privatization is part of shock doctrine

Naomi Klein describes how privatization is one of the steps toward realizing the Milton Friendman  disaster capitalism that is a part of shock doctrine, taking power away from We-the-people and giving it to "free market forces" which are really, as you say, the transnational megacorporations. I like to think of them as the winds of economic plague.

by Rob Kall (808 articles, 3923 quicklinks, 332 diaries, 1703 comments) on Monday, December 24, 2007 at 6:56:29 AM
 

To RobKall,

I've been reading her book, The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein.

I've also read Milton Friedman's Free to Choose.

His book explained economics in such a clear simple formula that he became a life long hero of mine. He reduced the forces of economics to sets of teater totters in a sense, each playing on each other. Now I am starting to doubt his policies. Or at least the implementation of them.

I do see one missing element though.

The items that are being privatized are being stolen from the general populations and divided up, globally. Many of these things should be divided up, nationally, not so much as they would be under socialism, but as they should be in a fair capitalistic manner.

If they should be divided up at all.

by Carson Dugal (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 19 comments) on Monday, December 24, 2007 at 11:08:04 AM
 

Privitization of Taxpayers property

To take what is mine and sell to another over my objections, even when they claim that it is for the greater good, is still thievery, plain and simple.  In Arkansas and I assume in other states, it has become legal to take private property, by the doctrine of Imminent Domain, and sell to an entity that can generate greater tax revenues for the state from the same property, than the current owner in its current use.  This thievery is represented as a “good for the people”.  It’s easy to see why its good for the Corporation, seeing how it benefits me is a very murky thing indeed.

But the right of property is a guaranteed right of our Constitution isn’t it?

As is always the case, a policy formulated by a Government, initially for good (Dams, Roads, etc.) can denigrated by unscrupulous people in power, i.e. seized by Corporate interests, and you and I both know that those Corporations will make a profit from the transaction, no matter what it costs you.  Theoretically no business can operate cheaper and more for the good of its members than an entity owned by those members whose “Non-Profit” policy of operation is for the good of its using members.  The policy of  “for profit” Corporations is garnered profit from external sources and if some of the membership purchase the service, that is just incidental and not a necessity for a Corporation to continue to exist.  Any utility paid for by taxpayers, by all rights belong to the taxpayers, should be run by the taxpayers, as a “Non-Profit” enterprise and no Corporation can provide that service to those taxpayers as efficiently or cheaper to those users – the taxpayer.

    Cliff Carson

by Cliff Carson (7 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 21 comments) on Monday, December 24, 2007 at 12:11:03 PM
 

Highways will be for the rich only

This is how the monied interests intend to drive us proletarians off the road. Only the rich will be able to pay the tolls.

As much as the media works to disguise this fact; There is a class system in the USA and it is based on who has the money.

To be moneyless in USA now is to be viewed as being in a state of sin.

To be monied in USA is to be viewed as being in a state of God's grace.

George W Bush comes from that monied class. How else can you explain his being admitted to Yale and then to Harvard.

While he was governor of Texas his true colors came through. He presided over the executions of 152 inmates on death row. More executions than the sum total of all the executions in all the other 49 states for the same period.

All of the executed there were poor people.

Were Bush born into the trailer park the Bill Clinton was born into I don't doubt that Bush would still be living there for his ignorance, arrogance and stupidity. But because he was born into the Bush family. His policies as president have always favored his rich class and worked to further disenfranchise USA's poor. So now Bush will work to drive all the poorer classes off the highway through privatization. He should have been annointed not sham elected.

He isw our King George not president Bush,

by beelza bubb (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 12 comments) on Monday, December 24, 2007 at 6:08:53 PM
 

Privitazation

It is not just the roads folks. It is everything. That is to say their goal is not just the privatizing of our roads, but of everything else they possibly can.  Just about every government function is viewed as a potential profit center to be sold or contracted out....so some worthy capitalist can have a profit.

I have no quarrel with making money and getting ahead, but what is going on here is the treasonous, to my mind, continued selling out of the interests of the People of the United States to whoever can pay.

by B York (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 89 comments) on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 at 9:26:24 AM
 

Look at it another way, too.

At the end of WW2 the US had the best, most comprehensive, efficient rail passenger system in the world. The railroads at that time were often credited with helping to win the war just because of their flair for excellent service & no-nonsense management. I even remember taking a train trip in the late 1950's (a wonderful experience, I must say) about a decade  before most passenger service was discontinued & the Penn Central went bankrupt. What a scandal that was in 1970! However, keep in mind that the railroads where private entities although most were stock owner controlled (public in that sense) companies. Today, look at the poor excuse we in the US have for rail passenger service, AMTRACK! Since its inception in 1971, this government bureaucracy, to my knowledge has never turned a profit, has been heavily subsidized by taxpayers, has actually reduced routes, is known for poor service , has been spared several times by Congress ie pork barrell spending along being cited for numerous safety violations, not to mention some very nasty, fatal accidents. A far cry from those wonderful, memorable days of the 1930's, 40's & 50's when the railroads where actually run for a profit! If you ask me what caused the demise of such a vital national resource, I would point to the building of the interstate highway system starting in 1956, the most expensive, massive public works & spending project in US history! Granted many benefited from this government largesse but also many lost out, in particular property owners & small businesses like motels, diners & service stations that you could see along the old US & State Route 2 lane highways prior to the 1960's. And keep in mind this monstrocity is in dire need of constant repair. It is now estimated that  the 44 year old I-75 bridge over the Ohio River here in Cincinnati replacement costs could top 1 billion $$$$! This is all happening at time when we're paying $3.00 a gallon for gas, whining about surburban sprawl & scared as hell to fly. A comprehensive, high speed rail system similar to ones in France & Japan (government sponsored, privately managed) connecting every part of the US would be a boom to a faultering economy. Think of all the jobs that would be created & perhaps it could spark a neo-industrial revolution for the US. Also, the late Seymour Melman, professor & authour whose books & articles heavily criticized defense industry spending, saw a high speed rail system project as the point where the US went from being a war based to a peace based economy. I could rave on about private ownership or private vs. public in general. I could tell you about the wonderful private park I visited several years ago here in Ohio. Clean, safe, well maintained, wonderful wildlife & a far cry some of the public parks in here in the Buckeye State! What I often sense here is one of envy. It's also the sense that if it's public, well hell it belongs to me. Here in Cincinnati, we have 2 public stadiums one for baseball & the other for football. As a taxpayer, demand that you should be admitted free to a Reds of Bengals game & see what happens. Also, tell the public owned Queen City Metro bus driver you pay taxes & the $1.25 fare is BS, so let me on free & you'll be likely getting a free ride in a police car! Please keep in mind that there is no ideal economic system. Each has its own merits & deficiences. If you want to hear some real horror stories about government ownership of everything, I highly suggest you talk to immigrants here in the US from the former Soviet Union. You may walk away with a better perspective & appreciation for a lot of what the the private sector provides us!

by iman (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 89 comments) on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 at 2:08:07 PM
 

Replay to: Look at it another way, too.

Excellent counter point iman,

I to see the merits of private ownership.

The thing that gets me is that in many of the recent takeovers and privatization of public property, it is being looted and given over to global corporations.

The true owners should have a say and share in the profit of the sale.

by Carson Dugal (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 19 comments) on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 at 3:43:42 PM
 

I do have a problem with that, too!

I don't like seeing US assets being sold to foreign countries/corporations. It's bad enough that many of our domestic firms have left leaving the American worker "high & dry".  Southwest Ohio is the epitome of the Rust Belt! About 50 years ago, this was the most diversified center of manufacturing in the US. Today, little is left. Also, I don't have any problems with public ownership of for example transportation systems. They do benefit most of the people all of the time! That's what happened here in Cincinnati,  when the privately owned Cincinnati Transit Co. began to have financial problems in the late 1960's. The company could not find a buyer. A business/government solution was to put an issue on the ballot in 1972 for the city & county to buy the firm, set up a board to oversee operations & have it privately managed. The voters approved the measure & in 1973 it became a public system. Since that time, service has actually improved, new routes where added, it has an excellent safety record & now has hybrid, fuel efficient buses. However, I do have a problem with our two sports stadiums . This to me, is nothing more than a blatant example of corporate welfare. This is where supposed private enterprise uses government to enrichen itself. The interstate highway system could be another example. It benefitted the automakers & their suppliers (steel, glass, rubber etc.), the petroleum companies, the hospitality chains,  fast food restaurants, etc. I think you get the picture! Thanks for the input &  have a great 2008!

by iman (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 89 comments) on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at 4:58:01 PM