Idaho is bidding goodbye to the private company that it hired to run its largest prison. It should add good riddance. This moment provides Idaho’s political leaders an excellent opportunity to examine the assumptions that first brought Corrections Corporation of America to the state more than 10 years ago: the unshakeable faith in the privatization of public services. Might it have been a mistake, this presumption of excellence and efficiency? Should we expect, from the Idaho politicians who have collected such generous donations from CCA over the years, some soul-searching and rethinking? We should not. Earlier this year, an effort to have the state make a bid for the prison contract – to simply throw its hat into this seedy little ring – was rejected. Don’t wanna grow the government, you know/Shawn Vestal, SR. More here.

Question: Is privatization of public services an impractical idea has idea has come and gone?