The "Ownership Society".....what exactly

[Dees]

do you think McChimpnuts was trying to slip across last week when he said that? What is your take on what Repugs mean when they speak of an "ownership society".

[ima_sinnic]

1. a scam--wealth redistribution in favor of the rich

I've assembled some links to commentary on the so-called Ownership Society at my newly revived website at http://blatanttruth.org

Bush's plan would really f**k with Medicare, Social Security, & taxes.

[TomClash]

2. They've already done that

Do you know that if you sell stock or receive dividends you are usually taxed LESS by the Feds than if you earn middle to upper middle income wages? That's the ownership society.

[ima_sinnic]

5. now take it several steps further

...what they've done so far is just the tip of the iceberg

[Professor_Moriarty]

You own the debts.We own the assets.

[Fovea]

3. The backdoor repeal

of the emancipation proclamation, so that the rich can actually own human beings, until such time as they get old or feeble, then they will drive them back to the inner city, and kick them out of the car.

[punpirate]

4. Very simple....

Destruction of the New Deal, beginning with the mainstay of the New Deal--Social Security.

To implement the "ownership society" requires defunding Social Security. To do this, the Bushies want to allow people to put some portion of their usual contribution toward Social Security into private funds.

This has two effects--it cuts down Social Security funding (since SS is a pay-as-you-go system) and provides government-mandated payments to Wall Street-operated funds, which require fees to administer those funds. The resultant legislation to enable this will take some significant part of those contributions in fees.

And Americans are stupid enough to think this privatization of the system will provide them more money in retirement. What it will do is eliminate Social Security, period--that's its intent.

[Nlighten1]

7. Even more simplified...

"We" own it..."you" don't.

[thinkingwoman]

12. simplest yet...

They own everyone and everything.

[AP]

6. It's the "privatizing everything" society. The "anti-FDR" society.

It's basically fasicsm: the corporate ownership of every aspect of the government.

I definitely believe there's a tone of stuff that is handled much better in the marketplace than by government. But there is a lot of stuff the marketplace can't handle at all.

For example, I have no idea why people don't realize that subcontracting military activity is DESIGNED to be MORE expensive (it will never be cheaper to have a private compay provide a service at a profit to themselves that could be provided by a soldier who makes 22K a year).

Anyway, Bush wants to turn over ever government activity to the marketplace.

[Dees]

8. I think what I hear is

the Wal*Marting of America. Abusing cheap labor and a monopolistic and oligopolistic control of resources and capital. Corporate control of every aspect of our lives and the complete elimination of all federal programs. The ruthless and empowered win all. I think the idea of these finks is to sell Americans on the idea that everyone can be an entrepreneur thus paving the way for the big and powerful to have their way so to speak.

[dumpster_baby]

9. It means they OWN your ass, and your kids, too n/t

[mrbill]

10. homeland security is ready for the "ownership" society

According to section 352 of the Patriot Act, "persons involved in real estate closings and settlements" are defined as "financial institutions" and subject to background checks, something like Ted Kennedy trying to get on the airplane.

This law has only recently been in practice and real estate closings in my little town have recently experienced a major slowdown. None of the realtors(tm) are sure what to do. They never got the memo about the new requirements. Lots of unexpected delays at the title company. Much confusion

Google tells me that a private company with government backing, ISAC (info sharing and analysis center) will serve as the clearing house for such information to the real estate industry.

WTF? Homeland security now has to check out all the real estate transactions to catch a few money launderers? Add another fee at closing.

[mrbill]

11. a big kick for the patriot act

n/t

[Enraged_Ape]

13. Well, for one thing, ownership of your health insurance means...

no health insurance.