by aflurry » Tue 25 Apr 2006, 15:11:17
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dissimulo', 'I')f you think the government will institute a windfall profits tax and then use the revenue to pay down the deficit, build mass transit, or invest in alternative energy research, you are living in fantasyland. If you give them more money, you can bet they will continue using it just as they have in the past.
mainly because we have let private interests wedge themselves between us and our government.
I agree entirely with this statement, though. It is unfortunate. However, it seems as though we disagree entirely about what the root cause of this situation is.
people scream "socialism" when you talk about campaign finance reform. but the fact is that without it we are not living in a democracy. so, of course gov't is going to be a false solution. however, the solution is to improve government. a better terminology to use would be "public" in place of government. we need a public method of financing campaigns. we need public regulation of essential services like media, health, energy, and transportation.
calling it "government" regulation is non-descriptive, because the government can be controlled by public or private interests. I am in favor of public control over government.
because we do not have this, you are right, the government will do none of the things you describe. instead it continue to protect corporate gangsterism.