In the latest Open Media Boston editorial, Jason Pramas weighs in against Deval Patrick’s neo-liberal addictions to corporatist ideology, and wonders if there might be a cure:

How does one treat people under the spell of an ideology that dictates that the private sector can run every sort of program better than the government when long experience with this kind of boondoggle shows that extracting profit from government monies budgeted for service provision equals … surprise, surprise … worse service provision?

How does one remind such people that the “deficit” as flogged by right-wingers is a paper tiger, and that social investment by a government is well-known to produce a stable working-class and a growing middle-class who can then bulk up the tax base and stabilize government budgets in a happy virtuous circle?

How does one explain to such bought-off and/or befuddled corporate shills that we wouldn’t be in the current economic crisis to begin with if we strengthened the regulation of corporations – and most critically, the financial sector – and TAXED them as they were once taxed; so that the public good was served over the private good?

Then he goes on to state the cure (below the jump)…

Well as it happens there is a cure to what ails these erstwhile “progressives.” It’s called growing a spine, and remembering that government is there to serve the needs of the people. Not special interests like corporations.

And if neoliberals like Patrick can’t change course towards representing the people’s interests, then they must all be removed from office and replaced by real progressives who will do the job that needs doing.

I can think of one candidate for Governor that would fit the bill nicely. And she’s not a dude.

As the head of a non-profit news publication, I must demur from saying more. But I think you can all do the math here.

The good doctor IS the cure! Music to my ears!