private enterprise take over something that was once done by the government, that they then have the overhead of expensive executives, and stockholders to appease. These private firms are only concerned with making a profit, and when they can cut corners, they will. When something is run by government run public employees, there is not the overhead of upper management, jobs get done as best that they can, and corners are not cut as frequently.
Public employees work for the people, corporate employees work for their bosses, and stockholders.

[mckara]

8. Most People Don't Understand the Importance of Articles Like This

We must change the economic models that are destroying the world, literally!

[Thespian2]

9. Stephen Harper

and his party of greedy vultures is the party of taking the resources of Canada for themselves. Remember, our hated prime minister comes from Calgary in the most disastrous Province in the country, Alberta.

[CrispyQ]

15. Privatizing the Commons.

Taking what we all hold in common & letting a select few profit from it at the expense of the rest of us. "Private industry can do it better & cheaper," they told us & Americans fell for it, hook, line & sinker. Now they're about to take our Internet.

[Blue Owl]

16. K&R

[aggiesal]

17. We should stop calling it privatize ...

and call it what it really is ...

[Font color=red size=14]PROFITIZE