The Small Government Lie behind Big Government Republicans.

The "stand with Walker" trolls and my conservative friend in Milwaukee have given me great insight into what "small government" really means to them. Here's what I've learned so far:

A. Despite policy failures, conservatives will never vote for a Democrat.

B. The founding fathers wanted to limit the size of government? The "size" isn't dictated in the constitution, and is in fact, left up to the "people:"

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Tenth Amendment

C. Big Government Republicans hate big government liberalism: It gets little attention, but have you noticed how red state Republicans have purged decades of progress as a way to fight against the evils of socialism? Liberal influences are erased. This is where "big" government Republicans replace everything with their own convoluted legislation:

1. Tort reform: "Injury" reform basically, that limits the peoples access to the courts and just compensation. This is big government at its worst, because it protects business and insurance companies from being accountable, at the expense of people. It doesn't just cut injury settlements artificially, but steps in and controls a private sector lawyers compensation. Again, it's government telling individuals what the can or cannot make. Big government Republicans. A free market would do away with all limits and open the courts up to everyone, even if it means the end of the offending business, costing hundreds or thousands of jobs.   

2. Health Care: Every other country in the world has a national plan, except for the U.S.. Everybody needs it. Imagine what we could do if we didn't have to think about finding an insurer, shopping every year for a new plan because of rising copays and deductibles. A national health care system would give people more time to deal with all of life's other curve balls and heartbreaks. That's real freedom. 

3. Environment: Big government Republicans want to "balance" the needs of business, with the need to keep citizens healthy. That's a hard one? Is there ever a time a business should be allowed to harm Americans? The EPA's news rules controlling smog, a local hazard that causes asthma, lung damage and other health problems, isn't something that belongs on the negotiating table. With the growth of wind, solar and electric vehicles, we now have the option to move from fossil fuels to cleaner energy, saving people health problems and premature death. Plus, states will have 20 years to comply to the new rules. 

4. Right Wind Authoritarianism: Without going into greater detail, which I could do, let's just chalk it up to who's in "control;" one party dictatorial "leaders." Right now, leaders are allowed to do and say whatever they like. From the big government takeover of local communities fighting mining, allowing companies the freedom to locate cell towers and billboards anywhere they like, controlling the minimum wage statewide, a statewide sick leave ban, retaliating against educators and businesses that don't fall in line with Republican values, and using recall petitions as a blacklist to trash the political opposition. If the Walker Authority doesn't like what you're doing locally, they've got a big government fix for you, like it or not.

We can't forget the judicial branch of government, already politicized by Republican lawmakers who are promising to make the courts more conservative. After all, activist conservative courts rulings are wonderful, but liberal court rulings? Let's not even go there. For Republicans, the courts should be as predictable their party platform. No surprises.