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Alan Grayson

(485 posts)
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 02:26 AM Mar 2012

The Myths That Are Killing Us

As the Republican demolition derby rolls on, I continue to be amused by how each remaining contender tries to assume the “small government” mantle.[br /]
Mitt Romney wants a government so small that it provides universal health care.[br /]
Newt Gingrich wants a government so small that it will establish a permanent base on the Moon.[br /]
Rick Santorum wants a government so small that it will fit inside a woman’s uterus.[br /]
The only real remaining advocate of small government is Ron Paul.  Dr. Paul appears to be disqualified from the Republican Presidential Primary, however, because he is unwilling to drench himself with the blood of our imagined enemies, like Gerard Butler in the movie “300.”[br /]
But what about that Jon Huntsman guy?  This week three different people told me, quite independently of each other, how sorry they were that Governor Huntsman never gained any traction in the Republican Presidential Primary.[br /]
I told them that they should get over it.  Huntsman wasn’t any better.[br /]
It somehow counts as an act of courage for Huntsman to have tweeted:  “I believe in evolution.”  Of course, it would have been more courageous if Huntsman had said that to a Tea Party audience, and then they tore him limb from limb, thereby disproving the theory of evolution right before our eyes.[br /]
And evolution is not something that you “believe” or “disbelieve.”  Evolution is like gravity; it’s not like Santa Claus or the Abominable Snowman.  (Question:  Why do they both live at the North Pole?)[br /]
Be that as it may, neither Huntsman nor any other Republican Presidential candidate has been willing to take on the hard myths.  The myths that are killing us.  Here are a dirty dozen, right off the top of my head:[br /]
(1) The Government can’t create jobs.  (Tell that to FDR, who created four million jobs in three months.)[br /]
(2) Tax cuts reduce the deficit.  (Doesn’t it bother them that a man named “Laffer” came up with this one?)[br /]
(3) A fetus is a baby.[br /]
(4) The poor have too much money.[br /]
(5) Cutting the federal deficit will end the recession.[br /]
(6) The rich are incentivized by tax cuts, while the poor are incentivized by lower wages, no benefits, an end to the minimum wage, and unemployment.[br /]
(7) An unwanted child is God’s will.[br /]
(8) Everyone who wants health insurance has it.[br /]
(9) The problem with education is the teachers.[br /]
(10) The “free market” satisfies every human need.[br /]
(11) There is no discrimination in America anymore.[br /]
(12) The distribution of wealth and income are irrelevant.[br /]
I don’t remember Jon Huntsman disputing any of these myths.  And these are the ones that do the real damage.  Show me a candidate who is willing to take on these myths, and I’ll pay more attention.[br /]
Courage,[br /]
Alan Grayson[br /]

37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Myths That Are Killing Us (Original Post) Alan Grayson Mar 2012 OP
Hey Rothschild DonCoquixote Mar 2012 #1
BINGO...... MindMover Mar 2012 #2
kick Dawson Leery Mar 2012 #3
Excellently written piece!!! left on green only Mar 2012 #4
Another plain speaking piece about what needs to said. Will share. Thanks. freshwest Mar 2012 #5
Wow!!! I LOVE this list & want to help it go viral. Go Mr. Grayson!!!! ~nt 99th_Monkey Mar 2012 #6
Any chance of a linksy-poo so I can verify Mr. Grayson's authorship when I share ? ~nt 99th_Monkey Mar 2012 #7
OH - I see you ARE Mr Grayson. 99th_Monkey Mar 2012 #8
I got this as an email from the Grayson campaign -- it's real. immoderate Mar 2012 #9
I Like your handle. and thanx for Alan's email addy. ~nt 99th_Monkey Mar 2012 #10
Thanks quaker bill Mar 2012 #11
I posted your 12 points on my Facebook page davidpdx Mar 2012 #12
Marvelous common sense. And it is sad that the Obama Admin perpetuates Myrina Mar 2012 #13
Good one, Alan. Always a pleasure, but you got one wrong... DCKit Mar 2012 #14
Excellent points, but ProSense Mar 2012 #15
I have come to believe that the Abominable Snowman . . . . Utopian Leftist Mar 2012 #16
Global Warming is a conspiracy by scientists and liberals who want World Government Martin Eden Mar 2012 #17
And, here's the irony: chervilant Mar 2012 #28
Excellent post!! Kermitt Gribble Mar 2012 #18
good good!! mimitabby Mar 2012 #19
Thank you economist Grayson! shcrane71 Mar 2012 #20
I love this list Fritz67 Mar 2012 #21
I love all Grayson posts to DU, HOWEVER, tclambert Mar 2012 #22
It's an honor to recommend your post. nt AnotherMother4Peace Mar 2012 #23
Bookmarked! Thanks, Alan! Liberal_Stalwart71 Mar 2012 #24
Excellent - thanks! jannyk Mar 2012 #25
Makes me want to move to O-Town so I can live in your soon-to-be (again) district. Snarkoleptic Mar 2012 #26
had a dog like that once oldhippydude Mar 2012 #29
Solid. I'd like to hear more Dems hit these points as well. DirkGently Mar 2012 #27
HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Mar 2012 #30
Thank you for this... YvonneCa Mar 2012 #31
Great list! I need to pass it around! alittlelark Mar 2012 #32
And yet they'll keep going with this BS sakabatou Mar 2012 #33
About # 10; If markets are 'free', then why do I have to pay for stuff? I hate the way grahamhgreen Mar 2012 #34
"(9) The problem with education is the teachers." Reader Rabbit Mar 2012 #35
Agreed. It lifts my spirits... YvonneCa Mar 2012 #36
Post removed Post removed Mar 2012 #37

left on green only

(1,484 posts)
4. Excellently written piece!!!
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 02:55 AM
Mar 2012

I wish you good fortune in your campaign to return to the U.S.House of Representatives.

 

99th_Monkey

(19,326 posts)
8. OH - I see you ARE Mr Grayson.
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 03:45 AM
Mar 2012

would still be nice to have a link if there is one handy, but
otherwise never-mind..

 

immoderate

(20,885 posts)
9. I got this as an email from the Grayson campaign -- it's real.
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 04:25 AM
Mar 2012

Alan Grayson <alangrayson@graysonforcongress.com>

I guess that will get you on the mailing list. Grayson sounds so sane.


--imm

Myrina

(12,296 posts)
13. Marvelous common sense. And it is sad that the Obama Admin perpetuates
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 09:53 AM
Mar 2012

#'s 1, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11.

We need to be the OPPOSING party of the GOP, not the co-opting party. Sigh.

 

DCKit

(18,541 posts)
14. Good one, Alan. Always a pleasure, but you got one wrong...
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 11:06 AM
Mar 2012

Rick Santorum wants a government so small that it fits inside EVERY woman's uterus.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
15. Excellent points, but
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 02:09 PM
Mar 2012

Ron Paul is also a myth. Sure he wants smaller government (in fact, he wants to decimate it), but that's not a good thing. His proposals will benefit greedy corporations and the wealthy at the expense of everyone else.

Mark Ames: Why is Ron Paul’s Superpac Headquartered in Mitt Romney’s Backyard? http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002367459

"Ron Paul hates govt intervention, likes mandatory vaginal ultrasound probes"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002161152

Ron Paul isn't anti-defense spending, he's anti-everything else
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002155700



Utopian Leftist

(534 posts)
16. I have come to believe that the Abominable Snowman . . . .
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 02:35 PM
Mar 2012

is a secret Republican ploy to prevent any uppity elves from getting ideas about wandering away from the toy factory where they labor FOR FREE 24/7 without rest or benefits: the perfect Republican workforce. How does this go on when Santa is one of the leading, bleeding hearts? Probably because Santa still foolishly believes he can COMPROMISE with the thugs.

Thank you, Mr. Grayson, for all that you do.

Martin Eden

(12,875 posts)
17. Global Warming is a conspiracy by scientists and liberals who want World Government
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 02:45 PM
Mar 2012

... just thought I'd point out one of the most widely-held mnyths.

chervilant

(8,267 posts)
28. And, here's the irony:
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 10:38 PM
Mar 2012

We DO have a global economy, which trumps the puny, individual 'governments' every time.

Kermitt Gribble

(1,855 posts)
18. Excellent post!!
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 02:57 PM
Mar 2012

Especially this: "And evolution is not something that you “believe” or “disbelieve.” Evolution is like gravity; it’s not like Santa Claus or the Abominable Snowman."

All 12 myths are spot-on, and I would add: Social Security and Medicare are not "entitlements", in the sense that repubs refer to them as a government giveaway.

Fritz67

(354 posts)
21. I love this list
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 06:36 PM
Mar 2012

As for Jon Huntsman, well, remember that "believe in evolution" is too sane for today's Republican voters.

Plus he actually worked for the Kenyan Nazi Muslin Communist President, of course.

Thanks for keeping up the good fight, Mr. Grayson.

tclambert

(11,087 posts)
22. I love all Grayson posts to DU, HOWEVER,
Fri Mar 2, 2012, 07:41 PM
Mar 2012

"The Yeti or Abominable Snowman is an ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, and Tibet." - from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abominable_snowman

YvonneCa

(10,117 posts)
31. Thank you for this...
Sat Mar 3, 2012, 12:52 AM
Mar 2012

...list. I agree that these myths are destructive to our country.

And I especially appreciate #9.

 

grahamhgreen

(15,741 posts)
34. About # 10; If markets are 'free', then why do I have to pay for stuff? I hate the way
Sat Mar 3, 2012, 05:43 AM
Mar 2012

they conflate the freedom on which our country was founded with the way the (not free) marketplace is regulated.

And very nice call on 6 - &quot 6) The rich are incentivized by tax cuts, while the poor are incentivized by lower wages, no benefits, an end to the minimum wage, and unemployment." !

Reader Rabbit

(2,624 posts)
35. "(9) The problem with education is the teachers."
Sat Mar 3, 2012, 12:41 PM
Mar 2012

Thank you so much for saying this. You are the first politician of any party that has stated this straight out. Teachers are hurting right now, because no one will speak up for them, and this really lifts my spirits.

Thank you again.

Response to Alan Grayson (Original post)

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