-Caveat Lector- The Stossel show was MAGNIFICENT! It needs to be run many more times, and others need to do something similar. We should try to get it on the net for millions to see. Ted "Albert V. Burns" wrote: > To All: > How many of YOU took the time to watch the program reported on in > this column? If you missed it, you don't know what a great job Stossel > did. > Al Burns > > For Release Jan. 28th > > JUST A MATTER OF TIME! > By Albert Burns > > I wonder just how many Americans watched an extremely important > television program this past Saturday evening. The program on Channel 4 > was called "John Stossel Goes To Washington." Anyone who watched the > program learned a great deal about what has been happening in this > country for the past sixty or seventy years. Stossel was discussing the > problems which have been produced by "out of control" American > government. While he was speaking most especially about federal > government, he also pointed out failings of local and state governments. > > John Stossel was, for years, a consumer reporter pointing out the > manner in which some businesses were ripping off the public. In this > special report, he has exposed the greatest "rip-off entity" of all > time: GOVERNMENT! > During the hour long program, Stossel exposed numerous government > programs which squander taxpayer's money to incredible levels; which > issue insane rules and regulations to strangle the free enterprise > system which made American the greatest nation in all mankind's history; > and which evidence the waste, incompetence and abuse of power which has > become "normal" today. > Over the past sixty years, this country has been taken from a system > where "government" cost to every citizen was $20 per year to a situation > today where the per capita cost of "government" is NOW $10,000 per > year! That is no mistake, the cost of government is now ten thousand > dollars for every man, woman and child in this country. Of course, we > are not each PAYING that amount � we are, whether we realize it or not, > creating THAT MUCH INDEBTEDNESS for our children and their children and > their children's children. As the Good Book says, "The sins of the > fathers are passed on to the seventh generation." > Americans, today, pay more in taxes than they do for food, clothing and > housing COMBINED! It was never intended that this should happen. > Unfortunately, we, the public, have not been paying attention to what > was happening right before our eyes. We were so busy enjoying the > benefits of the limited government and free enterprise system we > inherited that we didn't have the time or inclination (or knowledge?) to > defend the system which made the prosperity POSSIBLE! > Stossel showed, with repeated examples, that fact that, for all > practical purposes, EVERY problem which government attempts to correct, > it ALWAYS makes worse! The Department of The Interior has spent > billions to "improve" the life of American Indians, yet after all the > spending Indians are now the poorest people in the country. > More billions upon billions have been spent to help the poor through > centrally-planned public housing. The result? Some of the worst slum > conditions ever � dilapidated buildings with non- functioning elevators, > water supply systems, inadequate lighting, etc. These government built > apartment complexes have wound up being blasted down by the very > government which built them. > Where private individuals or companies have taken over the failed or > failing government attempts, the result has, almost invariably, been a > rebirth of the community, crime and drug dealing declines, and the > citizens begin to take a real pride in THEIR neighborhood! Private > charities which have engaged in heroic efforts to help the poor have > been hamstrung in their efforts by ridiculous rules and regulations > imposed upon them by government. > Stossel also pointed out what really shouldn't NEED to have attention > called to it: in spite of ALL the incredible evidence of government > waste, incompetence and failure, such failures are used by the > government as excuses for INCREASED government involvement in the > affairs of our population. > The program gave graphic evidence that the main reason for such > failures on the part of government is the lack of COMPETITION! > Competition, which is totally lacking in government monopolies, gives > private entities the incentive to provide clean water, efficient waste > disposal, air traffic control which provides safety and on-time flights, > etc. People working in such private companies MUST produce good results > or they are replaced by others who WILL get effective outcomes. > Government officials are NOT so motivated. In spite of the numerous > examples of malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence, corruption, etc. on > the part of public officials, it is rare, indeed, that one is genuinely > punished or even replaced. > Our Founding Fathers knew of this tendency of government to increase in > size and scope. They knew of the venal nature of politicians. They did > their absolute best to build a government which would never be degraded > to match the failed governments of prior human history. In spite of > their best intentions, they were aware of the frailty of their best > efforts. The continued existence of good government is absolutely > dependent upon the existence of a majority of good CITIZENS in the > society. One is impossible without the other. > Thomas Jefferson stated, prophetically, that: "Yes, we did produce a > near perfect Republic. But will they keep it, or will they, in the > enjoyment of plenty, lose the memory of freedom? Material abundance > without character is the surest way to destruction." > Have we, "in the enjoyment of plenty" lost the "memory of freedom?" > Time is getting short if we are to rebuild the dream of our Founding > Fathers and preserve freedom for our posterity! <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
