Bay Buchanan appeared on Meet The Press and literally more than doubled down on Mitt Romney’s 47 percent blunder. According to Buchanan:
“We are a nation of people dependant on their government, and that is what Barack Obama gives us. And he promises more of that in four more years.”
Romney’s 47% comment, and Buchanan’s all inclusive defense of his sentiment, is meant to deride Americans who benefit from the government while appealing for their votes. If Romney and his surrogates pointed to the success of various government programs they would not come across as such pompous hypocrites by trying to get the folks they denigrate to vote for them. Unfortunately the right wing fringe will not allow candidates to do anything but give the most vague platitudes about wanting to save and strengthen these programs, while supporting policies which radically alter them.
It would be fine for a Democrat to point out that the American populace is supported by the government because they would say it in a way which is not completely dismissive of the populace due to that truth. Did Bay Buchanan travel by hot air balloon to the studio or did she travel over roads which are maintained by our tax dollars?
In the Randian society which Republicans seem to crave, the dude with the biggest army gathered from the anarchy would rule us all by dint of his superior might. Bay Buchanan and the far right may like the sound of that but the rest of us thank our lucky stars that the government, not the local warlord, protects us from enemies foreign and domestic.
What are the chances that Romney, Buchanan and the gang who think government dependence is such a problem will ignore the next tornado warning in their area because it was generated by a government agency using equipment and experts financed by their precious tax dollars? Actually, the entire Republican delegation in the house voted to cut funds to that program, so they want to ensure that none of us are allowed to rely upon those tornado warnings.
The list of government programs which support all of us is extensive and most of those benefits are not controversial despite the grousing of Romney and his surrogates. Difficult as this may be for me to admit, Romney and Buchanan are in fact correct. The problem is how they say it… as if they are diagnosing a problem with the people rather than appreciating the fruits of the American system.
Which leads me to wonder, who would you rather have administering the federal government? People who detest it and think those who benefit (in other words all of us) are problems? Or people who appreciate the role a well run government can play in the lives of all Americans. The aftermath of hurricane Katrina and the great recession are primary examples of what happens when people who hate government are allowed to run it. Compare that against the example given by President Obama and he should win this election, especially when Romney and his surrogates can not seem to stop whining about how horrible government and the people who benefit from it (all of us) are.
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