Take Back Our Country?

The cry from the right is “Take back our Country”, but take it back from what they fail to say.  While they claim our “founding fathers” knew what was best for the country, they fail to acknowledge the following:

1.     In 1798, President John Adams signed a law creating the Federal Marine Hospital System, America’s first go at socialized medicine.

2.     Federal disaster relief on the part of the government (socialized government?) since the beginning of the republic.

3.     Civil War Pensions, established in 1862 were given to about 28% of all men over age 65. By 1893, its peak cost year, the Civil War Pension system accounted for 37 percent of all federal expenditures, a far greater share than Social Security.

4.     The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of government.

5.     While conservatives continue refer to the Federalist, theyh always fail to mention Federalist 27, Hamilton’s call for a robust federal government capable of touching the lives of all citizens.

So, from what shall we take back the country?  From the start of the republic there have been those who felt the government spent too much and did too much as well as those who thought the government should spend more and do more.  We do not need to take the country back but the need is to bring things into balance.  That will not be possible as long as the goal of one party is to prevent the other party from having any successes.  Funding the government without ever increasing revenue is equally impossible.  Listening to McConnell and Norcross will only make things worse as will any and all policy based solely upon ignorance and stupidity.