Economics in Amerikka

[linazelle]

Lots of economic threads tonight. I though I'd share my personal observations about the many ways we are getting ripped off by corporations and the government.

Heard on Air America how "new and improved" is not necessarily either--but in fact often means that you're getting less. Take toilet paper for instance. They're making the roll width narrower and making it one-ply instead of two-ply but pasting these words on the packaging. Potato chips fill less than half the same bag at higher prices. Tuna cans are filled with water. Corporations have few regulations when it comes to pricing.

Saw a feature on Sixty Minutes over a year ago about how the IRS vehemently pursues and collects from Joe Citizen at a much higher rate than corporations because the IRS employees aren't savvy enough to unravel elaborate corporate tax schemes.

Recently I failed the emissions test and while I got the repairs made at a cost exceeding $700, I couldn't help but fume when I thought about the corporations who dump toxins into the environment legally without penalty.

Of course we all know about the Enrons of the world. But, privatization is the next looming threat. SBC and AT&T are re-merging, driving competition away and driving up prices. And as Bush pushes the morans to dismantle Social Security, more and more Americans will get ripped off as their security is basically stolen by Wall Street.

In addition to inflation, it's hard to keep one's head above water when we are getting mercilessly ripped off left and right.

[Abe Linkman]

1. It's easier to keep up if you just remember a basic rule:

Rich people get what they want, and what they want is:

* Making sure that the COSTS of Gov't are SOCIALIZED. That's why you have such increasingly higher fees for everything (emissions tests, drivers license, car insurance, etc.)

* Making sure that PROFITS are PRIVATIZED.

[BillZBubb]

2. I'd add one more to that list

* Making sure capital is untouched, untaxed, and unfettered. Labor can be taxed, but not capital.

Perhaps that's what you meant by Profits being privatized. But I think it's more expansive than just profits. It's no limits on capital.