Why Do We Have Excess Regulation, and Can We Get Rid of It?

[Ptarmigan]

Why Do We Have Excess Regulation, and Can We Get Rid of It?
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/364215/why-do-we-have-excess-regulation-and-can-we-get-rid-it-veronique-de-rugy

As a general rule, the main incentive faced by regulatory agencies is to produce more and more regulations. They have no incentives to even make sure that these regulations are needed, appropriately addressing a problem, or not causing more harm than good. The result is more and more regulations. How much more? Over at the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s blog, Ryan Young gives a list of 66 new regulations produced in a week:

It was a short work week because of the Veterans Day holiday, but agencies still added nearly 1,700 pages to the 2013 Federal Register, which is on track to be the fifth-largest ever despite a two-week shutdown.

America is an over regulated nation and it is choking this great nation.

[EagleKeeper]

Eh...that's easy.

Once everything is made illegal then everybody is a criminal.

[DLR Pyro]

Eh...that's easy.

Once everything is made illegal then everybody is a criminal.

except for illegal aliens which the government is doing everything they can to make them legal.

[OutsideTheBox]

Eh...that's easy.

Once everything is made illegal then everybody is a criminal.

Something like that; it makes it a lot easier for them to justify mass surveillance and other violations of our rights. 

[Dori]

I just read on Drudge that they pass a new regulation every 2.5 hours.   

[EagleKeeper]

Something like that; it makes it a lot easier for them to justify mass surveillance and other violations of our rights. 

No, it's not "something like that", it's exactly that.

You are narrowing things down to the NSA and violations of rights.

I'm not, if you violate the law you must pay the piper. What the expanding regulatory regime does is seek to make everybody a criminal.

Put differently, if you catch the eye of "the man" they can inevitably find something you are guilty of. It's sort of like Al Capone (and trust me, I'm not defending Capone) they couldn't get him on the charges they wanted to so they casted about to find something that they could, and they succeeded.

[OutsideTheBox]

No, it's not "something like that", it's exactly that.

You are narrowing things down to the NSA and violations of rights.

I'm not, if you violate the law you must pay the piper. What the expanding regulatory regime does is seek to make everybody a criminal.

Put differently, if you catch the eye of "the man" they can inevitably find something you are guilty of. It's sort of like Al Capone (and trust me, I'm not defending Capone) they couldn't get him on the charges they wanted to so they casted about to find something that they could, and they succeeded.

What do you feel started this trend, and how should we move forward? Mass surveillance is, in my opinion, one of the biggest, most glaring breaches of our rights we face today. How do we fix these problems? 

[EagleKeeper]

What do you feel started this trend

I suppose I think that it's just human nature, you know the "SOMEBODY MUST DO SOMETHING!!1" mentality.

how should we move forward?

Beats me, I guess I'm not the person to ask since I'm mostly just a semi interested observer.

Mass surveillance is, in my opinion, one of the biggest, most glaring breaches of our rights we face today.

That's fine, everybody needs their personal windmills to tilt.

How do we fix these problems?

Again your asking the wrong person, I don't have answers and neither do you, I'm just putting pen to observations.

[EagleKeeper]

So...anyway,Outsidethebox, I suppose it would be bad form for me to not ask you to answer the same questions you asked me?

[OutsideTheBox]

So...anyway,Outsidethebox, I suppose it would be bad form for me to not ask you to answer the same questions you asked me?

I don't think we can solve anything inside the confines of the two party system. Corporations and rich interests corrupt and pollute both sides now, and it is only common sense that politicians are going to answer to the people that sign their paychecks. People are weak, and easily corrupted. The only way to win in politics anymore is to answer to the corporate masters and get the funding needed to actually win. This is a problem, because it means good candidates that don't play the game do not get a fair chance.

I believe we need to work on removing as much money from politics as we can. I understand that some campaign money is needed for basic things, but there is no reason for the insane amount of contributions that amount to little more than political bribery. Money controls politics now, and it shouldn't be that way. Once we have removed the cancer in politics we can actually start working towards the healing process.

[EagleKeeper]

My friend, money controls everything.

It has been thus since the first simian traded a seashell for another simian to pick nits out of its fur.

I lubs you man but money makes the world go round and nothing will change that fact.

Would I get off my ass and pull my neighbor out of his burning home? Sure, if I could do so and still take a breath after.

Would I go to DC as a career politician if I couldn't make bags of money, eh... prolly not.

Actually, you gave me an idea that has never been thought of before! Term limits.

Your welcome.

As some office holders would explain... "Shut Up!"

[OutsideTheBox]

My friend, money controls everything.

Exactly, and that is a problem we need to work towards fixing. Why is it impossible to work towards making politics less money focused/corrupt? The fact that it is that way now is not a good reason to allow it to remain such. Money is very obviously a problem in politics, and something needs to be done about it. Our politicians are corrupt and bought off, and people seem to think that is okay; it's not.

[Maxiest]

Exactly, and that is a problem we need to work towards fixing. Why is it impossible to work towards making politics less money focused/corrupt? The fact that it is that way now is not a good reason to allow it to remain such. Money is very obviously a problem in politics, and something needs to be done about it. Our politicians are corrupt and bought off, and people seem to think that is okay; it's not.

He already told you.  Term Limits.

[OutsideTheBox]

He already told you.  Term Limits.

Term limits would be a band-aid, but the underlying problem still exists.

[EagleKeeper]

Exactly, and that is a problem we need to work towards fixing. Why is it impossible to work towards making politics less money focused/corrupt? The fact that it is that way now is not a good reason to allow it to remain such. Money is very obviously a problem in politics, and something needs to be done about it. Our politicians are corrupt and bought off, and people seem to think that is okay; it's not.

I give you one word...incentive.

You will have to trust me on...one other thing...people, generally speaking, don't do something for nothing.

If you do not grow and grind your own coffee beans it's going to cost you around a buck to buy a cup of coffee. I could expand on this but I won't because its boring and everybody knows this already.

I've been reading and considering your posts in this thread and I see and understand the frustration....sadly though you have no more answers then anybody else.

[OutsideTheBox]

I give you one word...incentive.

You will have to trust me on...one other thing...people, generally speaking, don't do something for nothing.

If you do not grow and grind your own coffee beans it's going to cost you around a buck to buy a cup of coffee. I could expand on this but I won't because its boring and everybody knows this already.

I've been reading and considering your posts in this thread and I see and understand the frustration....sadly though you have no more answers then anybody else.

Politicians should still be paid. I'm not saying politics should all be charity work. Politicians don't need to be allowed to accept bribes in order to have enough incentive to do the job, and if that IS the case with any politician, maybe they shouldn't be a politician.

[EagleKeeper]

Politicians should still be paid. I'm not saying politics should all be charity work. Politicians don't need to be allowed to accept bribes in order to have enough incentive to do the job, and if that IS the case with any politician, maybe they shouldn't be a politician.

Ok, I want to believe you...what do we do?

[OutsideTheBox]

Ok, I want to believe you...what do we do?

We stop allowing corporations on the right and unions/corporations on the left to donate millions and millions of dollars to politicians so they will champion their best interests. Politicians that are shown to be in violation of that should be removed from office. Politicians should have a series of open debates/conversations on public TV that cover their political ideology from head to toe so voters can get a real feel for who they are voting for. I also think smear campaigns should go away. They are nothing but hyperbole designed to manipulate low information voters. When voters are more aware of who they are actually voting for, and when those politicians are not getting paid by rich interests, they will actually start working towards the best interests of the people that voted for them.

[Maxiest]

We stop allowing corporations on the right and unions/corporations on the left to donate millions and millions of dollars to politicians so they will champion their best interests. Politicians that are shown to be in violation of that should be removed from office. Politicians should have a series of open debates/conversations on public TV that cover their political ideology from head to toe so voters can get a real feel for who they are voting for. I also think smear campaigns should go away. They are nothing but hyperbole designed to manipulate low information voters. When voters are more aware of who they are actually voting for, and when those politicians are not getting paid by rich interests, they will actually start working towards the best interests of the people that voted for them.

I have a question.  So lets say my company donates money to a candidate.  It's because they want lower taxes in the district which will allow them to grow and the candidate promises lower taxes.  If they grow I do better.  So is that no different than me and all my co-workers donating to said candidate for our own best interests right?  I just don't know how you can cut out those type of donations.  And if it would help or not.

[OutsideTheBox]

I have a question.  So lets say my company donates money to a candidate.  It's because they want lower taxes in the district which will allow them to grow and the candidate promises lower taxes.  If they grow I do better.  So is that no different than me and all my co-workers donating to said candidate for our own best interests right?  I just don't know how you can cut out those type of donations.  And if it would help or not.

I don't think money should impact the likelihood of a person being elected, be it from individuals or corporations. I simply focused on the big money donations because those are the biggest problem. It is too easy to control and corrupt people with money. People are not perfect, and it is going to happen. That is why safeguards that prevent it from happening should be in place.

[EagleKeeper]

I don't think money should impact the likelihood of a person being elected, be it from individuals or corporations. I simply focused on the big money donations because those are the biggest problem. It is too easy to control and corrupt people with money. People are not perfect, and it is going to happen. That is why safeguards that prevent it from happening should be in place.

I'm serious here, what exactly do you think mankind should be motivated by if not reward.

[Dori]

Washington DC is one of the wealthiest areas in the country.  It's because of all the money being thrown around by lobbyists.  

Congress needs better rules regarding lobbyists and they need to stop passing bills that are full of pork and back room deals.

As far as regulations go, that rule making body needs to go back to congress or at least voted on by congress.  The regulators are unelected and don't appear to answer to anyone.

[OutsideTheBox]

I'm serious here, what exactly do you think mankind should be motivated by if not reward.

I'm not saying all monetary rewards all over the world should be done away with. I am saying that it should not be possible to use money to corrupt and influence politicians. The amount of money a politician has access to should not directly impact their chances of winning. Their policies and ideals should be the only thing that impacts that. The political realm should have safeguards present that prevent easily corrupted humans from falling prey to obvious and blatant corruption. Furthermore, to reiterate what I said earlier, politicians are paid, and paid well; they don't work for free. Securing bribes and doing the bidding of rich interests should not be what motivates a politician.