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Polls Show the 2010 Elections Were About Smaller Government

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What I really want is a smaller Federal government that adheres more closely to the model intended by the founders. I want the appropriate government services delivered at the appropriate (fiscally responsible) level of government. Things like the FAA are appropriate at the Federal level. My state has a Department of Natural Resources that is far more interested in the preservation of the Great Lakes than the EPA could ever be. Can you imagine how much more quickly the Gulf oil spill would have been handled if the Gulf Coast states had been in charge. So, EPA - I don't think so. The national parks could just as well be state parks. I don't need a Department of Education or a Department of Agriculture or a Department of Housing and Urban affairs or ... Most of that is already done at the state level. Why should I send my tax money to New York or California to support their interests when I would rather apply it right here in my own state and community. As for Social Security and Medicare - I would have preferred to take care of it myself. Now that I am 65 I don't have a lot of options outside of Medicare, and, now that the payment to physicians is being cut drastically, I will probably have to make up the difference myself if I want to receive the same level of medical care that I have been accustomed to. So much for stupid progressive ideas.

Jim of MI 4:41PM November 16, 2010

Bush pushed for regulation to stop Bill Clinton's recession. Passed by House but stopped by Democrats in Senate.
We are not against good regulations.
obama waved regulations to BP that lead to worse oil spill in Gulf. Why did he waver, BP had worse safety record in Gulf. Was it because BP gave largest campaign contributions to obama ?

Bill Hedges of MO 3:12PM November 16, 2010

“The 2008 U.S. presidential election is already the most expensive ever, with overall fund-raising surpassing that for the 2004 contest and the Democrats holding a large lead in the money race. As of the end of July 2008, all presidential candidates had reported receiving more than $1 billion in total contributions. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the Democratic candidate, had reported $389.4 million, a record amount and more than twice the $174.2 million reported by Senator John McCain of Arizona, the Republican candidate (see table”
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0807073
More in article to bring tears to your eyes.

Bill Hedges of MO 3:04PM November 16, 2010

Its been my experience that people want less government in the abstract but when you get to specific cuts people get upset. Most polls show that most people don't want cuts in Medicare, Social Security, etc. People love their national parks, they expect the Federal government (the FAA) to make sure the plane they are going to fly on has undergone a safety inspection they expect the EPA to make sure our air is clean and water is safe to drink, etc. As we saw with the gulf oil spill and the San Bruno gas explosion in California, tragedy can result when you don't have proper regulatory oversight due to budget cuts done it the name of "less government." Be carefule what you wish for.

Edward of CA 1:38PM November 16, 2010

Bill you have your head so far up your arse, you will never see the light of day again. Democrats and their corporate buddies. I guess the Koch Brothers and all the banks and corporations that give to Republicans and the teabaggers are just small businessmen.
You and your ilk are helping to bring back the Gilded Age. Thanks for nothing.

Tree Hugger of CO 10:00AM November 16, 2010

are, more or less, a reflection of those governed. As the precepts of objective morality and character are diluted by the ideas of progressive relativism then the democracy, with no moral north, drifts off course - guided by the exigencies of the moment and the will of the masses.
America is a Constitutional Republic - not a democracy. When the blind objectivity of the Constitution is threatened by the ideological tantrums of the majority then blind justice should weigh the law without favor. However, judicial activism, meted out by agenda driven judges, leaves the republic subject to the tyrannies of the majority - right or left.
This is what is at the foundation of the argument at hand. It is left only to note that the whimsy of man is always the fatal flaw in any system of government, but as Lincoln noted, it can be corrected by the God given light to see the right.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 12:46PM November 15, 2010

The numbers you gave Peter is meaningless to the other side. Ideology is everything in their life. That ideology being FREE RIDE off the rich. Retribution not earn...
The liberals cry of our bail out of Wall Street. How about the car companies. Don’t put FORD in that group. They earned respect. No public money.
Anyhow GM has a new IPO coming out. That means Initial Public Offering. Day sold no public will be able to buy. Even though we saved their behind. Firms that have small investors won’t be able to buy this IPO. Big Firms with rich investors can buy this IPO. After this, then you & I can buy. Blame United States Treasury.
Democrats paying back their cooperate buddies.

Bill Hedges of MO 12:13PM November 15, 2010