This should worry every American who values the 1st Amendment, Freedom of Speech, and who understands the critical role of a diverse and independent free press in a democracy.

In an interview with MSNBC's Keith Olberman last night, Nancy Pelosi announced that she would move to bring a vote to the floor of The House of Representatives as early as next week to ban Fox from covering Congress.

I ask you, where is the ACLU?

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Executives at seven banks that either had to or were forced to take money from the TARP bailout will receive 50% pay cuts. While this may be appropriate, one cannot help but ask the question, what about all the other culprits? Congress (most specifically the Senate Finance Committee), Freddie Mac executives, Fannie Mae executives, the economic power team for Clinton and Bush of Greenspan, Ruben, Geithner, and Summers. Men who refused to allow government agencies to investigate the derivatives market. This is not unlike two partners in crime who get busted and one testifies on the other, allowing the one to take fall. Justice is not being served. The company executives certainly bear some of the blame. However, their primary objective is to make profits. It is the role of the government to protect the people and to do this through proper regulation of the markets and the businesses within those markets. The lions share of the blame rests on the regulators that turned a blind eye, and forced others to do the same. We need a new crop of politicians, we need term limits, we need fresh leaders that are not addicted to the heroin of reelection. There is no other answer.

An article appeared in today’s USA Today about the fight for overhead bin space that is happening with regularity on today’s airliners. All but Southwest and JetBlue charge for checked baggage and this has led to an increase in the number of travelers who are carrying on as much as possible to avoid the fee. The most disturbing line in the entire article was this:

Congress is considering legislation to limit and standardize carry-on size and ensure enforcement at TSA airport checkpoints.

These are private businesses that should be able to make decisions regarding carry on size and count without Congress getting involved. What about taxi drivers, I am sure they have to deal with travelers that try to cram more than will fit into the trunks of their cars. Should we make some laws about that too? This mindset of so many in Washington that no problem is too small or too private to get in the middle of, and make even more laws to solve every problem of the day is terrible for our country. We need to start putting up no trespassing signs that read, ‘CONGRESS, KEEP OUT!”

Simply put the human race is divided into two groups, the decent and the indecent. The distinction has nothing to do with race, religion, sex, or age. It has everything to do with values. It is easy to believe that because we have a certain racial heritage or cultural background, or because we are men or women, or because we subscribe to a specific religion or none at all that we act, understand, and react the way we do. However all these distinctions are cosmetic, they only create a context in which values are defined and held by us as individuals. It is the actual values that these environments advocate, either knowingly or unknowingly, that form the soul of the man or woman that then acts upon the world through the filter of these values.

If a society has taught men that women are their property then they see no value in a woman being able to choose her own profession. If a culture has fostered the creative nature of the individual then they see value in the creations a person can imagine and build. Not all values are equal. Values roll up into two supreme values: the value of Good and the value of Evil. Values of Good are anything that increases or builds up the good things of the world and Evil is anything that destroys or reduces the good things of the world. The more good a value produces, the greater that value.

Do we know what we value? Many people are so busy in life that they do not take the time to thoughtfully reflect on their values. As a result many people believe that they hold values that in fact they do not. They give lip service to it in conversation but indeed their hearts are far from those values. Take the simple example of anger vs. patience. Most would assert that they hold the value of patience higher than anger and feel that one should have patience in most circumstances and resort to anger only when the need is important. The examples of people getting angry over unimportant things are legion; the problem of road rage alone is convincing.

Spend some time paying attention to where you spend your time and how you behave while executing your daily tasks. If watched closely enough you will see the things you value and the values you actually hold and those you cast aside. The observation could result in a revelation that may begin a personal transformation.

We humans consume a lot of goods and services: cars, homes, food, healthcare, vacations, tech support, security systems, electronics, movies, video games, and the list goes on and on. We have three places to go to in order to get these needs and wants fulfilled. First, we can provide them for ourselves, make our own car, grow our own food, etc. Some items are more practical than others to provide for ourselves. Second, we can purchase these goods or services from a business that provides it. Lastly, we can get the good or service from the government.

Providing for ourselves is a wonderful route to take when possible and practical. But in modern society it is often not practical to provide for ourselves in all the areas we desire. Building our own car, for instance, while very impressive would be impractical for the majority of us. The big question is what is the trade off between turning to business or government to be a provider of goods and services? When we enter into a relationship with a provider of a good or service there must be power on both sides of the relationship to ensure that one party does not exercise undo influence on the other. If one side gains too much authority the other party can be abused or neglected in ways that are inappropriate.

Given this, here are the reasons why keeping our goods and services in the hands of business rather than government is better for the people:

1. Business cannot compel someone to purchase. Business cannot pass laws which would require a citizen to become a consumer of any given product or service. Governments have the power to pass laws requiring citizens to act in certain ways.
2. If business sells a harmful product a citizen can appeal the matter to courts for retribution. Businesses are incented to avoid this costly event which could put them out of business. Governments are difficult and sometimes impossible to sue. Governments have no incentive to avoid this because the tax payer will foot the bill for the defense costs.
3. If I fail to pay a business they can cancel my service, take the matter to court to recover costs, or reposses the product. Government has the ability to imprison me for such offences. Government has the power of the police force at their disposal. This service costs them nothing to use; it is fully funded by the tax payer.
4. Businesses are incented to be cost effective and efficient. If they are not able to offer a product or service worthy of buying and do so in a way that allows them to make a profit, then they will go out of business. Government has the power of taxation. Government is unconcerned with being cost effective or running deficits and debts now and in the future. There is no penalty for doing so. Whereas a poorly run business can and will go out of business the government cannot.
5. Business can be regulated by government agencies without a conflict of interest. In this way the government can act as an advocate for the citizen ensuring ethical practices by the business. Government has a terrible record at regulating itself. This is due to the pervasive political nature of the organization. Everything in the government involves politics and partisanship. The government will rarely be effective at regulating itself on behalf of the citizen, its own interests get in the way.
6. The possibility of making profit incents many people to create businesses that compete with one another in the attempt to gain the patronage of the citizen and thereby make profits. This creates the marketplace of choice wherein many flavors, styles, and sizes are created by many businesses. This allows the consumer to find the best product or service available for their needs and wants. The government does not have this motivation. Since the government cannot be put out of business they have the ability to offer only those products and services they want to, regardless of the desires of the consumer.

There is a very important role for government – to protect and preserve the rights and freedoms of the people. The government should do this from enemies foreign and domestic. The armed forces and intelligence agencies should be focusing on enemies foreign and other government agencies like congress, the courts, the FDA, the FCC, and many others should be focused on domestic enemies including businesses that would participate in unethical practices. This will allow ethical businesses that are seeking fortune through innovation and efficiency to thrive. This would keep the critical balance of power between those who consume goods and services (the people) and those who provide goods and services (businesses) and keep those who should be representing and protecting us (the government) from having conflicting interests and politicizing the marketplace.