Quote of the Week: Privatization Hurts National Security

"Bush transfered ownership of 6 American ports to Dubai Ports World, a private company owned by Dubai/United Arab Emirates. Bush, who has imprisoned in Guantanamo without redress many with Arab-sounding names, now says that the uproar against his actions is due to racism. No it is not.

The uproar is taking place because Bush’s actions are hurting the security of the U.S. I’ll go further and say that the whole Republican idea of privatization has gone too far and is gutting our security.....

Bush says UAE is an ally. I don't think so. We can't trust it. Allowing them to handle American port operations would be like accepting a Trojan Horse.

Both Democratic and Republican officials are criticizing this action, Democrats because they are fighting for greater security, and Republicans because their cherished principle of privatization is smacking them back in the face.

Privatization is a Republican buzzword. Republicans want to reduce the size of government. They want to privatize government functions because 'the private sector does everything better.' Because of the Republicans' great penchant for privatization, they have flooded Iraq with 'private contractors,' who get paid outrageous sums and are not required to follow the rules. Maybe that's why Republicans like them. Armed services people hate these ' contractors'; they are a big factor in descending morale.

It's not enough that privatization has hurt our security by ruining Army morale (and ruining our reputation around the world) now privatization is used to degrade homeland security. We should not have any corporation, any private operation, run our ports.

Our ports deserve as much security as our airports. I think most of our airports are run by local governments. Our ports should be run by government entities as well.

The major focus of an organization running one of our ports must be security. The major focus of a private company is making a buck. I'm not knocking this; it is a fact. A government organization will focus on security. To keep our ports safe, government organizations must be used to do it.

Republican privatization is hurting America's security. Let's put government back in charge of all aspects of security."

--- blogger Paul Siegel at Watchblog: Political News, Opinion & Commentary, on Feb 22, 2006
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