NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm curious about the concept. The Ludwig von Mises institute seems to be particularly vocal about this being the best way to conduct government. I haven't been able to pick up how exactly this would be implemented, so I would rather ask those who support the idea to explain it to me and be able to sate my curiousity. Explanations about how possible problems would not occur under a privatized system are particularly helpful. Thank you.

Well private security firms work all over the wordl from those "para-military" types in Iraq and Afghanistan to the guys lazing in shopping-centres.

Parking restrictions are enforced in many parts of the Uk by privatised firms

prisons and prion transportation is aso run in the private sector.

You have to get the fraemwork of incentives and checks absolutely right - something we haven't always managed.

I'm curious about the concept. The Ludwig von Mises institute seems to be particularly vocal about this being the best way to conduct government. I haven't been able to pick up how exactly this would be implemented, so I would rather ask those who support the idea to explain it to me and be able to sate my curiousity. Explanations about how possible problems would not occur under a privatized system are particularly helpful. Thank you.

It would be efficient, work awesomely, but yet at the same time......

Gah! What a concept!

Privatizing prisons doesn't work, that's for sure. The prisoners end up abused and starving, which is profoundly hypocrytical.

If we privatize the police force, it's the end of the traffic warning as we know it. Cops would look for excuses to write tickets. Of course, think about this - how are they going to enforce the fines? I suppose they could round people up and ship them to jail, but big chases over traffic fines might not be worth it. The only way they could enforce these fines is to attack people's credit scores.

Also, if the only cops are privatized, who keeps abusive cops in check? Do we have competing cop firms?

Gah! What a concept!

Privatizing prisons doesn't work, that's for sure. The prisoners end up abused and starving, which is profoundly hypocrytical.

Id have thought more ironic than hypocritical.

Anyway privatisation of the police force brings nightmarish visions of Pinkertons in the 1800s to my head.

The short answer is, it would work well for the rich and the poor would be fucked.

It doesn't. It is odd, though, to hear free market proponents talk about how wonderful it is but at the same time most of them leave an exception for the police.

The short answer is, it would work well for the rich and the poor would be fucked.

Meet the new boss

Same as the old boss.

Have a look here:

http://www.paulbirch.net/AnarchoCapitalism1.html
http://www.paulbirch.net/AnarchoCapitalism2.html
http://www.paulbirch.net/AnarchoCapitalism3.html

Any kind of privatization, I'm whole-heartedly against.

Meet the new boss

Same as the old boss.
Only real difference is that the new boss would have no reason to act as though he gives a shit about the poor people. At least now the police have to go through the motions in poor neighborhoods. Under a private system, there'd be no going through the motions.

On a side note, I found it hysterical that a writer for the National Review made The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" the number one conservative rock song ever. It boggled my mind.

Every time the private police save you you have to give them a huge 'tip'.

Every time the private police save you you have to give them a huge 'tip'.]

Buy low sell high

Dont stand up in a canoe


Those are my best tips.

]

Buy low sell high

Dont stand up in a canoe


Those are my best tips.I'd prefer tipping them when they're standing up in canoes.

I'd prefer tipping them when they're standing up in canoes.


A balanced attack then?

The short answer is, it would work well for the rich and the poor would be fucked.


Not really, they might lose their contract by not doing so well. It wouldn't be any different than today except more efficient, and cost less.


I don't think anyone has ever tried privatizing police.....EMS, yes, but not POlice.

I'm curious about the concept. The Ludwig von Mises institute seems to be particularly vocal about this being the best way to conduct government. I haven't been able to pick up how exactly this would be implemented, so I would rather ask those who support the idea to explain it to me and be able to sate my curiousity. Explanations about how possible problems would not occur under a privatized system are particularly helpful. Thank you.

Read Snow Crash (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0553380958?v=glance) by Neal Stephenson. It's about a future society where EVERYTHING is privatized.

*picks up phone, dials emergency number*
"Help! Police! There's someone in my house!"
*robotic voice* "Hi! You have called emergency. Please make your selection. 1, police..."
*pushes 1 repeatedly*
"please state your address"
*states address*
"Please be advised that police are on the way. Upon arrival, you will be charged $299.99 for expenses, plus a surcharge in the event of a false alarm. While you wait, please enjoy a word from our sponsors..."

Hey, if you don't use it, you shouldn't have to pay for it, right?

As a major stockholder in both OCP and The Umbrella Corporation, I feel that privatization is the only rational solution for today's complex problems - and would lead to a much brighter future for all of us.

As a major stockholder in both OCP and The Umbrella Corporation, I feel that privatization is the only rational solution for today's complex problems - and would lead to a much brighter future for all of us.

*Hands Gartref a lockpick.*

Here, I think you, the master of privatising, should take this.

Why do people think that a private company won't provide the best service it can.

It is government that has a reason to screw you over.

If a government fails to properly serve those it is obliged to serve, there are no real consequences. The closest government gets to consequences for failure is the political masters of that government being voted out, and they will of course go on to comfortable retirements with massive pensions, which the people whom they failed must pay.

If a private company fails to provide the contracted service, it goes out of business. The people involved lose their jobs. The stock becomes worthless.

In addition, the government is not concerned with efficiently using resources, as it can tax, or print as much money as they wish. A private company must be efficient to make a profit.

Private law enforcement is directly accountable to the people supposed to be protected. Government law enforcement is vaguely accountable to some people.

Who would fund it? Property owners, insurance companies, individual citizens, other firms.

Who does fund government law enforcement? Same people.

Those who take privatised prisons as an example of free market law enforcement are simply wrong. There is no real market here, being a government monopsony. These private prison firms are properly understood as government proxies. It is actually better for government as they cease to be responsible for any abuses. I don't think it need be noted that these companies recruit from the normal prison system.

As a major stockholder in both OCP and The Umbrella Corporation, I feel that privatization is the only rational solution for today's complex problems - and would lead to a much brighter future for all of us.That the corp from Robocop?

That the corp from Robocop?

Yep.

*Shoots would-be rapist in the groin.*

Gah! What a concept!

Privatizing prisons doesn't work, that's for sure. The prisoners end up abused and starving, which is profoundly hypocrytical.

We really do have privatised prisons in the UK (alongside existing state-run jails). The facilities are newly built and inmates are generally held in better conditions than in the state-run prisons which were built in Victorian times.

There is no link between who runs the prison and the treatment of the prisoner that you suggest - why should there be?

All prisons are inspected by the same governement departmewnt to the same standards. I would suggest a privatised prison has greater incentive to feed its prisoners properly and not abuse them since if it does it runs the risk of losing its contract -which is a risk that does not apply to the management team of a sate-run prison.

On the police front services could still be paid for centrally out of taxation but carried out through service contracts although even this free-marketeer thinks this and the military are areas best left to the state( for reasons of practical expediency not economic efficiency).

There is no link between who runs the prison and the treatment of the prisoner that you suggest - why should there be?

All prisons are inspected by the same governement departmewnt to the same standards. I would suggest a privatised prison has greater incentive to feed its prisoners properly and not abuse them since if it does it runs the risk of losing its contract -which is a risk that does not apply to the management team of a sate-run prison.

In the same way that the 'threat of losing a contract' has led to the wonderful improvements in British Rail, the NHS, Council Housing and Education. The only incentive in private contracted services is to pocket taxpayers' money - as we see in the NHS where firms make billions while trusts are forced to drop necessary staff and close wards.

In the same way that the 'threat of losing a contract' has led to the wonderful improvements in British Rail, the NHS, Council Housing and Education. The only incentive in private contracted services is to pocket taxpayers' money - as we see in the NHS where firms make billions while trusts are forced to drop necessary staff and close wards.

NHS is not privately run.

Rail use has dramtaically increased since privatisation although union intereference has held back the rate of change.

Education - why should the private sector exist if the state could provide education efficently? people choose to pay twice for education because they believe they are getting a better service.

fimrs are people just like state employees why is it inherently wrong for them to make money by providing a service?

I'm curious about the concept. The Ludwig von Mises institute seems to be particularly vocal about this being the best way to conduct government. I haven't been able to pick up how exactly this would be implemented, so I would rather ask those who support the idea to explain it to me and be able to sate my curiousity. Explanations about how possible problems would not occur under a privatized system are particularly helpful. Thank you.


Justice must be believed in, in order for it to work.
Having people or firms administering Justice in such a way that a sizable minority ( perhaps even a majority ) thinks Justice is about making a quick buck would tend to undermine the effectiveness of the whole scheme, wot?

Justice must be believed in, in order for it to work.
Having people or firms administering Justice in such a way that a sizable minority ( perhaps even a majority ) thinks Justice is about making a quick buck would tend to undermine the effectiveness of the whole scheme, wot?

Everything else said in this thread on both sides of this argument seemed dubious. I knew I didn't like this concept, but I couldn't think why I didn't. Then you said that, and that was the reason.

Well done, that man.

Nope, Im again't this sounds like they would not give a rat's ass about poor people and commercialise it to make a profit. Not good at all. Specially with something as important as a Police department for example.

Nope, Im again't this sounds like they would not give a rat's ass about poor people and commercialise it to make a profit. Not good at all. Specially with something as important as a Police department for example.

And somehow police with the city will care more about the poor? You act as if the private police would thumb their noses at the poor and piss all over them. Dat's not true, homie.

And somehow police with the city will care more about the poor? You act as if the private police would thumb their noses at the poor and piss all over them. Dat's not true, homie.
Sure they would--they'd be paid to care about the people paying them and no others, so why should they give two shits about the poor? The poor would be outside the private police's mandate.