OT Neighbor (rant)

I always hated the love it or leave it thing myself and laughed when I wrote that. It's just always used against me. If everyone who thought differently than me left, who would I argue with?

In my case,I'd still have the other voices in my head (grin).

Of course I can do something about it. I can vote for someone else. But, money (most of it corporate) has so corrupted our system that it's almost impossible to get someone out.

Our founding fathers were so afraid of the power of corporations that they put very strong limits on them. Remember, they were on the receiving end of the power of the first corporations. Essentially, corporations could only exist for a single purpose, for a specific period of time, and had to act in the public interest. Then they were dissolved. Check out

Now, having used their money to trash virtually all limits on their power (thank you Delaware), they aren't even US companies anymore. Now they don't give a s*it about the US since they can make money anywhere, and if it hurts the US, tough.

The only bulwark to corporate power is the government. In case you haven't noticed, corporations now have their own armies and are pretty much taking over ours. Just look at what happened during Katrina.

As I remember, Hurricane Katrena. The churches, corporations, Red Cross, etc. Tried to go to the aid of the people in New Orleans. FEMA blocked and prevented them at every turn. I remember listening to the radio in Rochester NY. The fire department of Rochester had some rescue equipment. They were about to leave, and someone from FEMA called, and told them not to come.

I guess you didn't agree with what I wrote earlier. If consumers don't like a corporation, they don't have to buy there. I disagree that the only protection is government. The protection is consumers deciding where to spend their money.

I am in much greater need of protection FROM GOVERNMENT than I am protection from corporations.

Please give me a couple examples of corporate armies.

I don't know where you are getting your history lessons. But when I was a kid, we learned that the founding fathers put limits on government. At this point, it sounds like you've been corrupted by the liberals who want a nanny state, and government control over every facet of your life.

Interesting spin... However, the founding fathers were terrified of government, which is why they developed the checks and balances system, and placed strict limitations on what each branch of government could or could not do. Hell, they even set up the first system of government so that the Federal branch had virtually no power over the individual states... something I think we should move back towards a bit. What's good for people in California is not necessarily good for people in Wisconsin.

The American Revolution occurred because King George (government) treated the colonies solely as a revenue source for Britain. This is how the US government is treating its citizens today.

If you read the writings of the founding fathers, you would certainly come to the conclusion that they would be appalled at what the US government has become... a nanny state.

aemeijers wrote in news:lEFVl.318245$ snipped-for-privacy@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:

yes,they are. They don't pay US taxes on their salaries,nor contribute to SS,they don't spend their salaries in the US,they don't vote here and they don't live here. WE get no benefit from them constructing autos in Canada,or Mexico.

Greetings, fellow constituionalist!

FEMA blocked those who were trying to freelance. Red Cross and those who had actual knowledge of the plans and were able to communicate with Fed, STATE, and LOCAL agencies and could sustain themselves were let in. The absolute last thing you need in these situations are a bunch of untrained, more importantly unsupported, groups running around. All three levels screwed the pooch on Katrina (largely because they followed their set plans to the letter), but this is one place where I would have to disagree. You get the freelancers and quite often they become an additional burden and you have to divert resources from operations to saving them.

For certain critical needs, there is often no choice (pharm., medical or surgical devices)

Nice to think so, but what about: drugs causing birth defects or disease restaurants with dirt and vermin unfunded pensions job discrimination no pay for overtime exposure to toxic or carcinogenic stuff at work, school hazardous waste in yer water supply ddt in your food or water someone with aids donates blood your local hospital is scamming you, your insurance company and govt. (I worked for such a corp.) organ donors from unregulated sources (they sell 'em in Asia) mercury in your fish

Blackwater? Got privatized medical care in jails in Florida.

Nonsense. Don't like Eli Lilly for some reason. You can stay away from Prozac and take Paxil or many others. At least four Companies make new hips okayed for use in the US. Etc., etc. Most places have many hospitals and tons of docs to sort through. If there is no choice, it is probably because your insurance company, even there many companies give you a choice.

Which generally is no worse than the pre-privatized medical care. Damning with faint praise I know.

-snip-

Just for giggles. . . which of the founder's writings have you read that gave you that impression?

I've read volumes of John Adams', Ben Franklin's, and Thomas Jefferson's words-- and a few thousand pages of the other Declaration Signers writings. IMO, they would be more concerned that gov't is doing more to help businesses than citizens, and that politicians are far too often just lining their own pockets. But for the most part they'd be pretty proud that their grand experiment has withstood the test of time.

Jim

Some of those mentioned above are common-sense public-safety items I don't have any quarrel with. Others are nanny-state items.

DDT, for example... Was merely victimized by the environmentalist organizations. Its not anywhere near as harmful as people believe. In fact, the banning of DDT has led to a resurgence of malaria and other pests (such as bed bugs)

Worker compensation is another item I don't think government should be involved in. Government should make sure companies aren't employing children 90 hours a week running heavy machinery, not saying that everyone MUST be paid a minimum wage.

Blackwater is hired by governments for the sole reason that they are cheaper to pay for than actual soldiers. Another admission that government simply CAN'T do anything as cost-efficiently as the private sector.

Ryan P wrote in news:h08jki$su6$ snipped-for-privacy@news.eternal-september.org:

Heh,WHAT "strong limits" did the -Founding Fathers- put on corporations?

In what document?

You have your stent and heart valve picked out?

I'd gamble on the private stuff - I know it's warts and always find them :o)

IIRC, George Washington insisted for some time that the POTUS be addressed as "Excellency"....or was it Adams? George fought against strenuous opposition to have a "standing army"...many opposed that.

My neighbor had a heart valve replaced recently, and they asked if he wanted pig valve or mechanical and then a choice of 2-3 mechanical ones. I have written multiple articles on orthopods giving choices of which knee you want replaced (the distaff side can even get their choice of 3 companies making "gender specific knees". Docs should be talking about the different kinds of stents available if possible since they all work by a little different mechanisms and thus should be covered for that pesky little Informed Consent issue.

Much more likely that the epidemic is caused by over-use of pesticides (just as with antibiotics) and too many people sleeping with people they don't know very well.

NOTHING would improve the economy as much as trashing the whole W.C. system in all 50 states. It is a horrible waste for physicians, employers, insurance companies and a lot of workers. Folks are robbed in the workplace, before they see their checks, because of the fraud and abuse of W.C. I've watched some great videos of "disabled" people.

Nobody knows that - Blackwater doesn't keep books.

Technically doesn't need to. The government knows what they pay for a soldier and what they pay for BW employee through their contracts. If B is less than A... Of course Blackwater isn't providing an army. It is providing bodyguard/security services, much easier and less expensive than an army. The proper comparison would probably be with the Diplomatic Security folks at State, Secret Service, etc.