This comes from “In the Public Interest,” an organization that reports on outsourcing and privatization, which is usually NOT in the public interest.
Donald Cohen writes:
As we approach Election Day, a number of governors in tight races are finding that privatizing public services isn’t good politics. But it may be good for campaign fundraisers seeking donations from corporations that want government contracts.
A new report released by the Center for Media and Democracy highlights the intensive efforts of governors seeking re-election to privatize important public services to private firms. Time after time, outsourcing has gone awry, generating worse outcomes for the public, scandals, lawsuits, and scorching headlines that are impacting the campaigns. The report includes examples from Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Wisconsin.
Here are examples from the report:
• In Michigan, Governor Rick Snyder outsourced prison food service to Aramark after the company spent half a million dollars on lobbying. The contract has been plagued by scandals, including maggots, employees smuggling drugs and having sex with inmates, and even murder-for-hire allegations.
• In Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett has outsourced millions in legal contracts to major campaign contributors to defend ALEC-style voter ID legislation and other policies. The governor also attempted to privatize liquor sales, which would have benefited another set of deep-pocketed contributors like retail giant Walmart. Walmart donated $33,500 to Corbett’s campaign.
• In Florida, Governor Rick Scott has overseen a massive expansion of for-profit online schooling to companies that spent millions on lobbying. Scott signed a bill requiring every student to take online courses and tests benefiting firms like K12 Inc.
The outcomes of these races could very well be an important referendum on outsourcing and privatization. We’ll be watching.
Sincerely,
Donald Cohen
Executive Director
In the Public Interest
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The choice for some of us is between bad and worse.
Agree.
2O2T,
Your too kind. I would have said “between shittier and shittiest”.
This would be a travesty, but some would become VERY RICH.
The only problem is that some parts of the story are not true. There has never been a liquor privatization plan presented in Pennsylvania that would allow Walmart or any other big box retailer to sell wine and spirits unless over 50% of the stores sales came from groceries. No Walmert does that.
The conservative agenda is privatization, indeed “some” will become very wealthy off the backs of the poor and middle class.
cross posted at http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Will-This-Election-Be-a-Re-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Democracy_Diane-Ravitch_Election-Free-Media-Advertising_Elections-141028-818.html#comment517503
with this comment
The ‘schools’ are not the issue here. It is the collapse of our democracy which public education enables, not just by ending ignorance and facilitating learning, but by providing the road to opportunity. Public education is THE JOB CREATOR.
Reblogged this on Rcooley123's Blog and commented:
I think it should be. Would definitely be a winning issue for the left.