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Babs: The Myth of "Big Government"
barbrastreisand.com ^ | September 25, 2003 | Barbra Streisand

Posted on 09/26/2003 8:15:52 AM PDT by 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?


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Miscellaneous; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: algorelostgetoverit; growthegovernment; hooknosedhooker; limosineliberal; spendmymoneybabs; streisand; ugliestpersonnthwrld; uglybitch; usefulidiot; wipeyourchinbabs
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To: presidio9
Anything by B.S. should automatically get a Projectile Vomit Alert.
21 posted on 09/26/2003 8:59:08 AM PDT by Bubba_Leroy
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To: presidio9
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!
22 posted on 09/26/2003 9:02:47 AM PDT by Spruce
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To: Spruce; Bubba_Leroy; doodad
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
23 posted on 09/26/2003 9:06:10 AM PDT by presidio9 (RUN AL, RUN!!!)
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To: All
Nothing p!sses me more off than a limousine liberal
24 posted on 09/26/2003 9:06:49 AM PDT by luckydevi
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To: presidio9
What everyday government spending programs are we really ready to do without?

I doubt if she really wants to know the answer...
25 posted on 09/26/2003 9:07:21 AM PDT by evaporation-plus
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To: Bubba_Leroy

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.

 

26 posted on 09/26/2003 9:11:05 AM PDT by TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa (Foe Hammer!)
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To: Modernman
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).

27 posted on 09/26/2003 9:12:41 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (France delenda est)
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To: presidio9
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

28 posted on 09/26/2003 9:19:00 AM PDT by tm22721 (May the UN rest in peace)
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To: Brad Cloven
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.

29 posted on 09/26/2003 9:24:21 AM PDT by Fudd
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To: banjo joe
Where does this money come from?

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

30 posted on 09/26/2003 9:27:00 AM PDT by Modernman ("Oh no, the dead have risen and they're voting Republican"- Lisa Simpson)
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To: presidio9
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?
31 posted on 09/26/2003 9:28:39 AM PDT by Swiss
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To: presidio9
Hey, Babs, why not give all of YOUR money to the government?
32 posted on 09/26/2003 9:29:32 AM PDT by WinOne4TheGipper (Charity begins at home, not in Washington.)
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To: biblewonk
Not necessarily. Remember, she found her music to be boring.
33 posted on 09/26/2003 9:31:20 AM PDT by WinOne4TheGipper (Charity begins at home, not in Washington.)
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To: presidio9
"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.
34 posted on 09/26/2003 9:38:21 AM PDT by WinOne4TheGipper (Charity begins at home, not in Washington.)
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To: All
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.
35 posted on 09/26/2003 9:51:25 AM PDT by excalibur1701
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To: excalibur1701
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!!!!
36 posted on 09/26/2003 9:55:01 AM PDT by Hildy (SUCKER: Short-sighted Uncompromising Conservative Kool-Aid-drinking Elitist Republican.)
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To: presidio9
Yes, her songs are boring, but not as much as her repeated ranting and raging.
37 posted on 09/26/2003 9:58:24 AM PDT by OESY
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To: A Navy Vet
You took the words right out of my mouth.
38 posted on 09/26/2003 10:01:09 AM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: excalibur1701
Show some respect you upperclass snob.

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

39 posted on 09/26/2003 10:04:54 AM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
You are right, should have said "Self-Appointed" Upperclass snob. ::snicker::
40 posted on 09/26/2003 10:06:15 AM PDT by excalibur1701
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