Consolidate, Regulate, Confiscate

There existed, at the turn of the century, two very different types of progressive thought. The thinking of Teddy Roosevelt was that the market should always involve a number of small interests competing with each other to produce at the lowest price possible. Hence, Roosevelt was known as a "trust-buster"; corporations like Standard Oil needed to be broken into smaller concerns.

A very different vision of businesses was held by Justice Louis Brandeis, who believed there was no such thing as a business that was too big. (Sound familiar?) Corporations should, in this view, be allowed to become enormous entities regulated closely by government. Ultimately, this view of business is totalitarian, because it takes no legal skill to nationalize behemoth corporations, making them part of the government.

The Obama administration follows the Brandeis model to a T- - consolidate, regulate, and confiscate.

The Dying Bird

During the French Revolution, Thomas Paine criticized Edmund Burke's response by saying that he mourned the plumage but not the dying bird. Estase is a 36 year old with a Master's degree who works at Wendy's. Estase never understood that quote until he was in the sun sweating. I am part of the bird- - the working public expected to support a government allied with big business. Oh Blah Blah is transforming America into Japan, where you have to know somebody in government to make money.

The problem with a system where a few people make a great living because of government is like the situation before the French Revolution. The only difference is that at least in feudalism, you knew whose serf you were. I know that I am the serf on some corrupt New York businessman's fief. When Bastille Day comes, in the words of Dale Earnhardt, "Payback's a bitch, son."