Still, it had become the kind of fixture on the national landscape that, the occasional attempt of Pub-controlled Congresses to pull the plug on notwithstanding, was destined to be with us always, much like the "farm bill" that has perpetuated itself in roughly five-year cycles since 1933, or the National Endowment for the Arts, the questioning of which draws howls from the self-appointed arbiters of aesthetic merit.
But it turns out it's a gravy train for well-established purveyors of luxury:
A new report on federal spending reveals that the Small Business Administration has funded luxury brands like Rolex, Lamborghini and helped exclusive beach clubs, wineries, pet resorts, country clubs and even a gun club over the past several years.The report from the American Transparency has won the attention of a taxpayer watchdog group that is giving SBA a "Golden Fleece" Award."It appears the Small Business Administration is bilking the American taxpayers to play favorites and bail out companies that can't make it in the marketplace," said Diana Banister, director of Citizens for the Republic. "The upscale companies benefiting from taxpayer largesse should get loans from their own bank."
Now that budget discussions are underway again, how about it, folks? Time for an agency-ectomy, perhaps?
There is no free market (or are no free markets). Nothing artificial is free. Free markets are not Tao. Tao is. Markets are.
ReplyDeleteFurther clarification is needed, please. I guess I understand that free markets are not Tao, but maybe I'm not sure I even agree with that. What is more natural, more in keeping with The Way, than one human being saying to another, "would you like to buy this object I own, or buy an hour of my labor?" and negotiating a price therefore with the other human being and coming to an agreement which both feel betters their circumstances? But anyway, what do you mean by "artificial?"
ReplyDeleteI have never felt less free than when I am working since around 1980 AD for the American corporation. It gets worse by the day at many, not all employers, from the first drop in the bottle before you punch the clock, Talk about being constrained in all you do, even what you say and watched and listened to all the time. More elaboration on the free market and the Tao tomorrow. Gotta go to work for da man in da morning, albeit well-remunerated. It still feels like the mark of the beast I've accepted to be able to buy, but not sell. More like selling out.
ReplyDeleteAre there not other options for a livelihood besides large bureaucratic corporations?
ReplyDelete