There is a theme that has shown up repeatedly in American history in burst and spurts, almost since the beginning of the country you have seen examples of this. Of Government stepping in on behalf of one group or the other to save them because it is in the ‘public good’.
This alliance is happening once again, right here and right now. With all of the bailouts, benefits, and restructuring that the government of the United States is picking winners and losers in the markets, and in the country, and setting up new rules where the winners continue to stay that way.
Certain corporations are even going so far as to right now take advantage of some of the policies that are being discussed, to get ahead of their competition, and try and undercut them in the markets. Thus making more money, and getting richer in the process off of these policies.
Companies like Walmart, and GE are trying to find ways of getting rich at the expense of fair play in the free market, by currying favor with the government, and joining them in these policies.
Whether it comes to health care, or the green attitude and policies being conducted right now, certain banks and companies stand to make millions of dollars taking advantage of the political climate that currently exists.
For that is a cause when you have Socialism, and Communism. They can ultimately be used to help a small group of corporations ahead of the need and the power of other companies. Competition is destroyed, there is no such thing as ‘small business’ everything is controlled through this alliance between the two sides of government and these mega corporations, who control all facets and means within the society, leaving normal citizens with little or no choice of what to buy, and how much to pay for it. Artificially increasing prices beyond any reasonable figure.
And also, something else worthy to point out since we are on the subject, Fritz Henderson the new CEO of GM was on the Glenn Beck show at the beginning of the month of May. In the show he said basically that the government was going to have virtually no control of GM…from that point on apparently.
What I came to think of though, is this. That his mere existence is a blatant manipulation of the government. He is in effect a government appointee, a government worker, similar to that of a cabinet position or a supreme court nomination, or a Czar. Regardless he is there because the government wants him there for whatever reason they want him there. This is a step into the free markets, that should be left alone if we are to keep corruption out of the system.
And finally, the last piece of the puzzle here that bares pointing out is the ease at which one can be back stabbed and controlled in this new climate, either government or corporations, but mainly on the corporate side of things.
This is proved by the AIG mess that happened several months ago, no matter what side you were on in the beginning it is not my intention to pass judgment on whether or not the bonuses were a good thing or not. The point that I do want to bring up to this is that AIG was one of the good guys, they were one of the people that government picked into becoming a winner cause they were too big too fail, and then wrote in laws that gave them the power to spend that money however AIG wanted…even on bonuses. But when that fact became a political liability, they were thrown under the bus, and caused a public outrage to be raised against them to where they were the sole bad guys in this entire plot.
This proves the lesson, the patronage of the government is an fickle thing, embarrass them and you will be made to suffer, that once you start more and more of your rights, and your controls as private citizens will be taken from you.
Now Next Week, I will be talking about Global Warming, and the political need for it in todays climate. Cheerio.
And have a happy rest of your Independence Day
Colfoley's Blog 
3 Comments
Well thought out and very interesting. The corruption that occurs when governement gets involved in business is legendary (ask the former Soviets and the current Chinese people) and leads to not simply unfair practices, but unsafe products and work environments. When an employee (or gov’t bureauocrat) demands a bribe just to do their job… then there are serious problems. The current administration is certainly heading down that road fast!
so true man, what you have said. I have said the same sort of thing for a long while, it is said that those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it. But their mistakes screw us. This is why we need the American people united in a front saying no to socialism.
I concur. As a Roman Catholic I get accused a lot of being a socialist. But the Church understands the concept that there is a right way and a wrong way to go about helping the poor. Charity must elevate people, not keep them down. Government welfare checks do not do this. Government welfare checks are designed to do one thing and one thing only, to keep people in thrall to the government at the expense of taxpayer money. True charity is when people come together, of their own free will, and use the fruits of their labor to care for those who are less fortunate while at the same time teaching the able-bodied members of these indigent communities how to best become self-reliant and make something of themselves. On the environment, we as Catholics believe the world was created for us and we are charged by God to use the resources given to us by Him wisely. Again the Church recognizes that there is a right way and wrong way to go about it. Instituting what amounts to a new tax and an increase in the cost of living on the American people in hopes that the environment will be helped is the wrong way. Encouraging research into cost-effective and efficient alternative fuel and energy sources is the right way.