Re: [FairfieldLife] GOP Jobs Plan - Deregulation and Tax Cuts for the Rich [no kidding]

[Bhairitu]

Yup, slavery is definitely a low-cost plan.  The GOP has been trying to 
get that back for the last 140  years.  Maybe they should label it "The 
Oliver Twist Plan."


Sal Sunshine wrote:
> On Dec 3, 2009, at 10:25 AM, do.rflex wrote:
>
> 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.
>
> Perfect definition of insanity!
>
> Sal

Re: [FairfieldLife] GOP Jobs Plan - Deregulation and Tax Cuts for the Rich [no kidding]

[Sal Sunshine]

On Dec 3, 2009, at 10:25 AM, do.rflex wrote:

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.

Perfect definition of insanity!

Sal

[FairfieldLife] GOP Jobs Plan - Deregulation and Tax Cuts for the Rich [no kidding]

[do.rflex]

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