Facing pressure to crack down on crime amid a record budget deficit, Oakland is joining other U.S. cities that are turni

[answerhappygod]

Facing pressure to crack down on crime amid a record budget
deficit, Oakland is joining other U.S. cities that are turning over
more law-enforcement duties to private armed guards. In 2009, the
Oakland City Council voted to hire International Services Inc., a
private security agency, to patrol crime-plagued districts.
While a few Oakland retail districts have pooled cash to pay for
unarmed security services, using public funds to pay for armed
guards would mark a first for the city. Hiring private guards
is less expensive than hiring new officers. Oakland police
say they consider unarmed guards acceptable, but don't support
armed guards. However, some local leaders say that they have
few other options to reduce the city's violence.
Sources:
National Center for Policy Analysis (“Cash Strapped Cities Try
Private Guards Over Police,” Bobby White, "Cash-Strapped Cities Try
Private Guards Over Police,"

Wall Street Journal, April 21, 2009, or April 22,
2009; http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=17885.)
Questions:
1. Do you think that privatization of public services is a good
thing? Why or why not?
2. What are the ethical and political questions at stake in the
privatization of police?
3. Is the privatization of police forces comparable to the
privatization of other public services, say, mail delivery, or food
services? Why or why not?