What If...

[henry quirk]

"I still think the corps are from where all evil flows. I know, hyperbolic."

'hyperbolic': an understatement. What you're sayin' is: given sufficent resources human beings will always screw over the other guy, the little. What you're sayin' is: I, Bruce, given the power, will screw over the other guy, the littie guy.

Don't know if I should admire or pity you.

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"It would take a complete change of government style and that requires a new constitution."

Yes. Fortunately: we have a basic principle upon which to base such a document.

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"I think if you proposed that, most people would stick with the devil they know."

You're right and that's a shame. As long as folks are (as you say) fat & happy, they'll accept any indignity, any degradation, as the price to pay for having that spare tire and that soma. Hunger & clarity would change their minds.

[henry quirk]

Actually, it wouldn't.

Domesticated animals don't rebel, even when they have reason to, even when they should, even when they can.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by henry quirk

"I still think the corps are from where all evil flows. I know, hyperbolic."

'hyperbolic': an understatement. What you're sayin' is: given sufficent resources human beings will always screw over the other guy, the little. What you're sayin' is: I, Bruce, given the power, will screw over the other guy, the littie guy.

Don't know if I should admire or pity you.

Nope, not what I'm saying, I've been there done that. Just a small business but bent over backward, and not just to look up skirts most of the time, but to be fair to the customer. Cost me a little money but no guilt or lost sleep or lost friends..

The man on the top floor making the big bucks used to be the leader of the companies direction. Today he/she must sit for a conference call every quarter with the Wall Street crowd, to explain if they made the prediction(promise) made last quarter. If not, why not, and what have they done to rectify that. If the brokers don't like what they hear they'll give the stock a lower rating which usually means a drop in price, and maybe a big drop in the value of the CEO's bundle of stock he/she's counting on for retirement.

It's not enough to go along making money, even if you're the top company in your field. Now there must be increases every damn quarter or the private equity jackals will start circling to see in your steady income could be a cash cow, or if your company could be broken up and sold off in pieces for Mo Money. It's easy to see why the CEOs who are not evil themselves are driven to desperate measures. Plus it could be the Board or primary stockholder buying politicians.

"It would take a complete change of government style and that requires a new constitution."

Yes. Fortunately: we have a basic principle upon which to base such a document.

What document is that. I'll resisted jokes about the communist manifesto but I'm sure the Senator McCarthy wannabes would not.

"I think if you proposed that, most people would stick with the devil they know."

You're right and that's a shame. As long as folks are (as you say) fat & happy, they'll accept any indignity, any degradation, as the price to pay for having that spare tire and that soma. Hunger & clarity would change their minds.

But give 'em a break, since they were puppies they've been fed a steady diet of Rah Rah America can do no wrong etc etc.
But Uncle Sam what are we doing?
Never mind that, national security you know, trust us, we know best, Colonel North is taking care of that.

[henry quirk]

If you were a good player in business (large or small) then you must concede that other folks can be good players in business (large or small).

The document would be the new constitution based on the principle I mentioned.

And: no, no breaks are given. I'm an American and I want minarchy. I was exposed to the same bull manure, and I want the goddamn monkey 'off' my back. Them other folks, the ones who want a gorilla on their backs (on 'my' back), they can kiss my keister.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Certainly the heads of all size businesses can, even will, be good guys, at least while not under threat of going down the toilet. But there will always be that 10%? 5%? 1%? who will do dastardly deeds, tie Nell Fenwick to the railroad tracks, lie/cheat/steal, for an extra buck. That minority is always scheming and the reason for rules and regulations.

Mom: I told you not to get dirty, what are you doing in that mud puddle?
Kid: You didn't tell me not to get wet.

[henry quirk]

"That minority is always scheming and the reason for rules and regulations."

Sure, a handful of sensible, minimal regs, not volumes of over-blown, nitpicky crap.

And: we've come full-circle.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Without nitpicky Johnny will be in the puddle in no time.
I like your simple rules but I think the plan falls apart at "enforceable" in that how do you say they did wrong if you don't tell them what wrong is?

Full circle but with the understanding of what our differences actually are.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by henry quirk

… And: we've come full-circle.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Full circle but with the understanding of what our differences actually are.

I now pronounce you agonist and antagonist. May your lives be filled with bickering bliss over who is which.