I would append a short phrase to your statement about Republicans' views on government
Government is not supposed to work for the average American, except for the Department of Defense.
I know, I know, the Repugnants right now put up with Rummy running things. But generally speaking, all they care about is assuaging their paranoia of being attacked through having an effective military.
These people completely forget FDR. Heck, they forget or take for granted all the services government provides them with now.
Posted by Herman at April 29, 2006 02:06 PMThis is the whole reason why I condemn Ronald Reagan and his successors without equivocation.
It is cynicism in the extreme to gain public office and then use the power of that office to destroy everything that the people who elected you trusted you to preserve.
In a sane world this would be criminal.
For Bush II there are only these imperatives:
1. consolidate power by any means necessary
2. enrich oneself and one's supporters by all means available
3. spread fear and terror at home and abroad under the guise of 'National Security', whose only purpose is Bush Security
Posted by JB (not John Bolton) at April 29, 2006 02:20 PMYup, when we give up, they win.
Of course, we will need to discuss REAL issues, the socio-economic, pocketbook issues that reach across this artificial "red-blue" state divide.
That's why we need more than a faux "advertising liberally" marketing campaign.
Posted by at April 29, 2006 04:00 PMI think that was one of the main points of Paul Krugman's book, The Great Unraveling.
If government works badly, turn its functions over to those who can get things done (or who are eager to take tax money to go through the motions of getting something done)-- the private sector.
Hence the privatizing. The mercenary fighters. The drug plan, the attempts to undermine Social Security, enfeebled FEMA, and so on.
Posted by degustibus at April 29, 2006 04:09 PMOh, this article is so right on!
What better way to prove that government doesn't work than by taking it over by hook or by crook and purposely running it poorly? Once people realize that all government is crooked and incompetent, they'll just stop voting altogether and accept as inevitable the corporate feudalism under which they live. And most of the masses can be kept as happy as they think they can be by continually vindicating their more base desires to blame terrorist bogeymen abroad and hate their neighbors at home.
And for libertarians who for so long have irrationally worked side by side with the authoritarians now destroying our country against the evil "big-government" progressives, can you please jump ship from that ironic coalition so that we can all work together to stop the lunatics in charge? It's not too late!
Posted by Liveliest Crib at April 29, 2006 04:22 PM"Once people realize that all government is crooked and incompetent, they'll just stop voting altogether and accept as inevitable the corporate feudalism under which they live."
Liveliest Crib, I give us one more election. That will be 2008. I admit that from time to time I think why bother to vote. Yet, the patriot in me will not allow me to not vote. Having said that, if after the 2008 election nothing changes, then I think millions of Americans will stop voting because they will see no reason to.
Posted by Judith at April 29, 2006 04:45 PMA couple of days ago when Bush was talking about not taxing the oil companies, he said something like "they, the people in Washington want to decide how to spend your money".
They? He is "they" and he is the one in DC apparently making the decisions.
I sat there wondering who exactly "they" were supposed to be. If it isn't him and his lying republican Senate, lying republican House, and lying republican Supreme Court, then who the hell are "they"?
Heya Judith,
I wasn't so much expressing my own views in that paragraph as I was articulating those of the people in charge at the moment.....at least my understanding of it, and what seemed to be Mary's understanding when writing the article.
I'd like to think we have more than one presidential election left in us. Of course, the whole the electoral system has to change, in my opinion...but don't get me started. :)
Posted by Liveliest Crib at April 29, 2006 04:58 PM
It's vital--absolutely vital--that Dems never refer to the shortcomings of the "government."
It is the shortcomings, nay, the criminal acts of the BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
In lieu of "government," substitute Bush Administration.
Think Fema--a great federal agency under Clinton is reduced to ashes by the Bush gang.
Posted by n at April 29, 2006 06:55 PMMry, xctly n trgt. f w lk t r crprt lrds, nd thr pltcl srvnts, s n pprssv ntn, n mprl Ntn, tht tk vr r ntn by slw stlth, bgnnng 150 yrs g, thn ll th pcs f chs ctlly fll tgthr nt msc tht shws ngh pttrns tht w cn mk sns f t ll.
dn't hv tm t th mmnt t thrd th hstrcl dms d t th scl d-cnstrctn f r nstttns, bt y'v strtd th prcss by skng th qstn. Thnks.
[Editor: ignore=off]What better way to prove that government doesn't work than by taking it over by hook or by crook and purposely running it poorly?
Just a few short years ago I would have thought this a ridiculous notion and dismissed it. Today we know anything is possible. We've learned that if we can imagine an atrocity or deception, this administration has or is capable of committing it.
I heard a statement in a brief interview on CNN this week that I found so disturbing that I wrote it down. I'm not sure what it means but it seems to fit here. The speaker was a republican but I don't know if he was in the house or senate. He was asked why he thought the president's popularity had dropped in the opinion polls. He answered,
"The people's expectations of the war in Iraq were not properly conditioned."
Does it mean we were conditioned but improperly? There isn't a problem with the war, just how we understand it? The citizens are the problem, not the administration?
The reporter didn't ask for clarification.
OffTheFence, wow. Just wow. That is an amazing statement. But it definitely sounds like our current GOP. They believe everything is for sale and we have not been sufficiently brainwashed.
Posted by Mary at April 29, 2006 07:28 PMIn their efforts to prove that government doesn't work, they let NOLA slide off the map, and they don't give a crap that bodies are still being found there. The fact that they ARE the government just shows the absolute hypocracy of the lot of them. And they use that power to line their pockets. They ought to be lined up and shot. In the feet first, then the knee caps, then, well you get the idea.
Posted by Sharon at April 29, 2006 08:10 PM"I'd like to think we have more than one presidential election left in us."
I'm not so sure. If we do, future elections will be rigged like the last two, which will only give the appearance of fair elections.
Posted by Judith at April 30, 2006 05:31 AMI'm a libertarian socialist so we are not allowed to argue for bigger government by order of the central committee of Anarchism ( just kidding )
Seriously I think the Dem's are crazy not to use the vote winning meme that is smaller govt- less taxes.
This is a great way to outflank them on the right.
You can even increase the size and power of the state in some sectors ( such as a sane and sensible single payer health care system ) provided the overall size and power of the state is decreased. ( such as abolishing Start Wars )
Another promise could be to repeal two laws for every new one and the repeal of the failed prohibitions on some drugs and sex work. There is no place for the state in the bedroom's and livingrooms of it's citizens inmho.
Less is more - small is beautiful. Worked in the Ukraine 1917-20 and Spain in 1936 so it's been field tested for ya.
The FDR / great society model is broken. Don't go there grrlfriend. Democratic socialism that works will be much more street level, netcentric and directly accountable. That is the future. Open source democracy that is rapidly moving toward global anarchy.