Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TigerPaw who wrote (59350)	10/8/2004 5:41:49 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 89467

Whither, democracy? The Privatization of Hell on Earth: One of the key issues confronting Americans today is the wholesale effort by the GOP to end our public institutions. As Republican strategist Grover Norquist stated, he didn't want to destroy the Federal Government, merely 'shrink it to the size that we could take it into the bathroom and drown it in the tub.' This is not the agenda of a dedicated democrat. It is the agenda of a monster, hellbent on eliminating the American Dream and replacing it with a feudal nightmare. We need to counter this radically reactionary lack of vision. *** pef.org PRIVATIZATION A Fight Back Handbook Identifying the Signs of Privatization Public employees need to be aware and be able to identify privatization techniques and opportunities early on in order to begin preventing or fighting privatization. Understanding these methods used to shift services and assets to the private sector will assist you in your fight back efforts. Early Warning Signs Before governments begin to privatize services, and long before bids are submitted, public employees should be watchful and attentive to indicators that these actions may occur. It is important for the public sector not to be caught by surprise. This means that public employees need to be involved in early detection by: 1) being alert to changes that managers are discussing; 2) being proactive by anticipating additional work current contractors may seek; 3) monitoring documents such as agency mission statements, 5 year plans, pending executive orders, etc.; 4) and recognizing buzzwords such as "downsizing," "restructuring," and "re-engineering." Recognizing and being aware of the early warning signs that government is contemplating privatization is extremely important. Some of these warning signs include the following: * There is a turnover in leadership which results in the election or appointment of someone with a pro-privatization agenda * The Governor issues an executive order (New York already has an executive order)creating a taskforce on privatization and contracting out * legislature establishes legislative initiatives that promote privatizing services * The announcement of a looming budget crisis * The development of an employee attrition plan which includes things like early retirement incentives, hiring freezes, and no strategy for refilling positions * State agencies initiate or hire consultants to conduct "efficiency" or "cost comparison" studies of public services or operations * "Shadow agencies," trusts, or not-for-profit organizations and authorities are created * The state initiates the reorganization and consolidation of services into one central agency which makes it easier to privatize * The state agency begins utilizing temporary, part-time, or "workfare" personnel to provide public services * State agencies ask public employees to respond to bids from private corporations * Neighboring states or communities begin privatizing services * Services are: Introduced, changed, or restructured * The state agency utilizes contractors to conduct new projects