# Separation of State
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/separation-of-state/807898
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [January 31, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/separation-of-state/807898 "2018-01-31T17:38:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/separation-of-state/807898/21 "2018-02-01T18:19:20Z")
Let’s try something different.
I don’t disagree with your general concept that we should try to keep big business from having its say in government. The problem is simply that you cited an example of someone who is getting properly punished for it. So that means we were trying to keep that person out. Sure, maybe you argue we should have done a better job. I can agree with that.
But I’d argue that your premise has a lot more examples that haven’t been removed. The FTC chair. The president himself. Tons of appealing to business lobbyists in Congress, to the point that they seem bought. We could have a productive conversation about how to deal with this sort of thing.
I admit, I don’t have any answers, with no ideas springing to mind. So maybe we can have this conversation.
Also, I suggest not using “bitch.” You may not agree with calling it sexist, but it’s distracting from your main point. I think we could have a decent conversation about this. Or even just a decent set of rants about all the examples of how this goes wrong.
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### Author:  [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/separation-of-state/807898/22 "2018-02-01T19:27:22Z")
I don’t agree she is being punished at all. She just chose to get out when the heat got too high, most likely when those investments got large enough to attract attention. The thing that really irks me is how tobacco stock performance tracked all those so-called “studies” undertaken for decades before the purveyors of cancer for profit were finally dealt the blows they so richly deserved. Those prices moved significantly on even the mention of a new study being proposed. For decades.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/separation-of-state/807898/23 "2018-02-01T20:02:05Z")
I was also disgusted to see a clueless Trump appointee (sorry for the redundancy) buying tobacco company stock while heading an agency which has a significant stake in alerting people to and monitoring the detrimental health effects of tobacco.
> [@BeenJammin](#):
>
> Fucking whore bitch gets rich trading tobacco.
> [@BeenJammin](#):
>
> The thing that really irks me is how tobacco stock performance tracked all those so-called “studies” undertaken for decades before the purveyors of cancer for profit were finally dealt the blows they so richly deserved.
So wait, did she make a fortune, or take a financial bath? We are confused.
> [@BeenJammin](#):
>
> Time would have a mitigating effect on the tendency for politicians to become corrupt in one way or another.
Time doesn’t have a lot of influence these days, nor does Newsweek. ☹
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### Author:  [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/separation-of-state/807898/24 "2018-02-01T23:35:17Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#):
>
> We’ve all dealt endlessly with the separation of Church and State concept, right? What about separation of business and State? What more do we need to see before people collectively realize big business running government is a clear path to ruin?
>
> I hate these fucking businesspeople who put profit over people, be it their own workers or the general population. You cocksuckers know who you are.
>
> [CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald Resigns Over Tobacco Stock Conflict](https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2018-01-31/cdc-director-brenda-fitzgerald-resigns-over-tobacco-stock-conflict)
>
> Fucking whore bitch gets rich trading tobacco. Wonder how many tobacco study programs she oversaw while collecting her taxpayer-funded salary?
Oh, this is about the CDC Director. I thought it was going to be about the government forcing citizens to buy something from big business that they don’t want. Like, say, health insurance.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2018, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/separation-of-state/807898/25 "2018-02-02T06:42:54Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#):
>
> We’ve all dealt endlessly with the separation of Church and State concept, right? What about separation of business and State? What more do we need to see before people collectively realize big business running government is a clear path to ruin?
>
> I hate these fucking businesspeople who put profit over people, be it their own workers or the general population. You cocksuckers know who you are.
>
> [CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald Resigns Over Tobacco Stock Conflict](https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2018-01-31/cdc-director-brenda-fitzgerald-resigns-over-tobacco-stock-conflict)
>
> Fucking whore bitch gets rich trading tobacco. Wonder how many tobacco study programs she oversaw while collecting her taxpayer-funded salary?
You really think this is something new? Government and business have always been tied together.
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