How many of you are concerned with governmental excess power?

There arent any masks here. I would wear them if there were. I check for them when I go out, but they're always oos.

I practice the rest of those.

But those are all voluntary.

 

I have railed against big government and their use of power for decades. The Fed government could easily be but by 25% and they would never be missed.

 

Your concern would be better place if it was directed to the old crone Pelosi loading the emergency virus bill up with political pork!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I certainly wouldn't argue that either party is innocent or ethical. I would argue as to which is the most guilty- but it's not a black and white story for sure.

 

I still work.
They recently gave us masks. I have not worn one. Don't know if I will. Unless I feel I may sneeze or cough alot.

Many won't do such tasks voluntarily. Especially going to bars and restaurants.

But those decisions should be left to state or local levels. IMO. Although that might be a minority opinion.

 

ROMAN AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING JESUS FOR VIOLATING STAY-IN-TOMB ORDER.

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JERUSALEM—Roman authorities are investigating controversial religious leader Jesus of Nazareth for violating the Empire's clear "stay in tomb" order. After crucifying him and laying him in the tomb, Roman guards put Him under strict orders to stay there and not come back, rising victorious over sin and death.But Jesus, answering to a higher authority, refused to stay dead and busted out of the tomb, establishing a kingdom that would never end -- again, in clear violation of the government's orders.

But Jesus, answering to a higher authority, refused to stay dead and busted out of the tomb, establishing a kingdom that would never end -- again, in clear violation of the government's orders.

"Jesus is a dangerous rebel, refusing to bend the knee to Caesar and not abiding by the law of sin and death," said one Roman official. "He clearly broke the law by leaving the tomb, and we're going to be issuing a citation and placing him under mandatory quarantine for these crimes."

 

And that's where we disagree. Corporate interests aren't pulling the strings. Government is. Corporate boys are buying quite limited protection from the bureaucrats who, thanks to government unions, are almost entirely unaccountable. No matter who holds the power red or blue the bureaucracy doesn't change enough to matter. Oh they'll change the names on a few doors in the white house but unless they're long time members of the bureaucracy themselves they'll find it all but impossible to make any sort of major institutional change.

 

That we disagree - you are correct. The question is can you back up your claim .. cause you know I can back up mine.

It is not even a debate really - the influence of money in Washington is not something that people regularly deny .. it is generally accepted as fact - by friggen everyone - appeal to "Everyone" noted.

We must be on different pages here .. are you seriously denying the influence of money in our political and bureaucratic process ?

 

Right!

Influence is bought in congress because congress has put it up for sale- if it wasn't for sale, there would be nobody buying it. Corporations don't make them sell it- but they know if they don't buy, their competition will and they will be hurt. The place to stop that is with a rule or law to remove any member of congress who provides it. Right now, that is SOP or standard practice, they all participate.
They only get away with it- because we tolerate it.

 

I am suggesting sir that the United states government is engaged in the world's biggest protection racket. How much influence do you think Joe's grocery store on the corner has on the mafia to whom it pays protection money so they won't burn his place down? Why did Microsoft have no protectors in DC when the Clinton justice department came after them with a phony antitrust lawsuit? Because they spent nothing on lobbying. Why was WAMU the Biggest single banking failure in US history allowed to fail? Again it didn't pay lobbiers so when it went looking for defenders against an unfounded whispering campaign by a competitor there weren't any. Microsoft now spends millions a year on lobbying, WAMU no longer exist. They are not alone. And this wasn't the only time this has happened. The rules are obvious once your business grow beyond certain limits if you don't pay some one else will get to play with your toys.

 

Joe Grocery Story has no influence - obviously this is not what is being referred to .. nor is Microsoft for that matter although they got big enough to wield some influence. You are definitely on a different page - not even in the right chapter to be honest.

Microsoft is small potatoes -do you seriously have no idea who the folks who own far more power are ?

In any case - at least you admitted that big money has influence in Washington - you were in denial of this previously - or darn close.

We have a pay to play system - if you play - along with the establishment agenda - you get paid. That's how it works - and everyone knows it. Perhaps some general who was favorable to the defense contractors getting a cushy lobbyist position ... someone else a seat on a board of directors.

Did you really think Hillary gets 250K a pop for 15 min wall street banker luncheon talk for her good looks and charming personality ? of course not - it is payback for a job well done .. keep the international tax laws the way they are. Obama actually mentioned changing one of the major loopholes at the beginning of is first term. His handlers must have had a frank chat - as it was never mentioned again.

You have to understand how you are being fked mate - and then you can figure out who your sodomizer is.

The healthcare/Insurance oligopolies have huge influence .. near as much as the Military Industrial Complex - but a bigger pie .. 3.5 Trillion in 2017.

Same folks own both .. either way. Trumps buddy Nathan leads that consortia.

 

Hillary used to get that money because being on the Clinton **** list was really bad for business. One suspects she's not worth near as much now that her political fantasies are pretty much dead. No one peddled political influence like the clintons. As long as you had enough money they are willing to sell and they'd damn well crap in your shoes and had the power to do it until recently.

 

It is not the federal government that tracks your cell phone activity it is the private corporation which manufactures and builds it's software.Thus the FBI having to go to court to get Apple to give them access to peoples phone data and cell phone pings etc. Online advertising agencies track our every move online and inundate us with ads for whatever item they may have seen us search.

 

Did the name "Hillary" trigger you or something ? -- who cares - The whole system is corrupt. How about Tricky Dick Cheney and the Bush Clan .. but political figures come and go - the bureaucratic elite (and various other structures) does not.

Don't worry though Nathan shares the love with both Hillary and Trump.

 

Of course it's corrupt. That's not even the damn argument at this point. The entire process of governing is by its very nature corrupting. Power is more addicting than any drug and vastly more dangerous to those around you. Once you have power acquiring money is easy.

 

I would grade that as expert analysis, garyd.

 

Government excess power is why we fought the war of independence.

President Jefferson said it best----------------the best possible government is LEAST possible government!!!!!

 

My personal freedom isn't the issue, and the health care workers aren't in any way protected by some of the restrictions these governors and mayors are laying down.

If the state claims it is necessary to limit your freedoms, then the onus is on the state to demonstrate that necessity - for each and every restriction, each and every day.

 

You and your examples are right on target. Since power is the fundamental goal of people in government, when they obtain some type or degree of power, even if justified for temporal causes, they are reluctant to ever give back that power. When a governor finds she can have people arrested just for visiting one of their neighbors, that is like raw meat to a lion -- one can never take some of that raw meat back.

Asset forfeiture is one on the most egregious usurpations of liberty ever fostered on Americans (and there have been a ton of them). They can take the cash in the car and the car even if neither belong to you. If you are depositing your employer's receipts for the day, or driving a borrowed car, both the receipts and the car are subject to forfeiture.

 

The government has always attempted, usually successfully, to usurp power not designated to it.

Recall that anthrax through the mail was the biological agent that led to the passage of the so-called patriot act, a direct attack on the US Constitution, a successful attack.

The numbers show that Covid lethality has been overblown by constant fear-mongering. And the evidence seems to show that more and more minor steps in death and health reporting techniques are being taken to justify the existence of and enhanced budgets for various health related bureaucracies.

Judge Napolitano has already written several times regarding the illegal nature of stay at home do not travel edicts from state governors.

 

Very much so.