from Verse Thirty-SixSo to be able to rule the world it is essential to have nothing to do with the world. To be able to handle fame it is essential to do nothing excessive to get it. When you arrive in truth at the real condition of nature and life, humanity and justice will come along.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
If I was giving individual titles to each post of the Wen Tzu, I would have called this one, "Fox Guarding the Henhouse." That phrase is often utilized when describing the ineffectiveness of regulatory agencies of government, particularly here in the US of A.
It is not uncommon for the head of regulatory agencies to be chosen bigwigs from the industries or companies said agency supposedly regulates. This, of course, creates an immediate conflict of interest, especially since the individual most likely will leave government service at some point and return from whence they came!
For example, if the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comes from a company that desires weak regulations so that their profit margin won't be impinged upon in ANY way, it is not surprising in the least when that EPA Director then opposes more stringent regulations and/or lax enforcement of regulations already on the books. It's merely a case of a fox guarding the henhouse.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
It is not uncommon for the head of regulatory agencies to be chosen bigwigs from the industries or companies said agency supposedly regulates. This, of course, creates an immediate conflict of interest, especially since the individual most likely will leave government service at some point and return from whence they came!
For example, if the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comes from a company that desires weak regulations so that their profit margin won't be impinged upon in ANY way, it is not surprising in the least when that EPA Director then opposes more stringent regulations and/or lax enforcement of regulations already on the books. It's merely a case of a fox guarding the henhouse.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Indeed the USA sounds to act more as a corporation than as a country.
ReplyDeleteThe reason being is that is what it is, with president and vice president, it is a corporate entity. Government only by name and by the power it makes out that it has over people.
The actions of big companies, the USA government, big pharma, big oil, cars, food, clothes. They hold humanity in check by working the anti-thesis to the Taoist wisdom.
We know it is anti the Tao as it is far away from being harmonious.
Hah! You said that much better than I did. :D
ReplyDelete