Slaughter House ‘10: The Gutting of State and Local Government

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



Posted by LesLeopold at 2:46 pm
March 26, 2010

Slaughter House ‘10: The Gutting of State and Local Government


The Jeffersonian anti-federalists feared that a strong national government would lead our fledgling nation back towards monarchy. Instead they wanted government closer to the people where it would better serve their interests rather than interests of the moneyed merchants and traders.

That not good enough for Tea Party and other conservative activists today: They’re against all government, at all levels. They don’t want government to provide much of anything except maybe a vast military industrial complex. But public schools, environmental protection, social services for low and moderate income people? Fugetaboutit!

The Wall Street-led crash has created the perfect climate for this crusade to eviscerate the public sector, especially at the state and local level. It’s ugly and getting uglier.

With 29 million American unemployed or forced into part-time jobs, tax receipts have plummeted more steeply than any time since the Great Depression. State and local governments are slashing their services–at the very moment when people most desperately need them. This is the very definition of a fiscal crisis. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/03/26/slaughter-house-10-the-gutting-of-state-and-local-government/

[midnight]

1. K&R All for a govt. for and by the people....

[DJ13]

2. The crash was also the perfect vehicle to eviscerate federal programs

The conservatives (party doesnt matter) arent stopping at state and local public programs, they are zeroing in on our federal safety net as well.

Thats why Obama created his deficit commission.

[Hannah Bell]

3. The *Tea Partiers* want to shrink gov't at all levels? Try the corporatists of both parties.

Cause gov't functions can be privatized for profits, & less gov't = less taxes for the big boys.