RINO Stampede

I spend so much time
Believing all the lies
To keep the dream alive
--Billy Idol

Many voters who elected the current bloc of Republicans to Washington are disgusted by the group's recent antics. Despite campaign promises to shrink the size and influence of central government, many in this group have refused to repeal Obamacare, supported only 'revenue neutral' tax cut plans, and funded another round of profligate federal spending.

"RINOs!," exclaim the voters. "These Republicans In Name Only talk about smaller government but act like they want bigger government."

But when has it been any different? After all, the Party of Lincoln was built on the American System platform that favored central government largess. With few exceptions (e.g., Coolidge), Republican administrations and GOP majority congresses have always acted in manners that leave the federal government larger at the end of their tenure than at the beginning.

Our two party system is a semantic illusion. Regardless of the party 'in charge,' the dominant coalition in Washington is the Big Government Party.