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0rganism

(25,704 posts)
23. it's actually quite simple and effective
Tue Jul 15, 2014, 07:28 PM
Jul 2014

Remember, the end goal is "profit and power".

The republican plan starts by destroying the federal government's role as a service provider, or rather the largest government at any particular level (national? federal. state? state gov't. local? municipal/county board/whatever)

When the government, whether it be county, state or federal, cannot maintain or improve the infrastructure, it fails to meet demands of some kind. This causes discontent among the public.

This in turn opens the annoyed public to the GOP's favorite form of propaganda: "the government can't meet your needs because it is too large/inefficient/bloated/union-infested/unresponsive/whatever."

Once popular agreement is established on that point, the next asserted step is, "You pay too much in taxes. You need to withhold tax revenue from the government so it can no longer try to provide the services it failed to deliver to you. Then that service can be provided by the private sector/a church/concerned volunteers/whatever instead, and they will do a much better job for less. Meanwhile you will be personally richer for not having paid as much in taxes."

At this point, if the public buys into the propaganda, they will progressively defund the government at the targeted level, making it impossible for services to be provided effectively, and reinforcing the first propaganda point. The feedback loop is complete, and revenue starvation can pretty much drive itself from there on down.

What next? What do they gain from it?

Well the first benefit is the ability to discredit the opposition: "see? big government never works!"

The next benny is more interesting. Once they take over a government that's scrambling for cash, they can contract out with their buddies in industry/religion/charity groups/whatever to do the jobs that government used to do, but obviously on a reduced scale (selectively and conditionally providing services which used to be open to all). Also, once they have their influence embedded deep in the revenue stream, they'll pump what funding remains to the parts of government where they have the most natural alliances, obviously at the expense of those to which they have little affinity -- but you didn't really need those services anyway, right?

This enables a taxpayer-funded revenue stream to targeted private entities who will, in turn, generally support republicans in their future bids for power at any level, while redirecting money to the republicans' friends and family.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I have never heard a reason given. upaloopa Jul 2014 #1
I Want To Know How They Could Possibly Justify Not Upgrading Our Infrastructure..... global1 Jul 2014 #5
Serfs were forbidden to travel without their lord's sayso. hobbit709 Jul 2014 #2
It's a good thing that would happen while a Democrat is in the White House. arcane1 Jul 2014 #3
The cost - that's it gratuitous Jul 2014 #22
I think they're just dumb. tridim Jul 2014 #4
Perhaps a question that should come up at every state campaign event this season. Skidmore Jul 2014 #6
There It Is - You Hit The Problem Right On The Button...... global1 Jul 2014 #11
The corporate press is not there to support... prairierose Jul 2014 #17
That doesn't mean that a large number of people asking this question Skidmore Jul 2014 #19
Skidmore, you are correct, I was... prairierose Jul 2014 #26
Their financial backer friends aren't cashing in rocktivity Jul 2014 #7
"Taxes are theft!! Tyranny!!!1! Usurper! Benghazi!" PeaceNikki Jul 2014 #8
Something about bootstraps, maybe? randome Jul 2014 #9
Repubs are waiting for interest rates to go back up JaneyVee Jul 2014 #10
Privatize it all, let it fall apart and then make profit off building new. Motown_Johnny Jul 2014 #12
The GOPs response to the infrastructure... SummerSnow Jul 2014 #13
They usually say it's already been done and that it was wasted. Puzzledtraveller Jul 2014 #14
They are waiting for Obama to be out of office. Then there will be an explosion of Fed and private kelliekat44 Jul 2014 #15
But they (we) have been underspending on infrastructure for decades. truebluegreen Jul 2014 #28
Republicans love broken down bridges and roads. SummerSnow Jul 2014 #16
Were so busy giving fianancil aid to countiries to rebuild their infrastructure, SummerSnow Jul 2014 #18
Because they want America to fail and the wealthy can buy what they want and put it on a fee for TheKentuckian Jul 2014 #20
Privatize all roads and bridges. What would Ayn do? Kingofalldems Jul 2014 #21
it's actually quite simple and effective 0rganism Jul 2014 #23
I Know That This Is There Plan But The Question I'm Asking Is What Is Their Reply When Asked..... global1 Jul 2014 #27
Their reply would be entirely consistent with their propaganda points 0rganism Jul 2014 #29
Pick one. mstinamotorcity2 Jul 2014 #24
so have the dems put up an infrastructure bill yet? like their jobs bill....oops dont have one nt msongs Jul 2014 #25
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