Hey, Private Sector, Wanna Buy a Bridge?

Wired by Dave Demerjian | Mar. 24, 2009 (Special Report)

The real cost of modernizing the country's infrastructure, says the American Society of Civil Engineers, exceeds $2.2 trillion — an overwhelming figure. Cities and states increasingly are inviting private firms to manage assets these governments can no longer afford and build projects they can't finance. More than half of the states are considering public-private partnerships to get things done, following an example set by European countries that have ... Full Story »

Posted by Kaizar Campwala

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3.4

by Kenneth Sibbett - Mar. 24, 2009

This was a somewhat biased article that doesn't seem to have another side. While the rest of the world may be doing this, this is the United States, and we didn't fight for freedom to be like ever other country.

I, like millions of others, do not like toll booths. They are considering them in N.C. where I live, and it's not a popular idea. I don't know the answer to how we fix this problem, but them I'm not paid too.

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3.5

by Marsha Iverson - Mar. 24, 2009

Substantive description of the public/private partnership (PPP) scene, where local governments turn to private sector firms and international megacorporations for essential infrastructure projects: bridges, roads, ports, airports, utilities, etc. Missing is any long-term financial analysis of existing PPP arrangements, and evaluations of the effectiveness and cost/benefit results for the comunities served. Perhaps a follow-up article will do this?

At issue here is a far more significant issue than finding ways to fund desperately-needed infrastructure projects during a global economic crisis. The overarching concern is simple, but not easy: Who owns America's resources, who profits from these partnerships, and where does the money go? When private interests control or own public resources (e.g., water and electric systems, roads, highways, ports, airports, prisons, schools, etc.) and natural resources (water, land, mineral ... More »

“You’re talking about taking public assets, paid for with public dollars, and selling them off,” says Gina Downs, director of the Citizen’s ... More »

Why Foreign Ownership of US Assets is a Big Deal - See Review »

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3.9

by Derek Hawkins - Mar. 24, 2009

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3.6

Good

from 3 reviews (30% confidence)

Quality

3.6

Facts

4.0

Fairness

3.3

Information

4.0

Sourcing

3.0

Style

3.5

Context

3.0

Depth

3.0

Enterprise

3.0

Popularity

3.6

Recommendation

4.0

Credibility

3.3

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1.5

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# Likes

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1.0

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Why Foreign Ownership of US Assets is a Big Deal

New York Post by John Crudele | Sep. 18, 2008 (Opinion)

A few weeks back President Bush used his trip to the Olympics to chide his hosts, the Chinese, about human rights violations. Even if the president was truly passionate about ...

Posted by Marsha Iverson

3.7

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