One example would probably be the odd public absorption of the bankrupt Railroads into Conrail which the government strengthened and then privatized back out, by selling it to CSX and Norfolk Southern.
Yeah, under the terms of deal it would be bad. The issue to really make privitazation work, there has to be constant compettion. One example you probably won't agree with on where privitization has worked, has been the airlines.
Um... how many airlines have declared bankruptcy since 1978?
Since that contract for the meters in the OP was not properly vetted by the taxpaying citizens of the city, it should be declared null and void due to predatory clauses. 71 years my rosey arse, and having to back pay a penalty for constructing parking garages? Morgan Stanley should be publicly whipped for such crap. It sounds like Daley's Fuck You to Chicago.
But think about it. If you have to sell something to pay your bills, and someone offers you a lot of money for it, then probably it's because THEY think they can make a profit on it. If THEY can profit, you probably can too. How is it the City wasn't making money on parking meters? I think that should have been the first question. Couldn't the CITY have raised parking prices FOURFOLD? Selling capital assets that produce income is usually stupid, no matter who does it. Yes I do understand that bureaucracy can grow like a weed, become obstructionist, create unnecessary expense, and that happens with government run entities that don't have to compete. But it also happens with private entities that don't have to compete.
There are two models I like. 1. Government builds an infrastructure, such as fiberoptic or microwave networks, then leases it out to companies to handle customer management, billing, and service. The companies all pay the government the same for their leases, the competition comes in how well they manage customer service. The government is required to lease to at least two companies in any region, if no two companies in any region exist, the government must run the service at a PROFIT.
This model gives efficiency of scale, because resources are not duplicated in building the infrastructure. It gives efficiency of service and maintenance, because the entire network would be built on the same standards. Kind of like track width for railroads. It allows the government to back out of the customer facing side of the industry, while keeping them responsible for maintenance. It allows and forces the government to recoup investment. It makes competition work. It creates niches for start up companies that operate locally.
2. Government rescues critical industry or service by buying a controlling interest and taking over management. Government then consolidates and runs the industry until it can be bought out. Similar to what we did with the railroad, only once again, government Makes Money.
Our city water and electric company Make Profits. They drive most of them back into the business, with new sources of water and electricity and technical and infrastructure improvements, but the excess goes to city hall, and that keeps my property taxes down. I think this is a win win model for any critical public service business.
