This article obscures the real problem by blaming it on a shift in political strategy. Yes, Gingrich was an asshole who started the Republican party on it’s path towards today. But why? And no, it’s not because the Republicans “needed a boogy man”. It’s not because the CBA failed.

As usual, it comes down to money and power. And where do politicians get money and power? Not from their voters. From their corporate donors. From lobbyists.

Why do politicians defund and defang regulatory agencies? It’s real simple. Because their corporate donors ask them to. Because they give them money and power to do so.

In an ideal world, the government would be a check on business. Government and regulations are supposed to be there to protect we the people. But then business got powerful and started to chaffe against the collective barrier that is government. And so business leaders and c-suites and board members ran for office. And they out funded their opponents. And we voted for them. And they got their buddies in to regulatory agencies. And they introduced the other members of their party to their lobbyists. And they got to work. And eventually the government of “we the people” was replaced with corporate stooges who consider businesses to be the only “people” they need to represent.

And this effects both Republican and Democratic parties. Both are infiltrated. Both fight for companies and against the people. The Republicans are more brazen about it and seem to build their identity around it, but both do it. Regardless, the reason government sucks is because it got taken over by businesses. Full stop.

I highly doubt measures to make it harder for the federal government to do things taken right after the civil rights movement and great society actually got the federal government into the business of fighting discrimination and poverty in a comprehensive and proactive way were ever well intentioned, but otherwise this article is on point