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NASA Considers Privatizing Space Shuttles
panopticon was among the many who submitted a BBC story talking about NASA considering privatizing the space shuttles as a cost saving measure since those pesky shuttles cost $400M every time we throw one up into orbit. The article really doesn't say much beyond that.
If you don't wanna pay for it, find someone else who will. Hey, they did it with HMOs, and look how well that worked out...
You gotta figure Larry Ellison would be first in line. Any chance to look down on everybody at once would just yo good for him to pass up.
On the bright side finally a place big enough for his ego.
By definition, a government has no conscience. Sometimes it has a policy, but nothing more. - Albert Camus
You should have read your Economics textbook more closely.
You should perhaps start looking at a wider range of economics textbooks.
A free market always gives a good situation for the consumer, always gives an optimal situation for the consumer. This is simply known as the Law of Supply and Demand.
In simplistic models yes, but they fail to take into account many of the realities of real world economics - the lack of perfect information for instance. They also don't take into account human capital either, although neo-liberals are quite happy about leaving such concerns out of their propaganda.
For some empirical evidence instead, contrast the Soviet Union's consumer with the American consumer in the mid-80s. You would rather stand in line for toilet paper?
The Soviet Union was a mess, sure. But look at it today with a far freer market than the US - massive corruption, waste and poverty. My, what a success.