Comments by "oolong2" (@oolong2) on "The Constituation and The Commons" video.

@ghiisga You're not paying attention to what I write. I said it's a lack of DEMOCRACY. I've stated that over and over and over again, but you're not listening. Can you say that any of those countries have democractic control of their governments? No. Google "Top 10 counties with the least/most corruption" and realize that it has absolutely nothing to do with "government size" or "taxes". Claiming so is no different than saying it's based on bring "brown" or "south of the equator".
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@ghiisga I guesss you forgot? Your first comment to me suggests we reduce corruption by reducing the size of goverment and to do that we have to reduce taxes. Yet neither in this country or amongst other countries can we see ANY relationship between "corruption" and "government size" or tax rates and tax collections as a % of GDP. The most corrupt countries in the world are third world countries that barely collect taxes. So the problem is *democracy* not taxes or any arbitruary govt sizes
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@ghiisga You have a pre-ccoupation with "where money goes". As if somehow a corrupted state govt with money is better than a corrupted federal govt with money. When it's obvious based on data in this and other countries that taxes as a % of GDP has no relationship with government efficiency. The monopoly money you hold HAS NO VALUE outside of the government that gives it value. As long as you ignore these facts you'll be nothing more than an election pawn manipulated by fabricated issues.
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@ghiisga There is no evidence for your ideas which are easily verifiable. Your educational background doesn't make you a pawn just ignoring facts for opinions. Jefferson had complex ideas that evolved over time.... So to characterize him simply as being against "taxes and government" is false. He faught for democarcy and representation, taxes for puiblic education, and was as much against private excess as public excess and even thought of using progressive taxes to solve wealth inequality.
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@ghiisga Sorry, but the idea of "less taxes means less corruption" or "small governement" is nothing more than propoganda from the oligarchy to fool people. In reality that translates to less taxes for the rich and less regulations for multinational corporations to poison our environment and outsource jobs. Taxes collections as a % of GDP is at a 60 YEAR LOW. Bush Cut taxes, Obama Cut taxes. In return we got a deficit on the backs of the poor and middle class and even more corruption.
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It's truely sad how the anti-government propoganda campaign that's been waged over the past few decades has taken hold in our political discourse. People actually have forgotten that the GOVERNMENT *IS* OUR COUNTRY. Government is NOT some "boogey man" that's our to get you, it's the foundation for our society. Yes there is widespread corruption and Washington is broken. However when you break your arm you HEAL IT you don't cut it off hoping things will be better without it.
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@ghiisga Te founders diagreed on many issues and their positions evolved over time. However they were in fact SCHOLARLY. Jeffereson was facinated by sciences, studied it, and applied it to his philosophy. So OF COURSE he'd use the wealth of information in genetics, sociology, compuiters, and statistal analysis we have today, not simply say "taxes are bad". They relied heavily on the science, philosophy, and societal injustices of their time. Unfortunately we don't in our politics today.
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@ghiisga There is rampant corruption at the federal AND state level... Look up ALEC. They basically "write" state legislation in favor of their corporate members. People are so fixated on Federal politicis that local corruption goes unnoticed. We're infatuated with PEOPLE getting more powerful not DC. Which means a functioning democracy, fair representation, and money not equating to speech. Arbitruary notions of "government size" is nothing more than meaningless campaign rhetoric.
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@ggadguy The concept of "country" does not exist without government, its what makes this land we live on "sovereign", and sets the rules, boundaries for the society we live in. So I would indeed go that far. Corruption is entirely different. "Politicians" are concerned about campaign contributions, which is just a tiny fraction of overall government. Unfortunately it's the fraction that's supposed to lead and represent the people's will....
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@ghiisga You are a pawn because nothing what you say is backed up by any evidence... It's a simply an emotional association against government instilled in you from the constant propoganda you've gotten from radio, TV, etc. The sad part is that there are millions of people just like you who cling to an ideology that "feels right" instead of actually looking for any facts or evidence to substantiate it.
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