governor palin: calling it ‘crony capitalism’ like she sees it

As you well know, President Obama gave is 2011 State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. While some paid the obligatory homage to his ability to give a good speech, most pundits - and regular folk - saw this latest show as heavy on platitudes and lacking in substance.  In times like these, those of us who pay attention to politics have come to expect a tough, straightforward response from Governor Sarah Palin.  And, once again, she delivered.

I highly suggest you read her entire post on her Facebook page - it’s well worth your time. Below, however, I extracted what I think is a key passage in which Governor Palin completely redefines the essence of the Obama administration and its policies:  “big government liberalism” turned “crony capitalism on steroids.”

Consider what his “big government greatness” really amounts to. It’s basically a corporatist agenda – it’s the collaboration between big government and the big businesses that have powerful friends in D.C. and can afford to hire big lobbyists. This collaboration works in a manner that distorts and corrupts true free market capitalism. This isn’t just old-fashioned big government liberalism; this is crony capitalism on steroids. In the interests of big business, we’re “investing” in technologies and industries that venture capitalists tell us are non-starters, but which will provide lucrative returns for some corporate interests who have major investments in these areas. In the interests of big government, we’re not reducing the size of our bloated government or cutting spending, we’re told the President will freeze it – at unsustainable, historic levels! In practice, this means that public sector employees (big government’s staunchest defenders) may not lose jobs, but millions of Americans in the private sector face lay offs because the ever-expanding government has squeezed out and crippled our economy under the weight of unsustainable debt.

Ronald Reagan said, “You can’t be for big government, big taxes, and big bureaucracy and still be for the little guy.” President Obama’s proposals last night stick the little guy with the bill, while big government and its big corporate partners prosper. The plain truth is our country simply cannot afford Barack Obama’s dream of an “exceptionally big government” that may help the big guys, but sticks it to the rest of us.

Again, it’s worth your time to read this excellent post in its entirety. It’s succinct.  It’s cogent.  And there really isn’t much more to say…

- tdc

*Image via LA Times Blogs