I predict the Conservative political movement will now start advocating even harder for the end of social programs, aka "entitlements". The claim will be that they are no longer affordable, that the budget must be balanced, the deficit paid down, and there simply isn't enough money those which are the most important functions of government. If the society cannot provide a way of distributing capital so as to provide for the basic needs of it's citizens, the government must provide those needs directly.

I predict a 10-fold increase in Public Relations programs similar to those which destroyed Unions. Entitlements, not gratuitious war, not tax advantages to the super-wealthy, not military spending, will be portrayed as destroying the country. The people who receive entitlements will be castigated as drains upon the public good. They will want to "re-work" such things as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, school lunches, etc and so on.

The country will no longer be able to afford these, the story will go. Gotta pay down the debt from previous wars, maintain an imperialist army, and eliminate taxes. There will be Readers Digest articles on welfare mothers, welfare Cadillacs, on the small people who lie, cheat and steal as well as organized groups who abuse the system.

And now, after the country is all but broke, will be the moment.

It's a sad tale, but one which will be bought by many. Look at the number of middle-class voters who vote against their interests now. It'll get worse.

Arf