For John, BLUF: A lot of folks want to tell Republicans what they—the Republican— believe. Often, they are wrong.
From the Sunday edition of The [Lowell] Sun we have the usual column by Michael Goldman, this time "Testing your knowledge of what's true and false".♠
It all seems on the same vector from the left, but with a funny kind of focus on former Senator Rick Santorum. Except for the last question, number 15.
Despite what many conservatives believe, the facts are that America's views on the most pressing issues of the day are actually solidly progressive, with especially strong support for the so-called social safety net and for such national disaster programs like FEMA. TRUE or FALSEMr Goldman phrases the question like Republicans are against FEMA—The Federal Emergency Management Agency.♥
As a Republican I think he is off the beam. I think FEMA is very important, although the hopes of some for its ability to work miracles are over the top.♦ I like FEMA so much I would like to see it separated from the Department of Homeland Security and restored to its former position within the Administration. Up until 1979 disaster relief was fragmented and subject to frequent reorganization. On 1 April 1979 FEMA was created. I would hate to see it broken up again when the Department of Homeland Security is finally suppressed, as it should be.
As for the social safety net, Republicans, like Democrats, and the majority, the unenrolled, agree that it needs to be there. If I would suggest a difference, Republicans are interested in turning the unemployed back into tax payers. Then we all benefit.
Regards — Cliff
♠ Remember, articles in The Sun go away after a while, to a different place. I will not be updating their links unless I am bedridden and have read every book in the house. And, besides, the Editor tells me the links cost money after a few weeks. It is the new business model.
♥ There is also a Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association.
♦ For example, not remembering that the State Governor must declare an emergency and formally request from the President help from FEMA.
I don't listen to conservative ideas as promoted by anyone I don't know personally. Why? As Joe Scarborough explained it, today.
ReplyDelete"Conservatism is a racket for a lot of people to get very, very rich."
Go to this clip and start listening at the 7:51 mark.
Pardon me for not being gracious, but I told you all that Palin is a fraud. That, stains John McCain; and like the rest of the stuff, it keeps rolling down hill.
Cliff, please help fix your party.
Oh gawd yes....let's get rid of all those profiteering slugs. Nobody deserves to get rich...let alone keep ANY of the fruits of their labors.
ReplyDeleteCliff...do you feel a need to "fix your party" so that it meets acceptance by the other party???
Why have both??? Let's all just become liberals and live off the fat of the government.....after all...once they tax the rich and save the middle class.....we will have achieved nirvana.......
Maybe you should listen to Joe Scarborough. Or, not!
ReplyDeleteMaybe Rachel Maddow has infected Joe with 'teh gay?' Better not take any chances, eh? Scarborough is suspect.
It just donned on me, that by wearing a tricorn hat, Neal can't be at peace with TR's "Square Deal."
ReplyDeleteSo, if you opt to ignore the notion that the conservative movement has been hijacked by rabid capitalist, snake oil salesmen & charlatans, that works for me, too. How much republican asshattery can be tolerated by a sane electorate? I've got the rest of my life to find out!
Cliff, thanks for pointing those things out. It's quite annoying when people set up straw men such as "Republicans don't want a safety net" or "Republicans don't want FEMA."
ReplyDeleteIt's a different philosophy about what government should or shouldn't do. One party may claim a monopoly on supporting "the little guy," but I would say "the little guy" benefits from the right conditions - such as low unemployment.
It's not about to get any better for all those little guys in Spain and Greece who find themselves protesting austerity AND unemployment at the same time.