Patting the wrists, rolling the eyes.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Yes, but there are a lot more grievous interferences with business and society they should stay out of. This ranks pretty low on the list of problems.

As for FDR, his legacy unfortunately lives on.

Yep, no Depressions since the 20s.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Yep, no Depressions since the 20s.

Morning in America.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
I'm so confused. What is the legacy of FDR that you have a problem with?

The vast expansion of the federal government that had previously been reserved to the several states, or to the people.

There once were limits. There no longer are.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
The vast expansion of the federal government that had previously been reserved to the several states, or to the people.

There once were limits. There no longer are.

Lemme guess -- you are one of those conservatives who view environmental laws, the SEC, and virtually everything else but the military as unconstitutional. Right?

[Spanky]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
I think the concept of "culture" is far too vague and variable to provide a meaningful explanation of the issue at hand

Culture is a vague concept, but as that guy quoted in his article, it is the only option left. I think the African American culture is a large factor in the reason for Economic discrepancies in income levels. My parents adopted a Kukuyu kid from Africa (who is now my older brother). This kid grew up in a mud hut until he was fourteen and learned to read by candlelight. Once he got to the United States he studied his ass off, got a BA and an MBA and is now a senior executive at Coca Cola in South Africa. My brother loves America, is a total capitalist, and by his mere presence reminds the world what a lazy and spoiled brat that I am. His first son, my Nephew, grew up in the United States. Since he grew up in my house, he was spoiled like me. He was sent to an all Black College by my liberal parents because they thought he was getting "too white". He was taught that a Black man just can't make it in the United States because of five hundred years of oppression. He joined a gang, got kicked out of school, and moved in with me in Los Angeles. My college buddy is a principle of a Los Angeles Unified School District school, and hired my brother right after he moved to Los Angeles (no teaching certificate, no college Degree). My second nephew was born ten years after my first nephew. When he was three, my overachieving brother got transferred by Coca Cola to Kenya. So my younger nephew grew up in Africa. He finished high school at fourteen and just finished medical school at the age of twenty (making it painfully clear what a lazy ass his uncle and brother are). My youngest nephew is now a social conservative Republican, who everytime he opens his fascist mouth I have to beat his ass just out of pure principle.

I digress. The point being there is definitely something going on with the American culture that ain't all the productive.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Spanky
Culture is a vague concept, but as that guy quoted in his article, it is the only option left. I think the African American culture is a large factor in the reason for Economic discrepancies in income levels. My parents adopted a Kukuyu kid from Africa (who is now my older brother). This kid grew up in a mud hut until he was fourteen and learned to read by candlelight. Once he got to the United States he studied his ass off, got a BA and an MBA and is now a senior executive at Coca Cola in South Africa. My brother loves America, is a total capitalist, and by his mere presence reminds the world what a lazy and spoiled brat that I am. His first son, my Nephew, grew up in the United States. Since he grew up in my house, he was spoiled like me. He was sent to an all Black College by my liberal parents because they thought he was getting "too white". He was taught that a Black man just can't make it in the United States because of five hundred years of oppression. He joined a gang, got kicked out of school, and moved in with me in Los Angeles. My college buddy is a principle of a Los Angeles Unified School District school, and hired my brother right after he moved to Los Angeles (no teaching certificate, no college Degree). My second nephew was born ten years after my first nephew. When he was three, my overachieving brother got transferred by Coca Cola to Kenya. So my younger nephew grew up in Africa. He finished high school at fourteen and just finished medical school at the age of twenty (making it painfully clear what a lazy ass his uncle and brother are). My youngest nephew is now a social conservative Republican, who everytime he opens his fascist mouth I have to beat his ass just out of pure principle.

I digress. The point being there is definitely something going on with the American culture that ain't all the productive.

Can't you read? It's just Southern culture that isn't productive.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Lemme guess -- you are one of those conservatives who view environmental laws, the SEC, and virtually everything else but the military as unconstitutional. Right?

No, I'm lamenting the loss of principles as to what is properly federal and what is not. Ty is bellyaching about bills regarding steriods in sports. I'm saying it's the logical outgrowth of the view that the federal government has no constitutional bounds, save some odd carveouts in the penumbrae of various amendments.

[Spanky]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
I do not know these cases of which you speak, but I figured that I'd get some support from all the conservatives hereabouts who complain about how the liberals always think the solution to any problem is more government. If there's harm to sporting competition, why don't the leagues have the proper incentives to address it? Why is that something government should bother with?

What can I say. You are preaching to the choir.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
If there's harm to sporting competition, why don't the leagues have the proper incentives to address it? Why is that something government should bother with?

Externalities and/or paternalism.

If there's harm to your lungs from smoking, don't you have the proper incentives to address it? Why is that something government should bother with?

If there's harm to your appendages from unsae factory equipment, don't you have the proper incentives to address it? Why is that something government should bother with?

[cheeky monkey]

Originally posted by Spanky
Culture is a vague concept, but as that guy quoted in his article, it is the only option left. I think the African American culture is a large factor in the reason for Economic discrepancies in income levels. My parents adopted a Kukuyu kid from Africa (who is now my older brother). This kid grew up in a mud hut until he was fourteen and learned to read by candlelight. Once he got to the United States he studied his ass off, got a BA and an MBA and is now a senior executive at Coca Cola in South Africa. My brother loves America, is a total capitalist, and by his mere presence reminds the world what a lazy and spoiled brat that I am. His first son, my Nephew, grew up in the United States. Since he grew up in my house, he was spoiled like me. He was sent to an all Black College by my liberal parents because they thought he was getting "too white". He was taught that a Black man just can't make it in the United States because of five hundred years of oppression. He joined a gang, got kicked out of school, and moved in with me in Los Angeles. My college buddy is a principle of a Los Angeles Unified School District school, and hired my brother right after he moved to Los Angeles (no teaching certificate, no college Degree). My second nephew was born ten years after my first nephew. When he was three, my overachieving brother got transferred by Coca Cola to Kenya. So my younger nephew grew up in Africa. He finished high school at fourteen and just finished medical school at the age of twenty (making it painfully clear what a lazy ass his uncle and brother are). My youngest nephew is now a social conservative Republican, who everytime he opens his fascist mouth I have to beat his ass just out of pure principle.

I digress. The point being there is definitely something going on with the American culture that ain't all the productive.

the drag of liberalism as propigated and perpetuated by the Democratic Party?

[Not Bob]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
The vast expansion of the federal government that had previously been reserved to the several states, or to the people.

There once were limits. There no longer are.

Ah, yes. The power of the states to enforce freedom of contract. We were so much better off back in those halycon pre-New Deal days.

And the states could do a much better job of regulating the securities markets, labor law, banks, as well as the food and drug industries. The Jungle and the Pecora hearings were just collectivist propaganda.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Spanky
Culture is a vague concept, but as that guy quoted in his article, it is the only option left.

Thank you for setting forth in capsule form the kind of statement I consider so idiotic.

Couldn't have anything to do with slavery, or racism, or segregation, or the self-perpetuating nature of economic classes, or anything else. It's "culture," and that alone.

I think the African American culture is a large factor in the reason for Economic discrepancies in income levels.

Not the "Southern culture"? What is the "African American culture"? Colin Powell? Condi Rice? Or Snoop Dogg?

Anecdote about his brother.

Anecdotes are so incredibly helpful. I knew a white cokehead who became president because his parents were rich. 90% of my white cousins are trailer trash despite having the exact same culture as my family, with four kids who all have graduate degrees.

Your thesis is not the thesis of the article -- you are talking about "African American culture," not "southern" culture. I agree that teaching black kids that they cannot succeed is stupid and damaging. But is that "African American culture"? It sure wasn't what Malcolm X taught. It sure wasn't what Colin Powell learned. It isn't the education that Spike Lee got at the same African American universities.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
If there's harm to your appendages from unsae factory equipment, don't you have the proper incentives to address it? Why is that something government should bother with?

You may have incentives, but you sure don't necessarily have the ability. Have you ever met anyone who worked in a factory?

This is the classic "you can move! get a new job! this is America!" bullshit.

This discussion is following a predictable, time-worn path. Soon Burger will say that government does nothing to help him earn a living and is not a force for economic productivity or freedom. And I will respond, if you hate government so much then move to Somalia, they provide an excellent example of limited federal government and how well a country functions under that condition.

And, with that, I'll see y'all tomorrow.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
You may have incentives, but you sure don't necessarily have the ability. Have you ever met anyone who worked in a factory?

This is the classic "you can move! get a new job! this is America!" bullshit.

Perhaps Burger is just building his way up to arguments in favor of unions and against tort reform.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Gattigap
Perhaps Burger is just building his way up to arguments in favor of unions and against tort reform.

Well, that is the way into my pants.