orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) (11/02/84)
> >I'd also like to do away with private security > >companies; people licenced to carry guns make me nervous, and I think > >we would have more efficient security with a well funded and trained > >police than by dissipating the resources among private firms whose > >objective is not to serve, but to make a profit. > > "Dissipating" resources? Yes sir! Those public police forces sure > do the job! Ask anyone whose ever been broken in on by the DEA. > That's what we need all right -- MORE police, and BETTER police. > > Thanks, but I'll take the private fire department, and the > private security firms -- they are after profit, so they are > answerable to their customers. Public officials, of course, > particularly career beaurocrats, are much less so. Exactly. "private security firms are answerable to their customers". It seems to me that both Libertarians and their opponents forget some basic facts of history. In the 19th century the "robber barons" controlling the oil, mining and other industries had their own private security firms-- they served their customers very well and massacred hundreds of union members who were fighting for such radical ideas as: 1)the eight hour day 2)sick leave 3)overtime pay 4)grievance procedures against dictatorial managers 5)paid vacations etc,etc,etc. If everyone has to pay for their own protection then those with money will be protected and those without money will not be protected. Worse yet, often those without money will be positively assaulted as they have been in the past by the security forces of those with money. The right to freedom from assault is every citizens right--it is not a luxury to be provided for only those who can afford it. There is definitely a government duty to provide protection for all citizens. Now whether the government may decide to contract out its obligation to protect all citizens to private firms or carry out that function with its own bureaucracy is another question. But it is an obligation of government to provide such protection to ALL citizens. Tim Sevener whuxl!orb