Ask the right questions before privatizing, not after

ASK THIS | July 08, 2011

Public officials are succumbing to the promise of easy money and privatizing services and infrastructure -- at great long-term cost to the public and to democracy. The head of a new resource center on privatization writes that if our leaders won't do it then it's up to the media to ask tough questions, before it's too late.

By Donald Cohen

Elected officials, conservative think tanks and industry consulting groups are proposing to privatize a wide range of public services and infrastructure in cities and states across the country. State and local officials scrambling to fill budget shortfalls are hoping to cut costs by outsourcing services. They are selling off major public assets such as parking lots, roads and government buildings for a quick infusion of cash – sometimes in the billions. Conservative politicians and think tanks describe privatization as an antidote to ineffective government. And private companies are looking for steady revenue streams that come along with long-term government contracts and leases.