Re: OT libertarian/taxes etc - who's accountable? Us?

[Guest guest]

Dear Irene & Christie, I agree that we are the government, however,

the government has become a non-entity and a hugh unapproachable

machine. A non-entity that cannot be held accountable. Do we hold

ourselves accountable? If so, where do we start making changes, i.e.

getting the government out of religion, marriage, private lives,

etc.? Does it all start with our votes? But then again, majority

rules even with votes. If the majority goes along with it, then

what? But of course you have big money paying lobbyists. Where is

the most influence? Have we lost our power? If so, how do we get it

back?

Just my 2c.

Bee

> >I make my living as a writer. It doesn't matter where I live, I

could work

> >from anywhere. In Ireland, I could live income tax-free. I'd

rather stay

> >here and pay my taxes. I stay here knowing those are " the rules "

of here.

> >

> >I think a centralized government that takes a share of our income

in order

> >to fund things such as roads, currency, a military, schools,

health care,

> >and food and shelter for people who lack those things is a

perfectly

> >rational and acceptable way to set up a society. I don't object to

it at

> >all. That's WHY I go along with it.

> >

> >I don't think the government has any business being involved in

marriage,

> >religion, or my private life. I believe in private property and in

capitalism.

> >

> >I also think that " the government " is just us. We took some of us

and

> >called them " politicians " and we let them run things (to an

extent). There

> >is no such thing as " the government. " It is comprised of people,

also

> >citizens of, and subject to the laws of, this country. I reject

the whole

> > " us and them " dialogue about government - it's all us.

> >

> >Like many others, I don't know how to fix the myriad of things

that are

> >wrong with our current situation in this country. All I can say is

I do

> >not in the least bit object to being taxed to provide things that

are of

> >benefit to the country as a whole, and I recognize that there will

never

> >be a list of those things that all can agree on. I don't demand

> >perfection, or that it all be my way. But I am sure it could be

better

> >than it is.

> >

> >As a lesbian and someone who uses alternative medicine, eats raw

dairy

> >products, and doesn't vaccinate her dogs, I have a natural

affinity for

> >political beliefs that leave me the ^%$# alone. I don't need to be

taken

> >care of, protected from myself, or cradled in a safety net.

> >

> >But I also don't want to live in a world that doesn't have one.

Even just

> >out of my own enlightened self-interest.

> >

> >Christie

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Irene wrote:

>>>We haven't exactly lost our power we have given it up. Even the

federal government is not as huge and non approachable as it seems.

Just look at the recent obscene FCC ruling giving even more control

to the media giants. There was a huge public uproar! Congress got

millions of emails, letters and phone calls so they decided to do

something about it. The amusing and frightening thing about it is

that I saw a bit on FOX on it just the other night and the reporter

was saying that he interviewed the " man in the street " and he was not

interested in media ownership rights. No mention of the outcry the

caused the reversal in the first place.<<<

>

-------->That's a very good point, that we have given up our power.

So are the media messing up the works?

>>> The big problem is that Americans are seriously apolitical. It is

not in my opinion because we stupid or anything, it seems to be

cultural. This is a very serious problem. Not only because it allows

the scoundrels to run amouk but because we have also lost our

facility for political discussion and are very susceptible to sound

bite answers.>>>

---------->I was born American but I live in Canada. But we have

very similar makeups. Is part of the problem that we cannot believe

that someone could ever do something bad to us (especially on

purpose) and therefore the majority does not confront the " true evil? "

>>>The answer? Stay informed, find like minded community (easier than

ever with the web). It is important to be in communications with

people that have the same concerns. Otherwise you end up feeling like

you are alone and what can one person do? Turn off the TV and do

something! As a minimum VOTE. If voting really didn't matter

candidates wouldn't be spending millions to campaign. And if you

have the time and energy there are plenty of organizations fighting

for things like campaign finance reform, health freedom and the like.

Just do a seach on campaign finance or genetically modified food and

see what you get. I heard an interesting factoid the other day. We

did not have federal child labor laws in this country until 1938! And

that came about almost entirely because of the work of a woman called

Mother .>>>>

--------> Yes, and it only takes one person like Mother ,

Luther King, B. and many others who have affected

positive changes.

>

>>>> So take heart. If you do nothing more than write your

congressperson about an issue that concerns you, you have done a lot.

More than probably 90% of Americans.>>>

------->So very true my friend. Keep up the good fight and do our

any little bit that we can in our own corner of the world.

Well said. Bee