Privatization

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

http://hotdogfactory.blogspot.com/2012/01/is-stephen-harper-going-to-sell-jasper.html

There is a rumour being passed around via email and facebook saying PM Harper is planning to privatize Jasper National Park (5 hr drive from here) with considerable uproar. Would you Libertarians in this community really support private enterprise to run your national parks?

You Libertarians say you want smaller government. Government is inefficient and untrustworthy. So how far would you allow private corporations to rule your country? Would you sell off your Park Systems? What about environment controls? The Post Office? The Military? The CIA and Secret Service to be put on tender for the highest bidder? Or how about the Senate? Screw elections how about whomever raises the most cash simply wins their seat in the House of Representatives and Whitehouse? Why or why not?

Comments

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Would you Libertarians in this community really support private enterprise to run your national parks?

Yes. The state doesn't need 'em.

What about environment controls

I think there's places where such controls might be needed when it comes to interstate issues.

The Post Office?

Long, long overdue, but my Postal Monopoly Hobby Horse is well-known.

The CIA and Secret Service to be put on tender for the highest bidder?

This, no. It's an arm of our military, really.

Or how about the Senate?

I'm also on record as against direct election of Senators, since that's supposed to be representative of the states.

Screw elections how about whomever raises the most cash simply wins their seat in the House of Representatives and Whitehouse?

This is silly.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

Yes. The state doesn't need 'em.

It's not about what the state needs, it's about what the people need. While I doubt very much (well at least I hope) the rumour about Jasper Park being sold is true, if you follow the links given in the OP there is a story about public access points already being removed due to corporate partnerships that currently exist there. National parks shouldn't belong to businesses, they already belong to the people.

[awdrey-gore.livejournal.com]

Thanks again for sharing your always unique perspective.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Problem is, it's far from unique.

[montecristo.livejournal.com]

"Our military"? Really? I don't recall Obama consulting me before invading Libya. I don't even recall him consulting "our" supposed representatives, as "Our Constitution" supposedly reqires him to do. How blatantly obvious does the farce have to get before people will question their presumptions about political authority?

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

What are the Constitutional requirements for a military? I'm unfamiliar.

[onefatmusicnerd.livejournal.com]

Congress raises an army but can not appropriate for more than two years.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't a private military, CIA, FBI be more efficient cost and otherwise? Without the wasteful overlaps, the burdensome bureaucracy, the costly mismanagement, etc a corporate military and police force would likely save tax payer billions of dollars!

The candidate that raises the most cash obviously has the greatest support of the people. Isn't this what democracy is all about?

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't a private military, CIA, FBI be more efficient cost and otherwise?

It might be, but it's not right for the private sector to be enforcing public laws and security.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

Why not?

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

It shouldn't be up to the private sector to enforce the public sector's laws.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

Why? Wouldn't they do just as good of a job, if not better? So what's the difference?

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

They might, they might not. The point is that the government should be responsible for for enforcing the laws it wants to enact.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

Who enforces their laws does not remove/absolve responsibility of government for laws it created. Government would always remain ultimately responsible. Your suggestion doesn't make sense. Please explain.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

I don't understand your confusion.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

Why would government not be responsible for laws it enacts if police or military was privatized?

So if Obama sends in USMC to wage war in Iran, it's responsible.
If Obama sends Blackwater Soldier Of Fortune to wage war in Iran, it's somehow not responsible?

If the FBI is sent in with Agents Mulder and Scully to investigate paranormal activity, the government is somehow responsible, but if they send in Ghostbusters then they're not?

So if CHiPs gives you a speeding ticket, the government is responsible, but if Joe's Traffic Enforcement Company did the same, the government is no longer responsible?

Do you see my confusion? It doesn't matter who the government hires to enforce it's law, the government remains responsible for having said law in it's books. The government being responsible to the people.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Why would government not be responsible for laws it enacts if police or military was privatized?

Privatization is outright moving that responsibility away from the government. A good idea in many cases, but not all. The government actually does have a role.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

They remain responsible for whatever private contractor does, in the same way a CEO is responsible for actions of lower management. It gives them some ability to divert/shift responsibility, wash their hands of mishaps, but like I said in comments to you above, the government remains "ULTIMATELY" responsible.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

If private sector is hired to uphold public sector's laws they should be able to do just as good of a job, hopefully lowering costs to the government while maximizing profit with more efficiency.

The only difference I can think of is the public's trust of government police, military, etc. I trust public or private military would not be bought off by the hightest bidder, committing treason. I trust that like a public municipal police force that a corporate municipal police force would be equally susceptible to bribes from private run jails to arrest more able-bodied men for their cheap labour.