Okay conservatives, read my analysis and tell me what you think.

It is the assertion of many conservatives that the private sector is the best for handling virtually everything. The theory, to my understanding, (and correct me if I'm wrong) goes something like this:

1. Private corporations want to make profit, therefore they will run their businesses in the most efficient manner possible.

2. Private corporations are always at the risk of their consumers punishing them for amoral behavior, because they can immediately "vote with their dollars" and therefore are run in the most moral manner possible.

3. being that these two things are the case, the public sector will always be less efficient and less ethical than private corporations, both wasting tax dollars from citizens, and doing an incompetant, shortsighted job to boot.

With me so far? Or is my premise on these things wrong?

Assuming I've got it right, then how do you explain the reprehensible behavior of Haliburton in Iraq?

I watched hearings this weekend on their various practices, and I was appalled at their behavior.

They have killed soldiers indirectly by letting things fall of the backs of trucks for greater profitability elsewhere, not to mention selling weapons to potentially US unfriendly groups.

They have killed soldiers DIRECTLY by improperly de-toxifying water used in their shower facilities (17 dead from this incident.)

They have threatened the health of soldiers by shipping edibles and ice in trucks used to cart corpses around without cleaning in between.

They have gouged US taxpayers and Soldiers alike by overcharging for food, laundry, and other services, not to mention occaisonally charging for services not even being used.

They have displayed repeated belligerent behavior to their own employees when any dissent is expressed.

Et ceterra, et ceterra, et ceterra.

So where's the invisible hand of the market in an example like this? They have no competition, no legal jurrisdiction to be prosecuted in, no incentive to do good work, and no incentive to even be efficient.

How would the public sector, either our government or the Iraqi government do a worse job than these guys?