Will we rise up if government becomes too powerful?

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MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
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I'm about ready to go door to door in my neighboorhod and round people up for an old fashioned bill burning party at the county assessors office. Property taxes have gone up almost $5000 *per house* in the last 4 years. Property taxes are $10,000-$14,000 a year for us. In rural Illinois.

Illinois - there's the problem. Good luck with the bill burning though!
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Patriot Act = the trump card against anyone overly vocal.

People like to think 'oh, they'd never invoke EVERYTHING in that Act...'
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,869
6,783
126
I noticed the lack of economic freedom, you noticed only the little bit left and say it was too much? I'm not shocked. You suppose the corporate-owned government can tame corporate America?

As in, if a little economic freedom will kill us a lot will do it instantly? Can you come off your robo-trip long enough to try to make sense?
 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,029
2
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As in, if a little economic freedom will kill us a lot will do it instantly? Can you come off your robo-trip long enough to try to make sense?

You're suggesting that our current economic mess was caused by a lack of government intervention in the marketplace. I'm suggesting it was caused by too much. We've been through this before. :)
 

First

Lifer
Jun 3, 2002
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You're suggesting that our current economic mess was caused by a lack of government intervention in the marketplace. I'm suggesting it was caused by too much. We've been through this before. :)

And funnily enough you were wrong about it before too, lol.
 

nobodyknows

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2008
5,474
0
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You're suggesting that our current economic mess was caused by a lack of government intervention in the marketplace. I'm suggesting it was caused by too much. We've been through this before. :)

I think you're both right. The goverement had too much influence and the private sector didn't have enough regulation, but (by design?) both in the wrong area to help the general economy. It sure helped those in the know though, they made boatloads of money at everybody eles's expense.
 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,029
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And funnily enough you were wrong about it before too, lol.

Uhh, no. It turns out that this bubble was primarily caused by the same thing that causes other bubbles, artificially low interest rates.
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
74,869
6,783
126
You're suggesting that our current economic mess was caused by a lack of government intervention in the marketplace. I'm suggesting it was caused by too much. We've been through this before. :)

I see, so when they reduce that amount the economy tanks which is good because it's a sign we're going back to the dark ages.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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I have it wrong?

Government is supposed to PROTECT you from business.

Government is not supposed to become the business itself. Yet you have it grown and expanded performing all these various actions in which it has conflicts of interest and sides with itself and abuses its position over the people.

Our watch dog has become the wolf, because you've given it the power to do so. The people are no longer protected.

There's clearly a good amount of truth in that - it's not nearly as bad as some countries have been -but the answer is to fix the elections, not cripple democratic government.

I've made the analogy before, when you have corrupt police, you replace them, you don't get rid of any police force.
 

Phokus

Lifer
Nov 20, 1999
22,994
779
126
LOL at tea party paranoia about "big government." Yeah, it's gonna happen any year now, the "really crazy shit." Never mind that in the last 30 years we have seen a DE-regulation trend at the federal level, and never mind that our taxes are at lowest point in a half century. The gubmint, it's just creepin' up on us, controlling every facet of our lives. Time to rebel. Sure it is.

- wolf

This is completely right. Economically, we've mostly moved to the right. But when it comes to something like the Patriot act, Tea Baggers touch themselves at the thought of the government being able to snoop around without warrants and shit.
 

First

Lifer
Jun 3, 2002
10,518
271
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Uhh, no. It turns out that this bubble was primarily caused by the same thing that causes other bubbles, artificially low interest rates.

Yes, because your grasp of interest rates and artificial economic growth is rooted in years of study and research.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
This is completely right. Economically, we've mostly moved to the right. But when it comes to something like the Patriot act, Tea Baggers touch themselves at the thought of the government being able to snoop around without warrants and shit.

Really? Does that mean that Obama is a teabagger? After all he has not only embraced Bush's policies, but "improved" some. The Dems for all their bitching aren't interested in correcting anything either. It would appear that this isn't just one group touching themselves, but mutual masturbation.

The government is interested in increasing it's own power, left or right.