Our nation of laws is beginning to look more and more like a nation of men.
These men are fashioning our government into a bizarre religion that closely resembles the church of early Europe.
For example –a rich man could approach any of the churches – Catholic or any of the many Protestant religions – and buy himself a seat or a position of importance within the church.
These days the same thing is done in the United States for positions in government – from local to state to federal.
In the early days of Europe and in the Middle Ages sins could be paid for and salvation granted for a price. Poor people were all condemned to hell – both on earth and in the afterlife.
Here in the United States poor people are still condemned to hell – especially if they end up in court – but like their corrupt predecessors the rich can buy themselves off. Martha Stewart stands out as a minor example. Tom Lay of Enron and Ebbers of Worldcom (now MCI) both stand out as big examples.
Even bigger examples are entire companies that get away with this. Even as poor people have been skewered by George Bush who shut down the bankruptcy window – large corporations like K-Mart, Owens-Corning and others continue to rake in piles of money and dominate their respective industries with corruption and inefficiency.
While bankrupt K-Mart actually went out and bought Sears – one of the world’s largest retailers.
Something is wrong and it’s not Social Security.

well said

something else I've noticed, the government was formed to serve the people, so when did the people start serving the government and the rich?

I think that most people tend to view government as a one piece institution.
Government is actually comprised of many individual politicians.
Individual politicians, of which most seem to me, interested in personal financial gain and power.
This interest is accomplished through pork legislation, favortism, back scratching, and back room deals.
These "deals" seem to give little attention to the impact on the American citizen.

Sure, we are thrown a bone occasionally to appease the masses, but usually only after careful consideration of the impact upon the party benefactors and opposing party members.
The party benefactors for obvious reasons and the opposing party because of needed support in two-way deals down the road.

Originally posted by mad dog
well said

something else I've noticed, the government was formed to serve the people, so when did the people start serving the government and the rich?
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The rich are the government!
How many poor folks do you know in government?

Most rich people and companies take the easy way out by just paying the victims because they have the money to do so, and it lessens the mess of having to sit through the courts. That's why you see so many frivolous lawsuits being won by regular people over large corporations.

*waiting for the tie in to Social Security*

This is a record. The thread went tangential on the first post

Originally posted by Brooks
This is a record. The thread went tangential on the first post
LMAO!

Originally posted by Karankawa
*waiting for the tie in to Social Security*
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The condition of the government and its attitude toward its citizens are determining factors of true Social Security.

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
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The condition of the government and its attitude toward its citizens are determining factors of true Social Security.
Very good (ss or SS)