When you do what you’ve always done, you get what you’ve always got.
Last week, the Republican led Congress passed an omnibus bill featuring $1.1 trillion dollars of spending, adding some $2 trillion in debt over the next 20 years.
Conservatives are outraged – again.
The vote wasn’t even close. The House overwhelmingly approved the measure 316-113. The Senate passed the spending package 65-33. CNN called it a major victory for House Speaker Paul Ryan, noting that he secured the votes of 150 Republicans — a majority of the House GOP conference.
Now, all of my conservative friends are pillorying Ryan and the Republican “establishment.” Funny – it wasn’t long ago that he was the darling of the conservative movement, a budget hawk who was going to save America.
Look, the only thing really surprising about all of this is the fact that so many people act like it’s surprising. This quote from the New York Times tells you everything you need to know about Washington D.C. politics.
“The agreement also showed just how easily a fractious legislature can seem functional again when there is agreement to spend more money”
Predictably, conservatives have already called for throwing the bums out. I can’t wait to see the next crop of bums.
This whole brouhaha illustrates once again an undeniable truth: you will never solve America’s problems through Washington D.C. Washington D.C. is the problem.
The system just gave you exactly what it was designed to give you – more powerful, more intrusive, more centralized government. Changing out the pieces will never alter the outcome.
It’s like expecting a fertilizer factory to start turning out chocolate because you replace a few workers. No. You are still going to get fertilizer. That’s what it’s designed to do.
To truly bring about change, you need to adopt a different strategy. James Madison gave us the blueprint. The Tenth Amendment Center is carrying it out.
Editor’s note: This article was reprinted from TAC national communications director Mike Maharrey’s weekly newsletter Maharrey’s Monday Musings. You can subscribe HERE.
