“Bill Cassidy, Garrett Graves, Bobby Jindal, John Fleming, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and Rick Perry want the government out of our lives. So the next time someone is trying to break into your home, or your house is on fire, or you want that pothole on your street fixed, or there is a break in the water or sewer line….call a Republican.”
—Our friend and loyal reader John Sachs of Ruston, commenting on the groundswell of Republican rhetoric to get the government out of the lives of Americans.
“But if they all want government out of our lives so badly, why do they spend so much time, effort and money in desperate attempts to remain in government themselves? And if they succeed in taking government out of our lives, who will protect our borders from the hordes of illegal immigrants they so fear are overrunning our country?”
—Our exasperated response as we near the end of a grueling campaign for the U.S. Senate that has served only to antagonize and repulse the voters of this state.
How true…..I bet everyone wants to get government out of our lives so we can go back to child labor, rivers that catch fire and burn, no food inspection services to protect our food supply (everyone knows we can trust ConAgra, Monsanto, etc to always provide safe food), no rules or regulations on oil and gas development because we all know that O&G would never despoil our environment, and debtors prisons or better yet tenant farming and plantations….and the list of good reasons to get government out of our lives just goes on and on.
There is nothing like taking things out of context or exaggerating the truth. Government is out of control, but every one of those men would agree that government must provide and serve basic functions. What they rail against is cradle-to-grave control and mandates over every aspect of our lives….they are in our medicine cabinets, tell us what cars we have to drive, force us to buy health insurance plans we don’t want, and even control the puddles of rainwater in our yards. A basic tenant is that the more control the government usurps, the more liberty that is lost.
Ironically, your post is full of hyperbole.
Our government needs to be paying attention to our pharmaceuticals, health care and environment. We would not be a nation without a government, and an impotent government serves no one.
If you have a specific problem, work your problem. “Government is in our medicine cabinets” is not a specific problem, and “they tell us what cars to drive” is exaggerating the truth.
Capitalism is our backbone, but its purpose is very different from the purpose of our nation’s government. We need both, in good measure. With nearly unfettered capitalism like we have, we have created an economic environment that many cannot afford and are not able to compete in. It costs a whole lot to live an ordinary life in America; it is no longer possible to live on nothing like most of our grandparents and great grandparents did. Without appropriate government oversight and social safety nets, it would be impossible for many if not most to get by. Capitalism is a wonderful thing that also creates problems in its wake, and to refuse to see that is not helping. We need balance.
Work the problems that you think we have, as best you can. That’s one reason we have elections. And by the way, I don’t see 2014 as any more of a mandate to change my views as you probably saw 2012 as a reason to change yours. We are all citizens, and all our opinions count.
+1 Fairness 2014.
Well stated.
“Honor To Whom Honor Due”
Nay, sirs. The voters of this state & nation are energized to sweep out the devisive practices of obama & his chief minion mary & move this nation back to where it should be economically, militarily, & politically. This is only the initial assault. Stay tuned.. ….
Mr. Webb, with all due respect, have you looked into your own heart lately? And, “divisive”? To quote John Boehner, “Are you kidding me?” Your remarks seem more typical of those promoting insurrection than democracy.
I LOVE IT
if the gop wants govt.out of our lives,who is gonna be able to take care of the 47% that romney talks about??then who is gonna take care of the 53% that are on THE GOVT.PAYROLL??let the states do it says jindall and all the gop gov.across the country.that would be a great comedy show on faux.as the gop turns to this creative way of thinking their ship will start to sink in 2016 nov.8th.just do it gop and watch out for the sharks
I want to get the government out of your life so I can make the disposal of the government’s revenues to myself and my friends, my lifetime objective!
Capitalism was probably originated by greedy monarchs(government) and most of the bastions of capitalism are subsidized by government. Take Exxon, a mighty exemplar of capitalism. Where would it be without the interstate highway system. Where would it be without constant subsidization of government. Capitalism is government assisted enterprise and to deny it is to bury your head in the sand. It cannot exist without government protection. It cannot educate enough students to even begin to secure our nation. Capitalism is great, but it is dependent upon government for protection, security, and investment!
Barack Obama’s successful terms have changed the American economy for the better! Five percent unemployment, no new large scale wars, the exodus from two ill conceived conflicts, a deficit approaching a third of what it was when he became President, $2.50 gas, no new 911s, and a robust burgeoning Wall Street at 17000. What must the President do to please his critics, heal their broken spirits and their embittered hearts? He’s never claimed to be God!
What have you been drinking? I would like to purchase some!
So which of Mr. Bowman’s statements would you like to dispute?
• Unemployment down?
• No more *big* wars but Iraq is creeping back into the picture.
• Deficit *is* down.
• Yep, gas is around$2.50 or so.
• No planes have crashed into bldgs.
• Yep the Dow is rip-roaring away.
Okay, here we go:
1. Unemployment is down? Really, do you actually believe the numbers with either party in the White House the numbers are cooked to make things look better than they are. The real numbers are how many people are out of the job market, how many have quit looking for work, how many are not counted in the real numbers?
2. We’re still in Afghanistan. We’re still fighting terrorists with drones, missiles, etc. We’re still involved, we just have a press that does not report things as they did when Bush was President.
3. The deficit is down from the massive deficit that was built up when Mr. O took office(and part of the blame goes to Bush) But the deficit is only down because the bailout is over and we’re still heading down the cliff.
4. Yes, gas is down, Thank God. And thank the Saudi’s who are keeping the valves open knowing that this is the best way to destroy Iran as Iran must have oil prices at over $110 a barrel to survive.
5. No planes, yet numerous domestic attacks that are deemed “workplace violence.”
6. The high flying stock market usually precedes the fall when the market corrects itself.
This President and his administration are the most divisive in recent memory. The military is being neutered, the family is being attacked, Christianity is being attacked, and unfortunately political correctness rules.
I have been saying that for years, and people look at me, strangely, its absurd that many of the same people who are yacking it up, about big wasteful bad government, are themselves slurping from the same trough…..Bobby Jindal for one. the U.S Congress has done very little but create more confusion and controversy….they would have been fired in the private sector, for no production…….they make a lot of money, and the citizenry is being ripped off again, but they keep doing it by, by divisive rhetoric, and we fall for it….again, and again……..