John Stossel-Top 10 Politicians’ Promises Gone Wrong

[jgoose71 0]

The more I see him and the more stuff he puts out, the more I think he makes sense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsUZkxyYJUk

If you don't have the 42 minutes to watch the video, here is the quick sum up:
Government has created a lot of rules to favor people. When people complain about unfair treatment, the government instead of repealing the bad law that favors them, creates new laws to make things fair without loosing their advantage. All of these laws create unintended consequences. The more the government tries to fix things, the more fucked up things get.

The list:
10: Cash for clunkers
9: Minimum Wage
8: Title IX
7: The Olympic games (Stadiums)
6: "Family Based Agriculture" (Al Paca's)
5: Credit Card protection
4: Health Care
3: Ethanol
2: The housing bubble
And number 1 is:

Goverment- The idea that 10,000 programs and a $3.5 trillion budget controlled by lobbyists can fix anything.

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[kallend 2,150]

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Goverment- The idea that 10,000 programs and a $3.5 trillion budget controlled by lobbyists can fix anything.

Governments have been raising revenues, spending money, and subject to lobbying for all of recorded history. Much of the very earliest known human communication relates to taxes.

Unfortunately for Stossel (who mostly appeals to the idiot sector) no society resorting to anarchy instead of organized government has ever lasted long or shown much progress, and the most advanced societies have generally had the strongest governments.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[skymiles 3]

I wonder why Iraqi WMDs is not on the list?

[Amazon 7]

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I wonder why Iraqi WMDs is not on the list?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Yeah right As if that would ever happen round these here parts

[turtlespeed 226]

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Goverment- The idea that 10,000 programs and a $3.5 trillion budget controlled by lobbyists can fix anything.

Governments have been raising revenues, spending money, and subject to lobbying for all of recorded history. Much of the very earliest known human communication relates to taxes.

Unfortunately for Stossel (who mostly appeals to the idiot sector) no society resorting to anarchy instead of organized government has ever lasted long or shown much progress, and the most advanced societies have generally had the strongest governments.

You do know that there are alternatives between the two extremes, don't you?

Less government is better, but not Total lack of government.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[jgoose71 0]

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Unfortunately for Stossel (who mostly appeals to the idiot sector) no society resorting to anarchy instead of organized government has ever lasted long or shown much progress, and the most advanced societies have generally had the strongest governments.

Of course you would think that Stossel appeals to idiots. He is for less government. If you don't want to watch the hole thing, that is fine, but he makes a good point in the last 2 minutes:

We as Americans have lives. We don't have the time or the resources to keep an eye on everything the government does. 3.5trillion dollar budgets, 2,000 page bills, and some 10,000 programs. Each program with an army of lobbyist that know exactly when that program is do to come up on the house or senate floor. Do you know everything the government does? How can you keep an eye on them or hold them accountable? There is so much legal jargon in everything they do that if 2 people read the same passage, they would get 2 completely different ideas about what it's supposed to mean. Why do you think there is so much confusion about the health care bill?

Seriously, how is the average guy who works and takes care of a family supposed to know what is going on? It's why the news has resorted to 30 second sound bites. It's all most working Americans have time for.

The Government, ran by lobbyists, tries to give the appearance of a fair playing field without loosing their advantage. This really tends to fuck things up. The rules, like I said earlier create unintended consequences.

And more to the point for you, all great countries though out history that have fell, came apart from the inside.

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[rushmc 23]

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Quote

Goverment- The idea that 10,000 programs and a $3.5 trillion budget controlled by lobbyists can fix anything.

Governments have been raising revenues, spending money, and subject to lobbying for all of recorded history. Much of the very earliest known human communication relates to taxes.

Unfortunately for Stossel (who mostly appeals to the idiot sector) no society resorting to anarchy instead of organized government has ever lasted long or shown much progress, and the most advanced societies have generally had the strongest governments.

And fortunatly for the rest of us we did not see the usuall lame ass conservatives do not wnat to pay any taxed bs

Thanks

As for your post?

Funny

Thanks

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Quote

Unfortunately for Stossel (who mostly appeals to the idiot sector) no society resorting to anarchy instead of organized government has ever lasted long or shown much progress, and the most advanced societies have generally had the strongest governments.

Of course you would think that Stossel appeals to idiots. He is for less government. If you don't want to watch the hole thing, that is fine, but he makes a good point in the last 2 minutes:

We as Americans have lives. We don't have the time or the resources to keep an eye on everything the government does. 3.5trillion dollar budgets, 2,000 page bills, and some 10,000 programs. Each program with an army of lobbyist that know exactly when that program is do to come up on the house or senate floor. Do you know everything the government does? How can you keep an eye on them or hold them accountable? There is so much legal jargon in everything they do that if 2 people read the same passage, they would get 2 completely different ideas about what it's supposed to mean. Why do you think there is so much confusion about the health care bill?

Seriously, how is the average guy who works and takes care of a family supposed to know what is going on? It's why the news has resorted to 30 second sound bites. It's all most working Americans have time for.

The Government, ran by lobbyists, tries to give the appearance of a fair playing field without loosing their advantage. This really tends to fuck things up. The rules, like I said earlier create unintended consequences.

And more to the point for you, all great countries though out history that have fell, came apart from the inside.

I just want to know where all this blubbering was during the Reign of King George the Incompetent?????

[turtlespeed 226]

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I just want to know where all this blubbering was during the Reign of King George the Incompetent?????

They didn't have the internet back then.

Actually some of those that disagreed got on a boat and left.
Maybe you should take the example.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[jgoose71 0]

Quote

Quote

Quote

Unfortunately for Stossel (who mostly appeals to the idiot sector) no society resorting to anarchy instead of organized government has ever lasted long or shown much progress, and the most advanced societies have generally had the strongest governments.

Of course you would think that Stossel appeals to idiots. He is for less government. If you don't want to watch the hole thing, that is fine, but he makes a good point in the last 2 minutes:

We as Americans have lives. We don't have the time or the resources to keep an eye on everything the government does. 3.5trillion dollar budgets, 2,000 page bills, and some 10,000 programs. Each program with an army of lobbyist that know exactly when that program is do to come up on the house or senate floor. Do you know everything the government does? How can you keep an eye on them or hold them accountable? There is so much legal jargon in everything they do that if 2 people read the same passage, they would get 2 completely different ideas about what it's supposed to mean. Why do you think there is so much confusion about the health care bill?

Seriously, how is the average guy who works and takes care of a family supposed to know what is going on? It's why the news has resorted to 30 second sound bites. It's all most working Americans have time for.

The Government, ran by lobbyists, tries to give the appearance of a fair playing field without loosing their advantage. This really tends to fuck things up. The rules, like I said earlier create unintended consequences.

And more to the point for you, all great countries though out history that have fell, came apart from the inside.

I just want to know where all this blubbering was during the Reign of King George the Incompetent?????

The rumbling started under "King George" and continued to grow stronger when "Prince Harry" and "Palosi Galore". It's now called the Tea Party Movement.

Too bad your ilk are to busy labeling it "Racist, anti- womens rights, toe-tappen', extremists homophobes" to know what they really stand for.

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[popsjumper 2]

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The more the government tries to fix things, the more fucked up things get.

I can agree with that.

[sarcasm]
One of these days we're really gonna be up shit creek...what are lawmakers gonna do when all the laws have already been passed and there are no more available?

I guess three of us will have to break out of prison and start a movement.
[/sarcasm]




edited to add the sarcasm tags for the PhDs out there.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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Unfortunately for Stossel (who mostly appeals to the idiot sector) no society resorting to anarchy

Wherever did you get John Stossel promoting anarchy from this video?

Did you bother to watch this video before you decided to call out a certain demographic as "idiots"? I am going to go out on a limb and say NO, you did NOT bother to watch this video. Why do I say this? Because in the video there is a part where Mr Stossel actually criticizes rich baseball club owners (among many other things he speaks about in this video) and since you are one of the biggest "rich people must not be given a free ride" advocates around here (even though you yourself are rich, the poor and the middle class do NOT own an airplane like you do ... ROFLMAO). Next time watch the video before you claim people who did watch it, to be idiots.

Oh and say "Hi" to Michelle for us when you next brush elbows with your elitist White House pals. It's a shame she didn't get her way when she wanted to host the 2016 Summer Olympics with tax payers money after her and her messiah hubby personally lobbied the IOC to get them. But there is always the opera, a place where elitists can gather and arrogantly claim everyone else to be an idiot.

PS: Is there a Lobbyist for the "Cash for your Mooney" program?

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[AdamLanes 1]

Thanks for the link.

[Amazon 7]

Careful

They are watching

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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We as Americans have lives. We don't have the time or the resources to keep an eye on everything the government does. 3.5trillion dollar budgets, 2,000 page bills, and some 10,000 programs. Each program with an army of lobbyist that know exactly when that program is do to come up on the house or senate floor. Do you know everything the government does? How can you keep an eye on them or hold them accountable? There is so much legal jargon in everything they do that if 2 people read the same passage, they would get 2 completely different ideas about what it's supposed to mean. Why do you think there is so much confusion about the health care bill?

Through your elected representative. That's how the system is supposed to work.

You seriously thought that was a good point?

[jgoose71 0]

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We as Americans have lives. We don't have the time or the resources to keep an eye on everything the government does. 3.5trillion dollar budgets, 2,000 page bills, and some 10,000 programs. Each program with an army of lobbyist that know exactly when that program is do to come up on the house or senate floor. Do you know everything the government does? How can you keep an eye on them or hold them accountable? There is so much legal jargon in everything they do that if 2 people read the same passage, they would get 2 completely different ideas about what it's supposed to mean. Why do you think there is so much confusion about the health care bill?

Through your elected representative. That's how the system is supposed to work.

You seriously thought that was a good point?

Yes, yes it is a good point.

Our elected officials tell us what the lobbyists want us to hear. The media, which is supposed to be the watch dogs are becoming more and more biased. The only way to know the truth about what is going on now a days is to research things your self.

Your counter argument would be valid if the system actually worked.

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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Your counter argument would be valid if the system actually worked.

You....the american voting public, are what make the system work or not work.

Lobbyist are allowed by politicians...which you elect.

Media is supported by advertising $$$, nobody watches or reads or listens, no income, that station dies.

I know its more fun to blame other's though.....

If you (personally) think the system has failed then you (generally) have allowed it to fail.

[davjohns 1]

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Your counter argument would be valid if the system actually worked.

You....the american voting public, are what make the system work or not work.

Lobbyist are allowed by politicians...which you elect.

Media is supported by advertising $$$, nobody watches or reads or listens, no income, that station dies.

I know its more fun to blame other's though.....

If you (personally) think the system has failed then you (generally) have allowed it to fail.

I agree...and then violently disagree. :) I think some speakers here are relating the feeling of helplessness that encourages such things as the Tea Party Movement. Being offered candidates from two parties with their own agendas just isn't quite what our system was set up for. There was a reason. Most of our founding fathers studied many types of government before setting up ours. I'm not sure they would recognize what it has become...or approve.

I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet..

But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

[billvon 3,120]

>Your counter argument would be valid if the system actually worked.

There are indeed problems with the system. 90% of those problems are due to the laziness of the american public. They just can't be bothered to vote for third party candidates, or to research laws, or to figure out budgets. And they end up getting out of their government exactly what they put into it.

[turtlespeed 226]

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>Your counter argument would be valid if the system actually worked.

There are indeed problems with the system. 90% of those problems are due to the laziness of the american public. They just can't be bothered to vote for third party candidates, or to research laws, or to figure out budgets. And they end up getting out of their government exactly what they put into it.

You forgot the most important one -

They can't be bothered into not having the government take care of them instead of them taking care of themselves.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[jgoose71 0]

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>Your counter argument would be valid if the system actually worked.

There are indeed problems with the system. 90% of those problems are due to the laziness of the american public. They just can't be bothered to vote for third party candidates, or to research laws, or to figure out budgets. And they end up getting out of their government exactly what they put into it.

It's not laziness, it's that the government has become to complex for the average American that has a job and a family to follow. And even the few that do try to follow end up arguing with those that are believing the lies spewed by the media.

Please re-read post 6 of this thread.

To further make my point, go to any thread in this forum about health care or the mortgage melt down. Even those that profess as to know what is going on can't agree on anything.

Everyone knows they want change. No body has a clue as to what kind of change is needed. Stossel thinks that a smaller government that is easier to keep an eye on would be a good start. I tend to agree.

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[kelpdiver 2]

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We as Americans have lives. We don't have the time or the resources to keep an eye on everything the government does. 3.5trillion dollar budgets, 2,000 page bills, and some 10,000 programs. Each program with an army of lobbyist that know exactly when that program is do to come up on the house or senate floor. Do you know everything the government does? How can you keep an eye on them or hold them accountable? There is so much legal jargon in everything they do that if 2 people read the same passage, they would get 2 completely different ideas about what it's supposed to mean. Why do you think there is so much confusion about the health care bill?

Through your elected representative. That's how the system is supposed to work.

You seriously thought that was a good point?

Wasn't this the bill that even the legislators couldn't read before they voted on it?

[turtlespeed 226]

You inda have to pass it before you now what is in it, you now.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[billvon 3,120]

>They can't be bothered into not having the government take care of
>them instead of them taking care of themselves.

Basically, yes. Republicans want other people to fight their wars for them and give them their roads, bridges and corporate subsidies. Democrats want other people to pay for education, low income housing etc. Both sides have their own pet projects they want funded.

Problem is that that's how capitalism works - the person with the most money wins, and often in politics the candidate with the most money wins. That means the candidate who promises the most corporate tax breaks, the most new construction, the most unemployment benefits, the most government contracts in effect can often "buy" the election.

It's a tough system to change since we are effectively saying that greed is a great system for an economy - but don't let it into government!

[turtlespeed 226]

Quote

>They can't be bothered into not having the government take care of
>them instead of them taking care of themselves.

Basically, yes. Republicans want other people to fight their wars for them and give them their roads, bridges and corporate subsidies. Democrats want other people to pay for education, low income housing etc. Both sides have their own pet projects they want funded.

Problem is that that's how capitalism works - the person with the most money wins, and often in politics the candidate with the most money wins. That means the candidate who promises the most corporate tax breaks, the most new construction, the most unemployment benefits, the most government contracts in effect can often "buy" the election.

It's a tough system to change since we are effectively saying that greed is a great system for an economy - but don't let it into government!

Are you sayoing that dems don't want infrastructure and roads?
Or maybe that they want them both and the rest of the welfare too?

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun