Do-it-yourself Privatization Primer!

[ColbertWatcher]

Many posts are written on DU about the dangers of privatizing Social Security and public education and water and the military. But, little is written about what "privatization" actually is or how it would work.

In order to avoid misunderstandings or presumptions about what "privatization" is and is not, I'd like to add to the bumper sticker slogans like "Private profits, public risk" with some history, and maybe a few case studies. I know there are some very knowledgeable people here who can make this a thread to bookmark, so if you're familiar with any examples of privatization, please post them in reply.

Thank you.

[rhett o rick]

1. Thom Harman mentioned that in England the postal service was privatized.

I haven't investigated but he said that the "private" postal service already had started to cut down on services to the rural areas. Apparently they were not profitable.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Profit does not mean service. n/t