General Welfare vs. Partisan Greed

   

U.S. Constitution

 We should not be surprised that these days Republicans never speak of the "common good" or the "general welfare." Those concepts appear to be anathema to them, their followers, and their lobbyist supporters. Although the Christian tradition is imbued with the concept of an individual's obligation to foster the common good, Republican politicians in this country posses a more narcissistic point of view. They have made it clear they are more interested in the welfare of their party and the interests of their lobbyist friends than they are in the welfare of the nation. When a program appears to benefit the general welfare of the country, they bemoan its effect on the deficit; but when a continued tax cut for billionaires is discussed, they maintain that such a cut is necessary for the economy -- the old "trickle-down theory of economics" disowned by its creator, David Stockman.

The examples are plentiful -- going back to the Reagan years of  "greed-is-good." Today, however, it is rampant. Just a few examples. After the Supreme Court justices who favored "states-rights" changed their minds and elected George W. Bush, Cheney and his cohorts had not unpacked their bags before they were holding a secret "energy" meeting to determine the best way to capitalize on Bush's "victory." That was followed by "temporary" tax breaks for the very wealthy, and a pre-emptive assault on Iraq, albeit, the so-called reasons did not exist. However, Haliburton and Blackwater made billions of dollars as private contractors. Skipping ahead, the country watched Sarah Palin resign as governor of Alaska because she saw the opportunity to cash in on McCain's desperate and misguided choice of her as his running mate; and  cash in, she has! Her commitment to the welfare of Alaska was not a factor. Mitch McConnell, the leader of  Republican senators has told us his goal is to see that the President of the United States fails. Apparently he does not care that if the President fails, the country fails.

Not to be too dramatic about it, but most historians agree that the fall of great empires and civilizations of the past began when political leaders became more concerned about their own welfare and power than they did the common good and the general welfare.


But the most telling statements of the oligarchs on the right are the accusations that President Obama is pursuing a program of "socialism." Their condemnation of what they label socialism, is not about socialism, but it is a condemnation of people looking out for the general welfare rather than self-interests.


Our grandfathers and great grandfathers fought two World Wars for the common good, not selfish interests. They knew that the U.S. Constitution was established to "promote the general Welfare."