The Privatization of… Everything
A post this morning at TPM Cafe points out something interesting in the dustup over port operations – why is it that we trust the operation and security of our nations seaports to private interests in the first place?
Suddenly it’s as if Dubai Ports World had peppered a guy with birdshot.I reserve judgment on whether the deal to turn American port terminals over to a UAE company is the stupidest move in history or not. But am I the only one who finds it mighty peculiar that this week we’re fervently debating an item that nobody noticed last week? Did the proposed sale really pop up out of the blue?
Evidently vast portions of American infrastructure are routinely farmed out to companies scurrying around this (as Tom Friedman reminded us with his trademarked adjective again this morning) flat world. Without rising to the level of front-page news.
Americcan infrastructure is being “globalized” without anyone really noticing – shouldn’t we be a bit concerned? We sell our airwaves, our military operations and daily services to the lowest bidder – why does in matter who buys them if we’re willing to put them up on the market in the first place?
Addendum: More discussion on the forums.
Addendum II: This is another case of “It’s not the people – it’s the ideology.” We’ve seen a lot of that over the past year.
- Sousy
February 22nd, 2006 at 7:44 am
Distinctions are in order. The UAE flap is significant in that DPW is a state-owned entity – as opposed to private. Not being a utopian free-market capitalist, I happen to have qualms w/ our infrastructure being sold-off to either. Think Progress has a laundry list of why the UAE sale is of particular concern here.
For visitors, there’s a small, fledgling thread on the UAE port deal trying to take wing on the iowa underground forums here.
February 22nd, 2006 at 9:15 am
You Godless Commies need to brush up on your economics. If the terrorists do decide to utilize DPW as a port of entry why the mysterious, invisible hand of the market will realize the financial impact of another massive terrorist attack and come in and save us. I think… Look, folks, it’s like the Mooninites on Aqua Teen Hunger Force…it’s above everything so there’s no way to understand it so just relax and let it go.
February 22nd, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Talk Left blog has more on the selling of America here. Included is a report by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter called America for Sale: The Cost of Republican Corruption – (.pdf
).
Good point on the Invisble Hand, MG. As we all know, invisibility is one of the most potent super hero powers. We need a name for this invisible entity that will magically protect our ports of entry, though. How about…...Adam Smith’s Ghost? Has kind of a catchy ring to it. Or maybe Captain Capitalist?
February 23rd, 2006 at 10:26 am
How about The Invisible Hand-Job? Anyways, I’m off to ask Jimminy Cricket how we can fight the terrorists. The “clap louder” technique seems to be falling to peices.