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Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 25, 2012

Everything You Wanted to Know About Private Equity

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/wanted-private-equity/

The hottest phrase on the campaign trail right now is “private equity”.  Mitt Romney made his hundreds of millions as head of Bain Capital, a major private equity firm and insists the company has created jobs and improved the efficiency of the American economy.  President Obama just as strongly insists that Bain and other private… Continue reading

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Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 24, 2012

The Euro and Local Self-Reliance: A Flashback

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/euro-local-self-reliance-flashback/

In May 1998 the European Union voted to adopt a single European currency.  A few days later David Morris set down his thoughts about that momentous decision from a local self-reliance perspective.  Fourteen years later, as Greece and Europe revisit the costs and benefits of the Euro, we thought it appropriate to offer that column… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 21, 2012

What are people — and the Post Office — for?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/people-post-office-for/

On May 15, 2012 Mark Jamison wrote a heartfelt valedictory letter to his community.  He begins,  “It’s likely that I will be the last postmaster to serve the town of Webster, North Carolina.”  And goes on to tell us what he thinks the post office was and should be and what it is becoming. As… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 18, 2012

Pennsylvania Handsomely Subsidizes School Bus Privatization

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/pennsylvania-handsomely-subsidizes-school-bus-privatization/

Still one more empirical study finds that privatization costs taxpayers dearly.  This time the issue is school bus transportation.  In a new report, Runaway Spending: Private Contractors Increase the Cost of School Student Transportation Services in Pennsylvania the Keystone Research Center concludes, “Contracting out substantially increases state spending on transportation services. We estimate that if… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 14, 2012

Five Reasons Why Privatizing Michigan’s Prisons Is a Bad Idea

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/reasons-privatizing-michigans-prisons-bad-idea/

Both chambers of the Republican-controlled Michigan legislature are pushing to privatize that state’s prisons.  Like a similar bill introduced by Florida Republicans that was narrowly defeated, the Michigan bill would require shifting 1200 inmates to a private prison if 10 percent savings would be gained.   The Detroit Free Press published an Opinion piece by… Continue reading

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Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 1 Comment | Updated on May 9, 2012

Romney, Hoover, Eisenhower and that Pipeline

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/romney-hoover-eisenhower-pipeline-2/

After winning the Illinois primary, Mitt Romney delivered a victory speech in which he deplored America’s lost “can do spirit”.  Unsurprisingly, he blamed it on government.  If elected he promised, “We’re going to get government out of the way”.   Then he offered a few examples of what he meant.  “We once built the interstate highway… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 4, 2012

Tea Party and NAACP Help Defeat Privatization Bill in Florida

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/tea-party-naacp-defeat-privatization-bill-florida/

Earlier this year, Florida’s Republican Governor and legislature proposed to privatize all 26 state prisons.  SB 2038 would have allowed privatization if a private company’s bid was at least 7 percent less than the state’s current cost. The bill would affect nearly 4,000 state workers.  Projected annual savings exceeded $16.5 million. Despite union opposition, the… Continue reading

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Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 1 Comment | Updated on May 3, 2012

Profiles in Political Courage

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/profiles-political-courage/

A few weeks ago Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA who is retiring from the House this year, gave a memorable interview to New York magazine in which he criticized President Obama for aggressively pushing health care reform.  Frank says he warned Obama the Democratic Party would pay “a terrible price.” Apparently Frank was not alone in… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 30, 2012

In Montana the streams belong to the people. So far.

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/montana-streams-belong-people-far/

Montana, home to some of the world’s best fly fishing, is also home to the country’s most far reaching law protecting their stream and river commons. The catalyst was a 1984 ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that any river or stream capable of being used for recreation purposes such as fishing and floating, can… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 26, 2012

Michigan Republicans Deny Petition to Restore Democracy Because Font is Too Small

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/michigan-republicans-deny-petition-restore-democracy-font-small/

It’s hard to make this stuff up.  Last year the Michigan legislature passed a bill that gave the Governor the right to seize control of a city and insert a manager that had the authority to fire all workers, abrogate all contracts and privatize all public asset, all without the advice or consent of elected… Continue reading