Ronald Reagan: "Government IS the problem." Yes, but...

[namvet73]

One of the "clever" but stupid slogans Reagan used to win the White House was: "Government IS the problem!" Well, yes, it is a problem to greedy people who run now unregulated companies into the ground by paying their officers huge sums of money. Government is also a "problem" to buglers, muggers and shoplifters. And shouldn't it be? Yes, Reagan was right, but he was wrong in the sense that government being a problem is a problem. Government should be a problem, a big problem for people who want to criminally rob people. With Republican "hands off" policies toward corporations we have come to a dangerous point in our economy and cutting taxes for the wealthiest hasn't helped either.

So, Government, become a problem again, please! Regulate these thieves, rescind the tax cuts to the nations wealthiest and force companies to pay their fair share of taxes and give our family a friggen break. The trouble is that now that companies are having problems, they won't able to pay their fair share of taxes because they've been partying to long and not only are they having a hangover, they are in econoholic shock!

Confession: I was brought up a Republican and I voted for Reagan for his first term, but re-registered as a Democrat just in time to vote against him for his second term after someone enlightened me about Reagan. I have been a Democrat ever since. Unfortunately, Reagan won a second term. I hope more people make the change.


<Snip>
September 18, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist
Need a Job? $17,000 an Hour. No Success Required.
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

Are you capable of taking a perfectly good 158-year-old company and turning it into dust? If so, then you may not be earning up to your full potential.

You should be raking it in like Richard Fuld, the longtime chief of Lehman Brothers. He took home nearly half-a-billion dollars in total compensation between 1993 and 2007.

Last year, Mr. Fuld earned about $45 million, according to the calculations of Equilar, an executive pay research company. That amounts to roughly $17,000 an hour to obliterate a firm. If you’re willing to drive a company into the ground for less, apply by calling Lehman Brothers at [phone].

Oh, nevermind.

I’m delighted to announce that Mr. Fuld (who continues to lead Lehman since it entered bankruptcy proceedings this week) is the winner of my annual Michael Eisner Award for corporate rapacity and poor corporate governance. The award honors the pioneering achievements in this field of Mr. Eisner, the former Walt Disney chief.

This isn’t a plaque that will simply gather dust in a closet. It’s a shower curtain to commemorate the $6,000 one that the former C.E.O. of Tyco purchased and billed to his shareholders.

So, Mr. Fuld, you’ll be pleased to know that I’ve picked out a lovely green vinyl number for you. Only $14.99! Why, I saved you $5,985!

Perhaps it seems frivolous to be handing out shower curtains to chief executives when we’re caught in a deepening economic crisis. Well, it is.

But one of our broad national problems is rising inequality, and it is exacerbated by corporate executives helping themselves to shareholders’ cash. Three decades ago, C.E.O.’s typically earned 30 to 40 times the income of ordinary workers. Last year, C.E.O.’s of large public companies averaged 344 times the average pay of workers.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/opinion/18kristof.html?hp

[OakCliffDem]

1. Regan was wrong, it is Conservatives in control of the Government that is the problem

Well, there's your problem
Right THERE ==> <>

[namvet73]

2. YEP! -n/t-

[amb123]

4. Tell It, Brother Oak!

:thumbsup: :patriot:

[Demeter]

3. Lack of Good Government Is The Problem

and that applies no matter who is in charge.

[benld74]

5. ONLY when THE GOP is leading it!!!!