When Is a Government NOT a Government?

I've never understood something about Liberals and Dim-o-cRats ... they want to trust *everything* they do to the government ... the federal government, the state government, the regional/local government ... they don't really seem to care as *someone else* is in control (maybe so that *someone else* can be blamed when things do go as planned?) ...

Another thing I've never understood about Leftists (aside from freaking out about being called Liberals ... unless, I guess, they'd prefer to be called socialists...) is that they hate corporations so *very* much. They hate that corporations don't pay everyone the same rate for everything ... they hate that corporations have policies about what behavior is and is not permissible in the workplace (although they seem to have no problem having the "government" determine what is OK and what's not ... especially if the *not* applies to "someone else") ... they hate that corporations have absence, vacation, sick time and other policies that determine when employees will and won't get paid ... they hate that corporations don't pay them for every little thought they have as if they'd "hung the moon" ... they hate that corporations determine who they will and won't hire ... they hate that corporations make a profit, a.k.a. take in more money than they absolutely have to expend to pay their bills and they hate that those profits often are turned over to shareholders.

Plainly said -- they just hate corporations!

So this morning, as I was walking into the bathroom to wash my face, a thought occurred to me (no, don't laugh ... I have them sometimes ... especially when I'm not exhausted from reviewing quarterlies) ...

Governments have regulated that not everyone gets paid the same for the same activity - especially when it comes to domestic workers/caregivers ... they don't have to be paid minimum wage for a 24-hour shift and they don't have to be paid minimum wage for giving someone companionship ... look it up.

Governments have regulated the behavior that is and is not permissible in the workplace --just think about the jokes you're not allowed to tell, the compliments you're not allowed to offer, the friendly squeeze on the shoulder you're persecuted for ... heck, that you might get fired for ...

Governments have regulated how much time a business must grant to their employees for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) situations - right now it only applies to employers with a certain number of employees and it's not mandatory that the leave be paid -- YET ... yeah, "they" are working on that.

Governments have regulated that people must be granted intellectual property rights for the ideas they come up with.

Governments have regulated that employers may not determine on their own the employees they choose not to hire, if those applicants fall within certain, pre-ordained categories ... even if the people obviously espouse opinions or exhibit lifestyles that conflict with the organizations beliefs and mission.

Governments regularly take in more money than is required - just look at Oregon's kicker refund that was in such jeopardy that people voted to have it added to our State Constitution - and in Oregon's situation, that excess revenue required to be turned back over to the taxpayers (as long as they're not corporations) ... and aren't we shareholders in this great state? and don't we get tax refunds if we pay in more tax than is due according to IRS formulas, etc?

When you get right down to it,
aren't governments just taxpayer-funded corporations?
.

So, why do leftists just seem to adore governments

and hate corporations?

.

It's  bit blurry to me.

Your thoughts?

Comments

[John Eyler]

Knee and jerk or some such. I think perhaps because conservatives want small government the liberals just automatically want the opposite. We can't expect a rational perspective after-all or there would be no liberals

[Max]

Government requires Family Leave - three months' worth. But there is no requirement as to how it is to be taken. So we have some little dip "Millenial" gal who - wonder of wonders - had a BABY! Now, months later, she's still deciding when she will or will not deign to appear for her half-day of work.

And like most Millennials, everything is all about her. IF she shows up for a four-hour shift, she spends two hours eating breakfast, socializing, checking her AOL email, eating a "break snack", socializing, checking her AOL email....

She expects a compliment for simply showing up.

And that makes her a perfect match for socialist government.

[Gullyborg]

You should read "The Law" by Frederick Bastiat, the last good Frenchman (died around the time of the U.S. Civil War).

It is hard to find in print, but I wouldn't be surprised if you found it online in its complete form. It would probably be under 50 pages in a typical Word document.

It might be the single best argument ever made for limited government.

[ericfoy]

"So, why do leftists just seem to adore governments and hate corporations?"

I think the answer points us to the primary and primal difference between the liberal and conservative mindsets: Conservatives believe that, whereas God is the rewarder of the faithful and the caregiver to the feeble and unfit (which includes all of us on some level), the world, on the other hand, can only be expected to reward us with what we have earned. Providential blessings may come through persons or organizations of persons, but they ultimately come from God, and we don't earn them.

Conversely, the liberal thinker, having an amplified sense of entitlement, believes that the world owes him stuff he hasn't earned, and he only hopes (vaguely, if at all) to be helped by God.

Government is his preferred vehicle, since he can participate (here in the U.S., anyway) with a voice just because he takes up space. But to gain a voice in the corporate world requires so much work or investment, and is therefore so unfair. I mean, you can yell at your boss and demonstrate in the parking lot, and he can just fire you if he doesn't like it! How fair is that!?!