Once it goes under a federal agency, it's there forever. Any future attempt to privatize it would meet with resistance at least as fierce as what Bush faced when he proposed reforming Social Security. We're talking tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of new federal employees, and extremely high paid ones at that. Longshoremen are probably the highest paid union people there are (excepting professional sports and actors "unions") - the average salary is over $100,000 per year. Billions and billions of dollars per year to be found in the federal budget to pay for it.
If we want to turn over all of our port operations to the feds, that's a legitimate debate. But something tells me that many of the same conservatives who are ripping Bush over this and ripping him over spending and government growth will rip him even harder if he allows the ports to be nationalized.
You mentioned I set up a false dichotomy; if we make it illegal for foreign companies to be involved with our port operations (which is what Congress is proposing), and if we can't find an American company willing to take on these operations, what else is there to do besides what I mentioned (nationalizing the ports or shutting them down)? What am I missing?
Why don't we cross that bridge if and when we get there.
I have a lot more faith in American capitalism than I do in Emirate of Dubai integrity.
JMHO.
What I have not heard anything about is why the U.K. Deal is terminating (other than that company is slated by this Deal to be purchased by UAE, et al).
Otherwise, find another organization, OR, incentivize American business, etc. In the entire world, is this one from the UAE and COSCO from China/Taiwan the only two available?
In which case, we have a problem. Time to make an effort for American business to catch up. I do think for national security reasons it's very important...who knows, maybe we can even implement a working border security program that is not contingent upon a "guest worker program" inorder to become available to Americans.
These truly are the reasons this Deal is so concerning and that is that there is recognition for our need to improve by much our national security and border security. We have to confront these problems and incorporate them into capitalism, somehow that doesn't sell out Americans in the process.