Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Politics In General Does Gov. act contrary to interests of citzens?

Snuff 'em out or simply give them 'The South' and bid them adieu.

No, sometimes "snuffed" isn't dramatic enough.
Let's take a look at a recent Romney quote:
Limk
Ya see what I'm saying?
Some days I'd like to see them all raptured the f**k outa here.
But back to topic...
Whether government intended it or not, when things fell apart for me, Uncle Sam was there and helped me get back on my feet. There have been better governments than this one, regarding the interests of the citizens, and there have been worse. But my take on government in general is that it always has and always will put the interests of the wealthiest citizens first.

Greger, this is where we fundamentally have a difference of opinion. My take is that government, in general, always will protect its own interests over that of any citizen, wealthy or not. By that I mean not all wealthy folks or organizations are “insiders” with the government. The word “wealthy” is an abstract word. Not all wealthy people have the ability to influence government. They’re just larger contributors to the cause.

Government is dependent on the labor of others outside of itself to exist. And there's no doubt about it. Government is easily influenced to act in specific ways by individuals or corporations, which are more willing to supplement their coffers over and beyond the usual means of collecting revenue used to support its existence.

Over time, government has legislatively enhanced its ability to protect its own interests.

As far as government created programs. The reality is that many of them have come into being in order to pacify the regular folks. The ultimate motive by government for program creation hasn't derived from love of country, compassion, or an altruistic act. They haven't even been created to somehow level the playing field for the little guys or underdogs.

When "insiders", meaning individuals or groups, that are not a genuine part of government, are financially powerful enough to take on the Constitutional role of government officials and not just influence the legislative process, but to actually be the brain-trust behind laws created in the name of our government...well, something is terrible wrong in Denmark.

We have to acknowledge at some point that we do have a "Special Interests" owned government. It's taken about 235 years to mold government into what it is today. It should be fairly obvious that the government is no longer "for and by" the people.

Every action by government is designed to produce a "payoff" for power individuals, groups, or corporations. Every piece of legislation is written to create a payoff for both government officials and the brain-trusts behind any given piece of legislation.

Is there a solution to all my claims? In my opinion, no. Like a well trained dog, we’ll all follow our master…even if it’s knowingly to our own demise.

Thanks...

'
Bad example, Phil.

First, a strong case can be made that the US and its people would be better off if there were a well-developed, modern rail system rather than road system which has so many negative features.

Second, the roads were not built in a political vacuum. They benefited construction companies, auto manufacturers, and many other interests which were strong lobbies acting against the public interest.

Hitler built the autobahns in the '30s, not to benefit the German people, but to facilitate the movement of war material -- and the United States government followed this Hitlerian rationale when it built the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s.

I read an article this morning that I believe is an example of how our political system and government is much more concerned about it's own interests over that of the citizens and the greater welfare of our nation.

It appears to me that our political factions and elected officials believe that they are now a private entity rather than a public function, and that their duties and allegiance to our nation and citizens described in the Constitution, no longer no applies.

Once again, I'm not affiliated with any party or political philosophy. While the article is making claims against Republicans, the Democrats are as much involved and as guilty as their counterpart.

And to repeat myself again. Both parties are shameless.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/campaign-finance-disclosure_n_1837841.html

I am not quite sure what it is you are asking, Aus, nor am I sure why you would think that I have a chosen party. I have made it quite clear, and you have been here long enough to know it, that I consider both parties to be utterly rotted and corrupt. And, while I have stated that I use libertarian thought as my political touchstone, and do not mind being thought of as a classical liberal, I do not see my political philosophy winning the day in this current age of ignorance, greed, envy, hatred, and self-righteous sanctimony -- and then there are the Republicans.
Yours in struggle,
Issodhos

It saddens me that so many people feel as you do issodhos. Not that I would like to see your ideology in practice but rather that you are not heard in the din called politics.

Neither am I, nor anyone else I know of here on Reader Rant nor the vast majority elsewhere across America. I can barely watch TV without being inundated by banality, outright lies and rah rah partisanship.

Thoughtful conversations are nearly impossible. I am guilty from time to time of squelching rather than further such discourse, despite a strong commitment to listen and respond in such a way as to honor what you and all others contribute.

I guess I am in a reflective state of mind and have never been quite this disappointed in our collective condition. Personally I refuse cynicism and prefer persistence.

But I wonder.

'
What you call cynicism, Phil, I call realism, and think there can not be too much of it.

I favor persistence, too, but not persistence in butting one's head against a stone wall -- rather, persistence in biding one's time, keeping one's powder dry, waiting for the opportune moment, and then striking hard -- and intelligently.

ho bíos brachús, , he téchne makrá ·
ho dè kairòs oksús, he dè peîra sphalerá ·
he dè krísis chalepé.

"Life is short, skill is long ·
The opportune moment is critical, the attempt is perilous ·
Judgment is difficult."
----Hippocrates

Phil, individual cynicism, in and of itself, is fruitless. Obviously displays of negativity by citizens (individually or collectively) have virtually no effect on our political system or elected officials serving in government.

Politicians and elected officials clearly know that the public has a very short temper and memory. As a rule most populations react in a knee-jerk fashion, and depending on whatever event they react to, politicians and government will take some token action, not so much out of a social concern, but more from a political appeasement motive to implement some legislative response, usually filled with enormous loopholes.

A couple of prime examples that remind us that our government and political system don't really care what we think: As serious is the Libor scandal is. Poooffff. Government and banking executives know that "Libor" practices are over the heads of most people so, it was just a short waiting game for them. Even the laws enacted that crashed our financial institutions and economic well being are alive and well and still lawful. And POOOOFFFF, all of these issues are gone by the wayside because government, market street, insurance corporations, and banking institutions all knew that the core problems that caused the crash are WAY OVER most people's ability to understand the issues so once again they all employed the "waiting game tactic".

If there is no persistent, adamant, proactive role by the public to voice genuine dissent, in a constitutional manner, regarding inappropriate behaviors by political parties and government officials - then what word other than "hopeless" can be used to describe the chance of a positive renewal...or restoration...or even a redesign of elected officials roles in government ever occurring?

You and I both know that political machines, bureaucrats, and elected officials have a common perception that the larger population in our country are both ignorant and apathetic about most everything. There are no motivating factors that will impact our system of government or politics to relinquish its ever growing power, which is, by their own legislative efforts, under their control.

My plan is to be nice to Crick, then, after he overthrows the Gummit, he'll be nice to me and give me stuff I want.