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June 22, 2003
Bush Over the Edge
As a sidenote, today is the day that I decide that GWBush no longer merits the benefit of the doubt. I'm thinking that his influence is improper in that people who ought to know better are not chastized by his ability to police. In other words, he may not be a pawn of special interests but his policies are so ineffective in reigning back excess that he might as well be.
It seems to me that a very simplistic partisanship and majoritarian will has destroyed Washington's current ability to effect the kind of goverment work worthy of the United States of America. The Republic efforts to defund government, following the overblown rhetoric of Ronald Reagan ("government is the problem") has found itself intellectually suspect but politically unchallengeable. The public has been suckered and the President is to blame for setting the tone, which is no tone at all worthy of intelligent rebuttal.
I exepect and anticipate the removal of GWBush in 2004. All the better for America.
I hope too, that no Democratic Leviathan is elected, but I have had visions of a majority of Americans struck by some disaster which is only curable by an infrastructure and disciplined bulwark of understanding that is only sustainable by a government with long-term interests. Such a government is not forthcoming from the likes of GWBush. But I forsee the rude awakening. Like the Oil Shock of the 70s or the Japanese Competition of the 80s we will find ourselves facing an enemy grown strong in the wake of our inattention. The question will become what was the United States supposed to do about this, and the answer will be something to the effect of eating your oatmeal. Some government agency will be faced with a problem it cannot handle and we will wonder why. Because we didn't care.
The fundamental difficulty the Republicans face is to put responsible patriotism back in the driver's seat. That means patriots pay taxes to keep American government the best in the world. But that principle doesn't make it to the polls. The Republicans have found the secret formula to winning elections, which is one of the reasons I like them, but it has become like a mutated fist on an emaciated superhero. The weighty right fist of tax abatement is making our hero susceptible to a vicious left hook. Any idiot can be against taxes. It seems as though we have elected them all.
Here in California, our Democratic governor is on his way to facing a recall election. Why? It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he is a Democrat and everything to with the fiscal crises over which he has presided. Our refusal to balance our budget and the Republicans policy of rejecting much needed tax increases make good sense in elections but are destroying not only the infrastructure of California government but its ability to control its own destiny. Mark my words, as states go broke and people start falling into potholes, the tide will turn. The first party to state unequivocably that it is patriotic to pay taxes will win.
Meanwhile GWBush's debacle will take years to unfold and more years to fix. He needs to get gone, and soon.
Posted by mbowen at June 22, 2003 11:47 AM
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