NationStates Jolt Archive

Like it or not, America is controlled by the wealthy. It's true for Republicans and it's true for Democrats. It simply takes a lot of money to run for office successfully. Most politicians are rich and got there with corporate campaign donations. Well, why would a company want to sponser a person to run for office? They don't wear a T-shirt with their coporate logo when they appear on C-Span. Politicians have a long history of protecting the people who got them into office.

Now, not all politicians are greedy businessmen and not all CEO's are greedy themselves, but its very hard to be in a seat of power if you aren't willing to step on a few crotches and throats to get there.

"Never underestimate the effectiveness of a straight cash bribe."
— Claude Cockburn, British journalist (1904-1981)

That being said, it is up to you to decide whether you trust them or not.

I don't think you should ever trust your government. It's a healthy part of democracy and freedom of speech to always question the actions of those in power.
I do like the idea of allow elected officials to be corporatly sponsored though, much like athletes.

And now, your President, brought to you by the good people at Halliburton.
etc

I don't trust people in general, and the government is made up mostly of people...right?

How could anyone trust our government after the "Magic Bullet Theory"? If they'll lie to us about our own president being murdered, they'll lie about everything else too.

Don't you think it's weird that so many Americans distrust the
US government, but non of us do anything about it?

Heck no; this is why I advocate a Libertarian government that weilds a heck of a lot less power than now.

I don't trust the government for a second, obviously.

I don't trust people in general, and the government is made up mostly of people...right?
If I remember correctly Schwarzenegger is a robot.

anyone who trusts this current government and believes in its good will and good intentions is pretty much......an idiot.

If I remember correctly Schwarzenegger is a robot.
Lol...nicely said man...anyway I, too, don't trust people in general so why would I belive some kinda dumbass like W. Bush(sry Republicans)?

Ben Franklin was attributed with saying, "You know how intelligent the average american is? Well, by definition, half are dumber than that."

Yet we're ruled by the majority.

Best argument for limited government I ever heard.

Yeah, I trust them .... trust them to screw up and waste the people's $$$ on stupid shit.

Any one, no matter where you live who trusts their government is the biggest idiot they know. ;)

Sorry, I didn't know this debate would be so one sided. What about Bush supporters? If you don't trust the government what makes you trust GW?

George W. Bush != The Government

Of government, at least in democratic states, it may be said briefly that it is an agency engaged wholesale, and as a matter of solemn duty, in the performance of acts which all self-respecting individuals refrain from as a matter of common decency.

Hl Mencken (http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/H._L._Mencken/31)

"[W]hen a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief distinguishing mark is the fact that they are quite incapable of weighing ideas, or even of comprehending any save the most elemental--men whose whole thinking is done in terms of emotion, and whose dominant emotion is dread of what they cannot understand. So confronted, the candidate must either bark with the pack or be lost... [A]ll the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre--the man who can most adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum. The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920