Babs: The Myth of "Big Government"

barbrastreisand.com ^ | September 25, 2003 | Barbra Streisand

[presidio9]

What is "Big Government?" We've been conditioned to believe these are bad words - but when Hurricane Isabel ripped through the East Coast last week, leaving many homes and businesses significantly damaged in its wake, Bush told disaster relief workers and governors of the affected states, "If you need help, let us know." This was not Bush showing his "compassionate" side... this is what the federal government does -it helps people in need. Contrary to Republican slogans against "Big Government" or "Tax and Spend Liberals," if you look at the reality, government spending is a key part of what makes this country function and provides the services that Americans both depend on and take for granted.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the agency Bush extolled in the Southeast this week, is designed to help Americans in crises - be they victims of natural disasters, or victims of extreme poverty. Agencies such as FEMA are what make our country able to bounce back from tragedy and unforeseen events, just as schools educate our children, firefighters fight fires, police officers keep our streets orderly, a decent highway system allows us to move freely, national parks maintain our incredible natural resources, our military protects us from outside threats, the Center for Disease Control protects us from epidemics, and Social Security and Medicare programs insure that our seniors aren't thrust into poverty after so many years of hard work. These are just some of the basics of government. These are not entitlement programs. These are not excesses. These are not "special interests." This is what the government is supposed to do for you, the people.

So when Republicans, such as leading tax-cut proponent Grover Norquist, talk about reducing government to the size where they can "drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub," we need to examine what that world without government would look like. Do we want to live in a country without a legal system, without a military, without free education, without safety net programs? Is this the future most Americans actually want for their country?

We also have to understand the connection between taxes and spending. It is our taxes that pay for these services, so Bush's two big tax cuts for the wealthy will, eventually, result in a cut in the services that all Americans depend on everyday, unless the tax cuts are repealed. So far, Bush has been more or less coasting on a policy of tax cuts and spending increases, such as the additional $87 billion he now is asking Americans to shoulder for Iraq. Meanwhile, he has cut spending for state-administered programs - plunging state governments into crisis, and has created unfunded mandates with catchy titles, such as the No Child Left Behind Act. Bush is dangerously betting against the future... turning an enormous surplus into an enormous deficit that future generations will have to grapple with. Eventually, we will be forced to have a national discussion about either repealing the cuts or asking the question: What everyday government spending programs are we really ready to do without?

[theDentist]

Another burst of flatulence from the mouth that bored.

[Modernman]

Forgot the Barf Alert.

we need to examine what that world without government would look like. Do we want to live in a country without a legal system, without a military, without free education, without safety net programs? Is this the future most Americans actually want for their country?

Umm, has anyone other than radical libertarians proposed going this far? What a hysterical exageration.

[Onelifetogive]

Do we want to live in a country without a legal system, without a military, without free education, without safety net programs.

No, No, Yes, Yes!

[A Navy Vet]

Babs the Bolshevik.

[biblewonk]

If Babs says it, it must be wrong, right!

[Onelifetogive]

It is our taxes that pay for these services, so Bush's two big tax cuts for the wealthy will, eventually, result in a cut in the services that all Americans depend on everyday, unless the tax cuts are repealed.

When Babs performed concerts, how did she set ticket prices??? Would increasing ticket prices ALWAYS raise more money? Would $10,000,000 per ticket raise 1,000,000 times more money than $10 per ticket? Just curious???

[Onelifetogive]

Do we want to live in a country without a legal system, without a military, without free education, without safety net programs?

You know what would be really cool...Some kind of document (we could call it, for instance, a "Constitution") that said exactly what we wanted the government to do and no more. I'm just dreaming, I guess.....

[Jonah Hex]

Gee, Babs, I'm pretty sure that wasn't the government I saw working outside my house at 0300 the other night. I belive that was a lineman from The Big Bad Power Company spending time away from his family to help us get power back after a week without.

I'm risking a censure from the admin moderator, but... what a bitch!

[Uncle Miltie]

What is "Big Government?"

The one that takes over half my income. That one.

[freeeee]

Do we want to live in a country without a... free education, without safety net programs?

"If you had two candidates for office, one running on the programs of Stalin and the other running on the programs of Jefferson the American people would probably vote for the candidate who represented the programs of Stalin. If you didn't put the name on it and just looked at the programs, they would say, Oh yeah, we believe in national health care and we believe in free education for everybody and we believe we should have gun control."
- Congressman Ron Paul paraphrasing Walter Williams

[BOBTHENAILER]

NEW TITLE:

The Myth of My Intelligence
by Barbra Streisand

[wayoverontheright]

We also have to understand the connection between taxes and spending. It is our taxes that pay for these services, so Bush's two big tax cuts for the wealthy will, eventually, result in a cut in the services that all Americans depend on everyday...

I always knew that this was the hope of the Hollywood Left, that everybody but them would be hooked on entitlements, but I never thought they were so delusional as to think it already a reality.

[11B3]

Babs: If you are so enamored with socialism, MOVE TO A SOCIALIST NATION AND STFU.

[Wheee The People]

this is what the federal government does -it helps people in need.

Way kewl...I need a Porsche. Black

[lilylangtree]

Yeah, Babsie! Keep it up. You and Monica Lewinsky have something in common: your big mouth with a deep throat that encompassed Bubba Clintoon with Hitlery's blessings.

[onedoug]

From "No other God's before Me," to worship at the altar of government. The lack of faith in people's industry in solving their own problems.

[Oztrich Boy]

You are dreaming. They would screw it up by including words like "promote the general welfare" which would give Big Government the impetus to do Everything, and include the power to "regulate commerce ... among the several states" which the aforesaid Big Government wuld declare then gave them the power to do Everything.

[banjo joe]

without free education

Free?! Just what is the "cost" of this "free" education. I hear most states spend about $9-10K per child per year.
Where does this money come from?

mow-ron.

[doodad]

No kidding. Got my tax bill yesterday. Between the schools and the welfare hospital, it was not free.

[Bubba_Leroy]

Anything by B.S. should automatically get a Projectile Vomit Alert.

[Spruce]

Babs, Babs, Babs! You're a washed-up lounge singer/actress. You're expertise is in singing other peoples words, or pretending. So please do us all a favor and STFU, Butt-Pipe!

[presidio9]

Streisand is winning an internet "Who's the ugliest person in the world?" contest by a wide margin. Bote here:


http://www.bestandworst.com/vote/processrate/ratechoice.php?445

[luckydevi]

Nothing p!sses me more off than a limousine liberal

[evaporation-plus]

What everyday government spending programs are we really ready to do without?

I doubt if she really wants to know the answer...

[TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa]

MAÎTRE D:
Ah, good afternoon, sir, and how are we today?
MR. CREOSOTE:
Better.
MAÎTRE D:
Better?
MR. CREOSOTE:
Better get a bucket. I'm going to throw up.
 

[ClearCase_guy]

Imagine there's no legal system,
it's easy if you try
no military weapons, no free education,
below us no safety net programs

This version is as stupid as Lennon's (but his scans better).

[tm22721]

Didn't you know that in DC money grows on trees.

Employees at my plant (defense contractor) will get the entire day off (paid for by the Feds) due to the designation of VA as a disaster area.

Our tax dollars at work. Or NOT.

BUMP

[Fudd]

What is "Big Government?"

The one that decides to impose a $1.5 billion fine on your little company because you made it look bad on national television.

[Modernman]

Where does this money come from?

It comes from the government- it's magic money!

[Swiss]

FEMA didn't exist before 1979. Until the 1930's government help in disasters was limited to National Guard and Regular Army.

So how did we recover from the Chicago Fire, San Francisco Earthquake, Galveston Hurricane, etc?

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Hey, Babs, why not give all of YOUR money to the government?

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Not necessarily. Remember, she found her music to be boring.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

"This is what government is supposed to do."

No it's not. Taking care of your basic needs is your responsibility, short of that, it is the responsibility of your fellow man to freely help you. Government is supposed to shut up, sit back, and defend the country.

[excalibur1701]

Hey Babs....It's PRESIDENT Bush.....yes, PRESIDENT Bush. You may not like it, but he's our PRESIDENT. For you not to address him in this manner shows how bitter you really are. Show some respect you upperclass snob.

I now return you to your regular programming.

[Hildy]

I saw an interview with James Brolin on his role as Ronald Reagan. When asked what Barbra thought, he said she kept her mouth shut...and that's rare for her!!!!

[OESY]

Yes, her songs are boring, but not as much as her repeated ranting and raging.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Show some respect you upperclass snob.

I wouldn't even give her the credit of being "upperclass".

[excalibur1701]

You are right, should have said "Self-Appointed" Upperclass snob. ::snicker::

[Toespi]

Let's have a "BURN STREISAND RECORDING PRODUCTS" Day.

[geedee]

Babs: If you are so enamored with socialism, MOVE TO A SOCIALIST NATION AND STFU.

Agreed, notice my tagline.

Here's Babs after us conservatives kicked bootie in the 2002 election . . .

[socal_parrot]

I see she's using spell check.

[excalibur1701]

Here are some Babara Streisand items on E-bay, that will be ending in 3 hours or less.

Barbra Streisand Back to Broadway CD: No bid
Barbra Streisand new DVD, Hello Dolly: No bid
Barbra Streisand Super Hit Karaoke Collection: No bid (minimun bid of .01 cents)

[Constitutional Patriot]

She is so painfully ignorant.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

No I think it goes beyond "ignorance" into true socialist/communist leanings, typical of a certain segment of Russian Jews assimilated into the Communist Central Committee.

[Charlie OK]

"If you had two candidates for office, one running on the programs of Stalin and the other running on the programs of Jefferson the American people would probably vote for the candidate who represented the programs of Stalin. If you didn't put the name on it and just looked at the programs, they would say, Oh yeah, we believe in national health care and we believe in free education for everybody and we believe we should have gun control." - Congressman Ron Paul paraphrasing Walter Williams

Man, I wish that would fit on my tag line!

[Greybird]

I take it this is not part of the publicity campaign for her new "Movie Album," due on 14 October. Why is she pushing two-thirds of her buying public away with both hands?

I've respected her art for over 30 years. I stopped respecting her in any degree when she said, in a 1998 on-line AOL interview apropos of Clinton's perjuries, "There are lies, and there are lies." Anyone who thinks integrity is a divisible commodity is being stupid, not just misinformed.

Now she (or '60s wannabe Marge Tabankin or someone else at her charitable foundation) writes insipid farragos like this, and a score of others, on her official Website. Her friends are persuaded already. It drives away those who don't know she's a political animal. Thus accomplishing nothing.

[jmc813]

"If you had two candidates for office, one running on the programs of Stalin and the other running on the programs of Jefferson the American people would probably vote for the candidate who represented the programs of Stalin. If you didn't put the name on it and just looked at the programs, they would say, Oh yeah, we believe in national health care and we believe in free education for everybody and we believe we should have gun control." - Congressman Ron Paul paraphrasing Walter Williams

Is that from a particular speech or article? If so, might you have a link? Thanks.

[rabidralph]

What everyday government spending programs are we really ready to do without?

Off the top of my head: Ed. Dept., PBS, C-SPAN, Endowment for the Arts, silly health studies, Planned Parenthood, aid to certain foreign countries, American military in Germany and Japan.