David Sirota: Mad Scientists in the Laboratories of Democracy

[marmar]

from In These Times:



Mad Scientists in the Laboratories of Democracy
By David Sirota


Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said that states are the “laboratories of democracy.” Oft repeated over time, the aphorism has helped impart legitimacy to the rough and tumble of state lawmaking. We’ve heard “laboratory” and we’ve imagined staid scientists in white coats rigorously testing forward-thinking theories of societal advancement.

It’s certainly a reassuring picture—but there is a darker side of the metaphor. States are indeed laboratories. The problem is that today, those laboratories are increasingly run by mad scientists.

We’re not talking about the usual Dr. Frankensteins trying to bring alive new corporate giveaways through harebrained cuts to social services (though there are those, too). We’re talking about true legislative sadists looking to go medieval on America. Behold just six of the most telling examples:

.........(snip).........

The Obesity and Deficit Encouragement Act: Colorado exemplifies America’s childhood obesity epidemic and its budget crisis. The state’s childhood obesity rate grew at the second fastest rate in the country, and its $1.2 billion budget gap is threatening the state’s already underfinanced schools. Yet, despite the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing that higher soda taxes would drive down obesity, and despite such a levy raising much-needed public revenues, Colorado’s newly Republican House is pushing legislation to create a special budget-busting sales tax exemption exclusively for soda. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/7094/mad_scientists_in_the_laboratories_of_democracy/

[The Magistrate]

1. And Arizona, It Has Been Said, is The Meth Lab Of Democracy....

[yurbud]

3. I bet that isn't too far from reality--at a certain level, organized crime, business, and politics

merge.

[Uncle Joe]

2. This column is well worth the read, that's some scary and insane shit being proposed

Thanks for the thread, marmar.