Everyone is probably familiar with the attempts of Republicans to cut taxes (because we have sooo wealthy a government) and then, when the government is going
broke, cut social programs because we're so broke.
Starving the Beast. Nothing new with that.
Could it be, however, that there is something even more nefarious going on?
The way Republicans play Starve the Beast, it creates an ever more polarized society--squeezing the middle class, slightly expanding the upper class, and greatly expanding the lower socio-economic classes. I'd always assumed that this was the end in itself.
We all know that personal liberties are a luxury of the middle class. If people are starving they don't care much about voting. In advanced stages of deprevation, you get a populace longing for security and bread. It's happened in Russia with the revival of the communist party. It's happening in Iraq, and its happening elsewhere. Take a look at this, from a nice article in the NYT, on June 24, 2004 by Juan Forero:
"A widely noted United Nations survey of 19,000 Latin Americans in 18 countries in April produced a startling result: a majority would choose a dictator over an elected leader if that provided economic benefits."
http://nytimes.com/2004/06/24/international/americas/24PERU.html
For further consideration:
"I told all four that there are going to be some times where we don't agree with each other, but that's OK. If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." George W. Bush
-- CNN.com, December 18, 2000
Chills are running down my spine....