NationStates Jolt Archive

For awhile now, yall have heard me used the phrase "Gov. Co." however, I never really fully explain what I mean by that phrase. First off I did not invent the phrase "Gov. Co." "Gov. Co." was actually invented by Keith Larson who can be heard online from 9am-12pm EST on www.wbt.com. Now to me "Gov. Co." is when government does the following A. Uses it's power to make a profit thus scamming the taxpayers or whoever has to pay the fine etc. A perfect example of this is the red light camreas that Charlotte has. These red light cameras capture people who speed through red lights, however when the person recieve the fine, all he has to do is pay $50. There's no insurance hike, or points on his license. All he does is pay Gov. Co. $50 and he's off the hook. That is what I mean by when government uses it's power to turn over a profit. I also use the term Gov. Co. when Government feels that it has the right, and the power to tell us how to live. A perfect example of this is when government tries to ban smoking in public places, like resturants, bars etc. Gov. Co. is trying to tell the private sector how to conduct it's business. I believe that people should vote with their wallet. If a resturant doesn't provide a smoke free zone, then they go out of business, they don't need Gov. Co. to tell them what to do. Finally, when I use Gov. Co. I am referring to how Government has out of control spending. Like how Charlotte is spending close to half a billion dollar on a light rail line, and our I-485 loop isn't even finished! So, now I have explained the phrase Gov. Co. to you fine people of General. :)

The point of a red light camera fine is to make it financially unpalatable to get caught more than once. If you're seeing it as simply a scam to get money, that speaks more about your way to see the world than "Gov. Co." :rolleyes:

I don't necessarily agree with it but, your smoke at your table does impinge on my ability to enjoy my meal. For people with asthma, it's a health issue, and the contraversy on second hand smoke rages on. I have no problem with smoking bans.

Transfat bans, now, that's stupid. If I decide eating fries fourteen times a week is A-ok (God, what a nauseating idea), who am I potentially killing other than myself?

A light rail line will benefit many people by giving them a relatively inexpensive way to get from point a to point b, so I don't really see what your beef about getting one built is. Not everyone wants, can afford, or needs a car, and not everyone is willing to sit in a traffic jam every day, not to mention the pollution and consumption of resources driving produces.

A lot of offences result in a fine. The fine does not get you off the hook, it is the punishment. As to wether it should result in license bans and insurance raises - that is a different issue. If you don't like paying fines for going through red lights then simply don't run them.

Light Rail system? God forbid the government would invest in a transport system that could help the local economy while also doing a little to reduce dependancy on oil.

I think fining citizens who put their fellow citizens in danger (by driving unsafely or by smoking) is a very just way for the Government to collect funds, much fairer than simple taxation.

But then again, I don't drive or smoke, so I would think that...

All he does is pay Gov. Co. $50 and he's off the hook. That is what I mean by when government uses it's power to turn over a profit. I also use the term Gov. Co. when Government feels that it has the right, and the power to tell us how to live.
The government is like a corporation, except that everyone has a stake in it.

I believe that people should vote with their wallet.

Hence, socialism.

The point of a red light camera fine is to make it financially unpalatable to get caught more than once. If you're seeing it as simply a scam to get money, that speaks more about your way to see the world than "Gov. Co." :rolleyes:
I don't see that.


I don't necessarily agree with it but, your smoke at your table does impinge on my ability to enjoy my meal.
Then don't patronize places which allow smoking. Personally, I'm quite allergic to cigarette smoke, but I'll be damned if I want some government assholes telling businesses they can no longer allow smoking.l


Transfat bans, now, that's stupid. If I decide eating fries fourteen times a week is A-ok (God, what a nauseating idea), who am I potentially killing other than myself?
Oh, but the health of you is the concern of everyone! You must not be allowed to do it.


A light rail line will benefit many people by giving them a relatively inexpensive way to get from point a to point b, so I don't really see what your beef about getting one built is.
That if people wanted it, they'd pay for it privately.

That if people wanted it, they'd pay for it privately.
The private sector probably couldn't deliver efficient and affordable public transport. The popularity of rail services shows that people do indeed want them.

The private sector probably couldn't deliver efficient and affordable public transport.
Sure it could, if it weren't hamstrung by regulations. And don't give me any whining about "without the regulations, people would get killed". Nonsense.


The popularity of rail services shows that people do indeed want them.
That's an irrelevant conclusion, though. They may want the service, but since only the government offers it (as private services do tend to be outlawed or out-regulated (that is to say--outlawed by overregulation)) they decide that it's better than nothing.

The point of a red light camera fine is to make it financially unpalatable to get caught more than once. If you're seeing it as simply a scam to get money, that speaks more about your way to see the world than "Gov. Co." :rolleyes:

Yea, but comon I can pay the $50 fine and not think twice about it. To just pay $50 fine is not punishment, it's a scam set up by Gov. Co. to collect money. If they were serious about deterring people running red lights, then they would add other penalities like insurance hike, etc. But just having to pay $50 and that's it, nah sorry, that is a scam.


I don't necessarily agree with it but, your smoke at your table does impinge on my ability to enjoy my meal. For people with asthma, it's a health issue, and the contraversy on second hand smoke rages on. I have no problem with smoking bans.

Gov. Co. has no business telling the private sector what it can and cannot do! IF a resturant allows smoking, and you don't like that or you have asthma, then GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! I mean jeez it's not that hard to find a similiar or better resturant that doesn't allow smoking. If Gov. Co. will just leave the private sector alone, then business that people don't like will go out of business, while others who do care about it's customers will make a profit and become successful!


Transfat bans, now, that's stupid. If I decide eating fries fourteen times a week is A-ok (God, what a nauseating idea), who am I potentially killing other than myself?

Then you must see why smoking ban is stupid, if people want to kill themselves by smoking, then let them.


A light rail line will benefit many people by giving them a relatively inexpensive way to get from point a to point b, so I don't really see what your beef about getting one built is. Not everyone wants, can afford, or needs a car, and not everyone is willing to sit in a traffic jam every day, not to mention the pollution and consumption of resources driving produces.

My beef is, that it's taking over half a billion dollar to construct the line, when at first it was like 1/4th the cost that it is today. The cost just keep adding up, adding up, and adding up. Before the damn line is done, the whole thing may just cost about a billion dollar. Also, I believe that you should finish one project before starting on another one. They started on the light rail line before they finished the I-485 loop, alot of people need that loop finished. Also, if people want a light rail line, then the people should have to pay for it themselves and it should've been left up to the private sector.

Yea, but comon I can pay the $50 fine and not think twice about it. To just pay $50 fine is not punishment, it's a scam set up by Gov. Co. to collect money. If they were serious about deterring people running red lights, then they would add other penalities like insurance hike, etc. But just having to pay $50 and that's it, nah sorry, that is a scam.

Not for someone who hasn't got a lot of spare fifties lying around. If you do, good for you, and by all means, keep running reds -- we'd like to improve the sewer system. Jacking up someone's insurance rates for every fine brings money ONLY to insurance companies. You wanna talk scam, insurance companies are right up there at the top. Raising rates based on the mere probability that you'll be in an accident based on a traffic ticket. Major scam.

Gov. Co. has no business telling the private sector what it can and cannot do! IF a resturant allows smoking, and you don't like that or you have asthma, then GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! I mean jeez it's not that hard to find a similiar or better resturant that doesn't allow smoking. If Gov. Co. will just leave the private sector alone, then business that people don't like will go out of business, while others who do care about it's customers will make a profit and become successful!

It's harder than you think, especially if you lived in the era when non-smoking sections were more zebras than ponies (rarer, that is). When I was younger, many places I wanted to go to see bands were smoking establishments, and I'd come home smelling like I'd been inside a cigarette -- like the room was a burning plantation. I could exhale smoke from the bottom of my lungs for the next thirty minutes. I stopped going. By the time non-smoking sections or whole establishments had become common, pop music sucked.

Then you must see why smoking ban is stupid, if people want to kill themselves by smoking, then let them.

So are you saying that any form of suicide is okay? Fine. I choose death by dirty bomb. See how the decision can effect other people? Okay, ludicrous example, but comparing someone's diet to the actual presence of combustion smoke physically hanging in the air is equally ludicrous.

Willy, you're a lot of yodel with no lederhosen...or rather, all hat and no cattle. Lots of bombast and populist claptrap at decent decibel levels, but no substance. Try again. Perhaps you'd like to enlighten us on intelligent design?