posted June 18, 2004 09:33 AM              

Jwhop ~ I will never believe that there isn't a class system. It's ... how did Randall put it? ... it's human nature. People like cliques. Are the doors in and out of the class ranks kept open? Yes, of course, but there is still very much a ruling class. And, yes, we do vote for them. Bearing in mind that a large part of our government is appointed not elected. I think this is a crucial point. Especially when dealing with a President who rules with a hands off/delegate to the underlings sort of style. In addition, I did not elect the head of GE or Viacom or Haliburton or Shell Oil. And yet they have tremendous influence on my life and both American and world politics and the general state of the US. Can I vote Haliburton out of office? Because I would surely like to see them removed.

People, please don't put me in the position of defending Communism. I don't believe in it and I won't champion it. Jwhop, I've mentioned several times in previous posts my respect and admiration for Reagan and Jefferson. Obviousely I'm not a red. All I said was - and I hold fast to this arguement - there is a vast difference between the writings of Marx and Stalinist Russia. I don't think Marx would have appreciated the manner in which his ideas were carried out. I'm also disgusted and disappointed with the Catholic Church but I have no intention of tossing out my Bible. As for your "American model", well I was recently told that there would be no promotions from within my company, that the company would be hiring from the outside. Before you attribute all of this to bitterness, I was, despite the trend, recently offered a promotion and I declined. Also, please know that I am in a management position with people under me and I react the same as you to the constant grumbling. It's employment at will, baby, and if you don't like it find your way to the nearest door.

Let's see what else. Oh yes, I did not say "family". I said "team". Big difference I think. Ironically, the standards were much higher with the original owner - screw up and you were out the door. With the new King, we can get away with anything - and many do. Sad. And yes, I will be leaving. I will sell my soul to another big corporation. God Bless, I have the ability to move from one serfdom to another! Now that's progress!

posted June 18, 2004 02:49 PM            

Notions of a class system in America are promoted by the Left and the leftist press. It's a good tactic for leftist politicians to rail against a class system that doesn't exist to get elected and it's a dandy excuse for failure to blame someone or some group for holding one down or back in the pursuit of jobs, education or anything else. Yep, the deck is stacked against some or everyone in the so called lower classes and circumstances preclude their success so why try? Personally, I don't believe a word of it.

If you don't want to be governed by a so called ruling elite, then don't vote for them in elections. It's that simple. You can organize against them and promote candidates you think better qualified to run whatever government is being elected, city, county, state or federal. T

There is no bigger elitist in the US Senate than John Kerry and few less qualified for the Senate. In more than 20 years in the Senate, Kerry has never once authored one piece of legislation that became law.

Most of the vast government bureaucracy is hired, not appointed. The bureaucracy lives on, no matter who is elected or appointed to office. Even the appointed members of government are confirmed by the Senate after being nominated by the President. Supposedly, your Senator is representing your interests in government. Note* It wasn't always so. The Senate was originally appointed by the various states to represent state interests and in my opinion, that change was the beginning of an ever more powerful federal government.

I fully expect the President to delegate authority to carry out the missions of good government and then get the hell out of the way and let his appointees do their jobs. We've had some Presidential meddlers and don't need any more of that. Our government is vast and no one, especially the President needs to countersign every purchase order, every promotion, every speech a government official makes or every anything else. For certain, the President and Congress should not get involved in micromanaging the military.

True, you didn't elect the President, CEO or Chairman of the Board of Directors for GE, Shell, Haliburton or any other corporation. They are elected by shareholders of the outstanding stock or appointed by the Board who are chosen by shareholders at the annual stockholders meetings. The biggest holders of stock in America are Mutual Funds and Pension Funds who are looking at the bottom line........always. If you want your voice heard, buy a share of stock and go to the stockholders meetings to voice your opinion. You may even organize other stockholders to change the direction of a corporation...if they can see how your ideas will contribute to the corporation's bottom line. Perhaps they would since HR is an important component in hiring and retaining top talent. However, if they are obeying US law, why would you want to interfere with their operations?

posted June 18, 2004 11:23 PM              

"Buy stock and go to the stockholders meeting" ?!? Obviously, I don't exactly have the funds to buy enough stock to make my voice heard. But maybe if I were a wealthy member of the ruling class.

I have said myself that Kerry is a snobby elitist. You'll get no arguemnet from me there. But I think Bush is a snobby elitist too so where does that leave me? Nader?

Of course, I expect the president to delegate. But just not too much. Remember the Iran/Contra thingy? An honorable man delegates too much to a bunch of dishonorable scum and look what happens.

posted June 23, 2004 04:14 AM              

Lioneye 88 “gobbly gook” . . .it sounds like a turkey.
Tink “gobbldy gook” . . .yep, that does too!
Jwhop “gobbledygook”. . .rubbish or not, it’s still turkey talk.
Randall “gobbledygook” and “gobbldegook”. . .is that second spelling really in the Oxford American?

Just being my usual self I am suspicious of any dictionary using spelling that leaves out the “U” in COLOUR. . .so I looked up firstly the
CONCISE OXFORD: gobbledegook. noun (also gobbledygook) colloquial = pompous or unintelligible jargon [probably imitation of a turkeycock]. . .
So far, so good, then
WEBSTER: gobbledygook, gobbledegook. noun, slang = nonsense, pretentious jargon. . .
So now, so far, so good, it’s just a spelling version, then I read in the ‘addenda and corrigenda’ section of my 50 year-old version of the
CONCISE UNIVERSAL OXFORD: Gobbledygook. U.S. slang [representing a turkeycock’s gobble; invented by Maury Maverick, of Texas]{who knew that??) = official verbiage or jargon.

So my OXFORD not only gives for your American spelling, but :uhoh: also comes up trumps on its ApproPriaTe origin

in Love and light
imajre

posted June 23, 2004 09:21 AM            

Six in one, halk a dozen in the other ?

posted June 26, 2004 04:23 PM              

Just to add my 2 cents, I prefer 'talkin' sh*t' to gobbledegook ... although it is a fun sounding word.

Oh my goodness and did I LMAO @ turkeycock, bullbutter, and the violence Tink's dictionary refuses to take part in. Randall, maybe you should get that book into some anger management courses!

tee hee hee