Oh yes, that fascist Obamacare, modeled after that fascist Romneycare, first proposed by that fascist "think tank" the Heritage Foundation. Give it a rest Drew. If you want to find fascists, look in the mirror, look at the people and policies you support.

See Preamble to the Constitution: " ...to promote the general welfare...." and Article I, section 8, clause 1: "...provide for the ... general welfare of the United States..." and Article 1, section 8, clause 18: "To make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers...."

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know, Drew. Government is not only terrible and useless it is run by thieves. The only time it is any good is if it benefits you personally, hopefully at the expense of someone else. You are a model citizen indeed.

Is it possible there just might be things going on that one should get angry about? Perhaps you should change your handle to Pollyanna, you certainly seem unmoved by the facts.

Perhaps if the taxpayers were willing to pay the taxes required to provide the services that people require and government provides it wouldn't have to seek other sources of income.

Of course, the fact that we have been in the worst economic climate since the 1930's (in large part due to the failed conservative policies of the last 30 years) has no bearing on the current revenue shortfalls of the organizations Johnson mentions.

One could just as easily and more honestly, say: For too long, too many profitable corporations have taken advantage of taxpayers by providing policymakers with phony facts and fabricated figures to justify receiving tax dollars.

Or: When conservatives bend the truth in an attempt to convince the uninformed to hand over their hard earned money to subsidize wealthy individuals and corporations from government coffers, that’s business as usual. That mindset has to stop.

Or: Stretching the truth, fudging the numbers and flat-out fibbing in order to receive (or not pay) tax dollars is a way of life for corporations--and taxpayers are paying the price.

Or: Republicans promised that lower taxes on the very rich and corporations would ensure job creation and a robust economy for all. Yet there was never any punishment when the unrealistic promises fall flat.

But, as someone once remarked, there’s nothing dumber than a poor Republican. Or more manipulative than a rich one.

Zero: Whoever wrote the EPB television customers piece. A rate hike on cable TV customers proves socialism doesn't work? Does that mean that a rate hike by Comcast proves capitalism doesn't work? The only thing this piece shows that doesn't work is the writer's brain.

I guess it’s not surprising that this columnist would rail against keeping TVA a publicly owned corporation. Nowhere in this piece does Johnson explain how privatizing TVA would “improve safety, introduce greater accountability, benefit the environment, increase tax revenues and remove taxpayer liabilities related to the TVA.” He just assumes, despite plenty of easily found evidence to the contrary, that private corporations are better, more efficient and have a greater concern for the public welfare than government does.

Improve safety? Like the Massey Mines operators did? http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/29/nation/la-na-massey-mine-20121129. Introduce greater accountability? As practiced by HSBC Bank? http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/12/12/in-bank-settlements-big-fines-but-no-accountability/. Benefit the environment? Check out the Exxon plant in Baton Rouge, LA. http://www.npr.org/2013/05/30/187044721/baton-rouge-s-corroded-overpolluting-neighbor-exxon. Increase tax revenues? Right. http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/03/news/economy/corporate_taxes/index.htm. Remove tax payer liability? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/26/bailout-taxpayers_n_1233374.html.

Drew thinks a market in which private corporations that get government subsidies, government tax breaks and the fruits of government financed research is a “free market.” Poor fellow. Apparently, for him a limited government is one which limits the abilities of citizens band together to defend themselves against the greed of private corporations and the thieves that control them.

But Johnson’s best lines, meant to disparage Sen. Alexander, are “hasn’t had an exciting, innovative idea” and “new ideas seem to scare the aging Alexander.” Drew, hired to represent the conservative point of view, doesn’t even know what “conservative” means!

So how did he get this gig at the TFP? It obviously had nothing to do with the quality of his thinking or the depth of his knowledge. Drew’s views come from where the sun don’t shine. After all, he’s a conservative.

timbo. Your post is pure gibberish. You've not been taking your medication, have you?

gjuster. Oooh, you have an opinion. Got any facts?