Sunday's St. Louis Dispatch revealed that a privately owned company was being reimbursed by residents and businesses in certain sections of the City for extra security and street patrols. The Paper called it a "shadow police force."
This reminded me of the trouble we get into when we contract out public services. Yet, it is an easier way to deal with problems of crime and property damage than to raise taxes. As a result we allow a lot of "shadow police" operations thrive in war and in peace.
We contracted out to the Blackwater Company in Iraq. We look the other way when the Boy Scout's Explorers program teaches 33,000 young people how to deal with enemy agents. We allow elected officials to tell us to carry concealed weapons into public places to protect us from random killings rather than appropriate funds for programs and personnel.
"Shadow" anything is deceptive, costs dearly and keeps us from dealing with reality.
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