Republicans: You spent my generation's tax dollars, and left destruction behind. We are now paying, using the next generation's future tax dollars, for your mess, and mistakes. Stop telling us we're socialists. We're problem solvers. The problems we're solving? Created by you.
We'd love to stop spending the next generation's tax dollars - but we can't pay the debts left by you and fix your mess and run a nation and fight two wars without doing just that, so can you shut up about it and help fix the problem?
I'm not sure when it began. I know that sometime, around the time I was born, Jimmy Carter's administration was ousted after a first term, leaving double digit unemployment. The young and charismatic Ronald Reagan swept into office - making promises of smaller government and lower taxes. To this day, he's held as an icon - perhaps a messiah? - to what pundits like Sean Hannity call a "Reagan Conservative."
The worst promise Reagan made - and the proof we learned nothing from the Great Depression - was deregulation. The free market would regulate everything, he said. Safety, Price, Quality - consumer demand would serve as enough regulation for these companies. In the same breath, while relying on consumer demand to regulate, he initiated supply-side economics. Create conditions so suppliers would create jobs and manufacture offerings, and consumers would follow the supply.
Nevermind that these policies contradicted each other (and failed miserably). Reagan was the new hero of Republicans.
His tax cuts and spending ballooned the deficit. MIT Professor Lester Thurow said, "The epitaph of the Reagan presidency will be: 'When Ronald Reagan became President, the United States was the largest creditor nation. When he left the presidency, we were the world's largest debtor nation." Reagan entered office with a national debt of $907 billion dollars. Eight years later, my generation owed $2.8 trillion dollars.
President Clinton added $1.5 trillion to the debt over eight years. Then came President Bush - inheriting a budget surplus and booming, healthy, economy. Sure, sure, we were in a small recession when he entered office but with a balanced budget and budget surplus, actions could have been taken to fix the recession without doing what he eventually resorted to - adding $5 trillion MORE dollars to the debt.
While doing this, my generation has paid more for education than any other generation. We are less likely to get jobs that offer health insurance. If we do find a job with health insurance, we're paying four times the amount our parents paid at our age. We are less likely to have a pension.
We work longer hours and make less money than previous generations. We are competing in an economy with baby boomers, who, can't retire now because they lost their retirement savings in an under-regulated economy, also left by you.
We're fed up.
My generation no longer believes you when you claim all the successes and scapegoat all the failures. Your talking heads lie and spin so much that the most absurd claims are now accepted as the "truth" and your party and it's followers rely on vitriol, hate, and misinformation in your sole pursuit: power. As much as you can get your hands on, and by any means necessary.
We're too busy to get involved in fake astroturf rallies, because we're paying for your debts. We've given you Obama, who's trying to institute health insurance reform without causing more debt - and we'd like you to please help him instead of trying to stonewall him.
We're pretty smart, and you can win us back - but you've got to put up or shut up. We want real solutions, real fiscal conservatism, smart regulation, smart foreign policy, and real tolerance. Denounce the talking heads that would divide us. We want truth - real arguments; not smoke screens and spin. Embrace a real set of principles and win us back by fighting for our interests, and you have a shot at the next generation.
If you don't, it'll be your Waterloo.
Scott,
Therein lies the crazymaking duality of that position.
If it is true then one could argue that those too lazy to get off the couch are too 'self-centered and selfish' to contribute to society in a meaningful way and prefer to 'draw' from it instead. A perfectly reasonable proposition if one believes that self-interest is paramount. So, the right and the sofa dwellers have very much in common concerning philosophy and only differ in approach to satisfying that principle. In short, they should be in love with each other.
It is literally impossible to convince the accusers that their perception is just that...perception. Multiple studies indicate that there is simply not much to be gained from an attack on the welfare system (long story) and Clinton, in fact, felt that his welfare 'reform' was one of his more poorly conceived acts.
So, what we have is a self perpetuating, totally confused, neverending self-destructive struggle. That's my opinion, anyway, and I don't think many on the left woud argue that the right is both destructive and self-destructive.
I can't speak to the ghosts of Republicans past, but I can say that the ones I know are pretty up and front and honest about what guides their ideology. They don't want "their" money going to poor people that are "too damn lazy to get off the couch and do something." Now, that's honesty. It's selfish and self-centered, but its honest.
We all know that you don't get elected with that kind of brutal honesty. So, elected Republicans must invent some kind of tale to attract the masses. This could include Ronald Reagan and his "welfare queens with their cadillacs" or the latest of demeaning the generation of welfare folks that got displaced in Katrina. They demonize the poor as lazy and then turn around and accuse us of class warfare.
Wow, my ex is a Republican too. Probably a birther/teabagger to boot. I don't talk to him any more (thank God!) but I can only imagine that he voted for McCain (loved Palin) and thinks Perry hung the moon.
And the personality disorder...oh my God, you would not believe. This man just isn't connected correctly somewhere. Manipulative, narcissistic, lying through his teeth and just plain mean to boot. But would tell you how upright and honest he is.
Voice,
Amen to that...my experience(s) was/were with ex(females).
I'm sure one is immediately drawn to the 'multiple' reference. Yes, my bad, but that's just between me and my therapist(s) :O)
For years, I thought my ex was a Borderline Personality type, but, after her telling me that a "panel" of psychologists assured her that this was not the case, I guessed that it wasn't that I was wrong, it was that either, the 'panel' was stupid or fooled or CAREFUL...but that's a really long story. Anyway, after careful research I got hit on the head with a hammberblow. I was reading a story that I thought was about Borderline's but it wasn't, it was about Narcissism. I thought, "Oh My God".
For Whatever It's Worth:
Personality disordered people have one thing in common...they are masters of the reality setting ambience that, "It's you, not me" So I've been through all that and was told by a therapist that I'm not narcissistic. So 'she' was either stupid, fooled, VERY CAREFUL, or correct! :O)
I think one of the terms we're looking for to describe their behaviors is "sociopathic" or "antisocial personality disorder" when we're talking about the head-in-the-sand Repubs.
Academically, they know the difference between wrong and right (inciting hate, baiting racism, spewing venom and vitriol, deflecting from the real issues) and can quickly point out the behaviors in others, especially Dems; they just don't feel it applies to them.
My ex was one. He could look you in the eye and tell you how financially responsible he was, all the while running up huge credit card debts in other people's names and then walking away from the responsibility of paying for it. My children and I have been paying for that one too. Not surprisingly, he was a Republican.
So true, the right is chock full of ideological contradictions that inevitably lead to what they want, the status quo, no matter how bad it may be. It can only get worse and will. It appears to be that the Afghanistan situation is the emerging political battlefield. McCain, Rice, and several others are already spouting the stupidity that only the intellectually blind can spout. There are solutions to be had, but, of course, the inherent position of the right, which is to disagree with everything will insure that no real solution is forthcoming. Gird your loins, the nonsense is about to fly!
I second carguy's comment! Well done!!!
Yep, and JFK saw it as well.
Some would say it even got him killed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS7l6i4w11U
He was assassinated shortly after he gave this speech. I recommend listening to this speech carefully.
Robert Reich asks a very good question - how can the Dow be hitting 1000?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/why-the-dow-is-hitting-10_b_294682.html
Short answer - because the "socialism" the wingers and the bankers whine about actually works.
If memory serves me correctly, one Dwight D Eisenhower warned us about this, a loooong time ago. And HE knew EXACTLY what he was talking about.
LOL, possibly. Though I would think the CIA was more like Reagan's ACORN.
We could discuss for days the outright crimes committed by the Reagan Administration.
I think to cut to the chase we need to recognize that they were just puppets. Reagan and Bush 2 were merely front men for the political, military, and economic power mongers who profit on misery.
Recognizing the various industrial complexes is the true challenge. They are financially dependent on the abject destruction of peoples lives. Beholden to a perverse public and self image. Topped off with a morally askew compass.
I am not talking of some conspiracy. If people pay attention and inform themselves everyday by watching the news and reading, you will see it. In some aspects it is plain as day. Most see it, but whether or not they acknowledge it is something else. The 'ick' factor is very powerful when looking at some of this stuff.
I believe individuals in these organizations are for the most part not bad people. However, their organizations aggregate effect on the everyday person is wholly destructive.
Example: The privatized prison industrial complex is dependent upon the incarceration of our populace for profit. So you have a concerted effort to manipulate laws, officials, and events to promote the jailing of citizens.
Case in point:
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/02/02/judges-jailed-for-ta.html
Reagan's ACORN?
Peter Wehner goes for the win, as a conservative denouncing Glenn Beck and his hucksterism. (h/t Donkphant)
Anyone remember the Superfund Scandal?
Funds from the Superfund (EPA project) to clean up toxic waste sites were released to enhance the election prospects of local politicians aligned with the Reagan administration.
I sure enjoy The Daily Hurricane because we have undoubtedly the smartest bloggers on the internet. You knocked this one outta the park AstroGirlKel.
1980 -1992, what was the Reagan/Bush Era, was the biggest fiasaco for this country since the Great Depression.
The only thing to compete with that was the second coming of Bush, or "43". He's responsible for two wars and totally destroying what little credibility we stil had on the world stage.
I can only hope that the historians will tell this story truthfully.
I can beat that. How about selling drugs to street gangs in LA to fund the contras?
Absolutely brilliant. Let me add a few things being only a few years older----
The entire conservative movement depends on them selling the idea that Reagonomics was a success. It all hinges on that. So, the spinning machine goes in full motion to tell you how well it worked. They can support it with some data. Wealth did increase during the Reagan and Bush years. The great question remains unanswered. You can hear the criquets chirping. Are you better off now than you were then? Most people can't honestly say yes and if they can it is because THEY worked hard to get there. The super rich can and that is whole point.
When Jim Wright taught a course at TCU he told us about his relationships with all of the presidents. He told anecdote after anecdote and was even fairly complimentary of Nixon. When he got to Reagan he busted out the charts. That has to be our battle cry. Reagan doesn't deserve to be on the ten dollar bill. He deserves to be ridiculed for incredibily stupid policies that put our country behind the eight ball. If we can prove this to the masses sufficiently then the GWB presidency becomes a similar abject failure (if not more so). When you do that you kill Reagan conservatism for good.
Impassioned plea AstrosGirlKel. However, when you are pleading to the scum of the earth it falls on deaf ears. Reagan threw this country into debt so big it hadn't been seen since the end of WW2, and they think he is some kind of hero.
If these ignorant people knew anything, they would know that Reagan is the one who instituted the laws giving tax breaks to corporations who move their manufacturing over-seas. Reagan is the one who gave illegal immigrants amnesty. Reagan is the one who trained and funded the terrorists, including Osama Bin Laden. Reagan is the one who funded Saddam Hussein. Need I mention Iran/Contra Scandal? Or what about the S&L Scandal?
The problem is not asking them to help fix their mistakes. The problem is their total ignorance of the fact that they created the problems to begin with.
I know, I know, most of you will say "well the Democrats are not so innocent themselves". I couldn't agree more. HOWEVER, compared to the corruption from the right, the Democrats look like alter boys.
Take for example Reagan delaying the release of the hostages in Iran to coincide with his inauguration. Can't get anymore evil than that.
Absolutely OUTSTANDING article. I don't think I've seen it put so articulately and concisely.
I was there through it all. You nailed it!