Now We Know

     Apparently, a “Trump-endorsed” Continuing Resolution was introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives late yesterday. From the reports, it was skeletal, at least when compared to the 1500-page monstrosity that Speaker Johnson yanked before that. It funded the federal government through March, provided aid to hurricane-stricken areas, and some aid to farmers. Nothing more.

     It was voted down.

     Only 2 Democrats voted for that CR. That’s not too surprising, as the previous, giveaway-packed abortion was their sugarplum-laden dream bill, and they will have nothing less. But it seems that 38 Republicans voted against it, too.

     I’m sure they had their reasons… just as we now have our reasons to primary them into retirement.

     This is “our” “federal” “government,” folks. It started out small and restrained. But we couldn’t keep it that way. It’s absorbed the whole of American life and a huge fraction of American production, and it wants more.

     Imagine a community of anarchists – maybe this one? — learning about American history since the Revolution for the very first time. Scratch that; L. Neil Smith has done the imagining for us:

     They deposited a half-ounce silver disk on the counter one midnight, reached with carefully sterilized tongs through the newly widened Broach, remembering the wisdom of Poor Richard before he’d gone Federalist. They learned a great deal, none of it encouraging: the Revolution; the Whiskey Rebellion; a War of 1812?; Mexico; and, horror of horrors, a civil war-three-quarters of a million dead. Financial crises alternated with war, and no one seemed to notice the pattern. World War I; the Great Depression; World War II and the atomic bomb; Korea; Vietnam. And towering above it all, power politics: a state growing larger, more demanding every year, swallowing lives, fortunes, destroying sacred honor, screaming in its bloatedness for more, capable of any deed—no matter how corrupt and repulsive, swollen, crazed—staggering toward extinction.

     This is what we have permitted. This is what we suffer. And until we resolve to make an end to it, the suffering will worsen.

     Where the Hell is that planetoid?

9 comments

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  1. In short, lust for power is insatiable. In large part, it’s due to fear of vendettas. We are witnessing that fear today.

    • trangbang68 on December 20, 2024 at 9:32 AM

    The 38 Republicans who voted against Trump’s bare bones bill are dirty, corrupt, compromised unprincipled swine loyal to themselves, China, Globohomo Inc. and their father the devil.

    • Butch on December 20, 2024 at 11:40 AM

    Here’s an idea to fix the budget crisis. I propose a Constitutional amendment as follows:

    “The congress shall pass a budget by August 31st annually. Should they fail to do so the congress will be dissolved and the legislators sent home with a ban from running or holding federal office for life. Elections will be held for replacements within 30 days. The new congress will have 60 days to pass a new budget or be dissolved. The budget may not exceed two percent of GDP except in the case of war declared by Congress. In order to declare war three quarters of the states must approve a war declaration in addition to the Congress.

    The 17th amendment is hereby repealed. Senators will be appointed by state legislators in accordance with the Constitution of 1787. ”

    Banned for life you say; why reward failure. We cannot allow the Congress the sole power to declare war to waive the provisions in this proposal or we will have continual war as we do now.

    1. That’s not bad! It might need a little rewording, but as it stands, I like it.

        • gl on December 20, 2024 at 2:34 PM

        I would vote for that bill.

        Saw one today that said that every bill that makes up that 1500 page monstrosity should have the congress critter who submitted the bill have their name attached. Then all bill’s and the names will be read on C-Span. They forever be named as the person who wants inspectors for the inspectors of molasses. I don’t recall, maybe you do, of a massive molasses recall at any time in our history. So why should we spend $30 million for this. Does he have a deadbeat son that needs a job? What would be the qualification for an inspector of the inspectors? Maybe, because it gov work we could sit at home and do it on the computer. I could apply. I know how to fill out a form and know especially how to cash a gov check.

        Also, they wanted total immunity from any subpoenas of any of their personal or private emails for life. Nothing fishy about that bill at all. Nope it’s your imagination.

    • Ghost Who Walks on December 21, 2024 at 12:15 PM

    No need to point out that a single group is responsible for all of the stated problems, travesties, and woes — a group having the same origen, speaking the same language, and practicing the same religion (at least nominally).

    The AMISH!

    • Christofer on December 21, 2024 at 12:38 PM

    Who were the Rs that voted against it?

     

    • Sean on December 21, 2024 at 1:56 PM

    There are too many variables, and problems, and players, and parasites, and ad nauseum. The German word for it is veloren. Lost. The Byzantines were a pretty good template for it. When the whole thing had rotted from one end to the other, the Blues and Greens, the political parties, were still murdering each other in the streets while the moslems were breaking down the walls. They lost the Empire through greed, corruption, selfishness, and pride. I may not be around to see the end, but I can “see” it coming.

    • Lineman on December 21, 2024 at 5:42 PM

    This is what we have permitted. This is what we suffer. And until we resolve to make an end to it, the suffering will worsen..

    Yea but I guess it isn’t quite bad enough yet and I would guess by the time it gets bad enough there won’t be enough of us around or with the resolve to end it which would mean sacrifice and selflessness…

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