Who needs the U.S. government? We do.

[yesthattom]

This is an “emperor has no clothes” moment. Twenty five years of Republican rhetoric have been stripped naked. Criticizing big government sounded good when all it seemed to mean was lower taxes. But, it turns out, those taxes pay for something, and reduced spending can have very real consequences. The Bush administration cut funding for strengthening the levees in New Orleans. That decision had a human cost not factored into the budget calculus.

The whole thing is here:
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0905-23.htm

Comments

[freeko.livejournal.com]

These Republicans never factor a human cost in their policies, thats why they are Republicans.

[kimuchi.livejournal.com]

Hey, spending cuts had an unexpected bright side, too -- if money had been allocated to clean up the lead and asbestos at Ft. Chaffee, it wouldn't be there to unexpectedly receive displaced folks. :-\

[logisticslad.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link. I enjoyed reading the article. It gives me hope that some good can come from all this.

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I'd characterize it as not big government. If anything, it's bigger. Instead, I'd call it a cold, cynical, and crony-serving shift in funding priorities.

[kathdem.livejournal.com]

My dad just sent me an e-mail that said the following:

"Must have been nice when the world was young and the government built things (and maintained them)."

Attached to the e-mail was this: http://pics.livejournal.com/kathdem/pic/0006da7r

Yup.

[selki.livejournal.com]

FYI, I linked to a previous entry, hope that's ok. http://www.livejournal.com/users/selki/35909.html

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

It is always a pleasure to be linked too.