"We, the People", are the government ?

[kentuck]

Do most Republicans believe that we, the people, are the government? Or do they believe the "government" is some evil entity that was created to take all their wealth in the form of taxes? Do most Democrats think differently about government? Do most Democrats believe that the government is indeed, we, the people, and that together we can accomplish many great things that we cannot do as individuals?

Is it any wonder that our government has declined to such a pitiful state with those presently in charge, that believe the best government is no government at all? That dream of drowning government in a bathtub?

Is it any wonder that the modern conservative movement has come to a disgraceful and predictable end? As Bill Press states in his new book, the conservatives have been in charge of a "trainwreck". Unfortunately, they will not surrender their long-held but misguided beliefs about taxes or government. To their detriment, they will cling like a vine to the decayed and discredited philosophy of Ronald Reagan and George W Bush. They will continue to preach that we can cut taxes and borrow all the money we need for wars or social programs. Long after the people have thrown these "conservative" ideas into the trash can, some will still be talking about Ronald Reagan and William Buckley as heroes of the "movement".

[pinto]

1. I think that's the core of the Republican failure to the country.

Think of it. Ronald Reagan became the manager of one the largest governments in the world largely on the premise that government itself was the problem. And immediately went about the business of trying to dismantle the very organization he was elected to lead. He and his 'revolution' deftly played an American wariness of big government, benign in and of itself, fueled racial, ethnic and class fears and staged it all in a stark 'us or them' cold war world view. We're still reaping the disastrous results this mismanagement fostered.

It boggles me at times.

[kentuck]

3. Word.

You speak the truth.

[man4allcats]

2. "We, the People" WERE the government.

Regrettably, we are now just witnesses to and victims of the train wreck.