70% Believe Big Government and Big Business Work Together Against Us
Well, this statement is actually factual:
[...] 70% of U.S. voters believe that big business and big government generally work together against the interests of investors and consumers, according to Rasmussen Reports surveying. Just 14% disagree with the assessment, and 17% are not sure.
We conservatives have a history and reputation of defending business (including big business), and of course that's generally a great thing. However, when big business befriends government, it's a whole other issue.
Back in the old days, textile producers in the northeast lobbied the government for a minimum wage under the guise of big-heartedness. Of course, that wasn't the reason, because even though the minimum wage hurt them, it hurt textile producers in the south even more, since those relied on paying much lower wages to their workers (particularly blacks). The northeasterners were willing to take a small hit in exchange for knocking their southern competitors out of the business, which of course was far more beneficial to them.
Today's big government-big business relationship is no different. I refer you to this three-year old piece by John Stossel. The key excerpt:
Most people don't realize that Enron favored the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and wanted energy regulations beneficial to itself; Philip Morris favors tobacco regulation; Wal-Mart's CEO came out for a higher minimum wage; and General Motors embraces tough clean-air rules. Why? Because, as Carney points out, big companies with lots of lawyers and accountants can make the regulations work for themselves, while smaller competitors are hampered.
So, let's recap. Big business on its own is good. Big business and big government together are bad. Big government on its own is bad.
It's clear which one needs to go.
