Republicans want small government

I wish they could be more specific.  It seems to be almost the only goal they are able to articulate these days.  It is the reason they provide for their singleminded effort to hack away at government programs.

I never hear them talk about more efficient government.  I certainly wouldn't argue with the notion that government isn't always very efficient at accomplishing their objectives - just like almost every other human institution with complex goals.  I am aware of lots of government programs that in my estimation are a waste of money or aren't accomplishing much.  But Republicans don't seem concerned with toning up government, trimming the fat to make programs more efficient and cost effective.  They have expressed no particular interest in digging into the details of, for example, defense spending, which sucks up 1/2 of Federal discretionary spending.  They just want a smaller - and I presume - a simpler government.

There is a movie out right now about people who always think life was better a generation or two ago.  That romantic emotion based notion seems to be the source of all Republican ideology at the moment.  They long to go back to the 1950's because in their memory or mythology it was a much better time.

If they were building a new house they wouldn't build a 1950's design.  Modern houses are vastly more comfortable and livable, because they are vastly more complex.   Most the Republicans I know buy SUV's, Minivans or Sedans that are light years more complex, comfortable and safe than cars from the 1950's.   I doubt that many Republicans are ready to give up their cell phones for a 1950's phone system.   Do they want to go to a Doctor who practices 1950's medicine?  Go back to the pharmaceuticals of the 1950's?  Dump their big screen TV for a tiny black and white screen?

They don't seem to have grasped the direct connection between progress and complexity.  I long to just once hear a Republican say "lets look at how this program can be made more cost efficient".