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Salon just put out this article that got me thinking:
The ludicrous myth of Republican fiscal responsibility: A history lesson for the modern GOP
Quote:
Rather than going the responsible “tax and spend” route, Reagan decided to “borrow and spend.” Reagan achieved this with the help of Alan Greenspan, who he appointed as the Chairman of the National Commission on Social Security Reform. He enacted a tax increase for the regressive social security payroll tax, and then, as the first surpluses arrived, rather than saving and investing it for working America’s future, they spent it all. It was used to replace all of the lost revenue from Reagan’s early tax cuts for the wealthy. Or in other words, it was the ultimate redistribution of wealth, stolen from the working class and handed to the top one percent. Today, the largest holder of America’s debt is not China, as most Republican’s imply, but the social security trust fund, or the American working class.
Why is it that Republicans constantly TALK about 'fiscal responsibility'. But when in power they're anything BUT fiscally responsible?
Discuss!
Because unlike Democrats, when Republicans are in power they have their hands tied behind their back by the Democrat-media-labor machine such that if they cut even one nickel of profligate spending, they'll be subject to a Democrat-media-labor Blitzkrieg that makes the Invasion of Poland look like child's play. So rather than stir the pot, Republicans simply go along to get along. Next.
Why is it that Republicans constantly TALK about 'fiscal responsibility'. But when in power they're anything BUT fiscally responsible?
Discuss!
It's not a myth, maybe at the federal level it is. But at the state and local levels, GOP politicians have a sound record of fiscal responsibility.
05-07-2015, 11:47 PM
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n/a posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by BirchBarlow
Because unlike Democrats, when Republicans are in power they have their hands tied behind their back by the Democrat-media-labor machine such that if they cut even one nickel of profligate spending, they'll be subject to a Democrat-media-labor Blitzkrieg that makes the Invasion of Poland look like child's play. So rather than stir the pot, Republicans simply go along to get along. Next.
Ah.
Control the house. Control the senate. Control the White House. Control the most popular news network. Control most governorships and state houses.
Still can't behave in a halfway responsible manner because of those damned Democrats.
How about cutting spending on military equipment that no one needs or wants? Oh wait, no, that'd cut off pork to red districts and we can't have that. Maybe we could try
The fact is Republicans do not care about fiscal responsibility except when they're not in power. They've proven this time and time again. They're the hungriest pigs at the trough.
It's not a myth, maybe at the federal level it is. But at the state and local levels, GOP politicians have a sound record of fiscal responsibility.
"Gov. Scott Walker (R) passed a series of regressive tax cuts. By sharply reducing state aid to schools and local governments, he temporarily closed a structural deficit -- but this year, with state tax revenues declining precipitously in the wake of his tax cuts, Walker is facing a $1.8 billion budget deficit."
"Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) imposed a historically huge tax cut on the state. Declining revenues meant huge reductions in state services, especially education...... with a massive budget deficit of nearly $350 million this year."
"Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Corbett's (R) first budget in 2011 included major tax cuts for corporations, which cost about $600 million annually."
1.) Lower taxes for corporations and the rich.
2.) Cut education to make up for the tax cuts.
3.) Create huge deficits when the education cuts don't balance the tax cuts.
"Gov. Scott Walker (R) passed a series of regressive tax cuts. By sharply reducing state aid to schools and local governments, he temporarily closed a structural deficit -- but this year, with state tax revenues declining precipitously in the wake of his tax cuts, Walker is facing a $1.8 billion budget deficit."
"Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) imposed a historically huge tax cut on the state. Declining revenues meant huge reductions in state services, especially education...... with a massive budget deficit of nearly $350 million this year."
"Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Corbett's (R) first budget in 2011 included major tax cuts for corporations, which cost about $600 million annually."
1.) Lower taxes for corporations and the rich.
2.) Cut education to make up for the tax cuts.
3.) Create huge deficits when the education cuts don't balance the tax cuts.
Congrats for calling out the 4 worse and most unpopular GOP governors. I'm sure you had to really dig for that.
It's not a myth, maybe at the federal level it is. But at the state and local levels, GOP politicians have a sound record of fiscal responsibility.
That's because at the state levels, at least, balanced budgets are mandated by state constitutions. All states except Vermont have the requirement. That does stop legislators from disobeying the law, but that's another story.
That's because at the state levels, at least, balanced budgets are mandated by state constitutions. All states except Vermont have the requirement. That does stop legislators from disobeying the law, but that's another story.
The GOP has a much better record of governance at state and local levels than Democrats do.
Democrats have Detroit, Baltimore, Cleveland, the list goes on...just a very mixed record. The sort of blight that happens in liberal cities doesn't exist in conservative cities like Colorado Spring, Virginia Beach, and San Diego (to a lesser extent).
Then list the names of GOP governors with fiscal responsibility.
Can you list the names (or) was your post nothing but political deflection?
It was political deflection.
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