And Now For Something Kind of Different . . .

I usually allow this blog to sort of follow the news of the day, but I think it is time to ask a broader question that doesn't relate to any news coming out today or this week. Do Republicans want to destroy the country? I have thought this on and off for some time, but for all their rhetorical posturing about this or that legislation leading toward the destruction of America, their words and actions actually tend to be oriented predominantly toward that end. Let's take a look at a few of the general themes in recent years . . .

1) Environment: whether you believe in global warming or not, it is clear that ending our addiction to oil would be good for this country on a number of fronts. These include a) allowing us to get out of the middle east, b) reducing pollution in the country, which could help alleviate alarming asthma rates, c) help us become competitive in the emerging alternative energy industry and d) reduce the chances of another oil spill devastation. But conservatives like to talk of a "global warming" conspiracy bound to make bankers rich and scientist . . .what exactly? The only scientists really benefiting from the debates appear to be those paid by oil companies to refute the claims of nobel prize winners.

2) Regulation: conservatives consistently argue against regulation, even after the financial crisis that was clearly a result of lack of regulation (not their conspiracy theory Community Reinvestment Act narrative). Some of these regulations are to protect consumers, many protect workers and some even protect their own children. But the party of corporations seems to have little concern for the future of their children, grandchildren or the country they claim to love.

3) Healthcare reform: I have written about this before, but beyond the looming retirement of an increasing proportion of the baby boomers is the troubling trend in the U.S. toward spending more and more of our GDP on healthcare expenditures. We pay more for drugs than our neighbors to the North and South, live shorter lives than most industrialized countries, and have a system in disarray. But their doomsday predictions lead them to argue against any change at all.

4) Income Disparity/Social Services: Republicans answer to everything is tax cuts. When times are bad, cut taxes (even though government deficit spending has a higher multiplier, which means stimulates the economy more) and when times are good, cut taxes (even though the Laffer curve turned out to be laughable). The rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, but somehow many conservatives have convinced the public that taxes are akin to socialism and that the deficit is much more important than poverty and our collective economic future. By the way, it was mainly republicans who supported the diminition of Americas manufacturing base, which has turned out to be a very bad idea (countries like Japan and Germany that kep theirs seem much better off).

5) Education: the No Child Left Behind started as a bipartisan bill, but though Obama seems unwilling to make any radical changes to its central tenets, it is clear that it is actually leaving many more children behind and lowering standards and expectations in too many public schools today. Stupidity and historical amnesia have served the Republican party for a long time and there program for limiting the knowledge and information available to the public appears to be paying dividends. But what of our future, as an increasing proportion of public school children are black, Latinos and immigrants who are receiving substandard access and opportunities.

6) "Activist" Judges: Conservatives have been decrying liberal judges "activist" tendencies for years. Yet it is really conservative judges that have been the most effective at actually changing public policy since the 60s. Conservative judges have essentially ended Brown vs. Board of Education and overturned the spirit of the 64 Civil Rights Act without any fanfare (in addition to ending most affirmative action in the country -- while conservative politicians and personalities continue to decry a "reverse racism" that seems as fictitious as is supply side economics). It was a conservative court that gave the presidency to Bush 10 years ago, that just gave corporations full citizenship and carte blanche to fully buy the federal and state governments, that told colleges they can't use race as a factor in admissions decisions (except Michigan Law school). that severely limited women's power over their own bodies, etc. The party of freedom appears intent on taking away our freedom.

In the end, the lack of the concern for the average citizens among many conservatives might rightfully be labeled "reckless endangerment." Yet they are likely to gain seats in November. And the music fades.