what

1. 75

   lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

   UPDATED: And so it begins. Emergency Financial Mgr. fires entire government of Benton Harbor, MI.
   
   http://www.eclectablog.com/2011/04/and- … ncial.html

   replyreport
   1. 61

      Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Even though you are witnessing the power of government -- they can just legally make themselves invincible to breaking contracts -- you STILL want to be a pro-statist?

      replyreport
      1. 75

         lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This is COMPLETELY different Evan! They are doing this for the corporations. They want the private sector to take over gvt!!

         replyreport
         1. 60

            BillyDRitchieposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Wow, let's see......government run by corporations, men who actually know how to run and grow an organization and make it profitable and successful....or government run by career politicians who can't remember how many states there are in the union and couldn't operate a lemonade stand....
            
            Dilemma, dilemma.....

            replyreport
            1. 75

               lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               No dilemma for me. I am anti-fascist.

               replyreport
            2. 74

               someonewhoknowsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Like all corporations are run well! Please!

               replyreport
         2. 60

            uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            AWESOME!!! so much better than the other way around.  Unless you are Jonathan E. and have been targeted for death in the next Roller Ball match - but you love fiction.

            replyreport
            1. 75

               lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               So now we can call you a fascist, right?

               replyreport
               1. 60

                  uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  See you have that wrong.  In a fascist state the government still runs things with the only substantial difference between a communist and a fascist state being the color of the uniforms.

                  replyreport
                  1. 75

                     lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Oh, so you want the gvt out of it alltogether? JUST business/corporate run?
                     
                     
                     ps; you might want to think of the term socialism too, while you're at it.
                     I have a feeling that if the state ran the company, my propane would be a whole lot cheaper.

                     replyreport
                     1. 60

                        uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Give Barry enough time and he will guarantee that you not only will pay far too much but that it will also be in short supply.  Check the history of supply in a socialist state.  I think it would be great fun to watch people stand in line for potatoes.

                        replyreport
   2. 60

      sn53Anonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hi love,
      
      I read through much of this. I like it. Local government needs to be cleaned up. This looks like a good start.

      replyreport
      1. 75

         lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Cleaned up by who though? And what's he going to replace it with?
         His business buds?
         
         Oh OK...time to share the computer .......bye!!

         replyreport
         1. 60

            sn53Anonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Hi love,
            
            I think it is more likely that the dysfunctional portions of government will be cut out with a knife. From the articles it sounds as if the knaves and fools are well represented on the city council.

            replyreport
            1. 75

               lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               If he's a business guy, anything that doesn't make a profit is dysfunctional....
               and oh say--disabled childen hardly make a profit.
               Nor do physically challenged,
               very ill people
               elderly with fixed incomes
               
               I can see a whole lotta misery in the guise of cuts. And a lowering of taxes on his buds....
               
               making it even harder for those dysfunctioanl members of society.
               
               What shall they do? Just die? Or go away? What?

               replyreport
               1. 60

                  sn53Anonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  There are business opportunities in providing services to any and every segment of society. Why take the least effective and most overpriced way of delivering a good or service and give it monopoly power?
                  
                  There are very few things that government does well. And fewer still that could not be done better by someone with a profit motive.
                  
                  Are you served better by the Department of Motor Vehicles or by any well run privately owned store? I recently bought a new car. I had a specific one in mind. I called the dealership and asked a few questions. The gentleman who took my call did not know the answers but he promised he would find out and call me back. He did not. So I voted with my dollars and repeated the process with the dealership for the next potential new car on my short list.
                  
                  He called me back in a few minutes with the answer. So I went there and bought a car. The dealer has delighted me. They want me to be a happy customer. Competition for my business made the second dealer better than the first.
                  
                  Contrast that with my experiences with DMVs in two different states. In each case there was insufficient parking in the lot. In each case I was queued up with hundreds of other people. In one case I had to get up and move one seat to the right each time someone was finally helped. After more than an hour I had my five minutes with a bored public servant who couldn't care less whether I was a satisfied customer or not. It had no relevance to her or her union bosses.

                  replyreport
                  1. 60

                     Maembeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Comparing the DMV to car dealers in a terrible comparison.  They aren't even similar.  You couldn't have private companies licensing drivers.
                     
                     There are plenty of services that only the government can provide effectively.

                     replyreport
                  2. 60

                     John Holdenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     You know they used the same argument when they privatised utilities in this country.
                     
                     Now we have utilities that cost us much more than they did when publicly owned, that receive as much support from the tax payer as they did when publicly owned, that in many cases aren't even owned by British people!
                     
                     Do you know that the state run German Railway owns a part of British railways?

                     replyreport
                     1. 75

                        lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Here's how it's done:
                        
                        http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid … 817317115#

                        replyreport
                     2. 60

                        sn53Anonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        British utilities may be privately owned but the fascist hand of government is all over it. After all, isn't it fascism when an individual owns the businessz but the government directs its operations?
                        
                        "How are the gas and electricity industries regulated?
                        According to the Department for Trade and Industry’s paper on utility regulation, the duty of gas and electricity regulators is to protect the interests of consumers, regulate competition between providers, and monitor social andenvironmental issues within the industry."
                        http://www.electricity-guide.org.uk/regulators.html

                        replyreport
                        1. 60

                           John Holdenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                           I'm glad you agree that right wing governments are fascist.
                           
                           But unfortunately the government does not direct their operations, the regulatory bodies are pretty toothless and too ready to roll over and do as they are told to by those that they are supposedly regulating.
                           
                           Hey, do you know that we, the people, still pay for the rolling stock that the private owners kindly allow us to use?

                           replyreport
                           1. 60

                              sn53Anonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                              Personal problem.

                              replyreport
                              1. 60

                                 John Holdenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                                 I sincerely hope that it soon leaves you and you feel yourself again.

                                 replyreport
                                 1. 60

                                    sn53Anonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                                    Hi John,
                                    
                                    I am very glad that your comments result in laughter. :-)

                                    replyreport
2. 60

   BobbiRantposted 13 years ago

   Well let's see..........Edward Bernays taught corporations how to 'sell' Americans, and the world, ideas making us all think the road to 'happiness' is to buy, buy, buy and Bernays felt citizens are all 'stupid' which Many citizens do their best to prove Bernays right.  Corporatism is NOT real Commerce and anyone saying 'corporations running anything will make it profitable and successful' has NOT looked at the world economy.  I DO believe corporations and banks CAUSED this financial fiasco.  But people keep praying to the Church of the ATM, looking for salvation!

   replyreport
   1. 61

      megs78posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      where is the 'like' button?

      replyreport
3. 60

   BillyDRitchieposted 13 years ago

   You'll have to forgive me if I have a chuckle or two at anyone who believes the answer to any problem is "more government".....

   replyreport
4. 75

   lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

   No silly--the answer is less corporate control OF gvt.
   
   ps; this means money....money as in filthy lucre. Money, as in the lust for it is the root of ALL evil!
   
   you gotta agree with me....get the money OUT!

   replyreport
   1. 61

      DTR0005posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      BINGO - less corporate control of government is the key.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         John Holdenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I'm constantly surprised by those who want corporate control of everything without acknowledging that we already have corporate control of government.

         replyreport
   2. 60

      sn53Anonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hi love,
      
      Perhaps it is time to join me in pushing to repeal the 16th amendment and move to the Fair tax based on consumption. That will prevent politicians from coercing corporations into giving defensive campaign contributions. If the government cannot beat them up with the tax code corporations can go on about their, ahem, business.  :-)

      replyreport
      1. 75

         lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Well anon--I don't think a consumption tax is fair. The cost of living is hard enough for low income people, let alone a tax added onto buying things they need.
         
         Say, a $30,000 a year income--and that's even high for some!
         Do you know, the average income for retired seniors is $18,000?
         So, suppose their fridge goes on the blitz.....if you add a tax onto a new fridge beyond what's there already, it's causing hardship on those people.
         
         Why cause hardship on the poorer, when an increase in taxes for those over $250,000 would cause none?
         Or make it a million like Schumer says.
         
         Unless you think it's  a hardship for Rush Limbaugh to take home 57 million, instead of 59.
         Koch Bros together have 43 Million.
         Take more from them, not that $18,000 a year retired couple!
         
         After all--Russsshhhhh and Koch have had a tax cut for 10 years.
         And continuing on to this day.

         replyreport
5. 75

   lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

   just curious...
   Who changed the title?
   I didn't. It is supposed to read "WHAT?" not "what"
   
   at first, I thought it might be my computer, which is all out of whack, but, ???
   
   ODD.

   replyreport
6. 67

   Jed Fisherposted 13 years ago

   Well, after the Supreme Court quietly made its "Emminent Domain" ruling back in ('07, I think) we'll see more of the same. As soon as it looks like the Michiagn law is unpopular, Michigan will use it to bust up the Muslims in Dearborn and then everyone will like it and support it.
   But the Fed Gub'ment won't allow states to protect US sovreignty by sealing the borders or arresting illegals.
   It's all over but the crying. One world gub'ment, ruled by the royal family. Hope y'all enjoyed that King's Speech movie. We'll see one royal world govenrment in our lifetimes.

   replyreport