More on the House GOP schizophrenia
Extortionists Versus Con Men
Paul Krugman, NYT
It's looking increasingly as if House Republicans won't crash the world economy by refusing to raise the debt ceiling, at least not right now. Score a big one for the White House (provisionally); its bet that it wouldn't need a way to bypass the ceiling is looking like a winner (although it ain't over until the tanned guy cries).
It's important, however, to be clear about what's going on here, and in particular about the nature of the debate within the GOP. Some commentary depicts it as a debate between radicals and moderates; but it's actually a debate between extortionists and con men.
Here's what I mean. Essentially the entire GOP is committed to radical policy goals that are also deeply unpopular. All but 10 House Republicans voted for the Ryan plan, which would privatize and defund Medicare, impose savage cuts on Medicaid, and cut taxes on the wealthy and corporations. There was effectively no dissent from the notion that we need to dismantle the welfare state in order to make room for low taxes at the top.
But the public favors higher taxes on the affluent, and strongly supports all the major social insurance programs. So the divide within the GOP is about how to get past this awkward political reality.
(More here.)
It's looking increasingly as if House Republicans won't crash the world economy by refusing to raise the debt ceiling, at least not right now. Score a big one for the White House (provisionally); its bet that it wouldn't need a way to bypass the ceiling is looking like a winner (although it ain't over until the tanned guy cries).
It's important, however, to be clear about what's going on here, and in particular about the nature of the debate within the GOP. Some commentary depicts it as a debate between radicals and moderates; but it's actually a debate between extortionists and con men.
Here's what I mean. Essentially the entire GOP is committed to radical policy goals that are also deeply unpopular. All but 10 House Republicans voted for the Ryan plan, which would privatize and defund Medicare, impose savage cuts on Medicaid, and cut taxes on the wealthy and corporations. There was effectively no dissent from the notion that we need to dismantle the welfare state in order to make room for low taxes at the top.
But the public favors higher taxes on the affluent, and strongly supports all the major social insurance programs. So the divide within the GOP is about how to get past this awkward political reality.
(More here.)
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1 Comments:
Why is it that when those on the left side of the aisle do not go along with the majority it is called principled and when those on the right do the same they are labeled as mentally ill? Do we still value something called checks and balances? Can those on the left side of aisle show a little more tolerance towards those with differing opinions?
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