Even More Scary: State Republican Victories

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Now in Power, G.O.P. Vows Cuts in State Budgets,” describes a level of draconian cuts planned for state governments that will totally makeover the compassion of this country and the needs of many poor people.

The article notes that, beyond the Federal government that has received the lion’s share of the news coverage, Republicans gained more than 690 seats in state legislatures, and total power in both the state and legislative branches in 20 states.

Most of them vowed to avoid tax increases, and with stimulus money now drying up, that will mean extensive budget cuts to balance the books. These cuts will include education, social services to help the poor, and public employee unions.

Two states, Maine and Wisconsin, switched from all Democratic rule (in each of their three branches) to all Republican rule.

When the voters start to experience some of these cuts, they will long to have the Democrats back in power, but it will be too late. The Republicans will overreach just like they accused the Democrats of doing, and will re-elect President Obama in the process, but they will put the country through hell in the meantime.

The article also noted that many of the state governments will now try to resist implementation of the new health care law. I’ve got to say that the Republicans lost the healthcare vote in Congress and should now try to make the law work. That’s how our system should work. You have a democratic contest then respect the result.