User:Sltouch

While I am a small business owner and therefore believe in capitalism, I feel it must be as FDR felt, moral capitalism. Our society is but a chain of people. Each link is required to make this a utile chain. Therefore no one link has greater significance than the other. While I am not saying a ditch digger should make what a CEO makes, I do feel the success of the CEO's is contingent on his employees and far too often this is overlooked.

In regard to our economy and politics, I love FDR's inaugural speech which holds true today just as much as it did the day he made it:

"there must be a strict supervision of all banking and credits and investments; there must be an end to speculation with other people’s money, and there must be provision for an adequate but sound currency." Teddy Roosevelt (in 1910, exactly 100 years ago) criticized the "small class of enormously wealthy and economically powerful men, whose chief object is to hold and increase their power...We grudge no man a fortune in civil life if it is honorably obtained and well used...We should permit it to be gained only so long as the gaining represents benefit to the community...I think we have got to face the fact that an increase in governmental control is now necessary."

Although our country is built on capitalism, wise American business leaders have recognized the danger of the "free hand" of unregulated open markets. Adam Smith, the father of capitalism believed that unrestricted businesses tend to engage in "conspiracy against the public." John Kenneth Galbraith (one of America's most famous economist)said "Capitalism left to its own devices, doesn't work properly; it excludes the poor, ruins the environment, and fails to deliver enough collectively produced goods, such as roads, reservoirs, schools and hospitals."

Politically speaking, I associate more with liberals although I firmly believe in the right to bear arms and capital punishment. I do believe our country's morality in many areas is disintegrating. Not so much because the belief in God is disintegrating but because the notion of God has become skewed with more interest in making other people adhere to certain sects beliefs than making sure we, ourselves are carrying out his loving, brotherly ways.

As for my personal life, I am a mother and grandmother. Twice divorced, more years than not lived as a single parent. School twice. Once in computer information, which while I enjoyed the intellictual aspect I required a more active career. I switched to aviation maintenance and graduated in time for the major layoffs in '92. While going to school I switched from F&B services to construction, specifically painting. When my field of study did not pan out I decided to stay in this field since it paid more than unskilled office work. I eventually went out on my own and up til the collapse of the economy approx 4 1/2 years ago did fairly well. I have been able to survive in this field but not at the level I once enjoyed. While I wouldn't mind a little easier life, I DO want my children and grandchildren to have a fair and sane world to live in. I am not as active as I would like to be in the change I feel we need, but I do what I can. It would be my dream to have the voice that plants "the seed". Truth and honesty is preferred whether it be for or against the opinions I now hold.

As for interests outside of politics, I love dancing and enjoy rollerblading and bicycling.