Elizabeth Warren: "Republicans say they don’t believe in government. Sure they do."

[phantom power]

Every time Warren speaks, I like her more.

That’s simply a far more honest portrayal of the America we actually live in than anyone usually articulates on stage at a national political convention. She told the story in broad strokes, the story people feel in their core, the story that anyone paying attention since the Great Recession knows. We’re not a fairy-tale land where everyone can grow up and be whatever they want. We’re not a land of social mobility and equality of opportunity. We’re in an economy that’s unraveled pretty badly, and over a 30-year period, that has cut off those avenues for mobility, and now has become a favor factory for the rich and powerful. People may not want to hear this; but they know it.

Where Warren and Clinton connect is over this passage, criticizing conservative ideology. But Warren took it a step further:

The Republican vision is clear: “I’ve got mine, the rest of you are on your own.” Republicans say they don’t believe in government. Sure they do. They believe in government to help themselves and their powerful friends.

This is an under-emphasized point. I hear liberals all the time ask the question, “Republicans say they hate government, and then they want to run it!” Of course they want to run government. Government can be extremely rewarding – when it’s used to particular ends to enrich friends and donors and corporate contributors. Government can be a profit-taking exercise. And that’s what usually happens.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/09/06/warren-delivers-refreshing-dose-of-honesty-in-dnc-speech/

[bongbong]

1. ABSO-FUCKING-LOOTLY!

(with an emphasis on LOOT)

> This is an under-emphasized point.

I've always said that once the repigs succeed in their plan to privatize schools, prisons, etc, that we'll suddenly start hearing from the MSM and repigs how VITALLY important it is to spend more taxpayer bucks on those things.

[ProSense]

2. Here's a wonderful piece:

Warren the Big Shot
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021283071

[yodermon]

3. "Government can be a profit-taking exercise"

Yeah it's called feudalism at best and fascism at worst, in between being oligarchy and kleptocracy.