Comment by Donald R Barbera on February 2, 2013 at 9:54am

Forgive me, but after a 30 year career in business with two Fortune 100 companies and one Fortune 10 company at the highest levels I don't have much faith in business or government and cosider them both necessary evils. Negotiating revealed what I always suspected as a college student, both were bankrupt. I am a cynic.

Comment by Sentient Biped on February 2, 2013 at 10:23am

Don,

I don't think the founding fathers trusted gov't either.  That's why they built in a balance of powers and freedom of press.

 

From my favorite movie, starting at about 0:49

Sometimes the only way to fight evil, is with another kind of evil.

That being said, I think we mostly share the same point of view. There is cynicism but still idealism. I agree with the importance of responsiblity, accountability, and compassion.

Comment by Alan Perlman on February 2, 2013 at 11:02am

To Don...2 quick comments: After 25 years in Corporate-Carpet-Land, I don't trust business any more than govt.  I was in PR and was all too aware of the gap between rhetoric and reality.  Also, the "impaired surgeon" example should include being hung over from drinking or high on prescription drugs.  The separation of marijuana from other drugs is artificial: the same principles apply to all psychotropic substances.

Comment by Luara on February 2, 2013 at 11:16am

I sure.y don't want some loaded surgeon standing over thinking about chocolate chip cookies.

But doctors are notorious drug abusers - of prescription drugs!  They don't have to go to drug dealers!

In my experience when the gov't manages some public service they make a mess of it, because they don't have the incentive of directly depending on their customers' money.  They treat people disrespectfully and don't have as high standards for their services. 

The govt does have a role in protecting people from each other and getting people to treat each other fairly. 

Comment by Donald R Barbera on February 2, 2013 at 10:25pm

I'd agree with that overall assessment of goverment beuracracy, but my opinion of private business is little better. The profit motive would seem enough--it isn't. Back room dealing is back room dealing no matter who's doing it. I worked for a company that won the first Malcolm Baldrige Award in the US based on quality and customary care. Not long after that that same company was fined by the SEC with CEO personally fined $14 million. Good people there, but greed took over common sense. Finding the right mixture is the issue. I sure as hell don't trust business and I think government is inefficient.

Comment by Donald R Barbera on February 2, 2013 at 10:36pm

I think just about anything we put into our body has potential for harm especially when it comes to pleasure producers. However, it is not a concern for me, unless I affected in some way by those partaking in these experiences. I hate to think of the new laws, but they would be a natural side effect. Who can sell it? Who can distribute it? What are age limits. Etc. I certainly agree that folks should be allowed to harm themselves if that is their wish as long as they don't anyone else. Mean? No. Realistic.

Comment by Tom Sarbeck on February 3, 2013 at 5:03am

The right of free speech is firmly in place?

Tain't.

Congress has an awful time writing laws that protect whistle blowers who work for the government when they've reported wrongdoing in their departments.

Or, work for a private company that seeks a government contract and publicly campaign against a project favored by incumbent politicians. Maybe you don't want to pay the taxes for the project, or maybe you oppose its environmental effects. If you are effective:

1) You will frighten people who will profit from that project.

2) They will contact those incumbents, to whose elections they have probably contributed big bucks,

3) Those incumbents will fear the loss of future contributions,

4 ) Those incumbents' staff people will ask your employer if you represent the company's views,

5) Company management will fear the loss of the government work they want, and

6) You will probably soon be looking elsewhere for employment.

In hardball politics you might hear this metaphor: "To silence a man, take his bread. If that fails, take his blood."

I knew a newspaper reporter "whose blood was taken" by a car bomb. The killer left tracks and spent time in prison.

For the details, search Wikipedia for "Don Bolles".

Comment by Alan Perlman on February 3, 2013 at 12:12pm

One forfeits pretty much ALL Constitutional rights when one goes to work for a corp. 

You have no privacy, either physically (my boss would routinely march into my office even when the door was closed) or on your computer.  You cannot speak to any 3rd party on the record, no matter what subject, unless you get clearance from the PR folks and/or the lawyer. 

Comment by Sentient Biped on February 3, 2013 at 12:31pm

Ron,

Beyond that even - from personal experience, corporation can monitor computer activity down to the keystroke if at work or logged on at home through company servers.  Demand for "homework" means work can extend beyond the times offices are closed and cleaning staff have locked up.  Employer demands urine drug screens.  Speaking to 3rd partys OFF the record can haunt you too.  None of that is "American" - it's corporate greed and megalomania.  

Comment by Alan Perlman on February 3, 2013 at 12:51pm

S/B, Oh, yeah, I forgot about the damned drug test - the ultimate invasion of privacy.  And unpaid overtime will be an issue indefinitely, as long as there are more people than jobs. 

These infringements on personal liberty go way back, to when Henry Ford checked up on employees to make sure of their church attendance and other rectitude, as he defined it. 

The company pretty much owns you, body and (often) soul.  They can tell you when to show up and when to go home, just like 5th grade. (PS. Ron Perlman is my cousin -- maybe.)

Comment

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• Next ›
• Page