Lets just call it the system we live under then!:wink: These are all examples of why we don't need socialized medicine or health care in this country! These are all example of why we don't need big government!
The mortgage and housing industry collapses, airline industry failures, and ENRON type finanacial abuses are examples of why we don't need too little government either. A proper balance is to be achieved here and neither party seems to completely understand that.
I disagree with you on the mortgage and housing industry portion of your post Red. The companies had the "choice" to make bad loans to risky borrowers. They now have the consequences of their choices. The borrowers had the "choice" to buy houses they could not afford. They now have the consequences of their choices. It's my belief that freedom means you have the right to become wealthy without fear of having your wealth comfiscated, and the freedom to fail and suffer the consequences of your choices. I feel that too many people think that "freedom" means you are free from the consequences of irresponsibility. I mean, c'mon, did you think you could afford a $450,000 house on $35,000 a year? I was completely against Congress and Bush signing off on handing my tax dollars over to the greedy lenders and irresponsible borrowers to make sure that they didn't have to suffer the consequences of their choices.
I'll admit I'll have to do some serious thinking about this one. Is it the right thing to do to constantly bail out failing airlines or companies? Why not let the market decide what works and what doesn't? Please correct me if I'm wrong but I think Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are part of the government? They are having problems now after giving money to politicans including Jessie Jackson's Rainbow Coalition btw. I'm not trying to blame this one incident for their problems but it is an example. How many things have they done that are still in the closet? In this case the government seems to be part of the problem? I almost want to agree with you here but no one seems to know or everyone has a different on what a proper balance is. The thing that bothers me is that government seems to always grow and doesn't seem to get smaller?
I'm talking about kids who grow up in poverty who aren't the recipients of positive guidance. Are you saying life is not getting tougher for the average working class family? Is it too much to expect the working class to be able to live a decent life? I am not pro-big government. We are doing business with countries who do not care about the environment or their people. I don't want to live in those countries and I'm not sure we should be doing business with those countries. I wonder what quality of life blacks and other minorities, in general, had back then. I believe a lot of public programs could be done in part or in total by private enterprises and charities, but I don't think as a society we want to allow segments of society to fall through the cracks and fester until private citizens pick up the slack of public welfare.
Thats true, that is a very good point but you think some family relative or mentor would be in place for them. Not at all but I've always accepted these things as challenges and did what I had to do. I've never been to proud or lazy to take a job. I am not either but sometimes I think government is the problem and not the solution. Just one example, ethanol, horrible fix for our energy problems! Should I name more? I do feel bad for them and I think we've come along way. I can agree with this. I believe private enterprise is the way to go, limited, smaller government is best! Charities, the church also helps! Btw: Totally agree with tigerntn's post above!
I think that is a good mentality to live your life by, but it doesn't make it right that those in power, both public and private, are abusing their station in life. I really believe that the interests of the middle class are in many ways forgotten by politicians on both sides of the aisle who get a regular dose of information and assistance from lobbyists of powerful and wealthy special interest groups. I really think many unethical things are going on at the top and I see us spending hundreds of billions, maybe trillions of dollars abroad, with no direct benefit to working class Americans.
What would you like to see government do for the middle class? I am middle class, and can't think of a damn thing that I want the government to do on my behalf to make my lot in life better. I could work longer hours and possibly move up within my company, but I choose to come home to my family. I could go back to school and get an MBA, but I choose to fish and water ski instead. I am happy to rest on my choices and reap the benefits and/or suffer the consequences of them. I don't need the government extending a hand to me. I think I would be better off if they would just get out of my way. I would move up a whole income bracket if my tax burden was simply cut in half.
Gimme a break. The whole calamity could have been prevented and our economy and deficit NOT endangered if the mortgage industry had only been properly regulated. These Ponzi-scheme sub-prime loans would have been illegal.
Red, you can't fix stupid. You can pass all the laws you want, but idiots and their money will always find a way to lose each other. The deficit would not have had a huge pile thrown on top of it had the feds just left this alone. I don't like it either, but I don't want Daddy Government coming to the rescue of everything. What's next? I took out a lease on my car and went over the mileage, but didn't understand the fine print. Now the government needs to help me so that I don't lose my transportation, because I can't afford the penalty. I admire your compassion, but disagree with you on principal here.
