Successul "privatization" examples?

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Honestly, the only thing I can think of is the post office. Sure, the government is inefficient in running things a lot of the time, but when considering privatization you have to balance that against corporate profits and cost-cutting. You get what you pay for, imho.

In a way, i almost want the post office to be privatized, that way people living in the boonies in the red states, who always cry about the 'evil gubmit' won't get their mail anymore (or they'll get charged out the ass for it to be delivered to them)

Ummm...it was privatized some time ago. Are you referring to breaking the government mandate of the USPS having a monopoly instead, where companies compete/contract to deliver mail to certain routes? It isn't quite the same as privatization...

 

[Possessed Freak]

Originally posted by: QuantumPion

Originally posted by: Possessed Freak
I think there are good examples of private companies doing better then the public equivalents. UPS and FedEx knew there was enough of a market to go after in direct competition of USPS.

I think government services should exist when they are monopolistic in nature and for the common good (socialistic). I know of no good privatization examples in the US, but would not have a problem of those companies to continue to scrutinize themselves if they would be better served to go private.

The problem is, politicians can claim ANYTHING is for the common good and thus privy to their control. For example, New Haven Connecticut where the state used eminent domain power to confiscate private homes to give the land to commercial developers. Their reasoning was that the increased property tax revenue to the state was for the common good.

The only thing the government should be allowed to run are PUBLIC goods. A public good is something that everyone pays for and receives benefit from equally, and that the usage of by one person does not diminish the usefulness for anyone else. For example, national defense.

The and in my statement addresses this. Both cases, common good and monopolistic in nature. Not one or the other.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Phokus

So you're saying the owners of the prisons don't give a shit if drug sentences are reduced or eliminated?

Man you're dumb, they lobby for stricter sentences. Because it's profitable, duh.

http://thephoenix.com/Boston/N...-watch-Jailhouse-bloc/

And again, you equating walter reed to single payer healthcare is extremely dumb, of course you don't think before you type.

Framing a strawman and then slaying it: Idiot tactic #245

You are on a roll today!


You got caught saying that somehow the government prisons and employees dont benefit from drug prosecutions. You can put words in my mouth all you want, but you just continue to dig.

That's standard practice for him.

Phokus.txt

 

[maluckey]

Two letters....WM

Walmart could do a far better job at most government helathcare functions than the govt. Who lowered drug prices? Not the Govt.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: maluckey
Two letters....WM

Walmart could do a far better job at most government helathcare functions than the govt. Who lowered drug prices? Not the Govt.

Yup, it was walmart who introduced $4 generic scripts. Now everyone is doing this and it is saving the consumer billions. Walmart is now getting minute clinics into their stores. THis is also going to radically save the consumer the money and force current docs to change the way they do business.

 

[zCypher]

Isn't the government a corporation itself? I know the city of Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal etc are all corporations -- No idea if this applies to all the U.S. cities but chances are yes??

 

[Paddington]

India used to operate as a classic socialist economy, and they've successfully privatized a lot of their state run industries over the past 15 years.

 

[Atreus21]

Originally posted by: Phokus

Originally posted by: MovingTarget
Honestly, the only thing I can think of is the post office. Sure, the government is inefficient in running things a lot of the time, but when considering privatization you have to balance that against corporate profits and cost-cutting. You get what you pay for, imho.

In a way, i almost want the post office to be privatized, that way people living in the boonies in the red states, who always cry about the 'evil gubmit' won't get their mail anymore (or they'll get charged out the ass for it to be delivered to them)

Yeah. Because c'mon, no one ever uses UPS.

:roll:

 

[maluckey]

Yup, it was walmart who introduced $4 generic scripts. Now everyone is doing this and it is saving the consumer billions. Walmart is now getting minute clinics into their stores. THis is also going to radically save the consumer the money and force current docs to change the way they do business.

The reason Walmart succeeds is because they are ONLY in business to make a buck. If it's not profitable, why be in business? It's why the government fails. They have no real worth other than percieved. No gold standard to back it up AND no responsibility to make a profit, so no need to trim the fat.