Assignment task:
Many years ago, while facing pressure to crack down on crime amid a record budget deficit, the City of Oakland joined other U.S. cities that were turning over more law-enforcement duties to private armed guards. In 2009, the Oakland City Council voted to hire International Services Inc., a private security agency, to patrol crime-plagued districts around the city. While a few Oakland retail districts had pooled cash to pay for unarmed security services, using public funds to pay for armed guards would mark a first for the city. Hiring private guards is less expensive than hiring new officers. Oakland Police said they considered unarmed guards acceptable but didn't support armed guards. However, some local leaders said that they had few other options to reduce the city's violence.
Over the years, including recently, other government entities have turned to privatization as an answer to dwindling funds. Examples include the State of Texas privatizing Child Protective Services, many cities turning to the privatization of water resources and garbage services, or even the national government considering the use of privatization for the National Park System.
Answer the following questions:
1. Do you think that privatization of public services is a good thing? Why or why not?
2. What are the ethical and political questions at stake in the privatization of police? What about the privatization of other government services?
3. Should government look to the private sector to provide a more cost-effective delivery of services? Is that really how it ends up working out?