13 Dec
2004
13 Dec
'04
6:52 a.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Jennings" <tomj(a)wps.com>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: NEXT@CNN
On Mon, 13 Dec 2004, der Mouse wrote:
The founding fathers also never realized the federal government would become
as powerful as it is today (states were much more powerful under the
confederation then today's government). You can go back to the beginning of
civilization and you will find the people with the cash always run the
government either directly (holding office or being King) or indirectly
(putting their own people in office), so Corporations in 2004 are no
different in this regard then the top 5% of landowners in 1776.
This reveals an apparent misconception.
Restraints on government are
often (I'd almost say "usually") more severe, not less so, than on
other entities like individuals and private corporations. (This is
because government is in a position of much more abusable power. Or at
least that's the theory; how true it remains in today's system is
arguable.)
(The extraordinary, planetary-scale, historically-recent power
of corporations wasn't forseen obviously. It will probably take
as long to recognize and implement "separation of business and
state" as it did 'church and state'. Oh woe is us.)