Unnecessary shutdowns

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

The federal government is shutting down a lot of things that are either don't need to be shut down (because they cost no money to operate) or actually cost more to shut down than they do to keep operating. These include both national parks and government agency websites.

http://www.ijreview.com/2013/10/84362-13-national-parks-impacted-government-shutdown/
http://reason.com/blog/2013/10/02/government-will-shut-down-websites-even

We're at the point where the government is just being petty and working on zooming well past that point.

For those who think it's justified because the Republicans won't budge on Obamacare, that just doesn't fit the facts.



As a libertarian, I'm fine with permanently cutting 800,000 federal workers and I think it's nice that they've identified the agencies we can do without, but I'd rather it happen with at least the standard 2-week warning for people. Pretty much all politicians in office right now are acting like children, but that's what happens when the electorate is also.

Comments

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

The FDA, yes we can do without them. Private standards groups/companies can take care of the same issues and do a better job at it. The other things are part of the state department which wouldn't be shut down. That's one of the pieces they're shutting down just to hurt people rather than because it saves money.

I guess you didn't read the article, which says that for most of the places being shut down, the costs are already covered or were offered to be covered by the state. So your objection is moot.

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

"We can do without the FDA...private groups can take care of that..". Because they do that so well now, LOL.

There are about 3,000 deaths and more than 130,000 people hospitalized due to food born illnesses. But what's a few thousand deaths and a few hundreds of millions of dollars in health care so people like you can say, 'private industry can do it better." If they were doing what they should be doing, you wouldn't need the inspectors in the first place.

And the drug industry - thank goodness they never fake test results or put worthless, even dangerous medications on the market. Who needs people to track side effects and other problems when Big Pharm has such a stellar reputation of honesty and integrity?

Yes, and the states which are pressed to the max financially are going to pick up the cost of running the parks, feeding children on WIC, and all the rest of the things that the fed govt does. Though I'd be happy if we could get the states to issue all the LOLotarians a one-way visa to Fantasy Island.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

All this has been put in place because of repeated quckery, inedible food, and other forms of fraud through the turn of the century. Our food and our medicine was literally killing us, and it can all happen again.

As for the parks, well, I think it's telling that the exploiting of natural resources has gotten so bad that it ended in the fucking Dust Bowl...

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

That's better, thanks.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

quackery

(frozen) (no subject)

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

If they were doing what they should be doing, you wouldn't need the inspectors in the first place.

That's a fallacy. Even if you had perfect inspections and perfect adherence to the laws, you would still have food born illnesses and deaths. You're assuming the problem is due to ill intent on the part of the producers. We still have events happen even when people have passed inspections. What we want to have is open, accurate, and honest information about what measures were taken for any food product so that people can judge for themselves what risks they want to take.

Who needs people to track side effects and other problems when Big Pharm has such a stellar reputation of honesty and integrity?

I didn't say to trust Big Pharma, I just said it doesn't need to be the government checking on them.

Though I'd be happy if we could get the states to issue all the LOLotarians a one-way visa to Fantasy Island.

Don't worry, if we had somewhere to go where you idiot statists wouldn't bother us, we'd go there.

(frozen) (no subject)

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

you idiot statists

You already were informed (http://talk-politics.livejournal.com/1760278.html?thread=140363030#t140363030) where name-calling would bring you. Very, very clearly.

I think we're WAY past the point where you'd be given any leeway, it's quite obvious that you're not getting the memo, and I don't think you deserve any more explanations or warnings. So here it is.



When we said these will keep coming at an exponential rate, we meant exactly that. They'll keep doubling every next time.

This one will last for one month.

Bye until November 6. And be informed that the next one will be permanent. We've had enough of this.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

If we left it up to the market, we would all be eating moldy ketchup.

[usekh.livejournal.com]

[Citation needed]

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Be more specific.

[usekh.livejournal.com]

Provide evidence of your assertions. Especially "Private standards groups/companies can take care of the same issues and do a better job at it."