In my last BLOG, I discussed the way things will be if the Republican Right-wing radicals take over all branches of the federal government, particularly in relation to our veterans. A certain hypocrisy and perverseness will become the order of the day, as Republican right-wingers, in contrast to their anti-government stance, make use of the power and machinery of that very government they so oppose, to force upon others their own agenda and philosophy.
For all that they will do to diminish the role of government in certain areas -- entitlements and social welfare programs, in particular -- the Right Wing will counter that very concept by using the machinery of government to interfere and intervene in ordinary people’s lives: to influence the thinking and direction of social policy; to take from the poor and middle class to give to the rich, and to enhance their ascendancy and dominance over the affairs of this nation.
Look at another brief example of right-wing hypocrisy and perverseness: the use of the power and mechanisms of national government to impose the religious outlook of a minority upon the majority. Yes, I am talking about the bent of right-wingers toward the theology/philosophy of Christian Evangelicals. Republicans hate government intervention in social issues -- like civil rights, affirmative action, equal pay for women, a broad safety net for the poor --that have roots in other religious traditions and tenets. But, what do the radical Republicans want to impose upon the average citizen through legislation and regulation?
--prayer in schools;
--no choice on abortion;
--avowing homosexuality as a choice that is sinful, according to scripture, and that must be renounced or punished;
--declaring God on the side of the USA no matter what;
--a suspicion bordering on rejection of science, especially in terms of evolution and climate control;
--Creationism must be taught in schools;
--entire curricula will be re-written to reflect evangelical points of view;
--a secular government is an abomination; (evangelical) Christianity should pervade all aspects of government;
--a push toward dominionism: “that Christians have a God-given right to rule all earthly institutions. Originating among some of America’s most radical theocrats, it’s long had an influence on religious-right education and political organizing… Think of it like political Islamism, which shapes the activism of a number of antagonistic fundamentalist movements, from Sunni Wahhabis in the Arab world to Shiite fundamentalists in Iran.”
(www.thedailybeast.org). Bachmann and Perry both have ties to this fringe group.
If that doesn’t disturb you, then perhaps you need to understand that the radical Right will use government power and authority to diminish and minimize the role of government in your life. In other words:
--no more Post Office; get your mail some other way;
--impotent labor unions; they will destroy them or reduce them to non-entities;
--no more protections for workers; no more bargaining rights
--minimal regulation of businesses, banks, corporations, mortgage lenders, wall street firms, etc..
--diminution or destruction of consumer protection programs and/or agencies like the E(nvironmental) P(rotection) A(gency), FEMA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency;
--the decrease of investment in science will result in less research for making life better for all. The NASA budget has already been reduced, and reductions in the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, and the National Institutes of Health will all affect scientific inquiry, innovations, and new protections for the citizenry;
--reduction in first responder grants to FEMA raises the question as to whether that agency will be there in adequate force when natural disasters strike (which could be anywhere, just like Hurricane Irene!);
--job-training programs will be cut and consolidated across 12 agencies which means that they will inadequately train for special needs and requirements, so don’t count on job training programs being helpful in your search for a new job or career!
--Community Development Funds to rehab houses in low-income neighborhoods, the Public Housing Capital Fund depended on for repairs to public housing, and the HOPE IV program that aims to revamp severely distressed public housing, are all on the chopping block, so look out if you are one of millions who can’t afford other than public housing;
--add to this attack on low-income persons who live in public housing: cuts in the WIC program that provides food and formula for low-income families, cuts in the federal COPS program that helps local police develop crime-fighting strategies and technologies, or millions in cuts from programs that help juveniles avoid the criminal justice system, and you have a recipe for disaster, especially in low-income communities;
--and what do you think will happen to the high-speed rail under those cut-thirsty Republicans, or to the rest of our infrastructure?
--public education is going to be headed toward demolition with an emphasis on charter schools, billions of cuts to school districts with needy students, cuts in Title I grants, and inevitable cutting away of Head Start, as well as the destruction of the federal Department of Education;
--and then there’s health care: destruction of Medicare and Medicaid, and repeal of the recent health care Act would be inevitable, but there’s more: diminishment of community health centers, cuts in grants to states to enroll more children in the CHIP program, and of course the phase-out of funding for Planned Parenthood.
Is this the kind of nation you really want? If not, stop being bamboozled by the radical Right-wing, and wake up to reality. There is existing legislation proposed, or already passed, in the House of Representatives that will force their particular views on the majority, implement draconian cuts to national government structure and many more of its programs, within a very short period of time.
The Republican Master Plan is to move this country “Back(ward) to the Future” by imposing immediate austerity measures. If voters put Republicans in control of all branches of the federal government in 2012, we will quickly become a nation similar to what we were in the early 20th century (or even the late 19th century) because of their backward-trending (“regressive”) actions, described above.
That was a time when efforts by religious communities and other non-profit organizations were all that were available to take care of the poor, the homeless, the sick, orphans, widows and the elderly because government-sponsored programs were inadequate or non-existent. Those past efforts by humanitarian agencies were commendable, but too many social needs and problems were not addressed, large numbers of people fell through the cracks, and many lives were adversely affected. While non-profits still have a vital role to play, their efforts will be entirely insufficient given the expanding needs in this century.
The negative stance of Republicans toward government aid programs will essentially shred the social safety net, forcing millions of fellow citizens into uncertain and inadequate situations. That policy was not sufficient in by-gone days, and it definitely won’t work now! National problems involving our most vulnerable citizens require strong federal solutions, not negative and inadequate responses!
Don’t allow a minority of radical conservatives to force their distorted views on the rest of us! Challenge their policies now or regret it later!
