January 7, 2008
IF CANDIDATES WERE CHOSEN ON MERIT...:
What’s Left for Government to Do?: Outsourcing champion STEPHEN GOLDSMITH examines the question of whether governments really have ‘inherent’ or ‘core’ functions. (Stephen Goldsmith, January/February 2008 Issue, The American)
Functions such as law enforcement and public safety are typically considered inherently governmental. But as the mayor of Indianapolis for two terms (1992–1999), I outsourced the operation not only of a jail but also of an airport and a utility—with good results. It was hard not to be amused, as the GAO panel debated the definition of an inherently governmental function, by the fact that the federal building we were meeting in was under the protection of a private security firm. Even if we could agree on core government functions that had to be walled off from contractors, we would be left with a thorny question: what happens when government turns out not to be very good at inherently governmental work?At the state level, several governors and legislatures are not getting hung up on philosophical questions and are instead rushing to try private-sector solutions to pernicious public-service problems. Officials do so at significant political risk, but the potential for success—and for breaking with age-old failures—seem worth the gamble. In 2004, Mayor Richard Daley secured a $1.8 billion deal to lease the operation of the 7.8-mile elevated toll road known as the Chicago Skyway to a private consortium for 99 years. Two years later, Indiana made a deal with the same consortium: a 75-year lease for $3.8 billion to operate the Indiana Toll Road. Other states have outsourced the operation of toll roads and bridges, and more are considering it. Privatizing state lotteries is also under discussion.
But leasing out toll roads and lotteries is relatively simple; some states are showing much bigger ambitions. Texas has attempted to outsource the way that welfare eligibility is determined, for instance, and Florida has privatized its human-resources operations. Neither venture has found much success, but they offer lessons that might help officials elsewhere as they attempt their own innovations. Certainly, the efforts in Texas and Florida are an indication of how today’s public-private partnerships differ significantly from those of recent decades. No longer limited to ownership of a public asset, privatization initiatives nowadays are increasingly adventurous. Businesses and government are clearly ready to consider tackling complex policy problems using modern technology and the creative spark of private enterprise.
Perhaps no state or local effort in the last several years better represents the future of privatization than the welfare-eligibility modernization project launched last year in Indiana.
...this election would be Richard Daley vs. Mitch Daniels. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 7, 2008 4:36 PM
And a h-ll of a contest that would be.
Of course it could never happen, I mean, two candidates, the election of either would make RR blissful. Repubs/Donks/MSM could never let that happen.
No one gets a contract under Daley unless one his pigs gets a vig.
Your opinion of Bush and McCain, though high, is understandable.
Daley does not warrant your support. One hopes Patrick Fitgerald stays long enough to put this piker in a cell next to George Ryan.
Posted by: Bruno at January 7, 2008 7:21 PMNothing wrong with greasing the skids to get stuff done. It's called good governance.
Posted by: oj at January 7, 2008 9:12 PMHe's turned anti-pandering into a brilliant form of pandering. The Left loves him because he thought the Bush tax cuts should be a few dollars smaller.
Posted by: oj at January 7, 2008 9:16 PMHere's the inherent or "core" function of government.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford_class_aircraft_carrier
Lou,
What, you would prefer the following?
Sunday July 2 nd 2006 Vancouver, BC, Headed for Seattle, WA.
The US Navy welcomed the latest member of its fleet today.
The USS William Jefferson Clinton (CVS1) set sail today from its home port of Vancouver, BC.
The ship is the first of its kind in the Navy and is a standing legacy to President Bill Clinton "for his foresight in military budget cuts" and his conduct while president. The ship is constructed nearly entirely from recycled aluminum and is completely solar powered with a top speed of 5 knots. It boasts an arsenal comprised of one (unarmed, un-airworthy) F14 Tomcat or one (unarmed, un-airworthy) F18 Hornet aircraft which cannot launch on the 100 foot flight deck. It forms, a very menacing presence. Very scary, indeed.
As a standing order there are no firearms allowed on board. The 20 person crew is completely diversified, including members of all races, creeds, sex, and sexual orientation. This crew, like the crew aboard the USS Jimmy Carter, is specially trained to avoid conflicts and appease any and all enemies of the United States at all costs.!
An onboard specially designated Type One DNC Universal Translator can send out messages of apology in any language to anyone who may find America offensive. It carries actual recordings of Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, other apologist "dignitaries" and movie stars, to be broadcast on loud speakers when needed. The number of apologies are limitless and though some may sound hollow and disingenuous, the Navy advises that all apologies will sound very sincere.
The ship's purpose is not defined so much as a unit of national defense, but instead in times of conflict the USS Clinton has orders to seek refuge in Canada, post haste. The ship may be positioned near the Democratic National Party Headquarters for photo-ops from time to time, and can be used extensively for social experimentation and whatever other worthless jobs, the ex-commander-in-chief can think of. It is also reported that the Democratic Party has on the drawing board, another similar project, except that all will done in pink, in case Hillary is elected President. They think that will be a nice touch.
It is largely rumored that the ship will also be the setting for the upcoming season of MTV's "The Real World."
The ship was renamed and commissioned USS William J Clinton when someone realized the USS Blowfish was already taken.
"Nothing wrong with greasing the skids to get stuff done."
I agree.
Posted by: Robert Moses at January 8, 2008 7:42 AM