The new 'entitlement'

[sendero]

Back in the 80s when we began the changes (some of which needed to happen) that we are all so familiar with, a common buzzword the right tossed around was 'entitlements'.

When they said 'entitlements', it was usually a term of derision. Referring to everything from Social Security to welfare, it was a code word for 'people getting something they don't deserve and burdening the poor taxpayer'.

But reforms, as they always do, went too far. Now we have a new class of 'entitled', being the corporate ruling class. Hardly a week goes by when there isn't a new revelation of a CEO or other high-level corporate insider blatantly looting the company. Why is this happening?

Well certainly, greed plays a big part. But is it really that simple? Would these people all willingly commit crimes to take this money?

I think it is much more insidious. These people don't think they are doing anything wrong. A side effect of the deification of 'free enterprise' is a sense of entitlement that has developed among these titans of industry. They feel perfectly justified in taking millions of dollars to furnish their personal homes. They can't see a problem with letting the company pay millions for their wedding party. What could be wrong with stacking the board with cronies in a symbiotic ripoff quid pro quo?

I support Dean but am also very impressed with Clark. But I was disappointed with his comments about corporate regulation. More regulation and oversight is the only way I can see to counter the new entitlement theft.

[sandnsea]

1. It's what we regulate

Power plants aren't being upgraded and replaced because local power companies don't have to because no competition is allowed. If clean energy companies could provide power to currently regulated markets, we could all have that cleaner environment we want. Changing the way we do some of these things doesn't have to be bad, it's worked fine with internet companies and wireless. We need to be careful that we don't put up roadblocks to progress as a kneejerk reaction to some deregulation failures.

[rfranklin]

2. This attitude has been suppressed since...

the Great Depression. You only have to take a look at the opulent lifestyles of the J. P. Morgan crowd of the 1800's and early 1900's to see where it's going. Slave wages and endless work hours fueling great "productivity" which benefits a small group of privileged people. They're boundless sense of entitlement was quashed by the near brush with communism of the 1930's after they had destroyed the economy of the U.S. FDR insituted the programs that saved their flabby white asses. Now they've risen again and we're headed for disaster once more.

[markus]

3. Corporate Welfare Reform

This was such a big winner for Clinton.

Nobody, but nobody likes large corporations. Do you really *love* the people you work for? Not your boss, or your cube mate. I mean the guy who roles into town once a year to talk about stock holder value and why your cubemate isn't here anymore, and how we all have to work harder?

Do you love the company that misbills you, slams your long distance bill? won't take a return without a receipt even if you used their own credit card to buy the product, sells you defetive merchandise, poisons your children's mind with commercials?

I think and End to Corporate Welfare is a winning issue. It needs to be couched in: now that we've been downsized and rightsized and otherwise made to play the Free Market Game, it's time for the Corporations to do the same.

I think we need to make it clear: tax break for wind power? Wonderful. Tax Break to help Congressman X's wind power turbine builder only, to help create jobs? No. Nope.

We also need to start taxing 100% of local "inducements" to corporations, to end the downward spiral to see which state in the U.S. can reach the Indonesian standad of living first. These distort the market, and allow the already property tax rich to take business away from locations that already need it.

[sandnsea]

4. How do you differentiate?

It's not in a bill that tax breaks for wind power are going to go to the wind power turbine builder in Congressman X's district.

Tax break for new industry? Wonderful. Tax break for old industry? Pork.

That's the way I see it anyway.