Question on big government vs. big business

[KnightWhoSaysNi]

I'd like to try this poll out and see if any pattern emerges. From my studies in US culture and history, there tends to be a very strong antagonism towards government in general.

In other western countries, people tend not to be a hostile to government. For instance, in Canada, Europe, NZ and elsewhere, a strong publicly funded single payer health care system is nearly universally accepted. They would see single payer health care not as being imposed by the government, but because the voters impose it on the government to provide it as a service to them. By contrast, many Americans would see single payer health care as a big government in their lives and would have fears of politicians or bureaucrats stepping between them and their doctors (despite that it's more often the case that insurance company CEOs and bureaucrats step between them and their doctors).

Well, given the Wall Street collapse in 2008, perhaps this American perception has changed somewhat.

[Splarnst]

I've always been much more distrustful of big business.

[Lugubert]

If you want an answer from me, please define "big government" and "big business".

If you rather want a vote on US absence of general health care vs. civilized countries' affordable health care for all, guess my view.

[Harry Bosch]

[quote=""Revolutionary""]I've always been much more distrustful of big business.[/quote] I understand big business: want more profit. I don't understand George Bush, Palin, Newt, and etc. I'll take IBM over the RNC any day of the week.

[SLD]

Big business isn't constrained by the bounds of the Constitution. If you work for them, you don't have freedom of speech. You don't have due process - except what they grant you and that's rarely a lot. You don't have the right to be free from unreasonable searches - it's their property not yours. You don't even get to vote for your leaders. Big business, unlike the U.S. Constitution, isn't created with your welfare in mind.

It is not to be trusted.

SLD

[vixstile]

In America they're the same thing so i can't answer the poll.

[Harry Bosch]

Big Business - pays me a good wage every two weeks.
Big Government - takes a good portion of my paycheck every two weeks.

[jonatha]

Big business.

We can (at least in theory) vote government out of office.

It took Teddy Roosevelt to curb the power of Standard Oil....

[s-o-i-d-p]

Even though the healthcare plan will be implemented, I reckon it's difficult to see the USA economic model changing. A major reason for the USA being a less regulated economic model is due to national culture. This is probably the reason why Americans distrust government more than the Canadians or the Europeans

[Axulus]

[quote=""SLD""]Big business isn't constrained by the bounds of the Constitution. If you work for them, you don't have freedom of speech. You don't have due process - except what they grant you and that's rarely a lot. You don't have the right to be free from unreasonable searches - it's their property not yours. You don't even get to vote for your leaders. Big business, unlike the U.S. Constitution, isn't created with your welfare in mind.

It is not to be trusted.

SLD[/quote]

Working for any particular business is a VOLUNTARY decision. What that has to do with the constitution is beyond me.

By the same argument, you aren't bound by the constitution either. If I enter into your home, I'm sure if I started insulting you and your family you would kick me out, denying me my free speech.

The reason why big government is much more worrisome than big business is that businesses are always going to be constrained by voluntary decisions. They can't force any particular person to work for them or force any particular person to buy their products. Government, however, can apply force against my will.