Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Which has given you the most problems: Businesses or Governments?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (1/22-2007 thru 12/14/2010) Donate to DU
 
AnArmyVeteran Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:06 PM
Original message
Poll question: Which has given you the most problems: Businesses or Governments?
Businesses or Governments
Which has given you the most problems?

Throughout our days and lives we have to deal with both businesses and governments. Between the two, which one do you believe is the hardest to deal with, or to have your problems resolved?

In the past, I've been on the phone for hours at a time trying to get one billing problem straightened out, even when I was able to prove I made a payment. I've also had to fight to get businesses to honor their warranties, replace bad products, get rebates I was due and to redo shoddy work performed on my house. And I've often had to deal with customer service departments filled with people who know nothing about customers or providing a service. And with increasing regularity, my calls to any business are routed to a foreign country where the representatives can barely speak English.

I've had very few dealings with the government. I've had to wait in line to get my driver's license renewed, I've sent additional information to the IRS to substantiate some deductions and I've had to have my water turned back on because it was turned off while I was on vacation and forgot to pay the bill.

Of course, the above examples are just a few experiences I've had with businesses and governments. Overall, I've found that I've experienced many, many more problems dealing with businesses than the government. How about you? Which one have you had the most problems with?

Remember, this poll is just for individuals. If you run a business you naturally would be exposed to a lot more government-related issues, so this poll is only for individuals and their experiences in every day life.

Thank you for your participation...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
The Magistrate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:10 PM
Response to Original message
1. Businesses, Sir: Private Bureaucracies Are Much Worse Than Public Ones
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Greyhound Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:14 PM
Response to Original message
2. Governments, when they are working, follow the rules, businesses generally try to
evade, avoid, and sometimes break them. When the government is difficult to deal with, the rules can be changed to make it easier, but business is always one way.

No contest.


Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
TheKentuckian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:15 PM
Response to Original message
3. Business followed by local government
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
villager Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:15 PM
Response to Original message
4. There's a difference between the two, anymore?
:shrug:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Meeker Morgan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:39 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. My sentiments exactly n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Warren Stupidity Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:25 PM
Response to Original message
5. Specifically: the health care prevention industry. nt.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Fla_Democrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:31 PM
Response to Original message
6. Governments, hands down
:smoke:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Jackpine Radical Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:31 PM
Response to Original message
7. Hard to tell sometimes.
Is it the insurance business that steals my health care dollars, or the government that gives me no alternative?

Is it the government that taxes me, or Blackwater/ Xe, that the government finances with those taxes?

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
valerief Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:42 PM
Response to Original message
9. Businesses own the electronically "voted" pol who legislates
business and govt.

It's kinda like which came first, the chicken or the egg? Well, except we know business controls everything.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
liberal N proud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 05:48 PM
Response to Original message
10. Business but a corrupt government can really fuck with you.
Take for instance, a city council who is in bed with a developer. The developer puts in a new sub division where they have to run water and sewer down the street to the new development so instead of paying to run the sewer the contractor gets the city to force everyone along the route to pay for it by foot. Then the homeowner has to hook up paying to cross the street.

And if you did not choose the construction company owned by the city council member, they just change the code so the contractor you had hired refuses to do the job. Now the city council member runs to your rescue with his company because he knows you are facing a deadline he put in place. Now he can charge you an outrageous figure.

Or say the Mayor owns a piece of property and Wal-Mart is going to build in your town. The mayor influences the planning commission to steer Wal-Mart to his property. Cha-Ching. Money in his pocket. Screw the rest.

But that is just one instance, business' screw you every chance they get, the bigger they are the better they are at it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Anakin Skywalker Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 06:00 PM
Response to Original message
11. Businesses. No Doubt.
Edited on Sat Aug-14-10 06:02 PM by Anakin Skywalker
Businesses f*ck up and are never punished. I am very tired of corporate greed.

I could also take the cynical route and say that the line between the two is fuzzy..... :(
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Moxie226 Donating Member (3 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 06:27 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. Business screw, lie and cheat you and
there is nothing you can do. they don't have ethical or financial rules to follow.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
AnArmyVeteran Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 08:17 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. Absolutely, and at least with government you have options.
Corporations constantly try to deceive and screw you. Gone are the days when contracts were simple and you had recourses against corporations. Now, almost every contract you agree to with a corporation takes away your right to sue them in a court of law. They force you to go through arbitration which is a lot more costly than going to a small claims court. And since 90+ percent of arbitrators come from the very industry you are seeking justice from, your chances are almost zero.

What I don't understand are the millions of right wingers who whine about big government, yet say nothing when corporations gather every piece of personal information about them and then sell it to others. And right wingers don't even realize they are supporting the very people who are trying to hurt them. I suppose right wingers never have problems with businesses. But I don't know how anyone can go through life without getting screwed by a corporation. So if right wingers are getting screwed, they are too stupid to even realize it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
txlibdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 06:44 PM
Response to Original message
13. Businesses, hands down
Businesses and Corporations do not give a crap whether you live or die. They have made you entirely expendable and replaceable here in the USA on an individual basis or as a group. And if the workers at one place wise up and start demanding that they quit treating us as slave labor, they close up the doors and move the whole damn operation overseas.

In short, as the system is architected to harm you from start to finish they have absolutely zero incentive to give a crap about you or your needs, wants or desires. Everything is in the Corporations' favor.
  • they control the jobs
  • they control your pay
  • they control the prices of everything
  • they control the production of goods and services
  • they control the rules workers have to follow
  • they control your privacy (or lack thereof)
  • they control who gets a raise or promotion
  • they control who gets the shaft
  • they control the courts so if you don't like it you can just pack sand
  • and now they control the elections

    Any questions?
    :nuke:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
AnArmyVeteran Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 11:13 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. Good post & true, so why do right wingers blindly support corrupt corporations?
Damn they are stupid!!!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Odin2005 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-14-10 11:44 PM
Response to Original message
16. Private bureaucracies are worse than public ones because they are not accountable to the people.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Thu Apr 25th 2024, 05:02 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (1/22-2007 thru 12/14/2010) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC