My experience tells me after working for three multinational corporations, a large NYC medical center and as an investigator for the Federal government, where I inspected over 400 companies, that we need government regulations to assure our food supply and other products are safe.
Many of us have seen our retirement savings cut in half.
Would it not have been nice if regulations existed that would have prevented financial institutions from investing in unsound products or prevented them from being available?
I agree our country is in chaos today as a result of greed, the lack of regulation and enforcement of financial institutions regulations. Currently and for some time now the government has been run by large corporations for the benefit of large corporations.
There are some 30,000 lobbyists in Washington, who as a result of their campaign contributions, get the ears of our government officials. We need a return of government for the people by the people. We need government to build and maintain roads, enforce laws, protect from fire, help in disasters, educate, help the disabled, etc.
Cathleen,
You get a resounding yes from me. At the zenith of American influence during the late ’50s and ’60s; the top tax rate was as high as 90% and went to 70% and then 50% (50% is just about right), the USA could afford a war on poverty (never finished because of “law and order” Republicans and Dixiecrats), put men on the moon, and sadly Viet Nam. Americans couldn’t invest in gold bullion, investment baks were very separate from commercial banks, there were no “investment derivatives.” Industry was booming, although the seeds of chronic demise were sown by leaders in steel and automotive industries. Blue Cross Blue Shield took care of your health issues, you went to public school and got your vaccinations. Best of all, there seemed to be hope that this country could lead from a position of moral and ethical authority, through our own fights against illiteracy, racism, sexism and giving us the uniquely bold idea that anyone could succeed through merit.
The lack of enforced regulations, to placate greed, have given us this economic train wreck.