Another Misinformed Republican

I came across this in a blog:

"The truth of the matter is that a republican system relies on the natural goodness inside of people. That kind of a system knows that if you let people govern their own assets they will choose to donate to private charities that operate much more efficiently than their government counterparts, due to competition.
So what it comes down to is this: a republican approach to economics is one that trusts the people to make good decisions with their money. The democrat approach is like an overbearing parent to a child, dictating where and when you can spend more of your money. Which system would you say is heartless?"

Well, if I thought that were true, I'd be a conservative too!  Evidence that the talking heads have done their jobs well! 

I don't know anybody that thinks all republicans/conservatives are greedy, crazy, and paranoid.  I think there is a portion (primarily those that make $250,000+ a year) that are greedy, a portion (primarily those that belong to some militia group) that are crazy, and a portion (primarily those that won't do their own research, they'd rather listen to folks like Beck and Limbaugh) that are paranoid.  But to their credit, I think the portions that are crazy and/or paranoid are only that way because of the misinformation they're force fed daily.

Who needs regulations when you can trust "the natural goodness inside of people"?   I'm not referring to the natural goodness of the consumer, that is irrelevant, I'm referring to the natural goodness of the corporate titans that pocketed the money they received from President Bush's bailout, and would have done the same with President Obama's if they hadn't been required to pay it back.  I'm talking about the corporations that refused to risk having to pay their share of taxes, even if it means prolonging the recession.  Why should they worry, they received massive bonuses using bailout money.

Free enterprise is a wonderful thing, especially when it's a level playing field.  When banks aren't betting you'll lose your home, when oil producers aren't manipulating the price of gas, and when insurance companies aren't charging people outragious rates to stand between a person and their doctor, free market is spectacular.

But when these types of corporations are picking my pockets, I appreciate the government applying regulations to keep a little of my money in my pocket.  Regulations aren't government take over of business.

Regarding the "government take over of businesses", too many have really missed the point.  Right or wrong, the government loaned these businesses money to get them out of a tight situation.  The operative word here is "loaned", as in it had to be paid back with interest.  And like any lending institute, it was loaned with the exchange of collateral.  And when the loans are paid off, the collateral is returned.

Since the government plans on making a profit of $11 Billion off of AIG, along with making it where AIG shouldn't be "too big to fail" any longer, I think they did the right thing.  I see big business in the same light I do government, it works better when there are checks and balances, in this case the government is the balancer.