Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 06:27 AM Nov 2012

How Mitt Romney Would Screw the Red States That Support Him

http://www.alternet.org/election-2012/how-mitt-romney-would-screw-red-states-support-him?akid=9617.277129.gHLPk3&rd=1&src=newsletter736736&t=3



Mitt Romney's suggestion that emergency management is best left up to the states is not just a silly, ideologically informed bit of campaign rhetoric. It represents a radical departure from what most people think it means to be an American – a view that has been litigated in our past, and consigned to the dustbin of history, only to re-emerge in the Reagan era.

While Romney has been a chameleon, with a dazzling array of ever-changing positions, he has been quite consistent in one area: he and running mate Paul Ryan would turn vast swaths of our already threadbare social safety net over to the states to administer, while making deep cuts to their funding in the process.

As a result, people living in “blue” and “red” states would effectively become citizens of different countries. The poor and working class in those red states would become eligible for far fewer public benefits. The disparities that exist in funding education, job training and the like would become far more pronounced. We would no longer be citizens of the United States who happen to live in Alabama or Vermont; we would become Alabamians and Vermonters, citizens of states with very different philosophies of government.

It is already the case that residents of " red states " tend to be poorer, have less education, higher rates of uninsured. On average, they have greater problems with substance abuse, and higher levels of income inequality. These differences would broaden dramatically if more safety-net programs were left up to the states. No longer would Americans enjoy the same minimum standards of health and well-being -- the quality of public services would vary, depending on where you live, much more than they do today.

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How Mitt Romney Would Screw the Red States That Support Him (Original Post) xchrom Nov 2012 OP
Plus red states for the most part get more money back from the feds than they pay in Angry Dragon Nov 2012 #1
90% of those who support him would get screwed liberal N proud Nov 2012 #2
And the whole time they would blame Democrats n2doc Nov 2012 #3
Plus democracy would be replaced by call-centers in India or China Democratopia Nov 2012 #4

Angry Dragon

(36,693 posts)
1. Plus red states for the most part get more money back from the feds than they pay in
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 06:37 AM
Nov 2012

the blue states would not have to support the reds

liberal N proud

(60,334 posts)
2. 90% of those who support him would get screwed
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 07:01 AM
Nov 2012

Only the wealthiest of the wealthy would do OK under a Romney regime.

n2doc

(47,953 posts)
3. And the whole time they would blame Democrats
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 07:17 AM
Nov 2012

minorities and 'illegals' for their problems. The repubs have been very effective in brainwashing people to believe that these groups are the source of all of their problems.

 

Democratopia

(552 posts)
4. Plus democracy would be replaced by call-centers in India or China
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 07:40 AM
Nov 2012

Unhappy with the handling of the hurricane fallout? No point in making your feelings known in an election, it would be entirely run by a corporation. Contact their call center in China.

Unhappy with your local police. Call a call-center in India.

There would be no point in elections. Our transition to slaves to feed the greedy corporate fat cats would be complete.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»How Mitt Romney Would Scr...