Who Put Hannibal Lecter in Charge of Government Spending Cuts?

Posted 7-14-2011

“What kind of heartless, sadistic animal are YOU?” demand Opponents of cutting government spending.

“Can’t you see the dire, drastic, draconian consequences of reducing government spending? Just look at a few examples.”

Proposed federal government spending cuts, they claim:

“Would lead to 70,000 kids dying.” (U.S. Agency for International Development)

“Would oust 218, 000 children from early childhood education and nutrition – and force 55,000 layoffs of employees.” (Head Start)

“Would cut $747.2 million in funding for low income Women with infants and children.” (WIC)

“Means nearly 11 million patients losing health care services and 90,000 fewer jobs in communities with health care centers.” (Center for American Progress)

State and local government spending cuts, they claim, will result in:

Tens of thousands of Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and Emergency Responders laid off

Tens of thousands of Nurses and other Health Care Workers fired

Hospital Services drastically slashed

Tens of thousands of Public School Teachers laid off

“Budget Cutters: however much government spending you cut, wherever you cut it, you will cause pain and suffering, injury and death,” they claim.

Really?!

Who Put Hannibal Lecter in Charge of Government Spending Cuts?

You remember Hannibal Lecter, don’t you? Perhaps you cringed while watching Anthony Hopkins portray him in “Silence of the Lambs.” Or perhaps you read Thomas Harris’ novels featuring him.

Hannibal Lecter, M.D – aka, Hannibal the Cannibal – is a fictional sadistic, gruesome serial killer. He relishes the painful, horrible torturing and killing of his victims.

In 2003, the American Film Institute chose Hannibal Lecter as the Number 1 Movie Villain.

So why are opponents of government spending cuts letting Hannibal Lecter decide what to cut?

Why would opponents of government spending reductions appoint someone who takes delight in finding the most cruel ways to inflict pain?

But those questions are not to the point. These are the right questions:

Why are opponents trying to convince Americans that any and every government spending reduction would inflict pain and injury?

Why are opponents of government spending cuts trying to scare us, guilt us, shame us, malign us, and intimidate us into shutting up?

How do they get away with this farce?

They have the support of every Special Interest that consumes tax dollars. They have the relentless backing of Big Government Partisans who run Mainstream News. Reporters and editors who report and repeat the propaganda.

How the Hannibal Lecter Ploy Works

Make a Victim List. People loved by those you want to influence. Their Moms and Dads. Families. Brothers and sisters. Babies. And then include innocent and helpless human beings. Then toss in workers and professions that people want and need.
Make a Harm List. Imagine bad things that can happen to people. Especially good people. Or innocent people. Problems. Poverty. Pain. Suffering. Injury. Disease. Death. Imagine the scariest, worst things that can happen.
Make a Spending Cut List. Start with spending cuts that are already on the table. Now imagine even more drastic, draconian, savage spending cuts. Write them down too. Fear is the key.
Make a List of Possible Consequences. Direct and indirect outcomes that these spending cuts could cause. Be sure to tie the spending cut list to the harm list, then to the victim list.
Act as though these consequences are as certain as the sun rising tomorrow.

That’s the Hannibal Lecter Ploy Against Reducing Government Spending.

How do the unwary react?

‘Wow, if cutting the budget means hurting innocent and helpless children, we should leave the budget alone.’

‘My gosh, I never knew that federal spending cuts would mean firing cops and firefighters in my town. Maybe we should keep spending where it is.’

‘Oh, no, I have 3 kids in public schools, and I didn’t realize that this budget cut means fewer teachers and overcrowded classrooms. Don’t cut the budget.’

Supporters of high government spending use the Hannibal Lector Ploy to scare, shame, embarrass, or intimidate those seeking to roll back government spending. They want to silence us – to cow us into NOT discussing or debating budget cuts.

They can’t win the debate over government spending – unless we forfeit, unless we shut up. They can only win if we default, if we give up.

That’s what the Hannibal Lecter Ploy is designed to accomplish.

How Can You Expose and Explode the Hannibal Lecter Ploy?

Name it, Explain it, and Defame it.

Remind people who Hannibal Lecter is. And what he does.

Point out that many supporters of high government spending use the Hannibal Lecter Ploy to silence and condemn those who want spending cuts. Explain how the ploy works.

Give them some real Hannibal Lecter Ploy examples from the news.

The Truth will set us free.

But only if you and I speak out. Only if you expose this deceitful tactic.

Share the Hannibal Lecter insight with family and friends and co-workers.

Name it, Explain it, and Defame it.

After you’ve done that, why not start a real discussion about government waste and overspending? Don’t be surprised if your friends have some really good ideas about where politicians should start cutting.

Here are some ideas for humane, fair and effective federal spending cuts.

Here are more ideas for Massachusetts state spending cuts (many of which apply to all states) Click on each item in this list for more detail.