Limiting Choices

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by bhunter

Ironically, that is precisely the problem with bureaucracies, and is, BTW, one of my favorite Emerson quotes.

The real problem with bureaucracies is the system. Everytime a new president takes office he has to appoint close to 8000 people to public office. Now it follows that the system practically guarantees that the majority will be apponted as political favours with no regard for competence. So the problem is not the these folks function poorly, the miracle is that they function at all. In a sensible system everyone below cabinet level would be a career civil servant who presumably has undergone yearly reviews and has demonstrated competence.

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by merrylander

The real problem with bureaucracies is the system. Everytime a new president takes office he has to appoint close to 8000 people to public office. Now it follows that the system practically guarantees that the majority will be apponted as political favours with no regard for competence. So the problem is not the these folks function poorly, the miracle is that they function at all. In a sensible system everyone below cabinet level would be a career civil servant who presumably has undergone yearly reviews and has demonstrated competence.

That is also true. There is no valid reason that a lot of these people get their appointments. If a bureaucracy must exist, I'd prefer the leaders not be politically appointed.

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Things are a helluva lot better now than they were in the Gilded Age. Lets just hope that we don't revert to unfettered capitalism. I still have more faith in the rule of law than in the invisible hand of the market.

Regards,

D-Ray

I'll take the market over the yearnings and meanderings and whims of politicians and an overly pliant electorate. Ironically, if the market wasn't so good at creating things and expanding the efficiency and productivity of people, then there would be less calls for bureaucrats. People ought harbor a degree of trepidation when they seek to increase government power over others lest the tables be turned tomorrow.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by wgrr

I saw three kids sitting on a concrete picnic table today in a park I was driving by. I would have to say they were risking their lives because the table looked like it was going to collapse. Their combined weight had to be close to 1000 pounds. They were huge. On kid was holding a basketball. What do they do with the ball, hide a bucket of KFC chicken, with a side order of McDonalds double quarter pounders in it?

WTF is wrong with their parents. These kids need to be on the fat farm before they die at the age of 16.

My Gawd! How dare you tell those parents how to raise their kids! Tsk, tsk, tsk...

[Oerets]

Originally Posted by barbara

Candy bars are not a crucial issue in my opinion. But, letting people make their own choices when it comes to legally marrying another consenting adult would be nice.

Good point, how can one not overlook this simple fact! If you want the Government out of your choices then it should apply here also.


With the increase of adult onset diabetes occurring at every younger ages something needs to be done. We need look no farther then the schools our next generation attend to see the poor diet they are subjected to. The increase in cheap fast foods over more expensive vegetables and fruits.

We give sugar subsidies to an industry making record profits but let the healthy alternatives be on their own.

I see this as a attempt to at least try something. Granted I would go for a sugar tax to pay for the added healthcare cost associated with the increase illness due to it abundant overuse.


Barney

[Rex E.]

Originally Posted by barbara

Candy bars are not a crucial issue in my opinion. But, letting people make their own choices when it comes to legally marrying another consenting adult would be nice.

And how about what they smoke and choose to put in their own bodies even before this.

Re-writing the drug laws and emptying the jails of all the non violent, drug offenders should be priority over gay marriage as it affects far more people across all walks of life.

Then we'll have plenty of room in the prisons for all those folks from D.C. that belong there.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Rex E.

And how about what they smoke and choose to put in their own bodies even before this.

Re-writing the drug laws and emptying the jails of all the non violent, drug offenders should be priority over gay marriage as it affects far more people across all walks of life.

Then we'll have plenty of room in the prisons for all those folks from D.C. that belong there.

Both are important.

Regards,

D-Ray

[Rex E.]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Both are important.

Regards,

D-Ray

I agree!

[barbara]

Originally Posted by barbara
Candy bars are not a crucial issue in my opinion. But, letting people make their own choices when it comes to legally marrying another consenting adult would be nice.

Oerets responded: Good point, how can one not overlook this simple fact! If you want the Government out of your choices then it should apply here also.


Oerets, I thought everyone had missed that point. Isn't it interesting how people can pick and choose when they stand behind their philosophy or not......

[d-ray657]

When I was first out of law school, I worked for a federal judge as a law clerk. The judge was a person of the highest integrity one could imagine. The most upset I saw him during my two year appointment was when he had to impose a sentence in a drug case. The convict was 24 years old, and he had been convicted for being a very low level gofer in a drug ring. He was a mule. Because of the quantity of drugs he possessed at his arrest, and because he had two prior convictions, the mandatory sentencing guidelines called for life in prison with no possibility of parole. The judge stewed and researched and tried every which way he could to find a way to avoid having to put this 24 year old behind bars for the rest of his life - for being a flunky for drug lord. Unfortunately, the law left him no leeway. He had to bury the young man in the dungeon.

Just say no.

Regards,

D-Ray