elbales

New Rule: Not Everything in America Has to Make a Profit

Bill Maher
Fri Jul 24, 10:30 am ET

How about this for a New Rule: Not everything in America has to make a
profit. It used to be that there were some services and institutions so
vital to our nation that they were exempt from market pressures. Some
things we just didn't do for money. The United States always defined
capitalism, but it didn't used to define us. But now it's becoming all that
we are.

Did you know, for example, that there was a time when being called a "war
profiteer" was a bad thing? But now our war zones are dominated by private
contractors and mercenaries who work for corporations. There are more
private contractors in Iraq than American troops, and we pay them generous
salaries to do jobs the troops used to do for themselves -- like laundry.
War is not supposed to turn a profit, but our wars have become boondoggles
for weapons manufacturers and connected civilian contractors.

Prisons used to be a non-profit business, too. And for good reason -- who
the hell wants to own a prison? By definition you're going to have trouble
with the tenants.

More follows, but I'm not going to cut and paste the entire thing. Hilarious, biting, and so, so right. You go, Bill. The rest of you, go read it.

Thanks to