"American-style capitalism" is having its worst public relations month ever. But as the world questions the excesses of free-market orthodoxy in the wake of financial meltdown, a group of Republican Atlanta suburbs is swimming against the tide.
When the government of the city of Sandy Springs in Georgia decided to bring in a multinational corporation to run all of the city's services - with the exception of police and firefighting - it effectively became the first fully privatized city in the world.
It's a trend that is already spreading fast, with four new cities launched in the last three years. They are all run by the same company, one associated with huge government contracts from FEMA trailers in New Orleans to reconstruction in Iraq: engineering giant CH2M Hill.
Here's a story I did for my weekly show, Inside USA on Al Jazeera English:
You can see more of Inside USA here:
And you can watch Al Jazeera English, live 24 hours a day:
Follow Avi Lewis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/avilewis
The State Constitution sets forth how communities may incorporate, if enough folks want to, and manage their affairs seperate from the County government. There is a little overlap in government taxation and services, between Incorporated Cities, and County, but mostly, the effect is some of the property tax revenue is handed over to the City by the County, and some of the County services are cut off to the City by the County. The City then uses its money to do it themselves. We have a lot of rural "towns" in Nevada that aren't incorporated, and are simply part of the County systems. Every now & then a community may grow enough & fuss with the idea of incorporating- not many do, because it is usually seen as a duplication that costs money. It is not unheard of for an Incorporated City to disincorporate (or debate it) to save money (usually suggested by cheap Republicans, or because it could shift the politics). It is common for cities to contract out some services, tax collecting, garbage, airports, golf, etc. The only interesting newsworthy part of the story is there is a company that can handle such a task, and that they chose not to contract out their Police & Fire services, to Blackwater or something. Guess they don't want to live in a prison! It is a State Constitution & Statute issue. If it doesn't work
Instead of putting walls around the ghettos, they put walls around the areas that surround the city and let the city rot until they become desperate enough to "sign Ze Papers."
Shock Doctrine.
While Corporations take over the nation state, and replace it with multinational corporation.
How "American."
Our (and the world's) economic meltdown is the direct result of the 'free market' that is espoused over and over because it benefits weathy people and corporations. Do we ALL care so little about our fellow man that we do not want them to have what we have? Do we think it is beneficial to all to keep people as little more than slaves to drive the profits of the 'free market'?
Call Obama a 'socialist' if you will, but if 'spreading the wealth around' is his agenda, I'm all for it!