…wouldn’t it be nice, Dear Gentle Reader(s), if the Republican party would re-assess their fiscal mantra of “lower taxes, smaller government” as well as their policy positions since they’re in the midst of debate about the party’s shortcomings which caused the recent electoral defeat?
There simply isn’t the logical rationale to insist on lower or smaller anything if the other side isn’t insisting on higher or bigger.
If the Republicans rephrased their slogan just a little, it might make more sense to voters who were non-red mead partisans.
For instance, doesn’t just about everyone who understands the necessity of government and taxes agree that government should be only as large/small as is absolutely necessary; or that taxes should be as high/low as possible to pay for the necessary government?
Some people sneer at the mention of a “social contract.” “Has anyone ever seen this so-called contract?” Well, no. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It most certainly does, and all of us who participate in the particular social contract governed by the United States Constitution have a responsibility to honor that contract.
So, perhaps the Republican mantra should be “lowest possible taxes, smallest possible government.”
That would be mantra for which just about everyone with common sense could vote Yes.
There is no charge for this advice, Republicans.
Even then, though, DGR(s), it will still be necessary to
Trust, but verify.
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Grover Norquist wants a government small enough that he could drown it in a bathtub. The victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, et al, have found that such a small (and impotent) government cannot protect them, cannot stabilize the economy (see Wall St. meltdown), cannot protect the food supply (see biofuels vs food dilemma), cannot address climate change (see Kyoto), cannot understand scientific reality (see climate change "debate"), cannot prosecute war profiteers (see Halliburton), and on and on. When the obstreperous supporters of the gop (see Republican national convention) finally understand the meaning of kleptocracy (see Dubya and Dick), maybe they will start electing leaders who don't lie, cheat, and steal (see "Joe the plumber" getting shafted as badly as anyone else in the current economy and still voting republican). Or maybe not.
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