The Republican Dream

Or Nightmare?

04.11.2025

 

                The Republican Party, after years of inner-conflict, has reorganized itself into the most powerful political organization in America. The result has been a resurgence of Reaganomics including decreasing the role of the federal government and granting ever greater incentives to corporations. Thus, generally expanding the role of the private sector at the expense of the public sector.

Exposition:

            The first five years of the 21st century was a time of continued economic boom for the United States of America.  Technology and computer advances drove the economy along and dramatically changed many aspects of daily life.  President Gore instituted programs that increased protection of the environment; promoted universal health coverage; funded technological innovations, especially space exploration; and subsidized studentsı expenses for secondary education.

            Conflicts in Asia and the Middle East disrupted this period of well-being.  The Russian economy had improved minimally since the fall of the Soviet Union, with the outcome that its government was desperate for solutions. After Russia crushed the Chenchen rebels, President Vladimir Putin decided to invade Azerbaijan in order to gain that countryıs petroleum resources. Russian hostilities towards the predominately Muslim Azerbaijan resulted in immediate military retaliation from Middle East nations. The U.S., out of fear of nuclear warfare, did not intervene in the conflict. The U.S.ıs hands-off approach so enraged the OPEC nations that they raised the price of oil.  The Great Oil Crisis of the later half of the first decade caused a major economic catastrophe for the U.S.

            The following decade was turbulent for the U.S. federal government.  Congress had to abandon many of the social programs established during the Gore presidency.  The growing number of retirees further burdened an already strained government. In order to solve social problems, the federal government looked to the private sector and to local governments.  The federal government granted increasing economic incentives to and lessened regulations of corporations that were willing to create social programs for their employees. Local governments had no choice but to help their citizens and to provide for programs that had previously relied on federal funds.

The Republican Party took advantage of these conservative politics and won a majority of congressional seats and the Presidency in the 2016 election.  The party continued to decrease the role of the federal government.  Because of economic breaks and deregulation, corporations became the center of most U.S. scientific research and development.  Local governments grew increasingly independent of the federal government.

In 2024, Jenna Bush, granddaughter of former President George Bush, became President of the United States.  Her twin sister, Barbara Bush, became Governor of Texas, the most influential position of the Southwest regional alliance.  The Bush sisters solidified the Republican Partyıs dominance over U.S. politics.

Governance:

The shift of governance away from the federal government to state and local governments has had dramatic consequences. All social programs are now the responsibility of local governments and corporations. Federally subsidized programs for the arts and humanities as well as public television and radio no longer exist. The belief of the Republican Party leaders is that in order to scale back the size of government it is best to eliminate a program immediately, as that engenders just as much opposition as reducing funding for a program. Specific departments eliminated by the conservative politicians include the Departments of Commerce, Education, Energy, and Housing and Urban Development.  Newt Gingrichıs Contract With America, now the most revered government document apart from the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, originally outlined such departmental and program eliminations.

People have become more involved with politics because they have greater influence over their local governments. Citizens are required to participate in volunteer programs in order to maintain social programs. Nearly 90% of the population regularly votes. Elections are conducted electronically and the positions of governors, state representatives, mayors, and city council members are the greatest concern of the populace.

Community:

The U.S. is divided into regions of like-minded ideals.  Surrounding states have formed alliances to deal with issues such as trade, ecology and media regulation.  For example, Vermont, with its long history of socialist politics, has led the Northeast region to support leftist principles. The result of these regional alliances is ³regional bias².  In spite of global communication systems that uniformly inform citizens, many fear for the unity of the country.

The Environment:

Protection of the environment suffered as the federal government decreased, and finally ended its ecological programs. Initially, local governments had great difficulty cooperating on efforts to preserve a clean environment.  For example, neighboring statesı negligence would thwart another stateıs clean air efforts.   In 2025, it has become clear that regional cooperation is the only way state and local governments can effectively protect the nationıs environment and natural resources.

Corporations briefly took advantage of the end of the EPA to recklessly conduct production.  Eventually, corporations have begun to police themselves as natural resources dwindle and as it has become economically beneficial to recycle waste.  Corporations now cooperate with non-profit agencies and local governments on ecological endeavors.

Education:

            Primary education is the responsibility of local governments and/or corporations.  In order to support the needs of employees and to insure properly trained future employees, many corporations have formed schools for primary education.  Local governments maintain primary education curriculums for non-corporate children although most classes are taught over computers.

            Traditional colleges and universities have suffered large economic cuts and have shrunk in number and size.  Corporations conduct most research and development, thus college and universities can no longer attract the brilliant minds that once flocked to these institutions.  Many colleges have redefined their role as educational institutions, acting as consultants to corporations to create retraining and certifications programs. Also, most people, especially those raised with computer primary education, prefer online degrees.

Media and Communication:

            With the end of the FCC and federal funding for PBS, regional alliances and corporations maintain regulation of the media and communication. This decentralized regulation is rather ineffective.  Much black-market communication exists of airwaves, radio waves and digital bits. Foreigners are now able to own media stations, thus threatening the dependability of the U.S. communication systems.

Conclusion:

            Economic growth has slowed considerably since the beginning of this century.  The countryıs lack of uniformity threatens to divide the states into autonomous regions.  The U.S. as a nation is ill prepared to combat any external threats.  The good news is that most citizens feel in control of their lives.  They have more power politically as individuals and have several options of retraining should they wish to change careers.

If you have any comments, suggestions, please send them to Astrid Stimac. This web site was prepared for Dr. David B Gracy's Archives Seminar: The Future of Archival Enterprise in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Texas at Austin. Site last updated April 11, 2000.