John Manning
2009-12-03 16:16:38 UTC
THE NO-SENSE JOBS PLAN.... Arguably the single most farcical aspect of
America's political discourse is listening to congressional Republicans
talk about economic policy.
We're talking about a group of people who've
managed to be spectacularly wrong about practically every economic
challenge in recent memory, but who are nevertheless convinced of their
own self-righteous expertise. It's hard not to cringe.
But yet, they keep talking, blissfully unaware of their track record of
uninterrupted failure.
Yesterday, for example, House Minority Whip Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.)
visited the conservative Heritage Foundation to unveil what he called "a
no-cost jobs plan." Andrew Leonard explained, "Without adding a single
dime to the deficit, the Republican's plan will ameliorate the worst
unemployment crisis in 30 years. One wonders how a political party
capable of such innovative thinking ever lost its hold of power."
To recap: Cut regulations. Freeze spending. Cut taxes. No new taxes.
That's the plan.
I would really, really love to have access to an alternative
universe in which Cantor's plan could have been applied this past
year, in parallel with our world, in which the economy was injected
with a massive stimulus, so we could compare the efficacy of the two
approaches in real time.
What would have happened if instead of spending money, the
government had sat on its hands?
I think about that all the time. Republicans controlled the levers of
power, and the results were nearly catastrophic for the economy.
Democrats were handed the reins, and while the economy is still
struggling, we're working our way out of the ditch. If we'd listened to
Cantor & Co., we'd still be digging.
As for the "no-cost jobs plan," it's hard not to laugh at the stupidity.
We tried it Cantor's way. We're still suffering the consequences.
NBC reported on Cantor's plan, and explained, "The challenge for Cantor
and Republicans is that these solutions -- low taxes, free trade, and
fewer regulations -- existed during the Bush years, which saw three
different economic downturns (in 2001, 2003, and 2008), and which
produced the weakest eight-year span for the U.S. economy in decades."
It's not just Cantor, of course. House Minority Leader John Boehner
(R-Ohio) has scheduled an "economic roundtable" today, to compete with
the White House's job summit. Roll Call reported, "A spokesman for
Boehner said the purpose of the meeting is to give a platform for
economists who have a different perspective on how Obama's agenda has
affected the economy."
And who are these experts? Apparently, House Republicans have turned to
"former Bush administration and McCain campaign staffers, who have
advocated disastrous tax and budget policies."
So, to summarize, less than a year from the last administration,
congressional Republicans believe it's time to re-embrace the
Bush/Cheney agenda that didn't work, and listen to the architects of the
Bush/Cheney agenda that didn't work.
Historically, after a major electoral defeat, the losing side adapts and
shifts course.
Congressional Republicans, for reasons that defy comprehension, are
doubling down on an agenda that's already failed.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_12/021268.php
America's political discourse is listening to congressional Republicans
talk about economic policy.
We're talking about a group of people who've
managed to be spectacularly wrong about practically every economic
challenge in recent memory, but who are nevertheless convinced of their
own self-righteous expertise. It's hard not to cringe.
But yet, they keep talking, blissfully unaware of their track record of
uninterrupted failure.
Yesterday, for example, House Minority Whip Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.)
visited the conservative Heritage Foundation to unveil what he called "a
no-cost jobs plan." Andrew Leonard explained, "Without adding a single
dime to the deficit, the Republican's plan will ameliorate the worst
unemployment crisis in 30 years. One wonders how a political party
capable of such innovative thinking ever lost its hold of power."
To recap: Cut regulations. Freeze spending. Cut taxes. No new taxes.
That's the plan.
I would really, really love to have access to an alternative
universe in which Cantor's plan could have been applied this past
year, in parallel with our world, in which the economy was injected
with a massive stimulus, so we could compare the efficacy of the two
approaches in real time.
What would have happened if instead of spending money, the
government had sat on its hands?
I think about that all the time. Republicans controlled the levers of
power, and the results were nearly catastrophic for the economy.
Democrats were handed the reins, and while the economy is still
struggling, we're working our way out of the ditch. If we'd listened to
Cantor & Co., we'd still be digging.
As for the "no-cost jobs plan," it's hard not to laugh at the stupidity.
We tried it Cantor's way. We're still suffering the consequences.
NBC reported on Cantor's plan, and explained, "The challenge for Cantor
and Republicans is that these solutions -- low taxes, free trade, and
fewer regulations -- existed during the Bush years, which saw three
different economic downturns (in 2001, 2003, and 2008), and which
produced the weakest eight-year span for the U.S. economy in decades."
It's not just Cantor, of course. House Minority Leader John Boehner
(R-Ohio) has scheduled an "economic roundtable" today, to compete with
the White House's job summit. Roll Call reported, "A spokesman for
Boehner said the purpose of the meeting is to give a platform for
economists who have a different perspective on how Obama's agenda has
affected the economy."
And who are these experts? Apparently, House Republicans have turned to
"former Bush administration and McCain campaign staffers, who have
advocated disastrous tax and budget policies."
So, to summarize, less than a year from the last administration,
congressional Republicans believe it's time to re-embrace the
Bush/Cheney agenda that didn't work, and listen to the architects of the
Bush/Cheney agenda that didn't work.
Historically, after a major electoral defeat, the losing side adapts and
shifts course.
Congressional Republicans, for reasons that defy comprehension, are
doubling down on an agenda that's already failed.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_12/021268.php
