KRUGMAN: Fantasies and Fictions at G.O.P. Debate
Ive been going over what was said at Wednesdays Republican debate, and Im terrified. You should be, too. After all, given the vagaries of elections, theres a pretty good chance that one of these people will end up in the White House.
Why is that scary? I would argue that all of the G.O.P. candidates are calling for policies that would be deeply destructive at home, abroad, or both. But even if you like the broad thrust of modern Republican policies, it should worry you that the men and woman on that stage are clearly living in a world of fantasies and fictions. And some seem willing to advance their ambitions with outright lies.
Lets start at the shallow end, with the fantasy economics of the establishment candidates.
Youre probably tired of hearing this, but modern G.O.P. economic discourse is completely dominated by an economic doctrine the sovereign importance of low taxes on the rich that has failed completely and utterly in practice over the past generation.
Think about it. Bill Clintons tax hike was followed by a huge economic boom, the George W. Bush tax cuts by a weak recovery that ended in financial collapse. The tax increase of 2013 and the coming of Obamacare in 2014 were associated with the best job growth since the 1990s. Jerry Browns tax-raising, environmentally conscious California is growing fast; Sam Brownbacks tax- and spending-slashing Kansas isnt.
Ive been going over what was said at Wednesdays Republican debate, and Im terrified. You should be, too. After all, given the vagaries of elections, theres a pretty good chance that one of these people will end up in the White House.
Why is that scary? I would argue that all of the G.O.P. candidates are calling for policies that would be deeply destructive at home, abroad, or both. But even if you like the broad thrust of modern Republican policies, it should worry you that the men and woman on that stage are clearly living in a world of fantasies and fictions. And some seem willing to advance their ambitions with outright lies.
Lets start at the shallow end, with the fantasy economics of the establishment candidates.
Youre probably tired of hearing this, but modern G.O.P. economic discourse is completely dominated by an economic doctrine the sovereign importance of low taxes on the rich that has failed completely and utterly in practice over the past generation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/opinion/paul-krugman-fantasies-and-fictions-at-gop-debate.html?smid=fb-nytopinion&smtyp=cur
Mass
(27,315 posts)Yes, a lot of people there were not making sense, but neither did Trump who announced he was going to lower taxes on everybody (which means, as he said in other interviews, FOR RICH PEOPLE ALSO).
The latest plan Trump proposed was lowering taxes to a maximum rate of 15 % (without, of course, stating what he would cut), which makes it slightly more regressive than flat tax people like Paul and Huckabee, and more regressive than Krugman and Bush (who have progressive taxes as well, but at a higher rate for the top earner -- still too low).
flamingdem
(39,312 posts)as the lesser of 15 or so evils. He's quite evil!!
Mass
(27,315 posts)which makes me doubt that some people still have active brain cells. (and this is not a compliment to any of the GOP candidates. It is just that Trump is one of the worse).