OT: FOX News and the oil blowout

[eavesdropper]

[quote=Djshakes]Eavesdropper: This a matter of the chicken and the egg. Has the government created an entitled dependent society or does the society truly need the government. I would like to think it falls in the middle.[/quote]

That’s a tough one, Dj. Like you, I would prefer the truth to lie somewhere in the middle. But I confess to leaning in the direction of the fault lying largely with the government. Not that I favor people readily accepting aid they don’t truly deserve, or opting to take the easier way out, but it is a normal human instinct (animal, too, come to think of it).

The current entitlement programs were largely created or had their benefits vastly expanded during a time of unprecedented sociological change that, I believe, provided a fertile breeding ground for exponential growth of the rolls, and an accompanying change in attitude by the citizenry. As for the government, almost every large entitlement program becomes a proverbial “third rail” once it passes into law. There are almost no candidates, of any party affiliation, that will dare to touch it during their tenure in office.

There have been some interesting studies dealing with self-reporting of disability as it relates to physical health over the past decade. Baby boomers, the first generation to be concerned with self-image and physical fitness, and fortunate beneficiaries of incredible biomedical advances, have been reporting significantly higher rates of conditions they term as disabling in their 50s than cohorts 30 years older. The epidemiology is not complete, but I’m looking forward to reading the literature when they come up with the reasons for the discrepancy.

I’m not a Boomer basher. Just a Boomer. Non-disabled variety, I’m grateful to say.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=briansd1][quote=eavesdropper]In the purest sense of “employment”, there is an ostensibly even exchange of the employee’s labor/services for the employer’s money. In that situation, I believe that an employee of the government can openly criticize and protest the actions of that government, without the least hint of hypocrisy.[/quote]

I agree.

That’s why I don’t feel any qualms about criticizing the oil industry while using their products.[/quote]

Well, strictly speaking, you are a consumer of the oil industry, not an employee. But I’m nitpicking for nitpicking’s sake. I like to blame it on the nuns who beat me at the orphanage.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=briansd1][quote=eavesdropper]In the purest sense of “employment”, there is an ostensibly even exchange of the employee’s labor/services for the employer’s money. In that situation, I believe that an employee of the government can openly criticize and protest the actions of that government, without the least hint of hypocrisy.[/quote]

I agree.

That’s why I don’t feel any qualms about criticizing the oil industry while using their products.[/quote]

Well, strictly speaking, you are a consumer of the oil industry, not an employee. But I’m nitpicking for nitpicking’s sake. I like to blame it on the nuns who beat me at the orphanage.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=briansd1][quote=eavesdropper]In the purest sense of “employment”, there is an ostensibly even exchange of the employee’s labor/services for the employer’s money. In that situation, I believe that an employee of the government can openly criticize and protest the actions of that government, without the least hint of hypocrisy.[/quote]

I agree.

That’s why I don’t feel any qualms about criticizing the oil industry while using their products.[/quote]

Well, strictly speaking, you are a consumer of the oil industry, not an employee. But I’m nitpicking for nitpicking’s sake. I like to blame it on the nuns who beat me at the orphanage.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=briansd1][quote=eavesdropper]In the purest sense of “employment”, there is an ostensibly even exchange of the employee’s labor/services for the employer’s money. In that situation, I believe that an employee of the government can openly criticize and protest the actions of that government, without the least hint of hypocrisy.[/quote]

I agree.

That’s why I don’t feel any qualms about criticizing the oil industry while using their products.[/quote]

Well, strictly speaking, you are a consumer of the oil industry, not an employee. But I’m nitpicking for nitpicking’s sake. I like to blame it on the nuns who beat me at the orphanage.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=briansd1][quote=eavesdropper]In the purest sense of “employment”, there is an ostensibly even exchange of the employee’s labor/services for the employer’s money. In that situation, I believe that an employee of the government can openly criticize and protest the actions of that government, without the least hint of hypocrisy.[/quote]

I agree.

That’s why I don’t feel any qualms about criticizing the oil industry while using their products.[/quote]

Well, strictly speaking, you are a consumer of the oil industry, not an employee. But I’m nitpicking for nitpicking’s sake. I like to blame it on the nuns who beat me at the orphanage.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=eavesdropper]
The current entitlement programs were largely created or had their benefits vastly expanded during a time of unprecedented sociological change that, I believe, provided a fertile breeding ground for exponential growth of the rolls, and an accompanying change in attitude by the citizenry. As for the government, almost every large entitlement program becomes a proverbial “third rail” once it passes into law. There are almost no candidates, of any party affiliation, that will dare to touch it during their tenure in office.

[/quote]

And I think its safe to say that the period of unprecedented social change corresponded to something of a one-off in terms of American power (economic and military). The period between 1945 – 1972 was the apogee of American power and, combined with the triumphalism of our victory in WWII and the sense of duty attendant to the Cold War, there was an attitude that we could, as a rich country, afford “Guns AND Butter” (personified in LBJ’s desire to finance the war in Vietnam AND The Great Society programs).

There are significant parallels in the rise and fall of General Motors and largely due to many of the same factors: A sense of hubris, driven by stellar profits and a commanding hold on US market share, led GM to a similar precipice, and then off.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=eavesdropper]
The current entitlement programs were largely created or had their benefits vastly expanded during a time of unprecedented sociological change that, I believe, provided a fertile breeding ground for exponential growth of the rolls, and an accompanying change in attitude by the citizenry. As for the government, almost every large entitlement program becomes a proverbial “third rail” once it passes into law. There are almost no candidates, of any party affiliation, that will dare to touch it during their tenure in office.

[/quote]

And I think its safe to say that the period of unprecedented social change corresponded to something of a one-off in terms of American power (economic and military). The period between 1945 – 1972 was the apogee of American power and, combined with the triumphalism of our victory in WWII and the sense of duty attendant to the Cold War, there was an attitude that we could, as a rich country, afford “Guns AND Butter” (personified in LBJ’s desire to finance the war in Vietnam AND The Great Society programs).

There are significant parallels in the rise and fall of General Motors and largely due to many of the same factors: A sense of hubris, driven by stellar profits and a commanding hold on US market share, led GM to a similar precipice, and then off.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=eavesdropper]
The current entitlement programs were largely created or had their benefits vastly expanded during a time of unprecedented sociological change that, I believe, provided a fertile breeding ground for exponential growth of the rolls, and an accompanying change in attitude by the citizenry. As for the government, almost every large entitlement program becomes a proverbial “third rail” once it passes into law. There are almost no candidates, of any party affiliation, that will dare to touch it during their tenure in office.

[/quote]

And I think its safe to say that the period of unprecedented social change corresponded to something of a one-off in terms of American power (economic and military). The period between 1945 – 1972 was the apogee of American power and, combined with the triumphalism of our victory in WWII and the sense of duty attendant to the Cold War, there was an attitude that we could, as a rich country, afford “Guns AND Butter” (personified in LBJ’s desire to finance the war in Vietnam AND The Great Society programs).

There are significant parallels in the rise and fall of General Motors and largely due to many of the same factors: A sense of hubris, driven by stellar profits and a commanding hold on US market share, led GM to a similar precipice, and then off.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=eavesdropper]
The current entitlement programs were largely created or had their benefits vastly expanded during a time of unprecedented sociological change that, I believe, provided a fertile breeding ground for exponential growth of the rolls, and an accompanying change in attitude by the citizenry. As for the government, almost every large entitlement program becomes a proverbial “third rail” once it passes into law. There are almost no candidates, of any party affiliation, that will dare to touch it during their tenure in office.

[/quote]

And I think its safe to say that the period of unprecedented social change corresponded to something of a one-off in terms of American power (economic and military). The period between 1945 – 1972 was the apogee of American power and, combined with the triumphalism of our victory in WWII and the sense of duty attendant to the Cold War, there was an attitude that we could, as a rich country, afford “Guns AND Butter” (personified in LBJ’s desire to finance the war in Vietnam AND The Great Society programs).

There are significant parallels in the rise and fall of General Motors and largely due to many of the same factors: A sense of hubris, driven by stellar profits and a commanding hold on US market share, led GM to a similar precipice, and then off.

[Allan from Fallbrook]

[quote=eavesdropper]
The current entitlement programs were largely created or had their benefits vastly expanded during a time of unprecedented sociological change that, I believe, provided a fertile breeding ground for exponential growth of the rolls, and an accompanying change in attitude by the citizenry. As for the government, almost every large entitlement program becomes a proverbial “third rail” once it passes into law. There are almost no candidates, of any party affiliation, that will dare to touch it during their tenure in office.

[/quote]

And I think its safe to say that the period of unprecedented social change corresponded to something of a one-off in terms of American power (economic and military). The period between 1945 – 1972 was the apogee of American power and, combined with the triumphalism of our victory in WWII and the sense of duty attendant to the Cold War, there was an attitude that we could, as a rich country, afford “Guns AND Butter” (personified in LBJ’s desire to finance the war in Vietnam AND The Great Society programs).

There are significant parallels in the rise and fall of General Motors and largely due to many of the same factors: A sense of hubris, driven by stellar profits and a commanding hold on US market share, led GM to a similar precipice, and then off.

[briansd1]

[quote=eavesdropper]
Well, strictly speaking, you are a consumer of the oil industry, not an employee. But I’m nitpicking for nitpicking’s sake. I like to blame it on the nuns who beat me at the orphanage.[/quote]

Nitpick away. 😉

Yes, as a consumer of the oil industry, I’m farther removed from the oil industry; so I have more leeway to criticize the oil industry than a government employee or contractor criticizing the hand that feeds.

[briansd1]

[quote=eavesdropper]
Well, strictly speaking, you are a consumer of the oil industry, not an employee. But I’m nitpicking for nitpicking’s sake. I like to blame it on the nuns who beat me at the orphanage.[/quote]

Nitpick away. 😉

Yes, as a consumer of the oil industry, I’m farther removed from the oil industry; so I have more leeway to criticize the oil industry than a government employee or contractor criticizing the hand that feeds.

[briansd1]

[quote=eavesdropper]
Well, strictly speaking, you are a consumer of the oil industry, not an employee. But I’m nitpicking for nitpicking’s sake. I like to blame it on the nuns who beat me at the orphanage.[/quote]

Nitpick away. 😉

Yes, as a consumer of the oil industry, I’m farther removed from the oil industry; so I have more leeway to criticize the oil industry than a government employee or contractor criticizing the hand that feeds.

[briansd1]

[quote=eavesdropper]
Well, strictly speaking, you are a consumer of the oil industry, not an employee. But I’m nitpicking for nitpicking’s sake. I like to blame it on the nuns who beat me at the orphanage.[/quote]

Nitpick away. 😉

Yes, as a consumer of the oil industry, I’m farther removed from the oil industry; so I have more leeway to criticize the oil industry than a government employee or contractor criticizing the hand that feeds.

[Author]

Posts