You can't blame 'Uncle Sam' for what Bush does

[jbfam4]

You can't blame 'Uncle Sam' for what Bush does
By Robert Kuttner | December 29, 2004

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/12/29/you_cant_blame_uncle_sam_for_what_bush_does/


I've noticed a pattern here. The administration makes a concerted effort to disparage "the government." That's not surprising; the administration believes in cutting taxes (mostly on the wealthy) and reducing services on everyone else. The less confidence people have in government, the easier it is to sell tax cuts. But what is distressing is that people who should know better, even advocates of public services, are falling into the trap of confusing "the government" with a particular administration and its policies.


Here's another example. The president, in touting plans for Social Security privatization, declared in his acceptance speech to the Republican National Convention, "We must strengthen Social Security by allowing younger workers to save some of their taxes in a personal account, a nest egg you can call your own and government can never take away."

But it isn't "government" that's threatening Social Security. It's Bush.

Most callers objected, largely because of amorphous fear of something called "the government." I observed that the problem is not the government, but the administration. There is a universe of difference between Bush's authoritarian Attorney General John Ashcroft and such distinguished liberty-respecting predecessors as Edward Levi, who served under Gerald Ford. A liberal Congress could enact severe penalties for misusing confidential data. Liberal judges could enforce them.

Note how beautifully this all works for Bush. Appointees like Ashcroft make Americans fear their government, with good reason. Then, when Bush disparages government's ability to safeguard Social Security, he has already softened up public opinion to suspect and fear government.



Despite the right's propaganda, if we can't think clearly enough to distinguish the government from the administration, we will lose what we actually like about government, as well as our function of being free, deliberative citizens in a self-governing democracy.

[xultar]

1. OK it appears Newspapers and print media are waking up...when will

the boob toob talking heads wake up????

[madrchsod]

2. never

[Skittles]

3. probably when America is swirling the drain

:(

[phantom power]

4. I think dismantling SS is crazy, but....

...if they're going to do it, let's quit all the double think, and do away with the payroll taxes entirely.

If we're all going to play "fearless, self-reliant Americans", then let's really do it. I'll keep my money, and invest it as I choose, without having Bush's administration send it all off to a bunch of Wall Street con-artists for them to play with.

[orpupilofnature57]

5. Wasn't it( Ronnie ray-guns) that said less government. HA HA