David Boaz nails it:
Republicans used to accuse Democrats of setting up a nanny state, one that would regulate every nook and cranny of our lives. They took control of Congress in 1994 by declaring that Democrats had given us ‘government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public’s money.’ After 10 years in power, however, the Republicans have seen the Democrats’ intrusiveness and raised them.
So from the Republicans we get federal money for churches; and congressional investigations into textbook pricing, the college football bowl system, the firing of Terrell Owens, video games, the television rating system, you name it; and huge new fines for indecency on television; and crackdowns on medical marijuana and steroids and ephedra; and federal intervention in the sad case of Terri Schiavo; and the No Child Left Behind Act; and federal subsidies for marriage; and (for less favored constituencies) a constitutional amendment to override the marriage laws of the 50 states.
David is optimistic that this debilitating state of affairs can be reversed. Americans actually like self-government, liberty and federalism. It’s just that Republicans have stopped articulating this vision; and many conservative intellectuals have stopped believing in it altogether, preferring the theocon nanny state. Believers in freedom need to find the courage of our own convictions again. I hope my forthcoming book helps.
(Photo of Tom DeLay: Chuck Kennedy/KRT/Abaca.)
The Dish 