My America

[blizzil]

Could be done a few different ways, mostly through strong regulation via govt bodies (whove been systematically defunded since 1980)

Teddy Roosevelt did it, we can do it today.

[blizzil]

unfettered, corporate abuse is the single greatest threat to our republic.

They simply have to much power. Corporations tried to take over the country in the 1940s and failed, well - in the turn of the new century, they took it over successfully without a shot fired.

[Qaedain]

Originally Posted by blizzil [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Could be done a few different ways, mostly through strong regulation via govt bodies (whove been systematically defunded since 1980)

Teddy Roosevelt did it, we can do it today.

What I mean is, how do you propose big boxes could be regulated so mom'n'pops could compete on price? Price floors/ceilings? Supply restrictions?

[blizzil]

They need zoning permits to open up supercenters (wal-marts) you deny them. You Tax imports! (F'free trade) Its all Wal-mart sells anyways.

Give the smaller mom'pops tax incentives.

It all can be done locally, which it has in some communities

[Daywolf]

Originally Posted by blizzil [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Could be done a few different ways, mostly through strong regulation via govt bodies (whove been systematically defunded since 1980)

Teddy Roosevelt did it, we can do it today.

Not all corps are ebil. It’s just a small percentage that consider themselves international with no strings attached to any particular country or to foreign countries or entities(e.g. British Petroleum). Regulation within the US geared towards restricting corporate business usually effects the smaller and/or domestic company (mom-n-pop’s) rather than any real threats. Anytime you make a decision to empower government to regulate anything, it usually results in the little guy getting hurt, even yourself in one way or another. Remember what Reagan said "Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem". And I think it is even more so true today than it was then, as now politicians are pretty much indentured to special interest pockets. Time to throw all the bums out!

Btw fdr can shove it. “Liberal activism” has only led to larger and larger government (from both parties), while if it had gotten smaller as the founding fathers intended, we would not be in such a mess as we are. Your big lists of government programs is appalling, government owes you nothing other than being massively downsized so the people can better control it once again as it was intended to be.

[Overcast]

Originally Posted by Taxi [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

That depends what kind you repression you are facing. If that was my kid getting his ass beat down by a thug in armor, id be thinking about it. If i was an iraqi who lost all my family to american shock and awe, id be doing it.

And http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadou_Diallo probably would have wished to have a firearm to at least take some of them cops down with him.

Statistically..

In whose hands have guns taken more lives?

In the hands of law-abiding citizens.
In the hands of Criminals.
Or In the Hands of Governments.

I suspect the third is true.

So - statistically, who should be disarmed first?

[Daywolf]

Originally Posted by Overcast [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Statistically..

In whose hands have guns taken more lives?

In the hands of law-abiding citizens.
In the hands of Criminals.
Or In the Hands of Governments.

I suspect the third is true.

So - statistically, who should be disarmed first?

Well at least domestically that is how it is; we have the national guard for domestic threats not the military. Disarming the military goes against the constitution. Disarming civilians goes against the constitution as well. But who observes the constitution any longer? It’s only been used as reach-round over the past decade for the most part.

Thugs can always get guns, bombs and knives; no regulation has ever changed that other than to punish the law-abiding citizen. But yes, it’s not the citizen that is the threat… but only a threat to a dictatorial government, or one trying to become such. In the end it’s not our duty to nation-build the world, nor to police it with our military, but only to stop threats against our own nation; to guard our interests. Other countries, like in that boot pic, that’s their problem, it is they that deal with it as they should.

[Overcast]

Yeah, have to agree. Of course, allies - if they need help - as in ask for it, I see no harm there. Of course, 'allies' guard our interests as well.

I'm pretty cynical of government anymore. Seem more like puppets to me - not all of them, of course. Like in anything else there are good and bad in any particular group. I guess this sums up my thoughts:

"The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial
element in the large centers has owned the government of the U.S. since
the days of Andrew Jackson."
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1882-1945), 32nd US President
November 21, 1933

[Daywolf]

Originally Posted by Overcast [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

"The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial
element in the large centers has owned the government of the U.S. since
the days of Andrew Jackson."
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1882-1945), 32nd US President
November 21, 1933

Actually I'd say China does. That's our fault though, we buy too much foreign goods and grant free/favored trade to economic rivals while accepting their loans. Then we have a little problem called the federal reserve, something that truly needs to be abolished, and then to IRS reform which has been given waaaay too much power as of late.

[Hasbinbad]

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You're wrong and it is patently absurd for you to tell me what I did and why.

I only spoke in facts. You were offered a job, which you took. It's very simple. The U.S. Military is an employer.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Like my father before me and like his father before him, I served my country before I began my career.

Why do you use the euphamism "served my country?" Why don't you just say "was employed by the [applicable branch of the U.S. Military]?"

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I would have made more money working at McDonald's.

That says a lot about the employer.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I am not whining about anything.

You took a job and now you want to feel special. People don't treat you special because of one of your early career decisions, and you're now venting. That's pretty much whining.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I love my country and I would serve again if called upon.

They need people.. You should re-up your contract.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I am not a mercenary;

That is not even debatable. You took money for being in a military.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I am not a whore.

You are the only one who used that word.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

One of us seems to think about everything in terms of dollars; I do not.

How you choose to think of the things you do doesn't alter the fundamental facts. You took money for whatever it is you did in the military.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Your argument style is extremely offensive, insulting and unattractive.

As is my wont.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

In one short post you have managed to suggest that I am not only a whore but a cheap whore, that I am brainwashed, that I am deluded, and that I am a murderer.

I didn't suggest these things, I stated them; there is a subtle, yet important difference. Also, when I said "how many bullets you've taken while killing brown children," that was a more general indictment against any people who have actually done those things, not necessarily you. I had thought you more educated than to assume my usage was concrete.. ..unless of course.. ..you HAVE done those things.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

All this because you do not agree with me that America's problems can be solved and that it is up to us, the American people, to help solve them.

Actually it's because you (and many others) seem to think America has some kind of right to solve the world's problems however the U.S. Government sees fit because we have monetary interests in different parts of the world. I would like to see how far you get if you invested a certain amount of money in some company, and then when they stopped doing what you told them, you go in there with some guns and try to tell them what to do differently.. This is an almost exact analogue to what the US does in foreign nations. This also makes me wonder why you ignored the actual content of my post and instead just focused on defending yourself.

Originally Posted by Alawen Everywhere [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I suggest you read your own words carefully and reflect on what they say about you.

Backatchya G.I. Joe.