The Children of Blackwater

As I mentioned in a previous blog, children exemplify the world view of those who follow Ayn Rand. They are totally selfish, self-centered and interested primarily in themselves. Fortunately, they have parents so they don't go ahead and kill themselves. Corporations contracted by the United States, alas, lack the loving oversight of a concerned adult.

Take, for example, a company like Blackwater. Were it not for the generosity of the United States tax payer, this company would barely eke out an existence. Our governmental largesse has bestowed upon this company and its 1000 contract workers in Iraq one billion dollars. However, the company's goals have nothing to do with the greater good of the United States. Their job is to protect individuals and make a profit in the process. Period.

Now after running roughshod over Iraqi drivers who would dare impede a Blackwater protected motorcade, the company finds its behind being spanked not by the U.S. government, but by the Iraqis. American diplomats can't function, however, without this company. It's a dilemma caused, I'm afraid, by parental negligence on the part of our government. You can't give the keys to your diplomats' security to a bunch of selfish kids without setting some kind of ground rules.

Another example of this happened during the last meeting between Condoleezza Rice, Bob Gates, and the Russians. The Americans got a dressing down by the Russians over missile defense. Like Blackwater, missile defense consists of companies getting billions of dollars from the United States. The Russians are like that guy in your private gated community bringing you in front of the collective board because your kid has a car on concrete blocks in the driveway and it's bringing down the property values.

On the other hand, there's the problem of schip, and the horror of funding real kids and their health problems out of our government coffers. It's ironic that the teat of government largesse can't touch the mouths of real children, but only these overblown corporations who are irritating the heck out of all of our worldly neighbors. Blackwater chairman Erik Prince's multi-million dollar salary comes mainly out of taxpayer pockets, but god forbid a family making $80,000 a year be freed of the multi-thousand dollar cost of children's health insurance.

Apparently, some kids are loved better than others.