scorched earth theory of GOP extremism

[yurbud]

With the state level over-reaching and draconian federal budget proposals, it is hard to believe the GOP and more importantly their wealthy patrons see this as a plan for long term governing since they are pissing off independents and even some of the Reagan Democrats they converted in the 80s.

If they know this can't last, why aren't the rich just evacuating to their off-shore tax havens to enjoy the wealth they've robbed from us in peace?

Besides using these methods to squeeze every last penny out of our pockets and into theirs, they are practicing the scorched earth military tactic that denies an advancing foe the use of anything you leave behind. In this case, it is effective government, opposition groups, and even the mechanism of democracy itself. Assuming progressives ever get control, it will be a herculean task to repair the damage and while we're fixing it, they will have more time to make their escape.

The good news is, they want to escape. I suspect that around the time of Iran Contra and the Gary Webb contra cocaine story, they realized the information age would not be kind to the oligarchy. After the progressive era at the beginning of the 20th century and the later New Deal, the very wealthy survived by laying low, keeping their names out of the paper the way earlier robber barons didn't. As the information age dawned, it must have become clear that they could not hide for much longer. Besides Iran Contra and the work of Gary Webb, BCCI similarly pulled back the curtain on the wizards, and that one exposed some of the dirtiest of laundry: the connections of the very wealthy to drug dealing and terrorists.

Even after 9/11, it was hard for the official story to hold when the evidence trail led to our allies in Saudi and Pakistan more than the designated scapegoats, Afghanistan and Iraq. Sibel Edmund's revelations of BCCI like dealings of lobbyists and members of Congress showed that the curtain would keep slipping, and Wikileaks and it's imitators are tearing it down like Janet Leigh did the shower curtain in Psycho.

Democracy will win in the long run. In the short run, the oligarchs will stick the knife in as deep as they can, hoping to slow us down so they can make their escape.

Maybe a few will stick around for just a little too long and we'll be able to give as good as we're getting right now.

[vim876]

1. "In the long run...

we're all dead." -John Maynard Keynes

[yurbud]

2. that too.