Just fairly typical Canadian, actually slightly left of center of most Canadians. But then again that's the prairie heritage in me. I have no problem with with the private sector. Until recently I've never worked with a government agency, mostly with businesses. I have a deeply skeptical view of large scale businesses. Ever live for a while in a company town and you would too. I have less skepticism of certain forms of government, again that's been my experience. I think that the role of government is more complex than what is typical for most people in the US. Government should become involved in those things that the private sector is unable or unwilling to do. That does not mean I'm not skeptical and cynical of government. I've seen teh effects of both positive and negative governmental intervention in the economy and in the private lives of citizens. Handled right its a powerful force. Done wrong and its a painful mess.
You might characterize my attitudes s somewhere between communitarian and pragmatic socialism. Look up the Canadian NDP party for a somewhat more left wing version of some of my beliefs. One approach that's never been done, and I think would be a good experiment to try is to let the federal, state and local governments intervene in the economy but do in a different fashion than is currently done. Rather than use the heavy handed and blunt manner as has been done (ie., laws, regulations and nationalization), how about the government as a socially responsible venture capitalist. In other words have the governments invest in business and expect a return, not just an economic return but a social one. Hire the best and brightest out of finance and business schools and let them work out the prime investments for the society as a whole, and for the government as an investment firm. It may be very interesting and rewarding to see the results. At best it may turn around our society and at worse we lose a bit of money. larry On 1/23/06, Gruss Gott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Larry wrote: > > Ever notice that whenever he cannot really answer something, he trotts > > out the Commienist flag? > > > > No offense, but aren't you sort of communist leaning? I don't mean in > the Stalin/USSR way, but more in the Trotsky way? Again, I'm not > poking sticks, but you seem to favor policies that are heavily > socialized and put the burden on businesses to pay for. > > I'm all for social programs. I don't like seeing people die in the > street; I'd like to see health care for the poor; retirement programs, > etc. > > I just don't think that business should have to pay for them as it's > not solving the problem nor does raising taxes to cover the gaps - it > just pushes the problem onto someone else to pay for. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:193922 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
