use Perl

• Non-Sarcastic Reply (Score:1)

  by pudge (1) on 2002.02.26 10:42 (#5130) Homepage Journal

  I actually agree that coporations get too many breaks sometimes. I agree they should pay their fair taxes. I agree they get too many special privileges that individuals don't get.
  
  Yow, where should I surrender my Republican membership card?
  
  Corporations are fine, but they shouldn't get special treatment. I am for various tax breaks for business expenses, for doing "humanitarian" work, and even for capital gains (which I consider double-taxation). However, we often in this country go far beyond that, such as giving retroactive tax breaks to companies in the wake of September 11, and your example of forgiving literal crimes on their behalf. I am sickened when a congressperson gets up and says that a particular company is essential to the American way of life and that we should therefore bail them out.
  
  The only thing I wish to quibble with here is the idea that this is a Republican problem. This kind of thing certainly didn't take a break during the Democrat-controlled Congresses (if anything, it increased during those times in the 80s) or during the Clinton-controlled White House. Of course, the current examples under GW Bush are especially heinous, but maybe that's only because we're noticing them more. On the other hand, the one image that sticks out in my mind recently is a Democrat congresswoman from Seattle pleading for Boeing, which apparently requires your tax dollars to survive these trying times.
  

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  • Re:Non-Sarcastic Reply (Score:1)

    by jjohn (22)

    *blink*
    
    Pudge, are you feeling all right?
    
    Your point about the Democrats not being above reproach resonates with me. In fact, I'm uncomfortable being grouped those alcoholic, philandering ass-clowns (although I'd sure like to party with them). However until there's a party governed by perspective and compassion (that also has a reasonable shot at winning seats in Congress or taking the White House), I have to pick the "evil of two lessers." Given the chronic low voter turn out in recent years, is America ge
    • Re:Non-Sarcastic Reply (Score:1)

      by pudge (1)

      Anyone really familiar with my beliefs wouldn't think I said anything extraordinary; I may be a card-carrying right-wing Christian conservative Republican, but that doesn't mean I have to always think like one!

      I have my own thoughts [perl.org] about the election process, which boil down to the parties and the media conspiring to deprive the people of real democracy, and the people not really caring that it's happening. So yes, we do get the government we deserve, but it's not like they aren't to blame. I certainly
    • The Government It Deserves (Score:1)

      by chromatic (983)

      I dunno, but I'm sick of getting the government the rest of the country deserves.