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How America Sidelined Its Citizens And Privatized Its Public

Ivan Turner

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Downsizing Democracy: How America Sidelined Its Citizens and Privatized Its Public

by Matthew A. Crenson

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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In the years since the Great Recession, America has seen a dramatic increase in the privatization of public services. This trend has been driven by a number of factors, including the rise of neoliberalism, the shrinking of the welfare state, and the increasing influence of corporations in American politics.

Neoliberalism is an economic ideology that emphasizes the importance of free markets, deregulation, and privatization. It has been the dominant economic ideology in the United States since the 1980s, and it has led to a number of changes in the way that public services are provided.

First, neoliberalism has led to a decrease in the role of government in the provision of public services. This has been done through a number of mechanisms, including tax cuts, deregulation, and the outsourcing of public services to private contractors.

Second, neoliberalism has led to an increase in the cost of public services. This is because private contractors are often more expensive than government agencies, and they are less likely to be regulated. As a result, the cost of public services has increased, making them less affordable for many Americans.

Third, neoliberalism has led to a decrease in the quality of public services. This is because private contractors are often less accountable to the public than government agencies. As a result, the quality of public services has declined, making them less effective at meeting the needs of the American people.

The shrinking of the welfare state has also contributed to the privatization of public services. The welfare state is a system of social programs that provides a safety net for the poor and the working class. In recent years, the welfare state has been shrinking, as a result of budget cuts and changes in eligibility requirements.

As the welfare state has shrunk, more and more Americans have been forced to rely on private services to meet their basic needs. This has led to an increase in the demand for private services, and it has also made it more difficult for people to access affordable public services.

The increasing influence of corporations in American politics has also contributed to the privatization of public services. Corporations have been lobbying for the privatization of public services for many years, and they have been successful in getting their way. In recent years, corporations have donated millions of dollars to political campaigns, and they have used their influence to push for policies that favor privatization.

As a result of these factors, America has seen a dramatic increase in the privatization of public services. This trend has had a number of negative consequences for the American people, including a decrease in the availability, affordability, and quality of public services.

The Consequences of Privatization

The privatization of public services has had a number of negative consequences for the American people. These consequences include:

A decrease in the availability of public services
An increase in the cost of public services
A decrease in the quality of public services
A decrease in accountability to the public
An increase in the influence of corporations in American politics

The privatization of public services has made it more difficult for Americans to access the essential services they need. This is a serious problem, and it is one that needs to be addressed.

What Can Be Done?

There are a number of things that can be done to address the problem of privatization. These include:

Increasing the role of government in the provision of public services
Regulating private contractors more closely
Investing in public services
Expanding the welfare state
Reducing the influence of corporations in American politics

These are just a few of the things that can be done to address the problem of privatization. It is important to remember that privatization is not inevitable. It is a policy choice, and it is one that can be reversed.

Downsizing Democracy: How America Sidelined Its Citizens and Privatized Its Public

by Matthew A. Crenson

5 out of 5