DINNER WITH BILL GATES by Michael Shermer

MY COMMENT IN eSKEPTIC: Should have asked Bill Gates if he thought it was fair for the taxpayers to pay for all the space operations that have made computers, cable TV, etc. possible while the government has farmed out the commercial interests to its chosen controllers so one has to buy a multitude of gimmicks just to use the product. When we bought radios, we got all the signals possible because the airways belonged to everybody. Broadcasters were paid by advertisers. Computers, TV and other signal requiring products should be the same. Consumers are paying twice.

AMERICAN MINDSETS

To: mwernimont@gmail.comCC: samnett@msn.comSubject: RE: American MindsetsDate: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:23:40 -0700


Hey Mark, Thanks for the e-mail. Notice that I didn't mention democrats or republicans. Liberals and Conservatives were both admonished. I don't know how old you are but I was born during the great depression. I remember the depression, WWll, The GI Bill, the 90% tax bracket for the extremely wealthy (used to fight off Marxian economics predictions and a third world status for the US), Social Security implementation, AFDC, APTD, AB, OAA, Nursing Home development, Mental Health facilities, one worker families, $25.00 College Tuition, fair medical cost, no mandated insurance (Auto, Medical, Housing, business or any other), no sales tax, Medicare, Medicaid, Civil Rights, $20.00 fines for barroom brawls on Saturday night, limited problems with drunk drivers, politicians that cheated for you instead of against you, statesmanship when facing an ignorant public, legal drug use and tolerance of illegal use, banks and financial institutions that were fair, loan sharks that were cheaper than current credit card companies, and on and on and on.

I also remember the "wonderful" Eisenhower years when I couldn't find a job and the beginning of the current crisis when Ronald Reagan went back to the 20's for his economic structure. Until the money supply equals the value of idle resources, including the labor supply, plus balanced pricing and production capability and maintains the money flow cycles, the slow growth boom bust condition will doom capitalism and the free market. The problem is too big without government direction. We are currently locked into a system that won't work in this century.

American Mindsets

I haven't written much in the last year. My wife has been recuperating from a heart attack. Not that I haven't wanted to but I have priorities. Besides, it's hard to get the truth out with all the sidetracking phony issues now being considered. The least I can do is try to break down some of the mindsets that have created our present circumstances;

To begin with, socialism means government ownership, not government control. Conservatives have been screaming "socialism and communism" ever since they screwed up the world with their economics during the 1920's and attempts were made to correct their mistakes.

A bibical approach to economics would be to take care of the poor. When the poor spend money, it flows throughout the economy. The religious "right" seems to overlook this basic truth.

Conservatives would rather take care of the rich. Liberals tie everything to what is best for the community and forget about the individuals.

Freedom is not a question of positioning. There is no aristocracy. Freedom is for the great and the small with justice for all. Money-Power control is not justice for all.

America is a representative democracy, not a pure democracy. I suppose that with the computer, everybody could vote for every law and action by all levels of government but I certainly hope not!!! Purity would surely kill us all under a system like that.

I suppose that a devine advice for American voters would be, "Your free choice will provide what you deserve."

Sam Nettleshttp://realtexasfreedom.blogspot.com/