I think we need to rework the classic assertion to read, “Republicanism is the opiate of the masses.” Odd that with all the charges of “Socialist tendencies” being lobbed at Obama it is his detractors who seem to have embraced collective, populist thinking. I mean, what else can one conclude from the rhetorical gymnastics going on right now?
Now, don’t get me wrong – I may be a registered Democrat but I harbor no illusions with regard to the failings of my own party. We are the “champions of hypocrisy” when it comes to campaign financing, ethics reform or influence-peddling. At least, though, there seems to be more of a logical thread as to what Democrats say and what they do when it comes to policy.
The Republican leadership, however, seems perfectly content with keeping Americans “as-dumb-as-they-wanna-be.” How else can one explain the ongoing spectacle of them decrying the excesses of the economic stimulus package while openly bragging about jobs, infrastructure improvements and closing state and local budget gaps back in their home districts? The through-line in all of this seems to be “we will say whatever it is you want to hear in order to win elections and foil the Democrats – just don’t expect us to walk the talk.”
Lower taxes? No problem – just don’t expect lower spending.
“Criticizing the President in a time of war is un-American” – unless, of course, the President happens to be a Democrat. (And, no,Obama is not the first to endure this double standard. The phrase originally cropped up during George I’s reign and was subsequently tossed aside while we were fighting in the Balkans under Clinton.)
“Education is priority number one” – just don’t learn too much because then you become one of the dreaded “elites.”
“Deficits are unsustainable” – unless you are funding an unnecessary war against a country that you were itching to re-invade since 1989. Or lowering taxes on the richest Americans.
“Global warming is a fiction – look at all the snow we’ve been having!” How can one ever expect to have a progressive, nuanced discussion with a party that can not distinguish between the words “global” and “local” and seems perfectly thrilled to admit this?
“We need a jobs bill” – unless it costs money.
My favorite gyration is the faux-populist outrage over the TARP bailout of Wall Street currently being promoted by Presidential-wannabe Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota. I mean, do you seriously expect folks to forget when and by whom that legislation was drafted and signed?
The answer? Yes. Bottom line, though, is that the only way this stuff flies is if people are willing to salute it – and many seem perfectly eager to do so.
Hey, Governor – remember “privatizing Social Security”? Letting “average Americans” have some control over how their money was invested? How much fun would we be having right now if that tripe had passed? And while you are railing over the impact of the latest stimulus package, perhaps you could send the money back that allowed you to balance your state’s budget? That, at the very least, would be “walking the talk.”
Even though it’s a toss-up as to which party has more trouble controlling their raging hormones at least I don’t have to listen to sanctimonious Democrats telling me about their superior “family values” – until their Argentinian mistress writes a tell-all book. (OK, maybe except for John Edwards…)
The height of hypocrisy has to be some gay-bashing Conservative psycho getting busted in an airport men’s room for soliciting sex. At what point, exactly, do folks start wondering whether they’re being played?
The result of all of this is that we may get a health care bill by fiat because you can not get a single Republican Senator to vote “Yes” on anything a Democrat is in favor of. Seriously, I would much prefer a bill that at least attempted to consolidate the best ideas from both sides, that passed 51 to 49 with some Dems voting “No” and some Reps voting “Yes.” Give me the illusion of democracy and principles that transcend party registration at least. As it is, I will take any bill rather than the continued idiocy I am witnessing.
(On one level, I sincerely admire this unity of purpose which, if put to use in service of average Americans, could be an amazing force for good. I can not imagine even getting every Democratic Senator to vote in unison on whether the sun rises in the east – let alone some complicated legislation.)
I try to find it in my heart to be supportive of some of them. McCain had my admiration until he morphed into the sort of politico he used to lampoon. Pawlenty seems like an intelligent, thoughtful guy but he’s selling the same swill as the Tea Baggers. About the only one I can stomach right now is Arnold – at least there seems to be some connection between what he says and what he does, whether I agree with him or not.
I could respect an honest dissertation as to what these folks believe and what they intend to do. (I have lived through two “trickle down” economic eras and nothing trickled down during either while deficits and the National Debt both sky-rocketed. I sincerely can not believe that the same nonsense is surfacing again.) I could respect them if they stood up and admitted that they hate Welfare, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security instead of their lame attempts to bankrupt these programs into failure while singing their praises on TV.
Look, I want lower taxes as much as the next guy, I just expect to hear what cuts in spending will be made so I can decide what I should be prepared to give up. If Democrats eliminated income taxes and then eviscerated national defense I’m guessing a few folks on the right out there might have a problem with that….
Opiate, palliative, soporific – whatever you wish to call it. You can not continue to promote the fallacy that Americans can have everything they desire without any pain whatsoever. It is this same disingenuousness that took the spirit of unity that existed throughout this country immediately following 9/11 and sent it to K-Mart. It is exactly this attitude that encouraged people to buy houses they couldn’t afford, spend beyond their means and ignore any thought of saving.
Republicans are attempting to pretend the previous 8 years never happened. I can not see how this represents anything other than willful ignorance, duplicity and a complete disregard for the future of this country, all in the name of political expediency.
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