GOP Demands the Right to Keep Screwing Up the Economy

It turns out that Republicans are unhappy with Barack Obama's stimulus package. They have their own plans they want used. They want the president to make even more concessions. They want a seat at the table for discussions of what to do.

Completely understandable that they want this. Who wouldn't?

One problem. It's all those crafty Republican economic plans that got us in this national economic disaster in the first place.

Having Republicans devise economic plans to help get America out of its economic disaster is like having the guide who got your group lost in a forest demand to be part of the team that will find a way out. If the guide had the slightest clue how to get you out, you wouldn't be lost in the first place.

That Republicans, in large part, created this economic disaster with their tax cuts, spending, lack of oversight in banking and housing, and trickle down economics theory, all of which is one of the major reasons that they lost the last election in decisive manner. Mind you, I don't mean lost the presidential election - I mean the Senate, House of Representatives and the presidential election. The public saw who screwed up the most with the economy and wanted someone else to lead them out of the forest.

Republicans asking to have their economic plans followed is like the Republicans asking to be put in charge of getting America out of the Iraq War and shutting down Gitmo and ending torture. Time was when they, too, controlled the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. They could have ended all these disasters at any time...but they not only didn't end them, they increased them. And supported their leader every lock-step of the way.

And these are the people trying to tell the American public that they know best what to do with the economy. How to fix it. ("It" being another term for "the problem they caused.")

What Republicans want is for Barack Obama to not eliminate tax cuts for the wealthy, to continue the Bush tax cuts, increase them and make permanent. There are other things they want, as stimulus, some of which even make sense, much of which the Democrats want, too, but it all comes back to two things: one, they want more tax cuts, and two, they still love this whole trickle down economics from the wealthy. Just like Ronald Reagan tried, and mucked up the economy. And just like George W. Bush really mucked up the economy.

Republicans insist they know what's best for the economy. After all, they drove us here. Unfortunately, it was a one-way road, and they tore up the path to get here.

And they demand a voice in fixing the problem they caused.

To be clear, they weren't alone in causing the problem. There were some Democrats who made missteps along the way. But there was another leader heading up those missteps, and another party unanimously supported them for eight years. Blame is not something you pass around evenly, just to be bi-partisan. Blame is something you accept responsibility for and let others who didn't cause the problem fix it.

Also, to be clear, Republicans should have voice at the table. Republican proposals should be heard. This is a serious national problem, and all opinions should be listened to. But all opinions are not equal. There has to be a recognition of where these opinions are coming from. It's not a grab bag where you toss in ideas and pull out suggestions blindly.

What's missing in the equation when Republicans make their economic demands is a simple phrase. Every time a Republican insists they be included in the process, they should be required to add, "...unlike how we handled things."

When House Minority Leader John Boehner stands near-weeping yet again before a microphone and starts trying to throw his non-existent weight around, what I want to hear is him say, "This must be a bi-partisan effort. Unlike how we handled things."

Until you admit a problem, you can't fix it. If Republicans insist on stomping and posturing and crying out with no acknowledgment of their responsibility of economic malfeasance and heavy-handedness in keeping Democrats marginalized, as if the past never existed, then every word out of their mouths is hollow and meaningless.

And the problem runs deeper. Because as long as Republicans keep burying their heads in the ground, unwilling to acknowledge why they lost the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, all the while acting as if they're still in charge and that public supports them, they will continue their spiral to oblivion.

And so, let it be written when the American economy turns around - which it will, which it has to - that every single Republican in the House voted against the stimulus package.

These Republicans and their flying Bill Kristol-troupe of pundits were wrong for eight years - wrong on the economy, wrong on Iraq, wrong on torture, wrong on Katrina, wrong, wrong, wrong. And now they want the public to listen to them as if the past never happened. The public may have been foolish enough to re-elect George Bush, but they aren't that stupid. That's why Barack Obama and the Democrats are now in charge.

I want Republicans heard. I want all voices heard. I want the American economy strong, and the nation strong, wherever the answers come from. But that won't happen by following the path that got us here.

All it takes to get off that path is one simple phrase: "Unlike how we handled things."

Comments

[newmexicogold]

The candidates for 2010 have begun to solicit dunds for their campaign. The RNC has a new chairman.

I had an idea, late last night (probably too late.) What if the Senate version of HR ! was exactly what the Republicans have posted (a 3 page bill that calls for only tax cuts) and when the bill went to conference, Reid and Pelosi beat the GOP to the microphones and cameras and announced:

"We listened to the Republican Party, and for the good of the countries future generations, have decided to pass their bill, exactly as they wrote it. We are willing to give them 6 months, and if the economy has not been stimulated, we will repeal all the tax cuts issued over the past 14 years, and pass an infrastructure spending only bill. Let no Ameican consider that we are not compassionate with your desperation. We don't have faith in their bill, but if it works it's in the best interest of the country. If it doesn't work, we will throw all of our legislative might into your rescue one day after the 6 month test has passed (hey, we already got the kinks out!) and there will be no doubt as to which party is really looking after your best interests.­"

And they said we wouldn't consider their plan!

[bpress]

"... they aren't that stupid." Well, it didn't take a very articulate person to say something like ''Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." and then go on to fool everyone again. Throw out lines about contraception, Acorn, etc. and you can continue to fool many, which is what they did on the 'stimulus' bill. I don't know if the fools need to be guided out of the wilderness or left there for a forty year hike. Trying to rescue them will only slow down everyone else. The quote attributed to The President states it very distinctly, "I won."

[Emlyn]

We need oppposition in this country but it must be constructive.

[oafishcad]

4 Billion in bonuses at just one company to the wealthy using Bailout money. That's Republican fiscal policy in a nutshell. We can;t afford healthcare for all Americans but we can afford to make sure the wealthiest of the wealthy never miss a day at the spa.

[oafishcad]

Republican financial policy caused the mess we're in. Using Republican financial policy to get us out of it is nonsense. Utter and complete nonsense. Trickle down is proven failure. Proven. Failure.

[VikingQuest]

Can someone tell me why Democrats aren't celebrating the fact that ZERO Republicans voted yes on this bill?

If you honestly believe in this bill and believe that it will guarentee success then all of those Democrats will have jobs through the next election barring any investigations. On the other hand, if you have questions on if this bill will work, then I would be very worried.

This is all on the Democrat's plate now which is what everyone here wanted right, they can't blame the Republicans for anything if it goes bad or has no effect?

[oafishcad]

I personally think it doesn't go far enough. so if it fails it will be because of timidity and compromise with the ideas of proven Republican failure.

[claylandg]

So i guess the dems have not done anything to the econemy to make it bad?? since they were in control of the senate for what 3 yrs?? Ask barney frank look at the video of him saying everything is ok.Blame goes to all that's all i"m saying.

[noamjunior]

someone should buy you a calander- The dems were in control of congress with no veto override for about 10 months when this recession started in nov 2007

[ptfcNassoc]

Quote adoseofsanity: In the case of job creation, most jobs are created by business, large and mostly small. Tax policy needs to be low for business, and reward investment. /Quote

WRONG. Giving a business extra tax money does not make more people come up to the counter of tha business and pay for goods and services. Having extra tax money is not a substitute for actual real profit. If people weren't struggling so bad and had some disposable income they then will go to that business, go up to the counter and pay for goods and services in turn that business will make money, thus having extra money to hire more employees. Having more tax money does not make one more extra customer walk into that store. Common sense FTW!

[Peter007]

If taxes for business were lower, the product and services they sell would be lower, The lower the price, the more demand you have and more people will buy that product. The more sales there are, the more money the business man makes, the more people he can hire. Increased demand for workers raises wages. Higher wages means more consumption. and on and on and on.

[UncommonSenz]

We tried the trickle down approach and it does NOT work.

http://www.economy.com/dismal/article_free.asp?cid=102598

Tax cuts have the LEAST effect possible, and drain an already depleted treasury even more.

We've had eight long years of swallowing that swill and it has put the nation in intensive care. You'll have to excuse me if I want to actually try the strategy that has worked in the past.

[noamjunior]

Saying that Tax cuts will get us out of this mess is like trying to dig yourself out of a hole

[laocoon]

you are literally adopting the Marxist doctrine of price. Price is simply an accumulation of cost and has nothing to do with supply and demand!!! If I have a business and taxes go down on my business I probably use the money to influence politicians or I buy ads or I just get that 2nd Audi.

[oafishcad]

Not true.

[oafishcad]

It's proven by recent events, Larger profits for companies almost never result in more pay for workers or the hiring of more workers. It may result in a new factory-in China or India, not America. Building a road in Idaho can't be outsourced. A subway in LA is built by workers in LA. Infrastructure spending helps Americans. More Profits for business helps the Financial Aristocracy and some poor people in foreign lands.

[Peter007]

To say that tax cuts were a reason for this economic downturn is ignorant. To blame supply side economics for our problems today is also stupid. I'm tired of democrats blaming republicans for everything that is wrong today. Democrats had a hand in everything too. They had a place at the table.
It does no good to blame republicans. The entire system we have is designed to fail. Democracy is rule by the lowest common denominator. When you have the masses of uneducated people deciding complicated financial issues, the result will be failure.
The democracy fails because people keep voting themselves pay raises.
The reason Reagan was swept into power was due to the phrase. " there is no free lunch".
Democrats had been spending like there was no tomorrow and it took a while before the public realized they had been scammed. We will go through the same process once again. The cycle may take 4 or 6 years but it will come around again. " There is no free lunch"
And don't call me a republican supporter because I'm not!

[UncommonSenz]

Moody's did an analysis that shows exactly how wrong you are:
http://www.economy.com/dismal/article_free.asp?cid=102598

How effective (return per $1 spent) are the policy you and the GOP favor:

Tax Cuts:

Non-refundable lump-sum tax rebate 1.02
Payroll tax Holiday 1.29
Across the board tax cut 1.03
Accelerate depreciation 0.27
Extend alternative minimum tax patch 0.48
Make Bush Income Tax Cuts Permanent 0.29
Make Dividend and Capital Gains Tax Cuts Permanent 0.37
Cut in Corp Tax Rate 0.30

Wow- how totally ineffective. And the ones you push hardest for have the most negative returns.

Now here is what the dems propose:

Tax Cuts:
Refundable lump sum tax rebate: 1.26
Spending:
Extending UI Benefits 1.64
Temp Increase in Food Stamps 1.73
General Aid to State Governments 1.36
Increased Infrastructure Spending 1.59

So much for "supply side" economics.

[UncommonSenz]

By the way, it is so ironic that you rail against the economic illiteracy that prevents us from finding good solutions, yet you perfectly espouse those views by advocating supply side techniques that have been proven total failures (both in the results of the last 8 years and in the numerical analysis of Moodys).

You still don't get it, it was YOUR kind of thinking that created this mess, and you think "it'll work if we just do MORE of it!". Pathetic

[noamjunior]

then can I call you competely ignorant about History, government and ecconomics?
Thats the impression I got after reading your post
this recession started NOV 2007 -10 months into a democratic congress after nearly 15 years of Goper control- and you want to blame the dems?
Ignorant

[RoloTomassi]

"To say that tax cuts were a reason for this economic downturn is ignorant. To blame supply side economics for our problems today is also stupid."

That's your clueless opinion because you are a hardline GOPer, which means your credibility on economics is equal to that of a talking toad.

[Kassandra]

They all have the very serious character defect of never admitting they were wrong. They WERE wrong and need to start making amends to the American people. Voluntary incarceration springs to mind.

they really shot themselves in the foot on this one.

[DoTheMath]

"And so, let it be written when the American economy turns around - which it will, which it has to - that every single Republican in the House voted against the stimulus package."

What they may be thinking (if they are thinking anything at all and not merely having knee-jerk reactions, as usual):
- Things will get worse before they get better in any case.
- Since we don't have enough power to block the other team's plan, our best strategy is to oppose their plan so we can say "we told you so" when things get worse.
- We hope things are worse in November of 2010.

Our mission:
++ Make sure nobody buys that "we told you so" garbage. The only thing they told us is "cut taxes," which economists and recent history have clearly identified as a failed strategy. Tax cuts don't help you if you don't have a job. And, no, businesses to do not hire more workers just because they get tax cuts. Research this if you don't believe me; it's just plain math.
++ Make sure everyone understands that we expect all our representatives to be on one team, OUR team, the team that's trying to make our government work. Shine a floodlight on every worn out partisan ploy and dishonest statement. Boehner says direct funds to states and education would not help to preserve or create jobs. Think he believes that?
++ In 2010, reward the representatives who are working for us, not

[webdoomed]

Gee, could it be that no Republicans voted for the stimulus plan because it is actually just another spending plan? It is fascinating how much everyone wants the Republicans on board with this. Remember what bad guys the Republicans were when they wouldn't sign on to the Democrat/Bush crafted bailout a few months ago. It was do or die, recovery or depression, starvation or food on the table. Well that has turned out just wonderfully with all kinds of accountability and great results. Is it hard to imagine why the house Republicans don't want to be on board with the Dems for their next big spending fiasco?

[DoTheMath]

So, with hundreds of thousands of layoffs, their strategy is to push the exact same ideas that got us into this mess, and when they don't get exactly what they want (some concessions, but not everything they want) they just say no? They try to block assistance we desperately need when time is of the essence?

If they want accountability, they should be pushing for accountability. They're not. They're pushing for tax cuts only and no funds for such "wasteful," unstimulating," "un-job-related" things as state government or education.

[ladyv]

Trickle down *does* work. It's just that the stream has been diverted to other nations, bypassing all but the wealthiest Americans.

[FernandoRuiz]

Sad you still feel that way, too bad the people who proposed it dont, and have confessed to it. See the conversations below

[ladyv]

I'm not sure what you're saying.

[island-in-alabama]

"Until you admit a problem, you can't fix it."

And therein lies the problem. If you're not adult enough to admit a mistake, but instead double down on the lies, you can't fix the problem. You see it in children of all ages (and I mean ~all~ ages)

[research]

It only takes 51 votes to eliminate the filibuster.

[Peter007]

it takes 2/3's vote. 60 votes

[wendynyc]

The American electorate is being taken for a ride.

We are slowly but surely being channeled into a privatized and corporatized society. Everything is now going to be operated by private corporations - large impersonal profit making entities with unlimited sources of financing and pretty much able to manipulate their way in government­,basically operating ABOVE THE LAW!

This is the GOP gift to us over the last thirty years. They do not give a damn about our children, our elderly, our air, our water supply or our economy. Each man for himself - that's their creed!

Hope everyone gets it before it is too late!!

[Peter007]

It has become a grand corporate society but blame the government for that. Its a big government and they can only function by relying on giant corporations. The government likes big corporations. It doesn't matter if they are dems or repubs. Thats why we are in the position of having companies that are TOO big to fail.