big business

By “Madame Rhubarb”

I finished watching part 2 of “Appalachia” a while ago and have been ruminating on the criminal treatment of coal miners by big Eastern and Mid Western business men and banks. Over their control of local, state and federal governments. Over the blocking of unions and perpetuation of the status quo that confluence of power and influence enabled. Millions (billions today) were made off the backs of families with barely enough to eat and NO benefits. Then it hit me: This is essentially the same situation we are at this very moment.

The average consumer has absolutely no clout and is regularly exploited by pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, credit card companies, mortgage companies, banks in general, even our government representatives. Record profits, even in this recession, are being generated while the average consumer receives NO relief from local, state and federal governments with their representatives so often beholding to the special interests that fill their campaign coffers rather than to their constituants. Click to continue »

By Richard Schmitt

Is government the enemy? Many Americans think that. On April 15, tax day, a national organization held a series of “tea parties” all over the country to commemorate the colonists’ resistance to government and specifically to taxation. They are planning more events. At present, the Republicans in Congress are resisting the proposal to have government provide health insurance for some Americans. Anything done by the government, they believe, is worse than anything done by private business.

This is an old belief among Americans. The authors of the Constitution wrote that document after having successfully freed themselves from the British government and established their own. The political system they created is very concerned about preserving individual liberties against government attempts to limit freedom. It is, we think, a good system. Citizens have elaborate rights to protest, to tell the government what they think. The leaders of the government are elected; they hold their jobs by the will of the citizens and can be removed from office if they ignore the citizens’ wishes. Click to continue »