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Of Course Democrats Lost the Election – Even Liberals Won't Defend the Government [1]

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Date: 2025-02-10

One of the shocking things I have noticed recently is how some progressive friends of mine are suspicious of vaccines and think much of government is wasteful and corrupt.

They basically have swallowed Reagan’s poisonous viewpoint – this is the standard Republican attitude towards government and government supported institutions like the medical industry that promoted Covid vaccines.

But when asked, these suspicious liberal voters seem to have little evidence for this dislike and distrust. They can go to right-wing sites and will find endless criticisms of government but even these sites have little evidence of “waste, fraud, and abuse.”

Progressives complain about Republican misinformation and the Republican negative attitude and distrust of almost all institutions (except perhaps the police, the military, business, and the stock market). Republicans have a long list of things and people that they dislike.

But what is it that progressives like, respect, and support? Government does not seem to be on the list.

Given this, it is a miracle that Democrats only lost the election by 1.5% of the vote.

Bottom line: it is time to appreciate government and government workers and to unashamedly promote government to your family and friends.

Have you been to a VA hospital lately? Government health professionals work incredibly hard to deal with a broad variety of war and age-related health conditions in veterans. They do great work every day.

Do you or your parents or grandparents get Social Security? This is a very efficient and well run “socialist” government program that has kept literally hundreds of millions from abject poverty in old age and also supported the disabled since the 1930’s. Government is doing great work here.

Did you visit Southern California in the early 1970’s? The automobile pollution in the air was toxic and your eyes watered and burned just taking a walk outside. The EPA created rules for pollution control in cars and the air became breathable again. This was great government work.

Have you been in a car accident? In the 1970’s, seat and shoulder belts were mandated by the NTSB. Hundreds of thousands of lives were saved and millions of injuries were prevented or lessened in severity. Again, the government did great work here.

Were you or a loved one hospitalized with Covid? The US government paid for your very expensive hospital stay and you were not driven into bankruptcy by medical debt. And they also gave you the Covid shots for free. More good work by government.

Are you or someone you know covered by Medicare? People over 65 would have to pay tens of thousands per year for medical insurance without Medicare. Some would go bankrupt. Most would go uninsured, and many would die prematurely from treatable medical conditions without it. More incredible work by government.

Do you live near a toxic waste site left by a business that moved and refused to clean it up. The EPA is there to help and eventually make the environment safe for you and your family.

Have you been able to escape a hurricane or storm by knowing about it in advance? The National Weather Service has provided the information you need to make good decisions about how to prepare and where to go. The government saves the day again.

Do you like to boat or fish or hunt. You depend on the Fish and Wildlife Service to manage forests, lakes, and rivers.

Do you hike in the wilderness? Do you go to national parks? Do you use Interstate highways? All these services and resources are managed by government institutions and workers.

The list is practically endless. And all of it is for the well-being of US citizens.

Government exists to promote the “common good” which is declared in the Constitution of the United States. It exists to establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty.

Government should be the easiest thing in the world to promote. Any advertiser would be thrilled to have such a client.

Perhaps I am missing something but instead, liberals and progressives seem to be ashamed of government. Look around KOS and try to find positive and appreciative statements about heroic government workers and institutions. You will have to search long and hard.

Yes – the President is dismantling government piece by piece. Of course he is. There is no one here to defend it. What is surprising is how long it took to happen.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/10/2302721/-Of-Course-Democrats-Lost-the-Election-Even-Liberals-Won-t-Defend-the-Government?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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