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Limits on protecting the earth. Limits on (i.e. near elimination of) enforcement of anti-trust laws. Limits on limiting the power of money in politics. Limit

Limits on protecting the earth. Limits on (i.e. near elimination of) enforcement of anti-trust laws. Limits on limiting the power of money in politics. Limits on enforcement of civil rights laws. Removal of limits on ownership of broadcast station licenses and cross-ownership of broadcast station licenses and local monopoly newspapers. Limits on the availability of justice to the non-wealthy because of the high cost of participating in almost any application of the law. Limits on the ability of those not on the contributors' list to get a meeting with their congressperson.

WalterBright 8y ago
I'm afraid if you compare the power of federal government over the decades, the things it has decided are in its purview (and hence power) have steadily expanded. For example, recently the government decided it had the power to force me to buy health insurance from the only provider in the county. That went to the Supreme Court, who decided sure, ok. A large increase in surveillance powers happened after 9-11. A more historical increase in power was the government deciding it has the power to tell me what I could and could not voluntarily ingest. Do you know that the US government did not originally have the power to print money, levy income taxes, or engage in civil asset forfeiture by accusing your property of committing a crime? And on and on. Note that I'm not commenting on whether these powers are good or bad. But they definitely are powers that have accrued to the government since the US was founded.
- CPLX 8y ago
  > recently the government decided it had the power to force me to buy health insurance What I think you meant to say is that the government decided to impose a tax on you if you decide not to. When the government forces you to do something, you’ll know. At root, of course, the entire argument comes down to taxes, and people’s desire not to pay them, but still wanting a stable and orderly society with a strong functional government. Same as it ever was.
- whatshisface 8y ago
  You two are talking about different kinds of power. You're talking about the power of the government over average people, and the parent is talking about the power of the government over large corporations. 9/11 resulted in fewer rights for you and me, but it didn't take anything away from Bayer. On the other hand, antitrust regulations have been slowly eroded for decades.

WalterBright 8y ago

I'm afraid if you compare the power of federal government over the decades, the things it has decided are in its purview (and hence power) have steadily expanded. For example, recently the government decided it had the power to force me to buy health insurance from the only provider in the county. That went to the Supreme Court, who decided sure, ok. A large increase in surveillance powers happened after 9-11. A more historical increase in power was the government deciding it has the power to tell me what I could and could not voluntarily ingest. Do you know that the US government did not originally have the power to print money, levy income taxes, or engage in civil asset forfeiture by accusing your property of committing a crime? And on and on. Note that I'm not commenting on whether these powers are good or bad. But they definitely are powers that have accrued to the government since the US was founded.

CPLX 8y ago
> recently the government decided it had the power to force me to buy health insurance What I think you meant to say is that the government decided to impose a tax on you if you decide not to. When the government forces you to do something, you’ll know. At root, of course, the entire argument comes down to taxes, and people’s desire not to pay them, but still wanting a stable and orderly society with a strong functional government. Same as it ever was.
whatshisface 8y ago
You two are talking about different kinds of power. You're talking about the power of the government over average people, and the parent is talking about the power of the government over large corporations. 9/11 resulted in fewer rights for you and me, but it didn't take anything away from Bayer. On the other hand, antitrust regulations have been slowly eroded for decades.