After looking at the progressive caucus budget it just hits you that the GOP, in comparison, has nothing. For the GOP its all reaction, not real action. Its all politics, not policy. Health care? Nothing but a grab bag of small bore ideas that they hope will stick against the wall. Lawsuits. Selling life insurance across borders. Universal health care? Not even a smidgeon of thought regarding this goal. Infrastructure spending and hiring people? Less than nothing. Totally opposed. Unless of course its work in your district, which is why Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R- Ky) helped break the budget impasse last year; he got a $3 billion Kentucky dam project funded as part of the deal. Not only did he get this payoff, the share of federal funding went to 75% from 50%. Income inequality? Anyone who wont put people to work is not going to be the slightest bit interested in raising anyones pay. Climate change? Less than nothing. A good portion of the GOP leadership studiously could care less. They mock the scientists, in fact. The Joint Chiefs of Staff think otherwise; they consider climate change one of the greatest threats to our security. The GOP ignores their advice. Long term fiscal issues? Completely on the backs of retired folks, cutting both SS and Medicare benefits instead of reversing 35 years of tax cuts for the privileged; tax cuts that have increased debt by more than $4.4 trillion. These tax cuts are a primary driver of long term debt and they, at the same time, have shifted most of the tax burden onto the middle class. My view is that most Republican voters are ossified. Its too late for them to be useful. They stopped learning anything new when Ron Reagan was President and they are trapped in a mish-mash of platitudes they think have something to do with economics, but have nothing to do with economics. Tax cuts for rich people creates jobs and incomes for everyone else? Could not be further from the truth. Cutting government investment boosts the economy? Could not be further from the truth. The government budget is like your household budget? Could not be further from the truth. Climate change, unemployment, income inequality? All met with the what me worry response of Mad Magazines Alfred E. Neuman.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 20:05:42 +0000
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