VMC SURVEY BOARD

[lentinman]

KS:

I agree that the board works much better when people express their own opinions. If a person can't be creative enough to write or think for themselves, then they should..... run for President.

As I am a TRUE conservative, I have major problems with the size of government. Your theory suggests that government get bigger and bigger and bigger. Or if you don't suggest that, then the only alternative is ethical leadership where spending and size was a function of need and efficiency. Since that is beyond hopeless, then the only alternative is bigger and bigger and bigger. The bigger it gets, the more corruption and inefficiency. Thus, I don't think the problems can EVER be solved.

That doesn't mean there couldn't be a better emphasis. Unquestionably one of the SINGLE BEST indicators of a pending collapse of a society is the increasing disparity between rich and poor. That is historically proven and it is as plain as the nose on anyone's face that the US is rocketing toward that disparity - already at historically high levels.

I certainly agree, and have commented on repeatedly, that the pay and wage packages of those in the business world is beyond belief and is a MAJOR problem for this country today and in the future.

The completely short sighted leadership that doesn't attempt to build the lower class into a productive group is sickening and there will be ramifications. If New Orleans ends up costing us $500 billion with lower gdp, higher energy costs, higher insurance costs, US government spending, other local government spending, etc, then the cost will end up being $500,000 for every man woman and child in New Orleans!!!! For astronomically less (including the paltry $135 million for dike and levee repair), we could have done incredible things with those people. But, we as a society (and our eventual downfall) are only concerned about today. Each and every year that goes by, this is more and more and more true. That is a societal function, a human weakness, and NOTHING politically is going to change it. Only a massive, untold financial collapse (and probably coupled with a religious awakening) is going to unseat that mentality IMO.

Len