Grover Norquist on 60 Minutes last night sounded like the Unibomber. He is so convinced of his right cause that he is willing to destroy government, whatever it takes. In Norquist's world, it is a black and white matter. Government serves no useful purpose other than to steal people's hard earned money.
From my perspective-- informed by decades of civic activism for the environment and sensible land use policies in Florida, one of the least sensible of states-- I find plenty of reasons to be be scornful of the results of government, but we part on the issue whether government can work at all. I believe it can.
Norquist has such a dim view of government that he wants government to fail. "Design-to-fail" benefits powerful economic interests who know that vast fortunes can be made by steering policies and regulations to their private advantage. By extension, the benefits of design-to-fail provide space for business to confer improvements to society that cannot be imposed or should not be imposed because they impinge on constitutional freedoms.
On these points, we also disagree. Norquist won't reveal to the public, his financial sources but we know who they are: polluters and billionaires who have a great deal to lose if energy and tax policies change.
If the economic crisis-- still unfolding-- has taught us anything it is that private business is concerned with shareholder reward and value. The matter of evaluating risk and imposing regulations to protect the public interest-- which is essentially to ensure the safety and security of our nation-- is the true and appropriate role of government. How have we-- voters-- lost focus?
It is partly a matter of fear. Partly greed. Partly the deep insecurity of treading unknown economic waters through which the middle class is sliding backwards.
What I wish for, is a much more rigorous civil service at all levels of government. A government that smart people would be proud to join and to serve. This government would prohibit the revolving door and the many forms of regulatory capture that ensure regulatory failure. Not only can it be done: it has been done. Think China. Not the China of today, but a form of government that exalted civil service and provided continuity and stability for more than a thousand years.
Democrats offer no vision how to improve the performance of government regulatory agencies. Unions are inflexible and insistent on creating their own forms of institutional gridlock. But in fairness, the gridlock of unions and intractable members pales in comparison to economic calamity wrought by insiders and the financial and economic interests who dominate public policies. Unions are visible targets. Their leadership is nowhere near as nimble as well-funded adversaries like Norquist et al.
There should be a path for Democrats to counter the Norquist effect. Government can succeed. The snake oil salesmen belong in the stalls and alleys of flea markets and not the halls of Congress, on the dais of the county commission or City Hall.
7 comments:
Gimlete, I agreed with you on your premise, but when the Union issue came up, I strongly disagree.
Look at local government budget crunching as an example and one of the largest municipal bankruptcy's in History in Alabama.
Florida is a right to work State, but don't tell that to the Unions. When the Unions demanded (yes, demanded) our employees join the Union and we become a Union shop, as a private employer, I took everyone off the payroll and they receive 1099's each year. Did I want to do that? Nope.
However, that was MY choice. Did it impact me, certainly. The Unions are no friends to private industry when they force themselves on to it. Now, if my workers want to become Unionized, without prodding from Union thugs, I would have looked at it differently and probably wouldn't have batted an eye about it.
Government employees should not be Unionized. They should be Civil Servants, like the rest of the Country. Our tax dollars should not be paying their dues either, so they can support candidates I don't support, with my Tax money.
As I wrote in the beginning, I agreed with your premise, but Unions are to blame for busting our local budgets - not the Banks or Billionaires!
Re anon above -- it is way too easy to simply blame unions. Everyone (unions and bosses) have been driven to regulate and negotiate to the lowest common denominator. it was a progressive movement that led to the protection of civil servants so that not everyone lost their jobs to the latest elected official and crass patronage. Have the protections gone too far - yup. Everyone has become part of the problem. I am not sure what it will take to restore faith in civil service and dignity to the real desire that so many public workers have to serve the public good. But first - I think we have to believe it is possible. Gimleteye -- as we used to say "Keep the Faith" - and know that there are lots of people who agree with you.
Long Live Gimspierre !!!
"I find plenty of reasons to be be scornful of the results of government,"
Yet you still defend the notion that MORE government is a good thing? Though I agree with you that maintaining a healthy environment is important and a balance must be found, the answer does not lie with relying on individuals who have a talent for getting the most absentee votes or votes from people who do not even begin to comprehend the most basic of issues.
"Norquist has such a dim view of government that he wants government to fail"
Government fails because with rare exceptions it attracts the most ruthless and amoral elements of our society (politicians) or the most inert and incompetent (bureaucrats). That can't and won't change hasn't in 2500 years so what's wrong with limiting governments size and scope?
"Norquist won't reveal to the public, his financial sources but we know who they are: polluters and billionaires who have a great deal to lose"
And on the other side you have public employee unions and folks that run compaies like Solantra, not exactly Viena Boys Choir material themselves.
"If the economic crisis-- still unfolding-- has taught us anything it is that private business is concerned with shareholder reward and value"
And in order to reward shareholders with that added value they have to satisfy customers (that would include me and you), with good services and/or products at a price we find agreeable in contrast government which takes our money by force, customer satisfaction be damned (See all levels of government).
"Think China. Not the China of today"
The china of Mao? Or Chiang? or the Warlorsds? or the Emperors?
Should I run and buy a copy of the Little Red Book (not to be confused with the capitalist Big Red Corvette).
That is the most perpostorous statement you have ever made Gimmspierre (and you have made more than your fair share) what about looking to the ideals that founded this nation over 200 years ago (which we have long since forgotten).
See you in Pekin, don't forget to bring a hoe, your Mao garb and the little Red Book.
I know this will sound naive but a lot of these gov haters real problem is they cant stand Obama. Once a Republican gets in office they will change their tune.
The myth of American Decline
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/17/opinion/asghar-globalization/index.html
I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist to "diagnose" anyone, but what little I know of both tells me that Grover Norquist is nothing more that a megalomaniac, sociopath with delusions of grandeur and a silver tongue. May the fleas of a thousand camels invade the armits of both Norquist and his followers.
"Naive Anon" it cuts both ways yes some people just hate Obama but some folks want to blame Bush for the sinking of the Lusitania.
Actually in my book not that much difference between the two, mett the new boss same as the old boss.
Examples
Bush introduced and a REPUBLICAN conngress passed the biggest increase in medical Spending and where were the Tea Baggers then?
Obama is getting out of Iraq but that timetable was set by Bush, he has kept us in Afghanistan orchestrated his own surge there, got us involved in Lybia and Uganda and is rattling his saber at Iran, Where are all the anti-war protester now? Occupying Walmart?
Partisanship is for mindless twits,
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