Does Dean really oppose privatization of public services?

[wyldwolf]

Howard Dean has repeatedly declared his blanket opposition to privatization of public services during his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, though as governor of Vermont he at times went on record supporting privatization.

On Friday, when a voter asked his thoughts on private prisons, Dr. Dean volunteered a sweeping statement: "I oppose privatization of public services."

He told the woman, a corrections worker in Burlington, Iowa, that "private prisons do a worse job than public prisons." Then he added, "The answer to your direct question is: I oppose privatization of public services."

But in a 1998 letter to a constituent concerned about the privatization of a government-run day care center, Dr. Dean wrote, "Over all, I have found that private contractors can perform the same service for less money while maintaining a high level of quality."

more

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/politics/campaigns/21DEAN.html

[KittyWampus]

1. Oh, Egads! Not Another Contradiction....

:(

[wyldwolf]

2. Seems to be a few lately, huh?

[KittyWampus]

3. I Don't Really Feel Like Signing Up For NYTimes

so I'll look for the article tomorrow. I get the paper.

[LiberalBushFan]

4. Stop criticizing Dean's evolution!

Darwin did all that hard work just for yall to complain!

[Scott Lee]

5. Care to provide the ENTIRE Dean quote?

Sorry but I've learned not to trust a thing you Dean opponents print about him on face value. Let's have the whole thing, in context please.

[wyldwolf]

6. ok...

He wrote that he could not intervene in the case but added that Vermont "relies on the outsourcing of certain state functions in order to save taxpayers money."

Five years earlier, Dr. Dean wrote to Leon E. Panetta in the Clinton White House to lobby against the repeal of an executive order paving the way for government outsourcing. "Privatization, undertaken with fairness and carefully monitored, can deliver better public services at lower costs," he said in that letter.

Jay Carson, a campaign spokesman, said Dr. Dean told him on Saturday that the 1993 letter to Mr. Panetta and the 1998 constituent letter were written by aides and did not reflect his thinking. Mr. Carson said the former governor could not recall privatizing any jobs in Vermont.

So Dean now says his aides wrote the letter???

[quaker bill]

9. Well, it is true

As a goverment employee, I am no fan of privatization. On the other hand it is true that in certain very limited scenarios the private sector can provide more efficient service.

For instance, in the agency I work for, at Headquarters we have a large fleet and fleet maintenance facility staffed by employees. However as the branch office I work in is 2 hours away from it, it is more cost effective and efficient to outsource the maintenance of our small motor pool to a local mechanic. We tried it both ways and it is simply more efficient to outsource in this case.

On the other hand, I live in a red state. The drive to outsource and privatize has been pushed well beyond the point where it makes any economic sense. There is a ton of evidence that outsourcing is being used as a spoils system and as a means to layoff democratic voting union members.

Outsourcing is not evil by definition, but it has been put to evil purposes of late.

[mouse7]

7. Gore and Kucinich "matured" on the issue of women's choice

Dean has said that the interaction he's had with voters along the way have helped him "mature" on a few things as well.

It's one of those things where you either believe what the guy says, or you don't.

Did Clark support Bush and Reagan? Is Kucinich for real in his change on the right to choose? Do you believe we would be in a war in Iraq if Kerry were President? How moderate is Dean? All resonalble issue discussions, but not something to attack someone on. All 9 candidates have strengths and weakness. No perfect candidates.

[wyldwolf]

8. Total agreement...

Hell, I don't require my candidates to actually FEEL a certain way as long as they legislate and VOTE a certain way. (Kucinich could still be anti-choice as long as he votes pro-choice, for example) but I don't think Gore and Kucinich pawned a "prior" position off on their aides, though, trying to make if appear he'd never actually held that position.