Uncle Miltie Comes Back From the Dead to Privatize Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria
After the disastrous Hurricane Maria, we see private owners using Milton Friedman’s methods trying to buy up property on the island of Puerto Rico in order to gain control of the people’s resources including electricity and education.
RIVERSIDE — In September of 2017 Puerto Rico experienced the wrath of the infamous Hurricane Maria which traveled from coast to coast leaving the island in complete chaos. The mighty cyclone came from a huge tropical wave coming off the coast of Africa a week before it began to hit Puerto Rico. With its powerful winds and heavy rainfall, this natural disaster left communities and villages immersed in high waters with little hope of rebuilding. Alas, there was hope for rebuilding; But was the island being helped only because it was benefitting the crooked private business associates? According to the ideas in The Shock Doctrine, all evidence points to only one answer: YES.
We all know about the violent turmoil caused by Hurricane Katrina that brought light to the theories of Milton Friedman after the fact and whom we learn about through Naomi Klein’s, The Shock Doctrine. Klein paints this picture of “Uncle Miltie” as a power-seeking, money lusting business man who wanted to take advantage of the disasters people endure. Friedman began preaching his methods to those who would listen and whom eventually did. His schemes relied purely on the catastrophes people go through whether it be a natural disaster or anything that shocks the public right into his tactics. Similarly, we are starting to see trends of disaster capitalism in areas of Puerto Rico just as we did in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
To elaborate on the doings of our not-so-good friend Friedman, his plans were economically-based and they revolved around the terror of communities after facing any type of disaster. Not at all am I saying that Milton Friedman physically had any part in the coincidental construction of charter schools after Hurricane Maria, considering he is deceased. But even from the grave Uncle Miltie is able to influence our world in ways most of us are not even aware of. Puerto Rico is mostly filled with low-income families and impoverished households. In the past we have seen the effects charter schools and privatization have on places filled with poverty, New Orleans being a perfect example. With charter schools being built on Puerto Rican soil education will be harder to obtain for those who can not afford to pay for tuition. This may lead to the influx of people with more money, in turn driving out the poorer families from the culture filled communities that they contribute to. As we have seen culture drastically decrease on New Orleans land, the same could potentially happen to Puerto Rico a few years from now. But the privatization of schools was not the only thing big-shot business owners were after; They are also looking to buy their way into controlling the power utility industry.
Furthermore, a couple decades ago the Puerto Rican water supply was privatized by a company by the name of Veolia. As time went on, the contract caused many problems that included the fining of the US Environmental Protection Agency. After the six-year contract ended, another one started with a different private company called Ondeo. Although officials believed this contractor was a miracle sent from heaven it turns out this company made matters even worse. Like many private companies, Ondeo asked for more money than originally bargained for as time went by. Because these disputes were so concerning the contract with the private company was terminated after two years. After trying to push the privatization of water, government officials came to their senses and went back to where they first started — public management. These privatization tactics are essential in following the methods of Mr. Friedman. Not only do they help to gain control of business but also the public itself. After experiencing the power held by private companies not once but twice, I do not see how the privatization of electricity would benefit the people of Puerto Rico.
Continuing onto the electrical controversy within the island, privatization of the supply would only result in more disputes as were seen with the water supply. Allowing another outside company to take over Puerto Rican matters would be extremely risky because of the history given. It is even theorized that the black out after the hurricane was orchestrated so private companies could come in and take over. Not that this should be surprising considering this has happened in the past with businesses following Friedmanite strategies. The privatization of power utility on the island could lead to rising prices along with the risk of companies asking for more money from Puerto Rico similar to previous partnerships. High prices would not be compatible with the citizens of this island because they are mostly underprivileged families with little income. In general, private companies taking over the power sources of the Puerto Rican people would cause many problems that have previously occurred and may end up doing more damage than good.
As we know, The Shock Doctrine framed Milton Friedman’s work as the taking over of property after disasters hit. These strategies are being implemented into Puerto Rico’s government because of the after-math from Hurricane Maria. Private companies have already moved into the land taking over education by establishing charter schools. Now the power utility industry is at risk and will result in the ability of private companies to deprive the poor of the life sustaining resources they need. Disaster capitalism is very well still alive and thriving at the expense of the poverty-stricken communities.
