Another way resources will be redistributed--if the Republicans have their way--is the privatization of public assets.
Think of all the riches tied up in our public education system. At the Koch-funded Heartland Institute, President Joseph Bast said: "We see vouchers as a major step toward the complete privatization of schooling. In fact, after careful study, we have come to the conclusion that they are the only way to dismantle the current socialist regime...."
Romney also wants to privatize Social Security–at least, that was his position when he last ran for president. At a town hall meeting in October 2007, Romney said that rather than paying into Social Security, people should be required to invest their money in the stock market. When someone in the audience told Romney it sounded like “privatization,” the perennial presidential hopeful replied: “You call it privatization. I call it a private account....”
Though he has backed away from that scheme, Romney now advocates selling Amtrak, claiming such a sale will save the country $1.6 billion a year. Amtrak, or more specifically its highly profitable Northeast corridor, was the target last year of an unsuccessful privatization attempt by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
In These Times
GOP Land Grab
Joel Bleifuss, a former director of the Peace Studies Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia, is the editor & publisher of In These Times
GOP Land Grab
Joel Bleifuss, a former director of the Peace Studies Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia, is the editor & publisher of In These Times
2 comments:
Coming to a country near you, create a national "debt" crisis. The wealthy malefactors are only too willing to help out, sell them all the public assets.
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/the-exchange/greek-islands-sale-why-not-164115290.html
Wait until they start selling off US national parks to pay of the "debt".
A reason the top tax rate needs to got to 90%, including the trillions accumulated overseas.
In athletics, the high school level inter-scholastic sports are quickly losing their prominence as "the best teams to play for".
Private "clubs" or sports "academy", AAU type organizations are taking the best players and have the best player development and highest competition levels.
From what I understand in soccer, the academy coaches are overtly just short of forbidding players from playing for high school team.
Soccer, hockey, baseball, basketball, looks like football is not probably due to the facilities required but that may be next...
Take team athletics away from the social aspects of the public schools and there is one less "glue" to hold these institutions together...
rsp,
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