The US Government Is Corrupt From Top to Bottom

[Truth Warrior]

Basic Premises

by Charley Reese

What follows are a few of the basic premises on which I base my thinking. You might or might not agree with them, but may I suggest that you make a list of your own basic premises. It will help you clarify your thinking.

1. Government is inherently incompetent, and no matter what task it is assigned, it will do that task in the most expensive and inefficient way possible.
2. The American government is corrupt from top to bottom.
3. If you rely on the mass media to inform you about your community, state and nation, you will, with rare exceptions, be woefully ignorant of what is really going on.
4. The universal franchise is a bad idea. The notion that the destiny of the nation should be put in the hands of ignoramuses, parasites, boobs, party hacks and idiots is absurd on its face.
5. Public education in America is a failure and is so flawed it cannot be reformed.
6. Not much has changed in the past 5,000 years of human history.

All of that might sound cynical, but it really isn't. True conservatives have argued for years that government, even a benign one, is like a clumsy, retarded giant, and therefore you have to be careful to limit what tasks you assign it.


You can make a career out of just criticizing obvious bloopers committed by the various departments of government, because they all commit them. The Romans built roads that are still around, but states today continue to build roads that will pothole and crack within a year, sometimes sooner. Look at the federal airport-security people. They take nail trimmers away from grandmothers but allow real weapons to get through. And so on and so on.

As for the news media, since most media companies are now controlled by a handful of corporations whose sole interest is in maintaining a high profit margin, you are getting mostly fluff instead of hard news. Hard news is labor-intensive. It is cheaper to go with the fluff.

Thomas Jefferson's theoretical belief in a free press soon foundered on the reality, and he came to despise it. He advised one young man never to read newspapers, since it was better to be ignorant than misinformed.

As for government corruption, it's all around us. Sure, there are honest public officials, but the system itself is corrupt. It now requires so much money to run for office that the field is narrowed to bored millionaires and office-seekers willing to take as much money as they can from anywhere they can get it. That's why Congress pays no attention to the people. It pays attention to the suppliers of campaign funds – not to mention junkets, fancy vacations and off-the-radar business deals.

As for the universal franchise, the problem with that is obvious. People who wish to vote should at least be required to pass the same test given to immigrants who want to become citizens. A lot of voters are not even sure what state they live in – or what century, for that matter. How can people who are ignorant of history, economics and basic science make an intelligent choice for a national leader? They can't. They will go with the demagogue.

And, of course, it is public education that is mass-producing these ignoramuses. Imagine people completing 16 years of formal education and not knowing how to spell, punctuate or use their native language correctly. Imagine college graduates who know virtually nothing about their country's history or geography.

As for the final premise, it is simply a reminder to utopians: Human beings are selfish, flawed and fallible animals. They always have been, they are now, and they always will be. Therefore, any human institution, public or private, will reflect those flaws. If you want perfection, plant a rosebush.


Note: Charley Reese is on medical leave. Until he returns, we will be running "The Best of Charley Reese."

August 18, 2008

Charley Reese [send him mail] has been a journalist for 49 years.
© 2008 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese487.html

[GreenCardSeeker]

Sweden sure is a good example of how awfully bad things turn out when run by the government - the philosophy here has been that the government is the society, everything the nation should do has been decided in a centralized manner.

It's tragicomical watching the management of public funds here. It seems the bureaucrats have developed a strategy for maximizing their income:

a) How much funding public operations get depend on the unfilled needs of whatever they're supposed to solve. More needs mean more funds required.

b) How much income the bureaucrats get is independent of whether the needs are filled or not. It is directly related to how much the government takes upon itself, however.

c) Adding a) and b) together, the logical action for bureaucrats to take is to take whatever funds they get and waste it on people or projects who don't need it, so they still have the unfilled needs to use as excuse for asking for more funds. Solving the problems they're expected to solve would be counterproductive.

It's amazing how much money they can spend here on employment initatives etc, even while the recipients try to tell them these won't lead anywhere, yet have nothing to offer when people ask for some service that would get them a job. If the government decides you need a certain measure, it's made available right away, while if you ask the government for something, you might have to wait years for it. Then they tell you that there's just not enough money for it, even though the government takes nearly 70% of the average person's income in taxes and spends almost all of it on social measures. Obviously the bureaucrats feel that whatever the government has managed to gather in taxes belongs to them to do with as they please.

And naturally whenever there are issues in society such as social problems, unemployment etc, the politicians and mass media always blame it on those ghastly market forces.

I'm pretty sure Sweden has the most costly government programs in the world, yet not really being a step up from other countries.

Typical employment initative: $200/person/day
Inmate in prison: $400/person/day
Child in government foster care: $500/person/day

And in spite of this huge spending, the philosophy of the government taking care of you from the cradle to the grave, they still let people become homeless by denying assistance to some people that don't behave the way the government wants.

[Truth Warrior]

Perhaps that explains the world's national governments "push" towards leveling, homogenizing populations through "regionalization" and "globalization" ( so called ).

Thanks!

[GreenCardSeeker]

Perhaps that explains the world's national governments "push" towards leveling, homogenizing populations through "regionalization" and "globalization" ( so called ).

Thanks!

Yep, it's the business prospect of the future, becoming part of the power structure that will rule the world. They keep making on reasons for which we supposedly need them. The social part is the one that will dominate of course, they'll want to solve world hunger, reduce global inequalities etc. There will be so much money to manage and put in your own pocket if the west gets subdued to the point where it will pay for this grand scheme. Naturally they hate liberty, since that means no funds to squander and no one that can be forced into participating.

[Anti Federalist]

Basic Premises

by Charley Reese

What follows are a few of the basic premises on which I base my thinking. You might or might not agree with them, but may I suggest that you make a list of your own basic premises. It will help you clarify your thinking.

1. Government is inherently incompetent, and no matter what task it is assigned, it will do that task in the most expensive and inefficient way possible.
2. The American government is corrupt from top to bottom.
3. If you rely on the mass media to inform you about your community, state and nation, you will, with rare exceptions, be woefully ignorant of what is really going on.
4. The universal franchise is a bad idea. The notion that the destiny of the nation should be put in the hands of ignoramuses, parasites, boobs, party hacks and idiots is absurd on its face.
5. Public education in America is a failure and is so flawed it cannot be reformed.
6. Not much has changed in the past 5,000 years of human history.

All of that might sound cynical, but it really isn't. True conservatives have argued for years that government, even a benign one, is like a clumsy, retarded giant, and therefore you have to be careful to limit what tasks you assign it.


You can make a career out of just criticizing obvious bloopers committed by the various departments of government, because they all commit them. The Romans built roads that are still around, but states today continue to build roads that will pothole and crack within a year, sometimes sooner. Look at the federal airport-security people. They take nail trimmers away from grandmothers but allow real weapons to get through. And so on and so on.

As for the news media, since most media companies are now controlled by a handful of corporations whose sole interest is in maintaining a high profit margin, you are getting mostly fluff instead of hard news. Hard news is labor-intensive. It is cheaper to go with the fluff.

Thomas Jefferson's theoretical belief in a free press soon foundered on the reality, and he came to despise it. He advised one young man never to read newspapers, since it was better to be ignorant than misinformed.

As for government corruption, it's all around us. Sure, there are honest public officials, but the system itself is corrupt. It now requires so much money to run for office that the field is narrowed to bored millionaires and office-seekers willing to take as much money as they can from anywhere they can get it. That's why Congress pays no attention to the people. It pays attention to the suppliers of campaign funds – not to mention junkets, fancy vacations and off-the-radar business deals.

As for the universal franchise, the problem with that is obvious. People who wish to vote should at least be required to pass the same test given to immigrants who want to become citizens. A lot of voters are not even sure what state they live in – or what century, for that matter. How can people who are ignorant of history, economics and basic science make an intelligent choice for a national leader? They can't. They will go with the demagogue.

And, of course, it is public education that is mass-producing these ignoramuses. Imagine people completing 16 years of formal education and not knowing how to spell, punctuate or use their native language correctly. Imagine college graduates who know virtually nothing about their country's history or geography.

As for the final premise, it is simply a reminder to utopians: Human beings are selfish, flawed and fallible animals. They always have been, they are now, and they always will be. Therefore, any human institution, public or private, will reflect those flaws. If you want perfection, plant a rosebush.


Note: Charley Reese is on medical leave. Until he returns, we will be running "The Best of Charley Reese."

August 18, 2008

Charley Reese [send him mail] has been a journalist for 49 years.
© 2008 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese487.html

Well to me anyways - just funnin with ya' TW.

[Theocrat]

Basic Premises

by Charley Reese

What follows are a few of the basic premises on which I base my thinking. You might or might not agree with them, but may I suggest that you make a list of your own basic premises. It will help you clarify your thinking.

1. Government is inherently incompetent, and no matter what task it is assigned, it will do that task in the most expensive and inefficient way possible.
2. The American government is corrupt from top to bottom.
3. If you rely on the mass media to inform you about your community, state and nation, you will, with rare exceptions, be woefully ignorant of what is really going on.
4. The universal franchise is a bad idea. The notion that the destiny of the nation should be put in the hands of ignoramuses, parasites, boobs, party hacks and idiots is absurd on its face.
5. Public education in America is a failure and is so flawed it cannot be reformed.
6. Not much has changed in the past 5,000 years of human history.

All of that might sound cynical, but it really isn't. True conservatives have argued for years that government, even a benign one, is like a clumsy, retarded giant, and therefore you have to be careful to limit what tasks you assign it.


You can make a career out of just criticizing obvious bloopers committed by the various departments of government, because they all commit them. The Romans built roads that are still around, but states today continue to build roads that will pothole and crack within a year, sometimes sooner. Look at the federal airport-security people. They take nail trimmers away from grandmothers but allow real weapons to get through. And so on and so on.

As for the news media, since most media companies are now controlled by a handful of corporations whose sole interest is in maintaining a high profit margin, you are getting mostly fluff instead of hard news. Hard news is labor-intensive. It is cheaper to go with the fluff.

Thomas Jefferson's theoretical belief in a free press soon foundered on the reality, and he came to despise it. He advised one young man never to read newspapers, since it was better to be ignorant than misinformed.

As for government corruption, it's all around us. Sure, there are honest public officials, but the system itself is corrupt. It now requires so much money to run for office that the field is narrowed to bored millionaires and office-seekers willing to take as much money as they can from anywhere they can get it. That's why Congress pays no attention to the people. It pays attention to the suppliers of campaign funds – not to mention junkets, fancy vacations and off-the-radar business deals.

As for the universal franchise, the problem with that is obvious. People who wish to vote should at least be required to pass the same test given to immigrants who want to become citizens. A lot of voters are not even sure what state they live in – or what century, for that matter. How can people who are ignorant of history, economics and basic science make an intelligent choice for a national leader? They can't. They will go with the demagogue.

And, of course, it is public education that is mass-producing these ignoramuses. Imagine people completing 16 years of formal education and not knowing how to spell, punctuate or use their native language correctly. Imagine college graduates who know virtually nothing about their country's history or geography.

As for the final premise, it is simply a reminder to utopians: Human beings are selfish, flawed and fallible animals. They always have been, they are now, and they always will be. Therefore, any human institution, public or private, will reflect those flaws. If you want perfection, plant a rosebush.


Note: Charley Reese is on medical leave. Until he returns, we will be running "The Best of Charley Reese."

August 18, 2008

Charley Reese [send him mail] has been a journalist for 49 years.
© 2008 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese487.html

The problem is with the people involved in civil government, not the institution itself. Our Founders had it correct when they made it abundantly clear that our form of government will only work as long as the people involved were moral and religious (Christian). It won't matter how many laws our government passes, if the people are corrupt and immoral, then our government will be corrupt, and eventually, it will fall.

In short, anarchy is not the solution to corrupt civil government; self-government is. Once a person has been changed inwardly by the power of God through enlightenment from His holy revelation, then that person will be morally fit to govern rightly and ensure good, sound laws are passed so that citizens' rights are protected. Moral integrity of the individual is the key.

[Truth Warrior]

Well to me anyways - just funnin with ya' TW.

Hey, you aren't even on my target audience list.

Back in the choir!

[Truth Warrior]

The problem is with the people involved in civil government, not the institution itself. Our Founders had it correct when they made it abundantly clear that our form of government will only work as long as the people involved were moral and religious (Christian). It won't matter how many laws our government passes, if the people are corrupt and immoral, then our government will be corrupt, and eventually, it will fall.

In short, anarchy is not the solution to corrupt civil government; self-government is. Once a person has been changed inwardly by the power of God through enlightenment from His holy revelation, then that person will be morally fit to govern rightly and ensure good, sound laws are passed so that citizens' rights are protected. Moral integrity of the individual is the key.

As is often the case, I agree with much of what you say, but NOT all of it.

You want and/or need political "shepherds", I do not.

Tell your story to your corrupt politicians, hypocritical "theists" ( so called ) and incompetent "civil" servants.

Thanks!

"By their fruits, ye shall know them."

[Uncle Emanuel Watkins]

Basic Premises

by Charley Reese

What follows are a few of the basic premises on which I base my thinking. You might or might not agree with them, but may I suggest that you make a list of your own basic premises. It will help you clarify your thinking.

1. Government is inherently incompetent, and no matter what task it is assigned, it will do that task in the most expensive and inefficient way possible.
2. The American government is corrupt from top to bottom.
3. If you rely on the mass media to inform you about your community, state and nation, you will, with rare exceptions, be woefully ignorant of what is really going on.
4. The universal franchise is a bad idea. The notion that the destiny of the nation should be put in the hands of ignoramuses, parasites, boobs, party hacks and idiots is absurd on its face.
5. Public education in America is a failure and is so flawed it cannot be reformed.
6. Not much has changed in the past 5,000 years of human history.

All of that might sound cynical, but it really isn't. True conservatives have argued for years that government, even a benign one, is like a clumsy, retarded giant, and therefore you have to be careful to limit what tasks you assign it.


You can make a career out of just criticizing obvious bloopers committed by the various departments of government, because they all commit them. The Romans built roads that are still around, but states today continue to build roads that will pothole and crack within a year, sometimes sooner. Look at the federal airport-security people. They take nail trimmers away from grandmothers but allow real weapons to get through. And so on and so on.

As for the news media, since most media companies are now controlled by a handful of corporations whose sole interest is in maintaining a high profit margin, you are getting mostly fluff instead of hard news. Hard news is labor-intensive. It is cheaper to go with the fluff.

Thomas Jefferson's theoretical belief in a free press soon foundered on the reality, and he came to despise it. He advised one young man never to read newspapers, since it was better to be ignorant than misinformed.

As for government corruption, it's all around us. Sure, there are honest public officials, but the system itself is corrupt. It now requires so much money to run for office that the field is narrowed to bored millionaires and office-seekers willing to take as much money as they can from anywhere they can get it. That's why Congress pays no attention to the people. It pays attention to the suppliers of campaign funds – not to mention junkets, fancy vacations and off-the-radar business deals.

As for the universal franchise, the problem with that is obvious. People who wish to vote should at least be required to pass the same test given to immigrants who want to become citizens. A lot of voters are not even sure what state they live in – or what century, for that matter. How can people who are ignorant of history, economics and basic science make an intelligent choice for a national leader? They can't. They will go with the demagogue.

And, of course, it is public education that is mass-producing these ignoramuses. Imagine people completing 16 years of formal education and not knowing how to spell, punctuate or use their native language correctly. Imagine college graduates who know virtually nothing about their country's history or geography.

As for the final premise, it is simply a reminder to utopians: Human beings are selfish, flawed and fallible animals. They always have been, they are now, and they always will be. Therefore, any human institution, public or private, will reflect those flaws. If you want perfection, plant a rosebush.


Note: Charley Reese is on medical leave. Until he returns, we will be running "The Best of Charley Reese."

August 18, 2008

Charley Reese [send him mail] has been a journalist for 49 years.
© 2008 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese487.html

Before there was "public education," all one had was the private tutoring of the prince by a trainer so that he could learn how to one day take his rightful place on the throne of his father the king.
Rule #3: Never blame the people.

[qaxn]

1. Government is inherently incompetent, and no matter what task it is assigned, it will do that task in the most expensive and inefficient way possible.
2. Not much has changed in the past 5,000 years of human history.

The Romans built roads that are still around, but states today continue to build roads that will pothole and crack within a year, sometimes sooner. Look at the federal airport-security people.

Whoops.

[Truth Warrior]

Before there was "public education," all one had was the private tutoring of the prince by a trainer so that he could learn how to one day take his rightful place on the throne of his father the king.
Rule #3: Never blame the people.

I have no idea where you learned your early American history. I think that you are due for a refund.

When they screw up I blame them. Otherwise how are they ever gonna learn or know that they screwed up?

You know what you can do with your Rule # 3 ( so called ), BTW.

[Truth Warrior]

Whoops.

???

[Truth Warrior]

Bump