2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: The Insane Scenario Unfolding Before Our Eyes [View all]hfojvt
(37,573 posts)except it leaves out the part about Democratic complicity.
Democrats keep using their bully pulpit to say "Republicans are right"
Will tax increases, even on the rich, hurt the economy? Republicans think so.
Major Democrats say - Republicans are right.
Do we have a serious budget deficit problem which requires spending cuts and entitlement "reform". Republicans think so.
Major Democrats say - Republicans are right.
Will tax cuts create jobs? Republicans think so (or claim they do).
Major Democrats say - Republicans are right.
The other insane part is that Republicans are offering economic policies which have clearly failed, but that Democrats are NOT offering a clear alternative. Instead Democrats concede most of the terms of the argument. They agree with Republicans that we have a problem and they agree with most of the proposed solutions. The Democratic alternative to the Ryan budget seems to be Simpson-Bowles.
Well, I guess that offers a clear choice. Republicans want to break my left arm and Democrats want to break my right arm.
Hmm, tough choice. Left or righ? Right or left? Which arm do I want broken?
Fortunately for Democrats, I am left handed, but still ...
My response as a voter to BOTH of them is "How about I break BOTH of your arms instead?"