John Stossel Special. Privatize Everything!

In this special episode of American Conservative University, John Stossel champions the radical idea of privatizing nearly every public service, arguing that private companies consistently deliver better results at lower costs than government agencies. Drawing from real-world examples—from Jersey City’s water system and Chicago’s recycling program to privately managed parks like Bryant Park and libraries in Santa Clarita—Stossel demonstrates how competition, accountability, and profit incentives drive efficiency, innovation, and improved service quality. He challenges the notion that privatization inherently favors the wealthy or harms the poor, citing Iran’s legal organ market as a case where selling kidneys has saved lives and empowered the economically disadvantaged. Stossel also explores the philosophical underpinnings of privatization through interviews with economists like David Friedman, who argues that even courts and law enforcement could be privatized through voluntary arbitration and private security. While acknowledging valid concerns about equity and accountability, the episode ultimately asserts that government monopolies lack the competitive pressure to improve, and that privatization, when properly managed, leads to better outcomes for all citizens.