[Superman]

To oversimplify, some folks denounce government. Seemingly somewhat of a blanket indictment.

And I notice that their elected representatives, the ones with a capital "R" next to their names, are pursuing a fairly simple agenda. Tear down government any time and anywhere you can. Throttle programs using the budget process. Their votes will reliably be cast in favor of any action that promises to reduce government or (here's the part where I want you to listen) ensure it works as poorly as possible. This way, the programs that could be hurt but not killed can be dealt a death blow at some point in the future. I've been watching this for quite some time, and it's very reliable. That's the agenda. It's as though a bunch of companies who hate regulation are running that political party instead of citizens.

Anyway, I think of government as "us." I think of government as a way of achieving shared goals. Like transportation. Like safe drinking water. Like police protection. Yadda yadda.

So, if government is society's "front office," if government is our way of protecting ourselves, if government is the legal embodiment of our "community," then what should we call the people who are tearing down every portion they can get their hands on?