Aquilla noted that George Washington and his pals placed many very tight regulations on corporations…at the state level..
THIS IS ABOSOLUTLY TRUE.
However, when you say “corporation” to an American living in 21st century America it means something vastly different than saying the word “corporation” to someone living in late 18th century, early 19th century America.
Now you will either get “oh yea I work for one of those” or “big oil! Run for the hills!”
Then, you might get shot.
You see, the worst we have in the form of corporations is a wrong headed notion that “big xxxxxx” is out to make too much money and they don’t care who gets hurt in the process.
Back in 1776, a corporation was a charter by a king, that had extensive powers that included imprisoning people, beating them half to death with a whip, and even stringing them up on the nearest tree. A corporation carried the force of the Sovereigns authority with no checks and balances. They could enslave a perfectly healthy free white man. They could take land away from people who had lived on that land for generations with no appeal to any governing body. In many cases they were the only governing body.
So Aquilla, lets not trot out GWash didn’t like corporations, as a reason to hamstring American business. It’s a bucket that just won’t hold water.
Ferd, laws were on the books preventing AMERICAN corporations from infiltrating politics with their interests and money until the late 1800's. Corporations are not citizens and in the late 1800's they were granted by the SCOTUS rights of free speech. That was something our founders were dead set against because naturally the one with the most money will drown out the voices of the average citizen. Corporate money should be banned from politics and corporations shouldn't have a right to free speech. They are not citizens.
Those are my opinions. But hey...what do I know. Maybe abortion and gay marriage are the most important issues facing the American family. Personally...I think these are just political noise.
Ferd, laws were on the books preventing AMERICAN corporations from infiltrating politics with their interests and money until the late 1800's. Corporations are not citizens and in the late 1800's they were granted by the SCOTUS rights of free speech. That was something our founders were dead set against because naturally the one with the most money will drown out the voices of the average citizen. Corporate money should be banned from politics and corporations shouldn't have a right to free speech. They are not citizens.
Again, you are completly right, and historically muddled.
The REASON the founders were so opposed to corporations was because WHAT THAT MEANT in early 19th century Western culture. NOT because of what a corporation means today.
you cannot build an argument on this, it simply cannot be done.
One can clearly make the case that there are certain protections that must be held (See Teddy Roosevelt and the trust busters). One can make the case that American should not allow China greater access to our markets than they allow us access to their markets, and do so without wading into the protectionists pond...
One cannot however, take a founders hatred of the Hudson Bay Company and extroplate a reson to choke the life out of Exxon.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
Again, you are completly right, and historically muddled.
The REASON the founders were so opposed to corporations was because WHAT THAT MEANT in early 19th century Western culture. NOT because of what a corporation means today.
you cannot build an argument on this, it simply cannot be done.
One can clearly make the case that there are certain protections that must be held (See Teddy Roosevelt and the trust busters). One can make the case that American should not allow China greater access to our markets than they allow us access to their markets, and do so without wading into the protectionists pond...
One cannot however, take a founders hatred of the Hudson Bay Company and extroplate a reson to choke the life out of Exxon.
Ferd...many corporations are thugs in the international scene. Many have their own "security" units that are nearly paramilitary. Many have beaten local government officials into submitting to interests that are in the best interest of a given corporation. They often bring the locals into slave labor in unsafe working environments etc.
Have you heard of PMCs? What are your thoughts on them?
Well I'm not sure if this will explain what you want me to explain but I'll try. When it comes to abortion, abortion's legality doesn't have any baring on abortion rates. Some of the world's nations with the most pro-life laws have the world's highest abortion rates. For example nations in South America. However, pro-choice nations often have lower abortion rates than these "pro-life" nations. When I was looking into this I discovered some things. Belgium has the world's lowest abortion rates yet it's a Pro-Choice and very liberal nation. Belgium often bills itself as a family friendly nation. Every family in Belgium has health insurance. Families in Belgium do not suffer under suppressed wages. Single parent families have subsidized child care. And a host of other domestic initiatives aimed at helping families be...a family. In America when it comes to health insurance the philosophy is, I got mine you get yours. Oh can't afford yours? Too bad. Hope you find some charity. Oh, charity cannot afford to sustain your cancer treatments? Oh well...I guess you were meant to survive. Later. I'll see you at your funeral. Single parents often face an uphill battle when it comes to jobs and wages to keep them above water. Add the cost of child care the odds are stacked against them. What I'm saying is that Belgium has invested in the family and it's paying off. More women in Belgium choose life because they know they indeed can raise a family and single women with unexpected pregnancies know they can raise a family without working 12-16 hour days for barely enough on the hour to keep a roof over their heads.
America has fallen behind most of the Western Word when it comes to education and most domestic policy initiatives. Belgium has lower abortion rates than we do. Two out of three American women who choose abortion state that they chose abortion because they could afford a family. A good percentage of these were married with already existing children. The American economy doesn't support families. It supports the wealthy. Families face an uphill battle on every front. Our divorce rate is amazingly high. Why do most marriages fall apart...financial problems. Many Americans have worked hard and have actually accomplished a lot. Yet they cannot afford health insurance. When taken ill they are faced with overwhelming health care costs and they loose everything they worked for to bankruptcy. The American economic system is just the opposite of Belgium's. Like it or not families need money to survive. They need economic stability to survive. And right now in America that just doesn't exist. Many families reaching out for the American dream fell prey to predatory lending practices of variable rate mortgages. These banking entities essentially set these families up to loose it all for profits. You can't raise a family without a job. You can't raise a family without a wage that is livable. You can't raise a family without health insurance to address your family's health needs. You can't raise a family in an economy where the cost of goods is steadily rising while wages are not. We often rate a politician as pro-family or anti-family based on their position on two issues...abortion and gay marriage. But in all honesty those are only two issues. And in all honesty families are more directly effected by suppressed wages and lack of health insurance than what the gay couple does down the street. I believe that America would see less abortion if it took a Pro-Family domestic policy position similar to that seen in Belgium. Belgium has the lowest abortion rate in the world. That's nothing to sneeze at.
America is a terrible place to raise a family. We who have spent quite a bit of time in other countries and return to America are often in shock at America's downward spiral. Many foreigners come to America expecting to see prosperity and peace only to be amazed at rampant crime, poverty, and political wrangling. I know a couple from Italy who recently came to the United States. They are currently working on getting back to Italy because they just can't make it here and raise their family.
America can do better than this. Pro-Family means being pro what families need.
Very interesting post. If you could be 'king' for a term what would you do to try to accomplish a more pro-family society?
Just to balance out your anecdotal comments. I have friends who have moved to New Zealand and miss the ol' USA badly.
__________________ "I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it."
Well I'm not sure if this will explain what you want me to explain but I'll try. When it comes to abortion, abortion's legality doesn't have any baring on abortion rates. Some of the world's nations with the most pro-life laws have the world's highest abortion rates. For example nations in South America. However, pro-choice nations often have lower abortion rates than these "pro-life" nations. When I was looking into this I discovered some things. Belgium has the world's lowest abortion rates yet it's a Pro-Choice and very liberal nation. Belgium often bills itself as a family friendly nation. Every family in Belgium has health insurance. Families in Belgium do not suffer under suppressed wages. Single parent families have subsidized child care. And a host of other domestic initiatives aimed at helping families be...a family. In America when it comes to health insurance the philosophy is, I got mine you get yours. Oh can't afford yours? Too bad. Hope you find some charity. Oh, charity cannot afford to sustain your cancer treatments? Oh well...I guess you were meant to survive. Later. I'll see you at your funeral. Single parents often face an uphill battle when it comes to jobs and wages to keep them above water. Add the cost of child care the odds are stacked against them. What I'm saying is that Belgium has invested in the family and it's paying off. More women in Belgium choose life because they know they indeed can raise a family and single women with unexpected pregnancies know they can raise a family without working 12-16 hour days for barely enough on the hour to keep a roof over their heads.
America has fallen behind most of the Western Word when it comes to education and most domestic policy initiatives. Belgium has lower abortion rates than we do. Two out of three American women who choose abortion state that they chose abortion because they could afford a family. A good percentage of these were married with already existing children. The American economy doesn't support families. It supports the wealthy. Families face an uphill battle on every front. Our divorce rate is amazingly high. Why do most marriages fall apart...financial problems. Many Americans have worked hard and have actually accomplished a lot. Yet they cannot afford health insurance. When taken ill they are faced with overwhelming health care costs and they loose everything they worked for to bankruptcy. The American economic system is just the opposite of Belgium's. Like it or not families need money to survive. They need economic stability to survive. And right now in America that just doesn't exist. Many families reaching out for the American dream fell prey to predatory lending practices of variable rate mortgages. These banking entities essentially set these families up to loose it all for profits. You can't raise a family without a job. You can't raise a family without a wage that is livable. You can't raise a family without health insurance to address your family's health needs. You can't raise a family in an economy where the cost of goods is steadily rising while wages are not. We often rate a politician as pro-family or anti-family based on their position on two issues...abortion and gay marriage. But in all honesty those are only two issues. And in all honesty families are more directly effected by suppressed wages and lack of health insurance than what the gay couple does down the street. I believe that America would see less abortion if it took a Pro-Family domestic policy position similar to that seen in Belgium. Belgium has the lowest abortion rate in the world. That's nothing to sneeze at.
America is a terrible place to raise a family. We who have spent quite a bit of time in other countries and return to America are often in shock at America's downward spiral. Many foreigners come to America expecting to see prosperity and peace only to be amazed at rampant crime, poverty, and political wrangling. I know a couple from Italy who recently came to the United States. They are currently working on getting back to Italy because they just can't make it here and raise their family.
America can do better than this. Pro-Family means being pro what families need.
Good grief. I don't even know where to begin with this. I'll just keep it simple.
You seem to have a great affinity for Belgium. Nice. But keep in mind theres probably some guy on Belgian message board as we speak, complaining about stuff about their country/system that he doesn't like. The grass always seems greener on the other side.
With all of America's "issues", there are still a lot more Europeans looking to come to America, than the other way around. Maybe there's a reason for that.
__________________ http://endtimeobserver.blogspot.com
Daniel 12:3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever.
Work on a national health insurance plan similar to that possessed by congress. I’d structure it with both public and private components similar to that found in France.
Offer more middle class and small business tax credits.
Reduce the massive tax giveaways to the top 2% on the economic ladder.
Push to implement elements of the 95-10 Initiative supported by Democrats that aims at reducing the rate of abortion in the United States by 95% in 10 years.
Cap malpractice rewards.
Streamline the approval process of medications and treatments.
Focus on domestic security and counter terrorism not expansive and pre-emptive war with nation states.
Begin a “Manhattan Project” to find more efficient fuel sources to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Begin leading the way on environmental standards and heavily tax goods sold in the US produced by companies from countries that are non-compliant.
Work on a national health insurance plan similar to that possessed by congress. I’d structure it with both public and private components similar to that found in France.
Offer more middle class and small business tax credits.
Reduce the massive tax giveaways to the top 2% on the economic ladder.
Push to implement elements of the 95-10 Initiative supported by Democrats that aims at reducing the rate of abortion in the United States by 95% in 10 years.
Cap malpractice rewards.
Streamline the approval process of medications and treatments.
Focus on domestic security and counter terrorism not expansive and pre-emptive war with nation states.
Begin a “Manhattan Project” to find more efficient fuel sources to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Begin leading the way on environmental standards and heavily tax goods sold in the US produced by companies from countries that are non-compliant.
good luck with that, oh yeah gotta get elected first, sorry, dt
__________________
A product of a pentecostal raisin, I am a hard man, just ask my children
Ferd...many corporations are thugs in the international scene. Many have their own "security" units that are nearly paramilitary. Many have beaten local government officials into submitting to interests that are in the best interest of a given corporation. They often bring the locals into slave labor in unsafe working environments etc.
Have you heard of PMCs? What are your thoughts on them?
Oh good grief!
what? are you now going to site Jerico the TV show as proof that Black Water USA is out to get us?
black helicopter alert!
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
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