tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28423454.post5247506490793775275..comments2023-10-10T05:02:26.827-07:00Comments on WesternGrit: American Rot, Part II - Regulatory & Gov't Agencies, & Big MediaWesternGrithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658358114507615351noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28423454.post-59304241903244725602008-04-10T15:16:00.000-07:002008-04-10T15:16:00.000-07:00Sure Chris, flights are safer now than 50 years ag...Sure Chris, flights are safer now than 50 years ago - or even 30, but that has everything to do with the build quality of the aircraft.<BR/><BR/>You're missing the point completely here. No matter how much safer something is, the influence by the stakeholders in the agencies that regulate them is the main concern. Something could be 90% safe, but if it could be 5% safer without corporate interference, then so much the better. <BR/><BR/>My focus is on industry/corporate interference - not how good the equipment may or may not be. When corporations outstep their bounds, and become more powerful than they should be (and are able to taint the agencies that regulate them), THAT is a problem. When a government is overly and overtly friendly to these companies - because members of the government have a vested interest (being on boards, etc.), THAT is a problem. <BR/><BR/>I know how campaign financing works - and big companies want to fund all sides until they see a clear and apparent winner. I don't really care if that includes Democrats like Hilary. We all know that there are some pretty conservative Democrats out there... America is a conservative nation. Even the Democrats are more like our old PCs than like Liberals.<BR/><BR/>"Financial powerhouse Goldman Sachs has sent 71 percent of its cash this year to Democrats while JPMorgan delivered 68 percent of its checks to the new majority. Citigroup Inc. followed close behind, with 63 percent. The big drug companies are giving at a rate of 50-50." <BR/><BR/>This statement just proves my concern about companies having undue influence in "conservative America". <BR/><BR/>"Just like your recent comment over at the "Rolling Back..." blog about how nobody wants to invest in the US, your post is simply factually incorrect."<BR/><BR/>Oh really? Tell that to the NYSE, or Nasdaq. Even my financial advisers (Canadian bank employees) are suggesting to invest in other markets - or Canadian "blue chips" first.WesternGrithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06658358114507615351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28423454.post-25166846319256515152008-04-09T19:23:00.000-07:002008-04-09T19:23:00.000-07:00Are you serious?The media stands by, while planes ...Are you serious?<BR/><BR/><I>The media stands by, while planes fall out of the sky - not by terrorist bombs, but of their own accord.</I><BR/><BR/>Funny thing about that. The year 2007 was the safest year for civil aviation (in terms of accidents)since 1963 -- one should also take into account that there are just a few more planes up there today than in 1963. As for the USA, in the last decade there has been precisely one major air crash (the terrorist attacks of Sep 11 excepted). You could have of course looked this up for yourself, but I guess it would have interfered with your rant.<BR/><BR/>Oh yes, and I have yet to see an air crash where the media "stands by." Also, where did you happen to read about all of those canceled flights and stepped up FAA inspections? Oh yes, via the media which is later in your post complicit in not reporting these sorts of things.<BR/><BR/>Just like your recent comment over at the "Rolling Back..." blog about how nobody wants to invest in the US, your post is simply factually incorrect.<BR/><BR/>You may also be interested to learn that All 10 of the top-giving industries tracked by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan money and politics watchdog group, are now donating more cash to Democrats than Republicans. A year ago, Republicans had the edge in six of the 10 sectors. <BR/><BR/>Financial powerhouse Goldman Sachs has sent 71 percent of its cash this year to Democrats while JPMorgan delivered 68 percent of its checks to the new majority. Citigroup Inc. followed close behind, with 63 percent. The big drug companies are giving at a rate of 50-50.<BR/><BR/>But I am sure that such bi-partisan donations only proves to you that "the rot" goes one foot deeper.R. Christopher Edeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06970091668438569361noreply@blogger.com