On The Proposals To Let The Free Market Handle Everything
OK, so let me see if I got all this...
The government will mandate that I give some of my money to securities firms to manage for retirement and health costs. They will have deposits in turn secured by the Treasury and they can speculate at will in free and deregulated markets.
Schools will be run by corporations, presumably with a board of directors that can mandate an all non-union workforce. Schools may choose then to invest their resources where it does the most good and, let's face it, some kids are more cost effective to educate than others.
If I am unemployed I can use all the funds in my individual account, provided there are any. If employers make a habit of laying off thousands while their accountants with their freshly-minted MBAs tackle tough learning curves, there is no deterance to encumber them.
If I am poor I will get a housing voucher that I may use to apply for a portion of a bloc grant that flucuates according to the political winds. If the grant has run out, the voucher can be used along with others to create paper mache housing.
I can get "soap, soup and salvation" (thank you Lone Justice) through the good folks at the local house of worship if I am properly God fearing. If I am not, than I may go to hell.
After spending five years working in the commodity houses shouting and waving hand signals, I do not particularly relish my rights as a citizen being subordinate to the will of the market in most every aspect. The market can be a loony old coot that suffers spells on some days and talks perfect sense on others. Smart money says you always treat him with a certain respect, like you do a slightly batty old uncle. You don't let him drive to church on Sundays, but you let him complain about your driving from the back seat with a certain amount of toleration.
There are certain things that the Corporatists excel in and certain things they do not. It is truly amazing that there is a privately funded and fabricated spaceship that is shooting to the stars. If we would have waited until it was feasible for the private sector to take on the challenge, we would have lost the missile race and the technology race and forfeited our leadership in the new age. In 1910 most paved roads were toll roads built by private consortiums. It was decided that to increase the flow of goods and commerce this could be a public concern. Earlier, the American Whig Party (remember them?) were behind the ideal of the common infrastructure, in formation at the time, being best administered by the broadest range of citizens possible. Lincoln, of course, prior to becoming the first elected Republican president was a Whig during the time he served in the House.
Everyone who has ever lived in a condominium knows that there are certain common amenities to be shared and it is necessary to have some say as to how they are managed. Many who have served on a condo board cease to ever contemplate running for public office because they have terrible night sweats and sudden screaming fits. Still it is necessary.
I believe the neocons wish to employ as much control as possible over the public sector while all the while extolling the common man striving for a finer tomorrow.
The small individual farmer, the small business owner, the one-man-shop, none of these play on an even field with the Corporatists and their powerful lobbies. They are more revered for their mythic status than their status in the economy. They deserve representation on par with large corporate interests who practically have bought seats in the Legislature. Italy in the 30s actually let corporate interests have seats in their parliament. It was called fascism and it begged to be destroyed.
The Third Way is to balance the corporate, the private (as separate from corporate), and public sectors so that the interests of the people are best served. The people, represented not by corporate lobbies or even political parties necessarily but by our direct involvement, have a say in our common assets.
Instead of employers controlling an individuals access to health care and retirement accounts while forbidding access to collective bargaining, we can collectively bargain via our vote with our public servants to exercise the full weight of our authority--unhindered by corporate control that hides behind the mask of the individual while displaying the powers relative to a nation/state. If 80% percent of the public desire a single-payer health care plan, then they should get it.
The Third Way is not the end of private property or a socialist utopia. It seeks to define where capitalism has a predominant interest and where common interest, or stakeholder interest shall carry porportionate weight. There are some things to precious to be left to the will of the market.
The government will mandate that I give some of my money to securities firms to manage for retirement and health costs. They will have deposits in turn secured by the Treasury and they can speculate at will in free and deregulated markets.
Schools will be run by corporations, presumably with a board of directors that can mandate an all non-union workforce. Schools may choose then to invest their resources where it does the most good and, let's face it, some kids are more cost effective to educate than others.
If I am unemployed I can use all the funds in my individual account, provided there are any. If employers make a habit of laying off thousands while their accountants with their freshly-minted MBAs tackle tough learning curves, there is no deterance to encumber them.
If I am poor I will get a housing voucher that I may use to apply for a portion of a bloc grant that flucuates according to the political winds. If the grant has run out, the voucher can be used along with others to create paper mache housing.
I can get "soap, soup and salvation" (thank you Lone Justice) through the good folks at the local house of worship if I am properly God fearing. If I am not, than I may go to hell.
After spending five years working in the commodity houses shouting and waving hand signals, I do not particularly relish my rights as a citizen being subordinate to the will of the market in most every aspect. The market can be a loony old coot that suffers spells on some days and talks perfect sense on others. Smart money says you always treat him with a certain respect, like you do a slightly batty old uncle. You don't let him drive to church on Sundays, but you let him complain about your driving from the back seat with a certain amount of toleration.
There are certain things that the Corporatists excel in and certain things they do not. It is truly amazing that there is a privately funded and fabricated spaceship that is shooting to the stars. If we would have waited until it was feasible for the private sector to take on the challenge, we would have lost the missile race and the technology race and forfeited our leadership in the new age. In 1910 most paved roads were toll roads built by private consortiums. It was decided that to increase the flow of goods and commerce this could be a public concern. Earlier, the American Whig Party (remember them?) were behind the ideal of the common infrastructure, in formation at the time, being best administered by the broadest range of citizens possible. Lincoln, of course, prior to becoming the first elected Republican president was a Whig during the time he served in the House.
Everyone who has ever lived in a condominium knows that there are certain common amenities to be shared and it is necessary to have some say as to how they are managed. Many who have served on a condo board cease to ever contemplate running for public office because they have terrible night sweats and sudden screaming fits. Still it is necessary.
I believe the neocons wish to employ as much control as possible over the public sector while all the while extolling the common man striving for a finer tomorrow.
The small individual farmer, the small business owner, the one-man-shop, none of these play on an even field with the Corporatists and their powerful lobbies. They are more revered for their mythic status than their status in the economy. They deserve representation on par with large corporate interests who practically have bought seats in the Legislature. Italy in the 30s actually let corporate interests have seats in their parliament. It was called fascism and it begged to be destroyed.
The Third Way is to balance the corporate, the private (as separate from corporate), and public sectors so that the interests of the people are best served. The people, represented not by corporate lobbies or even political parties necessarily but by our direct involvement, have a say in our common assets.
Instead of employers controlling an individuals access to health care and retirement accounts while forbidding access to collective bargaining, we can collectively bargain via our vote with our public servants to exercise the full weight of our authority--unhindered by corporate control that hides behind the mask of the individual while displaying the powers relative to a nation/state. If 80% percent of the public desire a single-payer health care plan, then they should get it.
The Third Way is not the end of private property or a socialist utopia. It seeks to define where capitalism has a predominant interest and where common interest, or stakeholder interest shall carry porportionate weight. There are some things to precious to be left to the will of the market.
LINK
posted by obelus at 7/21/2004 01:33:00 AM
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