Krugman Is Right on Target

Krugman hits on what the logical result of anit-government philosophy leads too. If you think the government can't do anything correct and is root of all problems, than you may as well put your cronies in government and create a kleptocracy. Which leads to a point of systematic corruption in republican administrations. In the 20th century, what administration had the most officals sent to jail. Answer- The Harding administration. What administration had the second most: Answer- The Reagan administration. Followed by the Nixon administration. Now think about the current Bush administration and republican party. In congress, you Tom Delay's K-Street project which its goal is to get lobbying firms to hire only republicans and then steer all contributions to republican members of congress. Result- there are twice as many lobbyists in Washington to bribe government officials than there was 5 years ago. The Congress refuses to investigate the $8.8 billion dollars missing during the Coalition Provsional Authority's year long rule of Iraq. Or how about Halliburton contracts and rewritten government envirnomental regulations by corporate lobbyists. the list goes on and on. The republicans have corruption scandals right now in the city of San Diego, the entire Ohio state government and the Kentucky state government. Republican scandals have taken place in Montana allowing a democratic governor to be elected. Arnold Schwarznegger in California is now seen as corrupt. Republican congressmen with corruption scandals include Duke Cunningham, Tom Noe, David Dreier, the Speaker of the House Denny Hastert, and of course Tom Delay. Then you have entire states that are perceived as having corrupt republican machines, most notably Florida and Texas, but let's not forget Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Hell, look what republicans did to the finances of Shelby County. This is what republicanism means, the undermining the competency of the public sector in order to enrich those with power and connections. Welcome to the third world.

But in case people don't believe what I am saying. Lets look at the fundamental argument of republican's that says the government is too big.
Federal government employment:
1945- 3.4 million
1947- 2 million
1951- 2.5 million
1987- 3.1 million
1997- 2.8 million
Today- the largest expansion of the federal government since WWII and apparently for nothing in return, i.e Hurricane Katrina.

State and Local government:
1946- 3.6 million
1980- 13.3 million
1997- 16.7 million

So the Era of Big Government was first in states and local communities and now has caught on with the Bush Administration at the federal level. Wasn't returning decisions and authority to the states the republicans' main focus. Well, surprise surprise, local and state constituents wanted more services and caused the expansion of government. So lets clarify, do republicans want to end the era of Big local and state government while just pillaging the federal for their own benefit. It seems that they are happy to pillage state and local governments as well. Now I know why they hate paying taxes. It is a lot of trouble to try to steal your won money back while stealing everyone else's as well. And It all stems from this.


From Krugman's NYT editorial:
But the federal government's lethal ineptitude wasn't just a consequence of Mr. Bush's personal inadequacy; it was a consequence of ideological hostility to the very idea of using government to serve the public good. For 25 years the right has been denigrating the public sector, telling us that government is always the problem, not the solution. Why should we be surprised that when we needed a government solution, it wasn't forthcoming?

Does anyone remember the fight over federalizing airport security? Even after 9/11, the administration and conservative members of Congress tried to keep airport security in the hands of private companies. They were more worried about adding federal employees than about closing a deadly hole in national security.

Of course, the attempt to keep airport security private wasn't just about philosophy; it was also an attempt to protect private interests. But that's not really a contradiction. Ideological cynicism about government easily morphs into a readiness to treat government spending as a way to reward your friends. After all, if you don't believe government can do any good, why not?