It's a good idea, but the wrong conclusion.
As a liberal Democrat I have to hand it to the Republicans when it comes to media and the message. They are united, stay on point, and are generally effective.
In 2010 it was all about “jobs”. Jobs…jobs…jobs penetrated the airwaves. The unemployment rate was a disaster unabated by an ineffective Obama so they claimed. However, when elected (and now sharing responsibility for adding jobs) that issue was quickly set aside for…the deficit. Now, we are inundated by the absolute terror of the deficit and debt. The solutions offered are cut, slash, burn -- and decimate social programs. Well, the Ryan plan (conservatives' blueprint for deficit reduction) had some blowback, it, so now there is a new mantra. Legacy.
In the Sunday, May 1 Star Tribune (my hometown newspaper), the two Minnesota presidential candidates (Bachmann and Pawlenty) went to New Hampshire with their new message. Bachmann said “what will the next generation ask about what their elders did to prevent them from facing a huge tax burden”. Pawlenty raised the same theme: “he senses worry over the country that the next generation will lack the opportunities he and his peers have had”. The Minnesotans were joined by Rick Santorum who stated: I’m not going to be the generation of American who hands off…a country that is less than what I got”.
All are good thoughts, but the country the Republicans are now envisioning with their slash and burn, destruction of social programs, and lack of infrastructure improvement, is unfortunately a badly damaged nation that the next generation will be getting...if conservatives have their way.
The Republican world for the next generation (as they are framing it) are roads badly in need of repair; bridges that are dangerous; and transportation (so vital to a robust economy) lagging further behind. No new money (taxes) to cure these ills.
In the same issue (and same page) of the Star Trib, there was an article on the plight of the cities -- noting “one in four surveyed last October already had made cuts in public safety”. “I kind of smile sometimes or laugh at these people who say they don’t want any government,” said Jim Brainard, mayor of Carmel, Ind., and a trustee for League of Cities. “OK, they don’t want public water systems or roads or police protection. If their house burns down, they don’t want a fire truck to show up? That’s really what local government does”. And, like it or not, these services depend on taxes.
The next generation, as the Republicans are creating it, will have no Medicare for the elderly. Privatization of Medicare means senior will fend for themselves. No longer will they enjoy the medical security our generation enjoys. In fact, the conservatives want to privatize virtually everything they can, leaving Americans uncertain about Social Security, workers’ rights, and dismantling of a wide range of regulatory agencies.
Which brings us to the environment. The Republicans have disdain for environmental protection. They either claim that the environment does not need such protections, or the threat is overblown. Maybe…but it is far more likely the next generation as the Republicans plan it, will have irreversible damage which could be devastating to our little Blue Planet.
Ironically, while they are dismantling government regulation and control, conservatives are ratcheting up such control in terms of individual rights. Mostly to the disadvantage of women. No more abortions in the next generation Republican world.
The next generation, if the conservatives have their way, will have an America that is badly skewed in terms of income distribution. Already we are far distorted between rich and poor among industrialized nations; and the Republican’s reluctance to add even incremental taxation to the wealthiest among us ( in fact the Ryan plan lowers such taxes) means the poor get poorer…there will be more among poor among us…and the rich will have additional wealth most likely do not need. An unhealthy combination for a robust Capitalism.
Yes, Bachman and Santorum are absolutely correct about concern for the next generation and “legacy”; and I can agree totally with Pawlenty’s comment about his: “worry that the next generation will lack the opportunities he and his peers have had”. Where we part company is in our vision of what we want and hope America will look like for our children, grandchildren and beyond. To those Republicans who are signing on to the Bachmann/Santorum/Pawlenty plan, I would caution with the old saying: “be careful what you ask for, you might get it.” But not if I and other concerned citizens, can stop it!