Combat Ranting (formerly known as Famicom Mini)

[Weltall]

Somewhat. But big business wouldn't be anywhere near where it is today without the help (both from regulations and from lack of them, and more of the latter than the former) of the government... and you disparage Europe but on a whole it's not in as bad shape as you suggest. If it was the Euro wouldn't be going up against the dollar, that's for sure... you just need to convince yourself that they're doing badly to be able to justify why your small business-destroying (Republican policies are VERY good for big business) policies should continue...


See, health care is the biggest problem small businesses face. Well, that and insurance against lawsuits... it's very sad to see so many doctors leave fields they love because they can't afford the insurance if a patient decides to sue... but as for health care, prices are spiraling out of control. Companies are reacting by cutting or getting rid of benefits... bad for everyone. And then there's the 40 million uninsured. Europe doesn't have any of those problems. Yes, taxes are higher, but you get a big, big return for your money...

There's a reason that all the Democratic candidates have health care as one of their top priorities. The Republicans have shown that they do not want to do anything to actually work on the problem. And before you mention the recent Bush perscription drug bill, it's just a payout to big companies and the drug companies, not actual help for the people who need it. As per usual for Bush.

I disagree. Big business is where it is because of demand. How do you think Wal-Mart, a company that began as a single store in Bumfuck, Arkansas, became the most powerful and wealthy business conglomerate in the world in less than forty years? Much of it is due to Sam Walton's uncanny business sense, but most of it is due to the almighty force of consumer demand. People like to buy stuff cheap, so Wal-Mart sells stuff cheaper than anyone else. They can do this because they so skillfully manipulated a vast network of business operations to produce things at lower cost. They do everything possible to cut the lowest overhead possible. Now, I'll be the first one to agree that this is done as often as not by some questionable means, but that's not the point. The point is that they have the power to do this because they were able to grow this fast and this far. As I said before, Wal-Mart started as a single store, definitely a small business by any standard, and honestly, until about ten years ago they weren't nearly as powerful as now. The government has honestly had fleeting little to do with it either way, in anything other than a peripheral manner.

As for Europe? They're stable, I'll give you that, but there is absolutely no growth over there. Their economy is stagnant, as is their society and culture for that matter. The only reason they can play Big Brother and provide a living for everyone is because they tax people to death. So yes, people get free healthcare, and in return, every bit of economic growth and innovation they benefit from is either directly caused by America or is paid for by American dollars. Europe can't afford to do it on their own. If America tried the same free-lunch-for-eternity bit, our economy would go down the crapper and then governments would not be able to afford to be welfare states because there would be so much less revenue to tax. There would be less revenue because the only companies that could possibly survive in the same fashion as now are the ones that provide mundane goods. The explosive luxury goods industry, automotive, scientific, basically any private sector industry that doesn't directly provide sustenence goods to people will be hurt badly and probably killed... just like in Europe. And then what? Is it worth having free health care for everyone if in fifty years the system is no more advanced than it is today because growth is crippled?

The short answer is no. And it's this lack of foresight by liberals that makes people like me angry.