W/O a doubt, Timotheus!

The 16th amendment, allowing for the direct taxation of people from whatever source derived, and without apportionment among the states, in direct contradiction to the body of the constitution on that point, was when our nation made a sharp turn in the direction of socialism.

That joke, while funny, is also a sad but true reminder of how things were in the USSR under full governmental control.  And to be honest, it wasn't Gorby's doing.  He was just a figurehead.

Tickles is entitled to his opinion, and if he is an actual German citizen, from there and living there still, then he's probably entitled to a lot more there than just his opinion.

There will always be those who try to get over on the citizenry of this country, if they are allowed to do so.  What it takes to control it, however, is not greater oversight by our federal government, nor more, or newer, or stricter laws, at the federal level.  All it takes is enforcement of laws already on the books, most of which were written before the Civil War.

Did I hear tickles0815 say that a company under full government control runs efficiently and that it does not need to press for adventurous expansion?  What was Stalin and Hitler's regimes except entities under full government control? They didn't need to press for adventurous expansion. They just murdered anyone who objected to their peaceful endeavors. Someone is woefully ignorant of history.

A friend of mine, Russian in origin, told me what he thought was a typical Russian joke. There was a hugh line in Moscow for bread, and one of the guys in line finally threw up his hands and said, " I'm going to KILL Gorbachev."  He left his buddies in the line and was gone for hours. When it started to get dark he came back to the line. His buddies said, " What happened? We thought you went to kill Gorbachev."  He said, " Yea, that line was longer."

Tickles I think you should live in Cuba and everyday thank Fidel for everythink you've got from him. Well I doubt you would have access to internet though... I admire you unlimited love to government....

I never said I had a problem with some government intervention.  In fact, I welcome it.  However, I prefer that intervention to be limited; hence the term, "limited government".

When the government tries to take over that which produces the economy; that's when I take issue with the type of "governing" being foisted upon me.  Of course, this is not a new thing.  It's happened before; in the former USSR, about 90 years ago, and in your own country; less than 80 years ago.  You of all people should be aware of what happens when the government takes over the economy of a country.

Corporations are a relatively new thing on the world's economy, and when full government control is implemented over corporations, it's just trading places and becoming the biggest "corporation" in that market sector.

I am definitely NOT a proponent of a Democracy, but prefer, rather, the intent of our founding fathers here in the USA; that of a Republic.  Isn't Germany the only Republic in all of Europe?  However, if you prefer greater governmental control, then I suggest you move to any of you neighboring countries there on the continent.  They seem to have no problem with governmental control.

Oh America... What have we done. We need God in America again!

I like it a lot