STATEMENT FROM DONALD COHEN, AUTHOR OF The Privatization of Everything: How the Plunder of Public Goods Transformed America and How We Can Fight Back, RESPONDING TO ELON MUSK.
Donald Cohen released the following statement responding to Elon Musk’s assertion that the U.S. should “try to privatize everything we possibly can.”:
“The idea of privatizing the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak, recently floated by billionaire Elon Musk, is yet another irresponsible statement made by someone who has shown very little interest in democratic institutions or the concept of the common good. He just wants another chance to turn a profit on public services.”
“We’ve seen communities sell off parking meters, water systems, public lands, and even their public education system, only to see the public constantly at the mercy of corporations that cut corners, slash services, reduce access, discriminate, and raise prices, without any opportunity for the public to fight back.”
Cohen, Executive Director of In the Public Interest, a nonprofit research and policy center advocating for the democratic control of public goods and services, is a sought-after speaker and widely-quoted source on the impacts of privatization on public services—everything from prisons to water to health care and education.
This week, In the Public Interest released its 2025 Resource Guide, a compendium of resources that drill down into all these sectors and issues. The guide is intended to help the media and the public understand the impact privatization has on communities and individuals.
In the coming weeks, ITPI will release a brief on how to determine whether “efficiency” is about innovation—or just cutting corners and turning profits for corporations.
To interview Cohen or for more information on ITPI, contact Jeff Hagan, Communications Director, at jeff@inthepublicinterest.