60 responses to “‘Tis the politically directed shopping season”

1. 

   Ben Emery

   13 December 2011

   Can a corporation register to vote? If an entity cannot register to vote or legally vote then that entity should not be able to influence the vote.
   No I don’t think a voter needs to show a picture ID but rather a voter ID. Register to vote and get a voter ID card from Secretary of State office.
   Your guys obsession with voter fraud is pure propaganda. I have posted it here before the study during the Bush administration of voter fraud 80 something convictions out of 300 million votes and a majority of the convictions were proven to be purely accidental. But election fraud has been taking place since 2000 but you guys are alright with that going on.
   Mikey, Who said anything about corporations being evil. They (big business’s) do whatever they can get away with to increase profits, period. I don’t think Lazy Dog Ice Cream is influencing policy in Washington DC or Sacramento but rather dealing with the policies put in place by big business. The government (We the People) need to make sure big corporations are conducting business in everybody’s interests not just their own. When big corporations buy off our political parties then policies begin to shape in the favor of big business and screw the rest. That is what we have today and that is what the TP and OWS movements are screaming about.

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2. 

   George Rebane

   13 December 2011

   But Mikey’s 956am assertion “Limit the power of the government and you will limit the power of special interests.” stands. The corporations only lobby to get special perks/privileges because government has the power and propensity to grant them (i.e. corruption). We seem to want to do nothing about the corruption in government, but only limit the freedoms of people and businesses outside of government. How come?

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3. 

   Todd Juvinall

   13 December 2011

   So let me get this straight BenE. Since a corporation can’t vote it should have no say in the process of governance? Would you say the same for the Sierra Club, or the NRDC? How about the Foundation setup to lobby for AIDS research in Africa? That is a corporation. Oh, maybe it is only for profits? How about an entity like SBC whose CEO lobbied for the defeat of Prop 23? Please be more specific.

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4. 

   Ben Emery

   13 December 2011

   Todd,
   Yes, in the sense that Sierra Club buying off representatives. Lobbying is ok absent of all the junkets and goodies that come along with it today. 90% plus of special interests lobbying isn’t corrupt but once again a small % of lobbyists are the ones doing the majority of the damage.
   George,
   As wealth began to accumulate into a small few hands (Merger/ Acquisition era and tax policy shift) in the 80’s we have seen the increase in the size and scope of government. More and more of elected officials or bought off and more and more watchdog agencies are captured. The government has been made the externalality arm of private industry, which is the cost of doing business such as livable wages, environmental standards, health care, and pensions. That was the compact we had for 40 years and then it has been dismantled over the last 30 years and we are suffering the consequence of it now.
   Check out Michael Stone on KVMR right now interviewing John Perkins. Here is a former interview with him.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTbdnNgqfs8

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5. 

   Todd Juvinall

   13 December 2011

   So in BenE’s opinion, 90% of th lobbyists are OK and it is the 10% creating the problems. Well, BenE, can you explain why you would then shut down the 90% rather than go after the 10%. I am confused.

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6. 

   Scott Obermuller

   13 December 2011

   Ben thinks that gov just started increasing in the 80’s? It started a lot longer ago than that. We had big fed govt back in the 1930’s. It has been growing since it discoverved that it could grow and not be challenged by the citizens. They always managed to find Supremes that only read enough of the Constitution to find some way to twist things around to OK the latest power grab by the feds.
   Doug’s post is a laugh – “Because it becomes a lynch mob’ That would be the unions, Doug. I don’t know how many times I have read about or seen union thugs brutally assault innocent folks trying to make a living. The unions are all about thuggery and power.
   They make me sick. Unions in theory are a good thing, but once they were granted monopolistic power they no longer represented a wide spectrum of the public, but only narrow left wing interests.

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7. 

   David Smith

   13 December 2011

   Todd you write:
   Yes total freedom of the individual and association is unbelievable to someone who believes as BenE does. We are for more freedom, you are for less.
   Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 13 December 2011 at 08:57 AM
   Ok Todd, based upon that statement I guess you support the right to grow Cannibus then, wether for personal use or for profit?

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8. 

   Todd Juvinall

   13 December 2011

   No

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9. 

   Dixon Cruickshank

   14 December 2011

   Mr Smith explain why I shouldn’t be able to for personal use – who says? you, keachie, Ben who exactly? who died and made you boss of me?

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10. 

    David Smith

    14 December 2011

    OK Todd, but based upon that personal freedon mantra I’m trying to understand how you pick and chose.
    Dixon, I don’t hasve a problem with you growing and consuming that product, but it sure seems funny that when someone say’s “We are for more freedom, you are for less”, but then they contradict their previous statement.
    I’m just trying to understand where the line is drawn…..

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