screwpuppies (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The systematic dismantling of our manufacturing base began in the early 70's. Once manufacturing is dead, fight over, we lost. Afterward, all that is needed is a catastrophic event to facilitate the dismantling of our Constitution. 9/11 was too convienient to foster the aforementioned. While we as a nation were still shitting ourselves, our government placed the Constitution, and don't forget the Bill of Rights, in the dresser drawer, and with it, liberty as we knew it.

screwpuppies (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The corporate takeover is a 40 year old movement. Each subsequent decade brought an acceleration of this movement till we have what we have today, the volume cranked and the knob ripped off. The last 8 presidents paved the way for this movement. The only thing that seperates these Presidents is how much they taxed. Johnson and Clinton taxed them the most, and invested in infrastructure, keeping folk employed and spending, the rest didnt give us the courtesy of a reach around.

bozodclown98 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Same old lie.

jimnihil (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Only it doesn't work like that. The ultra-rich will always undermine the good of the people.

greenback001 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

with all due respect, speak for yourself.

jimnihil (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Once again, great in theory....and I agree, and you are not wrong....in theory. But in practice these principles simply do not work. It would be nice if it did, but there are more variables to the equation than, "Make the best product at the best cost." The customer doesn't want quality. The customer wants easy and DUMB....why do you think they all vote for who they currently vote for?????

greenback001 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

If you dropped a one pound ball off the top of a tower right alongside of a 1000 pound ball, they'd both hit the ground at the same time. The scale does not effect the laws of the free market. If you run a bank or a lending institution and your business model fails you go out of business and do not get bailed out. This levels the playing field for new start up, competition to delivery the best product at the best prices, and what the customer wants. If you greedy, business is over real speedy.

greenback001 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

freedom is timeless

jimnihil (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I in no way support what has recently been done to amend our constitution, such as the farce that is the patriot act, as what has happened recently has limited our liberties and stifled freedoms. But, I don't think the constitution should be held as the "sacred word". This world has changed in way our forefathers never could have imagined. So I believe that for certain things, should be able to be amended to better serve us in different times. The same way the bill of rights was added to it.

jimnihil (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I have to respectfully disagree. The monopolistic nature of the market isn't affected by the Federal Reserve or the manipulation of currency. It is just a natural occurrence in a system driven by greed. Your mousetrap metaphor is great on paper....and works exactly as you said on a small scale. Once so much wealth is attained it unlevels the playing field.