Reply #7: Right, I think we don't have to fear BIG government .... but we do have to fear BIG corporations . .

[defendandprotect]

I was, however, of course, playing off of Reagan's "small" government theme...

There are exceptions to every rule -- and every cliche.

However, again, a government without an Education Department which was and probably
still is in GOP's-sights would be a negative for America. Ignorance profits no man?

Bush "grew" the Military Industrial Intelligence Complex and also privatized military
and government. 45,000 private contractors in Iraq now!

And, in general, while I agree a typewriter is a typewriter and it depends on who is
doing the typing -- IMO as the population grows so should government -- and if
corporations grow most assuredly so should government.

Government can, of course, be weak -- in the sense that you can open multiple savings
accounts for your children's education and never put anything in them! Like having
anti-trust laws we don't enforce, for instance. Education not properly funded, for another.
Btw, a lot of people don't know that money for CIA* was often hidden in school budgets, etc.

At any rate, Department of Agriculture, FDA, EPA are all, IMO examples of being co-opted
by the right and their purpose largely ignored or destroyed.

Bush may have "grown" the government BUT NOT IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC . . .
which is quite different from what I'm talking about!

I think the need is for an executive branch of government that is honest and has power to regulate and fully enforce the law.

Unfortunately, as our founders made clear, there will always be dishonest men among us and
because of that we need the rule of law to be followed. That's what the Constitution calls
for . . . defending against all enemies domestic and foreign. And, in fact, conspiracy
between President and Vice President is mentioned in some of the writings where they call
for the SUSPENSION of their services.

The idea of a people's government is to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people -
it is not dedicated to the interests of the few - nor should it be operating on the
"Manifest Destiny" license which is exploitive of all.




* We now also know that the CIA -- besides creating political mischief all over the world
to keep right-wing governments in play and barring liberal governments -- was also funneling
money to many right-wing Senators/Reps -- two of those I recall are Sen. Strom Thurmond and
Rep. Gerald Ford.