Dangerous, Not Just "Different"

Zack Beauchamp, an intern at Sullivan's The Dish, understands that Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann are one small step away from advocating that we convert the U.S. into a theocracy.

Think he's crazy? Well, that would make me crazy too. Think I'm crazy? Check this shit out:

Perry: I think we're in a great time of revival in this world...and I know there's a lot of concern, there's, there's, y'know we got this economic recession that's goin' on, ya got all o' these...uh... the Middle East is in turmoil. I mean, ya turn TV on and ya really get concerned about what yer seein'...um...I happen to think that our, our greatest days are ahead of us.... I think in America that, uh, from time to time we have to go through some difficult times, and think we're goin' through those difficult economic times for a purpose and that, uh, to, to bring us back to those biblical principles of, uh, ya don't spend all the money, ya, ya, ya work hard for those uh, those six years and ya put up that seventh year, uh, in the warehouse to take ya through the hard times. And, and, and, not spending all of our money, not askin' for Pharaoh to, to, to give everything to everybody and to take care of, of folks because at the end o' the day, uh, it's slavery. And we become slaves to government...

My italics, but his emphasis. Danger aside for a moment, Perry is saying that people who receive government assistance are slaves to government. People who ask for government financial assistance are slaves. In other words, don't be a slave, don't ask for government money. Work hard, save that money, and it'll get you through the hard times, as long as you follow bibilical principles.

In 2009, the state of Texas was the recipient of about $6.4 billion in federal stimulus, which it then used to plug most of a $6.6 billion budget deficit. That allowed Texas to avoid using its $9 billion "rainy day fund." Atta way, Rick! Ya still got that seventh year money in the warehouse to take ya through the hard times!

Uh, but just so ya know: this makes you a slave (not to mention a fucking hypocrite). Don't like bein' a hypocrite, Guv? Well then, to borrow from Aaron Sorkin's seminal West Wing episode, where President Bartlett is debating the GOP nominee, the governor of Florida, who basically said the same thing as Rick here did: "Can we have it back, please?"