When the news this morning reported yet more staggering profits for big oil companies, I realized that I could think of only three groups of Americans who have benefitted in a big way — i.e., with obscene profits — since George Bush took office: big oil companies (Bush’s former business colleagues), Halliburton (Cheney’s former business colleagues) and the ultra-rich (Bush’s and Cheney’s political base). I hate to sound cynical, but it seems to me this is either a truly amazing coincidence or it has been their hidden goal (and the basis for their lies, deceptions and misguided policy decisions) since the day they took office.
I understand now why so many Republicans distrust big government: they believe that everyone else would abuse governmental power the same way they do — by screwing the public to pay off their friends.