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Get your steam in here ... you’ll
feel better. POLITICS Capitalism or Piracy Capitalism becomes
piracy when there is inadequate competition. Adequate, fierce, independent
competition is the basis of capitalism. Private enterprise does “not” control
the market. The consumer-society controls the market when there is sufficient
competition. Sufficient competition is the underlying principle of
capitalism. When the consumer controls the market via competition, wealth is
most evenly distributed across-throughout society .... prosperity is
maximized and will continue to be maximized. A giant conglomerate often distorts-corrupts
the market. A few benefit at the expense of society. Capitalism becomes
piracy when the market is distorted via inadequate competition which is
usually caused by a corrupt government in concert with giant conglomerates.
Political corruption and giant conglomerates have become wide-spread and our
society has suffered tremendously. It’s “not” capitalism ... it’s piracy. It
is “not” practical to have adequate competition for certain industries. In
this case, government must properly regulate and or operate these industries
for the benefit of society. If the government is corrupt, capitalism,
socialism or any type of system becomes piracy. The solution ... vote the
corrupt politicians out of office! Free Markets-Corrupt Markets Free market means the
market is open to competition so that it will be competitive, which is best
for the consumer and society. It does “not” a mean a business is free to
distort, circumvent or corner the market. It does “not” mean a business can
do whatever it wants. It is bound, limited and policed by the competition.
The competition answers to the consumer. The consumer controls the market.
When the market is distorted it becomes piracy. Many of our important markets
are distorted by a corrupt political system-politicians, giant conglomerates
and special interest groups. The anti-trust laws were established to prevent
market distortion. Many of these laws prevent giant conglomerates from
forming and distorting the market. Congress has “not” been utilizing the
anti-trust laws to prevent market distortion, especially during the last ten
years. Congress also needs to establish strong conflict of interest
regulations and establish workable term limits to prevent-limit the
corruption. Solution ... vote the corrupt politicians out of office. Defining Capitalism Typical definitions of
capitalism are usually boring and do not emphasize the most important
ingredients of this economic-political system, which are competition and a
free market. There must be competition (adequate competition ... no
competitor or group of competitors controls the market) and the market must
be open to any willing competitor and consumer (freedom to enter or leave the
market). Here’s a definition from Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary: an
economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital
goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices,
production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market. If there is adequate
competition and a free open market, then the consumer has most control over a
market. This is the beauty of capitalism ... society is the ultimate
beneficiary. Wealth is spread across and throughout society. Many giant
conglomerates and others, think capitalism means they can control-distort the
market and reap most of the benefits with a few crumbs trickling down to
others ... this is “not” the principle behind capitalism! This would be more
similar to piracy. The principle of capitalism is lost without adequate
competition. In short, capitalism means an abundance of fierce, independent
competition which can only be obtained by the market being open to
competition and consumers (free market ... also known as an open market). Giant Conglomerates Giant conglomerates
often distort the free market. It’s more like piracy than capitalism. They
have too much control over the market. There is all kinds of funny business.
They often manipulate the market. They get special treatment from government
with their unfettered powerful lobbyists. They also distort the facts with
national advertising and public relation rhetoric. They plaster media outlets
with a bunch of hype. They claim they have to pursue outrageous profits,
since they have a fiduciary obligation to its stockholders. But they have a
higher fiduciary responsibility to society-the consumer. For what good is a
business without a society-consumer. Giant conglomerates
often limit competition, the opposite of capitalism. Without ample fierce
competition it becomes piracy. Only a few really benefit at the expense of
society. With ample competition, society benefits the most ... wealth is most
evenly distributed and maximized among the people. When society prospers,
prosperity is maximized. With adequate
competition, many of the smaller competitors are “not” publicly held ... do
not sell stock. The numerous smaller competitors keep the larger publicly
traded competitors in check. All this competition forces the competitors to
be competitive which will benefit society the most. Outrageous Executive Pay This is a no-brainer. To
limit outrageous executive pay, bonuses, waste and so on, simply create
plenty of competition. Congress has been doing the opposite. They have been
allowing giant mergers, then want to set limits to pay. Nonsense! Let the
market decide by cultivating competition instead of limiting competition.
Smaller companies usually do “not” sell stock. These smaller companies keep
the bigger companies in check. There will be no room for waste and outrageous
bonuses. Socialism or Piracy Socialism has the same
problem as capitalism ... corruption. Whether it’s a democracy or
dictatorship, corruption prevents both systems from maximizing benefits for
society. Without adequate controls, socialism becomes piracy. Workable term
limits, conflict of interest regulations and anti-trust laws can limit the
corruption among politicians, special interest groups and big business. With
these controls and others, the consumer will control the market and the
government. The consumer-society
wants or needs products and or services. With capitalism it is provided
mostly by competing private enterprises with oversight by the government.
With socialism it is provided mostly by government, often utilizing private
enterprises. As a government becomes
more corrupt over time, the less society will benefit. It becomes piracy.
Let’s return the power to the people-consumer ... vote out the corruption!
Here’s the bottom line ... it’s “not” capitalism vs socialism, it’s
capitalism and socialism vs corruption. HEALTH CARE Hospitals Recently, I got a
hospital bill for a couple of tests. It took about 6 hours of my time and
about two-hours of their time. The bill was about $5,000 with little to no explanation
of fees. Is this a rip-off? Send us your opinion/experience. Several years ago my son
was hospitalized. I set up “books” to keep track of the bills and procedures.
I could “not” keep up with either. I’m pretty sure I was billed for items
more than once and for some procedures that were not even performed. Am I the
only one? High Cost of Heath Care So congress is going to
bring down the high cost of health care by going after health insurance
companies? High health care costs are mostly due to high medical
provider-supplier fees! I think congress needs some medical attention ...
STAT! However, their does need to be a major change regarding health
insurance, but it’s not the major cause of health care costs. Any
suggestions? Affordable Heath Care Wow! Congress is
fighting for affordable health care, just for you and me. They are my hero!
Wait-a-minute ... who gets to define affordable? How much is affordable?
$1,000 a month? $8,000 a year? I guess it depends on your income. Based on
this, I can afford about $100 a month. I can’t wait till all this happens.
Congress sounds like a hyped-up commercial ... affordable? Can anyone define
affordable for all? CELL PHONES Pay-Per-Phone/Pay-Per-Number With a regular land
phone, I can have one phone number with several phones for one price. But
with cell phones, I have to have a different number for each cell phone and
have to pay for each. Isn’t technology great! Is there a way around this? Texting While Driving Recently there was a
major study performed to see if it was safe to text and drive at the same
time. I was “shocked” when they concluded it was unsafe. I would never have
thought that. Okay, who got that big government grant for this study! Tell me
how to get one of these grants. I’d like to do a few myself. What a waste of
money and time. Maybe this should be under government waste/grants/corruption
instead of cell phones. I’m looking for volunteers for a new study. I’d like
to know if it is safe to read a book and drive. I think I could keep one eye
on the book and the other might end up on the road. Just kidding ... do not
try this! Listen to Bluegrass
Gospel Music Online Anytime ...
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