GOP policy is devious

A.J. Delgado says in her July 7 Other Views column, GOP has no defense for its defense spending, that “Conservatives are fiscally responsible, believe in smaller government, cutting government spending and reducing the national debt; however, they support reckless, bloated and wasteful spending on so-called defense and even ask for more.”

The latter part of the statement traditionally describes the well-connected conservatives and those in and around the Beltway, since they get benefits from the defense corporations they support. On the other hand, rank-and-file conservatives who inhabit the red states, some of the poorest and least educated in the country, support cuts on government spending for a totally different reason.

While most are poor and would benefit from the Affordable Care Act and other government assistance programs, they still follow Lee Atwater’s devious mantra to “support states’ rights, cut taxes and block all economic programs that would hurt blacks more than whites.”

It’s their defense against having to share with blacks and other minorities. This works for conservatives because they get their own payout: more money and power for the rich and a channel to vent the relentless racism for the not so rich.

This story was originally published July 13, 2015 at 6:25 PM with the headline "GOP policy is devious."