Issues with privatisation of defense and homeland security

Since I heard about the controversy of how U.S. Blackwater security corporation operated in Iraq, I had been thinking a lot about if it's right to privatize defense and homeland security operations.

Blackwater provides security for high-target individuals in Iraq. The agency has license to kill, if the personal it protects are attacked. When attacked, the security guards engage in combat, effectively making them militia. These agencies operate under heavy legal protection and the judicial branch has absolutely no control over these agencies.

It's very hard to keep these private agencies from doing the wrong things. Here are some inherent flaws in privatization of army.

Possibility of corruption through non-transparent, no-bid contracts

How can the Government ever come up with a right price for a security deal? It's very hard to put a price on a security operation. What's the price to guard a street, when you don't know how you are going to be attacked next? When there are multiple agencies bidding for a defense contract, it's very easy for Govt bureaucrats to prefer one over another. Even worse, Govt can issue these contracts without bidding at all, which was often the case with contracts issued to Blackwater security.

Mistakes made by private parties are perceived more seriously

Blackwater allegedly mismanaged the security of it's own personal leading to their death. Public view mismanagement of a private security firm much more seriously and have a sense of being cheated. The relatives of the affected wanted details on the deaths of their kin. Due to national security reasons, the private agencies were shielded from judiciary. People can only voice their opinions with the Government, which itself operates in collusion with BlackWater.

Perception of private agencies as mafia

What's the main difference between mafia and a private security firm? The private security firm is operated under a Govt contract and legal protection. When Blackwater was hired to provide security in streets in New_Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, people saw Blackwater security roaming around the streets with guns in their hands.

Would people be more comfortable with army personal or private security agency? Private agencies work to maximize their profits, while armies don't. Armies are under legal scanner for wrongdoings, but it's very hard to micro-manage security done by private agencies. There is a widespread argument that Blackwater did not do enough to prevent looting in New_Orleans. (or) what if they colluded with armed gangs?

Conclusion

People who die working for private agencies do not get medals of honor. Do they deserve the honors? I believe private armies might work only for very narrow missions like personal security. Using private armies for larger missions like Hurricane Katrina and combat operations cannot be easily justified.

Representation without taxation

In most countries, people automatically earn their right to vote when they turn 18. I believe, at eighteen, most people don't pay enough taxes to be given a right to vote.

Government functioning is funded by taxes. Why should people who don't pay taxes get representation? This is same as a person who does not own any shares voicing his opinion in a shareholders' meeting. Alright, Government is not a for-profit corporation. But, it operates by tax revenue. People who don't pay taxes don't have much to lose to ask Govt to raise taxes. What if all the non-taxpayers get together to increase taxes to 80% to fund public programs like social security and Medicare?

My proposal is that only people who file tax returns should be given a right to vote. It's not unreasonable to ask people to file tax returns to earn their right to vote. Government needs to ensure that people have filed their tax returns before registering them as voters in every election. This would have a good side benefit of encouraging people to file their tax returns.

It's socialist to allow people who don't file tax returns to be allowed to vote.