1. Scream about the debt and deficit.
2. Shrink revenue by slashing taxes for the already palatial elite. Summarily dismiss all concerns about the debt and deficit, because, well, the debt and deficit don't really matter. Plus, tax cuts for the rich grow the economy anyway. Or maybe not. It doesn't matter. What matters is that one render unto the power elite the things that are the power elite's; everybody else can go to hell.
3. Scream about the debt and deficit.
4. Savagely gut Social Security and Medicare, because obviously the debt and deficit. Turns out the debt and deficit do matter. And to get the debt and deficit under control after slashing taxes on the rich will require nothing less than shared sacrifice from all Americans. But not really all Americans. The persecuted John Galts of the world have shouldered the burden of sacrifice long enough. Time, then, for all those particularly shiftless souls lacking the creativity and work ethic of the ruling class to sacrifice. Time for these ungrateful hordes to genuflect at the altar of capital and empty their pockets in tribute.
5. Scream about the debt and deficit.
6. Approve massive increases in military spending and cheerlead for another war (any war will do just fine). Again, turns out the debt and deficit no longer matter. But even it they did, nothing comes before the safety and security of the American people. And nothing protects a working class American quite like another slaughtered Yemeni wedding party or another worthless billion-dollar F-35 joint strike fighter.
7. Scream about the debt and deficit.
8. Open the spigots of black budget funding for the intelligence agencies. The debt and deficit must not hinder Big Brother's quest to watch all. After all, fiscal responsibility is nothing if one can't assure the gilded security of the ruling class. Its security is national security. And sure, the lowly proles won't rebel until they become conscious, and they cannot become conscious until after they rebel, but still, a vast domestic dragnet seems most prudent just in case the proles forget their proper place. It's imperative that the class war forever remain one-sided.
9. Scream about the debt and deficit.
10. Repeat steps 1 through 9.
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Ben Schreiner is a freelance writer based in Oregon. He may be reached at [email protected] or via his website.