Story about new Organic Farming laws

[me&thegals]

me&thegals wrote:
Very true. I will have to be gentler with conspiracists Maybe we have gov't conspiracy theorists and corporate conspiracy theorists. I fit into the latter category since it seems corporations have a better reason (to them, anyway: money) to get all devious on us.

Both those in business and those in politics have the same reason for their conspiricies. The reason is money. Some in business want to pile up as much money as they can and some in politics do as well. The people in business use the politicians to enact laws that give them an advantage in creating their pile and the politicians use the lobbiests representing businesses to create their pile. When this happens. . . We Get Piled On! Many times these conspiracies go both ways.

I get the corporate lobbyists pushing legislation through the political system that benefits the corporation. I'm a bit fuzzy headed this morning, though, and I don't quite get how the politicians benefit politically from the corporations, unless it is getting really nice jobs after political office, or freebie vacations or campaign contributions.

 

[reinbeau]

I get the corporate lobbyists pushing legislation through the political system that benefits the corporation. I'm a bit fuzzy headed this morning, though, and I don't quite get how the politicians benefit politically from the corporations, unless it is getting really nice jobs after political office, or freebie vacations or campaign contributions.

No, you're not thinking fuzzily at all, it's all about the money, jobs and perks that come their way.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Military Industrial Complex

 

[reinbeau]

Nah, I don't see the military involvement, other than being used as a tool to maintain control. The military isn't in charge - unless they decide they want to be. I'm thinking if and when that happens, it won't be a tool of the total control types.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.

In this revolution, research has become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.

Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.

The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present

* and is gravely to be regarded.

Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientifictechnological elite.

It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to balance, and to integrate these and other forces, new and old, within the principles of our democratic system -- ever aiming toward the supreme goals of our free society.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961

OK, then let's call it the scientifictechnological elite.

 

[reinbeau]

Ah, gotcha. I was thinking purely military, I see where you're coming from now and yes, I agree.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Yeah, sorry to confuse you, I can see how it wouldn't make sense without understanding the context . . . I was a little vague.

 

[VT-Chicklit]

me&thegals wrote:
VT-Chicklit wrote:
me&thegals wrote:
Very true. I will have to be gentler with conspiracists Maybe we have gov't conspiracy theorists and corporate conspiracy theorists. I fit into the latter category since it seems corporations have a better reason (to them, anyway: money) to get all devious on us.

Both those in business and those in politics have the same reason for their conspiricies. The reason is money. Some in business want to pile up as much money as they can and some in politics do as well. The people in business use the politicians to enact laws that give them an advantage in creating their pile and the politicians use the lobbiests representing businesses to create their pile. When this happens. . . We Get Piled On! Many times these conspiracies go both ways.

I get the corporate lobbyists pushing legislation through the political system that benefits the corporation. I'm a bit fuzzy headed this morning, though, and I don't quite get how the politicians benefit politically from the corporations, unless it is getting really nice jobs after political office, or freebie vacations or campaign contributions.

It is like the Chris Dodd (Senator from Conn) problem. Senator Dodd is the head of a commitee in the Senate that had jurisdiction over items pertaining to the banking and mortgage areas of the economy (among other things). He received preferencial mortgage rates for several properties from Anthony Mazillo (sp?) the head of Country Wide Mortgage Company. Country Wide was able to make many bad mortgages bcause of changes made to existing laws and also new laws that went thru Chris' commitee. Country Wide made alot of money on these mortgages until the bottom fell out. The situation has the apearance of a quid pro quo. It is being looked into. Since the discovery of his connection with Country Wide, Chris has refinanced these morgages at a more realistic rate.

 

[VT-Chicklit]

DrakeMaiden,
Dwight D. Eisenhower was right, it is all about the balance of power. If the government is allowed to promote one type of scientific endevor to the exclusion of others. We, in time could be held hostage to that technology.

 

[me&thegals]

It seems like all of the above hinges on an informed citizenry. I know these threads can get contentious and stressful (I am SO sorry if I have offended any of you!!!), but maybe they at least hopefully get us thinking all about and around the issue. If I think something sounds a bit off in a discussion, I will definitely look further into it to get to the heart of the matter.

If we all got a bit more proactive about seeing what our elected leaders are up to, maybe there wouldn't be so much weasly behavior going on!

On a lighter note, PLEASE, please consider reading this book: Aristotle and the Aardvark go to Washington. It is a stinkin' hilarious book about political doublespeak. In a very humorous way, it breaks apart political arguments to show their weakness or completely missing links. While listening to it in on Playaway in bed last night, I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to wake my spouse with the bed shaking!