Comments on: Meet Rick Berman, A.K.A. "Dr. Evil"

Morley Safer Speaks To A Lobbyist Some People Love To Hate

[palindalou]

At 59 I may forget a lot of things but I do remember being taught in grade school what communism is and our country is so deep into it that if the people ever figure it out, they may be in for some mind altering changes. I smoked for 17 years, quit for 15, and started again 12 years ago. What changed my mind??? I had my leg taken off, died 3 times, and came to the conclusion that in the end, I die anyway. It seems as though the "smart, exercising, right food eating people" have not figured that out yet. I have no companies paying me (but they can if they want to). I am just an average citizen, living on the PA/NY state border, with a governer in NY who wants a smoke free state. Why can't I eat what I want when I want, smoke when I want, and die when I die. Don't use statistics that tell me so many people died of heart conditions when your body is going to die of something or other anyway. Some part of your body will quit and they will say you died of something. I have a heart condition and have had since I was 5 years old. Did I get it by smoking? No. I had rheumatic fever. In the end we all die. Can't we be happy doing it???

[ad6kx]

I just have one question: Who is it that you want dictating what food you eat? If it's up to the "Nannies" you won't get any choices. If it's up to lobbyists like Mr. Berman YOU will at least get the choice because your choices won't be taken away from you. Mr. Berman and the people who pay him are not shoving the food down your throat - you are!

[jwhite8998]

It is such a relief to know someone is fighting for common sense. I usually do not watch media programs any more. It just seems like they are being used to beat citizens into submission with unnecessary fear tactics.

I would be interested in finding out if there was any way I could help Rick out.

[l8c6]

Wendy's, Coca-Cola, these companies among untold others hide behind this man, a hired hitman of the U.S. government which has been infiltrated by these loyal prostitutes. The free market attitude is business anarchy with no accountability to the society in which it resides. The ultimate goal of multinational corporate america is to make the most money by providing the least amount of service, trimming down overhead by disguising poor quality through marketing, eliminating all human labor if possible and for that which is necessary, paying labor the least possible wages with no benefits. Multinational corporate america's ultimate efficiency is to make an extreme minority of individuals incredibly wealthy at the expense of the broader society. Sounds like a parasite to me. A parasite eventually kills it's host.

[l8c6]

tralfaz70, not sure what figures were posted on the blog you referred to but this much is true. In 1968 there were less than 100 paid lobbyists in Wa.D.C., Roughly six years ago there were 15k, currently there are 30k. Many have salaries at around 300k/yr. Some get paid off in the millions if they have worked as politicians and betrayed the public trust pushing through bills that favor multinational corporate america at the expense of american citizens.

[l8c6]

It all sounds good but the reality is this. This man is paid and well paid by very wealth private special corporate interests who hate a system of checks and balances. The bottom line doesn't want to care about the impact it has on society it wants to focus on making more money.

In the guise of personal freedom the right wing fascists behind this man use their wealth to do the very thing they claim the "nannies" are doing. Big corporate business determines what we eat, what products are available etc.

Instead of government they promote the free market. So, if someone dies from a can of poison tuna, the free market will determine the future success of that company when or if people stop buying from the company in sufficient numbers. What a deal huh? So if you're eating rat feces and don't die --no problem. That's the free market at work.

[mscottcolo]

I know plenty of independent-minded, responsible adults who can choose for themselves. They usually choose doughnuts. Of these responsible adults, several are diabetic, one needed emergency heart bypass surgery, one had gastric bypass surgery and now complains of depression. One woman, who thinks public health efforts are a waste of time, also thinks that fruit is bad for you because it's so acidic, but that drinking cola helps acid reflux symptoms. No kidding. Her husband has diabetes and heart disease, and now needs dialysis 2-3 times a week because his kidneys are trashed.

All this would all be just fine except for one thing: Who really pays for the health care? The cola-kidney couple don't exactly cover the cost of dialysis themselves, do they? They have insurance and, in the group plans most Americans have, the health-needy are subsidized by the rest of us.

"Why should a nanny state tell me what I can or can't eat?" Perfectly valid question. Here's another: After your lifestyle choices have caught up with you and you need very expensive care, why should your care be subsidized by healthier people who exercised ate our vegetables?

That's the hypocrisy that Rick Berman and his clients would rather you didn't think about. When the chest pains start, that I-can-take-care-of-myself mentality flies right out the window. At that point, the do-gooders had better show up, and they had better bring their checkbooks.

[omega39-2009]

I think people should be allowed to make choices as well but many on here are for eliminating all regulation. The recent deaths and illness of all those pets from a source manufactured in a country with almost no regulation ought to give some of you pause.

[tralfaz70]

Wow, can I get a job with Berman to sit around and post on a blog all day? Sounds like a decent gig. In response to Scott, I did let you know how much many of these people make- it's less than the amount posted on your ridiculous website. If you need help with mathmatics, might I suggest some remedial education? Here's the formula- (unionfacts misinformational amount-minus- (that means take away for the challenged) some amount that was used for expense reimbursement = misleading and qwrong information on your website. Sorry, no slo mo for ya pal. we could go over it in person if you like.

[anndoty]

Unfortunately, freedom to kill ourselves through food (for instance) is not a right protected by the Bill of Rights, even if it should be. The only way to really protect us from psychos like Michael Jacobsen, who for some reason wants to legislate what Americans eat, is to legislate our freedoms. It is a sad day when we need a new Bill of Rights with items like freedom to drive without a seatbelt, freedom to eat transfat, and freedom to eat %u201Cfettuccini Alfredo one night and the next day to have a double whopper with cheese at Burger King and the next day to go over to Denny's and have one of their enormous breakfasts%u201D. Ban the Nanny State and let us be free.

[cpuller]

But Michael Jacobson says Berman, in his malevolence, is distorting deathly serious issues that will have long term effects on Americans.

"An occasional hot dog is not gonna kill anybody. But, when you're having fettuccini Alfredo one night and the next day you have a double whopper with cheese at Burger King and the next day you go over to Denny's and you have one of their enormous breakfasts, that's what's killing us. Half a million people die every year of heart disease," Jacobson says.

Who the he** is Michael Jacobson to care what a free-thinking, independent, adult individual eats every night? Who gave him the right to legislate what that individual consumes, or how much he consumes??? The patently smug, self-righteous attitude Jacobson and others of his ilk display is what Berman is fighting. Our freedoms are being infringed upon every day by guys like Jacobson, who by the way, makes a living out of curtailing our free will. Get out of my life and mind your own business!!!!!
Even more scary, is the logical solution to Jacobson's concern over our dietary patterns...govt "eating out" cards, which would limit the number of times each month we as individuals can go to Wendy's or our Italian restaurants...menu police to monitor what it is we are ordering?

[greenford1]

tralfaz70,

I read your post and I find it typical of individuals who disagree with people like Rick Berman.

First, you make the suggestion that anyone who agrees with Berman are not "real people". Is this to suggest that anyone who doesn't agree with you is not a real person? That argument makes no logical sense.

Second, you state that the salaries on Unionfacts.org are incorrect, but you do not provide the correct information to back up your claim. When you counter someone's claims you need to provide your own set of facts to back you up.

Third, you also make claims that corporations can't be trusted and the free market is broken but again you offer no back up. The truth is, while there will always be some companies out there that are doing things illegally and should be exposed, they are likely less than 1% when compared to all corporations who are doing things honestly.

Finally, you make seven ad hominem attacks going after Berman instead of attacking his arguments. This is where you lose credibility. If you don't believe in the man's arguments, then attack his arguments and not the man.

Scott

[tralfaz70]

Ok, now that Berman's staff has postd their positive comments, let's get real people posting. First, Berman cares nothing about the truth. His challenge to all saying that after the name calling, can anyone dispute his facts? Yes, it's easy.

You can look at his Unionfacts.com site at the salarys he claims these people make. They are flat out inaccurate. Those numbers are numbers from the Dept of Labor and include reimbursed expenses. Reimbursed expenses are not compensation. I won't even get into using kids to tell lies as he does in his commercials.

Berman exemplifies evreything Enron and wrong about our country. Berman and his little toadies miss the point of watchdog groups entirely. They exist to hold both government and corporations accountable because corporations have proven time and again that they can't be trusted (see coca cola murdering workers in Colombia, Enron, Global crossings, Tyson food, MCI Worldcom, Tyco, United Airlines...) the free market is severely broken and the reason is that not enough oversight of the very corporate abusers that Berman represents refuses to disclose the names of because like Berman, they are too cowardly to stand up and do the right thing for all people in America and the world for that matter.

I hope CBS does a follow up story to expose this sorry excuse for a human being for what he is- a scared little boy who only knows how to lie. Sooner or later- it has to catch up with you.

[you_go]

Oh my gosh, I love Dr. Evil. The truth hurts for a lot of people out there. I am well educated, I smoke, I eat healthy, I have a few french fries ocassionally and live an active life.

Can I read the surgeon general warning with the smoking? Yes. Do I care? No. A lot of things out there can kill me, all I can do is live life to the fullest.

To all the people, including the "media" I never pay attention. Half the time I feel as if the stories change or they are far from being true. Unfortunately the scare tactics work for a lot of other individuals out there.

Will I travel overseas? Yes. Do I care or worry about terrorist attacks? No!!!!

To all the bullies out there that love to scare people and keep them locked up in their house 24/7. Find something else to do. And don't post or publish your findings unless they are 100% true.

Sincerely,

"Not listening to the Bullies"

[rufusmin]

Another thing--Dr. Evil is really serving an excellent purpose, whether you agree with him or not. He gets you thinking. Just like all the do-gooders have gotten you thinking over the years. Some of the do-gooders are EXTREMISTS. Or couldn't you tell. Remember what happened to Barry Goldwater in 1964 when he said "extremism in defense of liberty..."

[betteellen]

Go, Rick!!! I'm 72 and overweight (not obese - YET). I know exactly what makes me overweight and I don't need someone to tell me what to do. I do have a brain! Keep it up, Rick; as you said "sticks and stones). . . . . .

[rufusmin]

The bottom line here is - get the information out. Then people can make up their own minds. After all, don't we have this marvelous internet where people can access all kinds of information? For myself, I've been reading and listening for years to all the ins and outs about eating healthily blah blah blah. One week it's don't eat eggs. Next year, eggs are okay. Drink wine, don't drink wine. Coffee is bad for you - oh, wait, it's good for you. So I just got tired of it all and listen to my family doctor who is a D.O. rather than M.D. and he lays down the law about diet and exercise. One word from him and I can do what I want. If I'm serious about feeling well, then I listen to him. Case closed. I pick and choose my food by what the good doctor recommends and there are even some normally healthy type foods that are anathema to me--my body reacts badly so I have to avoid that. It's my lookout. Sometimes I fall down on the job and I feel lousy the next day. Maybe the government should regulate my diet so I don't have to suffer any consequences. In my considered opinion, dear "Dr. Evil" is promoting getting the facts from all angles. After all there is some very bad stuff going on out there amid good stuff. Some things that started out good (unions, for instance) have gotten corrupt just like government. So we have to be watch-dogging it all the time. The price tag of liberty. So there!

[dlangenheim]

Three Cheers for Rick Berman!
When will people grow up and take care of themselves and their families? Why would you rely on these "do good" fear mongers to set government policy. Notify us of an issue, yes. Take control of our lives, no way!
I hope Mr. Berman gets extremely rich, maybe that will mean an end to the "Nanny's"!

[oleander8]

Who is this guy trying to kid? He's in it for the bucks.

[skotz2]

Berman...B R A V O !!!

Carry on your good work. Somebody has to start this "T" party. Save us from this utopian society. Hate seat belts, hate smoking bans, hate being slapped back on their track of a perfect world and this is just a start. Won't be long until some lawmaker introduces a law that unborn children will be tested. Tested for the proper DNA, brains, beauty. And....IF they don't meet the standards -- well, we can only fear what happens then.

It's amazing that boomers are still alive. Our parents smoked, they were allowed to look at us "cross-eyed", we rode in the back of pickup trucks, AND our cookies were made with lard.

Enough perfect people!! Go get'em.