Reply #25: Deregulated privatization is turning the U.S. into a third world [View All]

[Cogito ergo doleo]

nation. The distinction is important in order to understand the devastation that privatization without regulation will cause. Our water, air, food and medicines are unsafe as it is, and getting worse by the day, and job safety regulations have already gone by the boards. The recent move of the IRS in turning over its collections to private collection agencies is nothing short of a hostile act on the citizens of the United States by their own government-- and so is the selling off of our public parks and forests.

The argument is made that privatization is economic, but the price will be exacted on our quality of life and environment, which incidentally we have all found worth it and paid for. And how can it be economic when on the other hand you hear Rummy and others talk about how in the "new," privatized CIA, the "old" government workers are miffed because the contract workers are making six-figure incomes? It doesn't add up.

Privatization has been tried in other countries and many of them have gone back to the government's taking the services over again because politicians didn't like their power being usurped by corporations. As you say, it's a lousy idea.