The message is interesting for it's inconsistent logic per an argument that government is too expansive and taxes are too oppressive, but that government ought be run by the people operating the most expansive business in the nation and for profit.
The email begins by listing a series of impressive figures relating to Wal-Mart, which is an undeniably successful business ─ controlling a pseudo-monopoly, but not of any particular good or service, instead dominating the shopping experience of a certain financial class.
The message then points to various governmental agencies, indicating how long they've been in operation, then states "you had [so long] to get it right, and it is broke," mostly devoid of other facts. The USPS is mentioned, although that was cut off from tax-support in 1983. A false statistic is presented: $1 Trillion (which is roughly half the federal budget and which) is supposedly misappropriated for "The War On Poverty." The only way to arrive at those figures, is to include SS and Medicare/Medicaid, while ignoring almost 30 years of legislation which reduced and fundamentally changed how "Welfare" type/related entitlements function in the US.
Social Security is explicitly mentioned on it's own, unconnected to the $1 Trillion figure attributed to entitlements, to my mind this is structurally dubious for the argument. The reality of Social Security is that it has been a pay-go program, since it's inception, and has run a budget surplus equal to between 1/2 and 1/3 of collected SS taxes. The ongoing problem with SS funding is that the federal government has annually borrowed against the surplus revenue, in order to pay for other programs: Al Gore's infamous notion of creating a federal "Lock Box" for the SS surplus addressed this issue.
The only strong statistics presented, relate to the Department of Energy ─ the 2009 budget was $24.6 Billion ─ the DoE does employ approximately 16,000 ─ the DoE was created in response to the Oil Crisis with a goal of reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and perhaps eliminating our use of oil as fuel source ─ however, it was effective in the goal of reducing oil imports and consumption, under the Carter the administration.
Lacking is criticism of Defense Spending: $782 Billion in 2009, possibly more, depending how you break the budget down. Department of Energy spending, for instance, includes maintenance of nuclear arms. The interstate and rail systems exist, in large part, to support the military. I fully support defense spending, but I don't support American wars for resources, for nation building, or to combat broad & shifting concepts like "terror."
The assertion that government service and regulatory agencies have been "shoved down our throats," is false. Sometimes, social reforms are sourced in populist movements e.g. the Abolitionist, Prohibitionist, Suffragists or Civil Rights movements. Just as often, they are the result of duly elected officials following through on their campaign promises (see health care reform), reaction to some crisis (Department of Energy, The New Deal programs) or reaction to systemic problems within some aspect of society (FDA, EPA and DEA). The reality is, legislation is rarely enacted without good cause and never on a whim.
Still, I'd concede that government is broken and the existence of a federal deficit is strong evidence for that. But, the need for regulation, social programs, and consequent bureaucracies remain; particularly for cases in which common-practice violates the common-interest or at times to enforce a best-practice that isn't the easy or cheap option. Perhaps the solution is indeed a new type of politician one who would ─ push for a reasoned and measured government ─ perpetuate strong but rational regulation ─ advocate true pay-go policy making ─ someone who believes government can work ─ but importantly, isn't another corporate shill.
I think history has shown that no good comes of electing people who simply want to gut government, because they will find a way to make the existing bureaucratic structure ineffectual, typically by simple reapportioning resources.
I think history has shown that no good comes of electing people who simply want to gut government, because they will find a way to make the existing bureaucratic structure ineffectual, typically by simple reapportioning resources.
The full text of the inspirational message follows:
Wal-Mart vs. Morons (Very Interesting)
(1) Americans spend $36,000,000 at Wal-Mart Every hour of every day.
(2) This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!
(3) Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) than Target sells all year.
(4) Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target +Sears + Costco + K-Mart combined.
(5) Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people, is the world's largest private employer, and most speak English.
(6) Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the world.
(7) Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger and Safeway combined, and keep in mind they did this in only fifteen years.
(8) During this same period, 31 big supermarket chains sought bankruptcy.
(9) Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world.
(10) Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of which 1,906 are Super Centers; this is 1,000 more than it had five years ago.
(11) This year 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur at Wal-Mart stores. (Earth's population is approximately 6.5 Billion.)
(12) 90% of all Americans live within fifteen miles of a Wal-Mart.
You may think that I am complaining, but I am really laying the ground work for suggesting that MAYBE we should hire the guys who run Wal-Mart to fix the economy. This should be read and understood by all Americans Democrats, Republicans, EVERYONE!! To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature, It is now official you are ALL corrupt morons:
(a) The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke.
(b) Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke.
(c) Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke.
(d)War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more.
(e) Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke.
(f) Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke.
(g) The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure.
You have FAILED in every "government service" you have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars.
AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ?? MAYBE WE OUGHT TO KICK YOUR EGG-HEAD BUDDY BUMS OUT OF OFFICE AND HIRE WAL MART TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT ??? WAL MART SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS.......WHY DON'T YOU GUYS JUST ADMIT IT'S WAY BEYOND YOUR PAY GRADE, AND QUIT?
Folks, keep this circulating. It is very well stated. Maybe it will end up in the e-mails of some of our "duly elected' (they never read anything) and their staff will clue them in on how Americans feel
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