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Oct. 12th, 2015
Republicans
Oct. 12th, 2015 10:34 pm"First, the modern Republican Party is a post-policy enterprise, which doesn’t do real solutions to real problems. Second, pundits and the news media really, really don’t want to face up to that awkward reality."
-- Paul Krugman in The New York Times
Although I agree with the spirit of Krugman's conclusion, it is not literally true to say that the Republicans are not pursuing real solutions to real problems; they just are not the problems of liberals and of the general humanity. It is true that the Republicans are not really seeking to enrich the lower and working classes, nor are they seeking to protect the environment. Their cardinal objective is to enrich the rich. Of course, this is hardly a fresh insight, and Krugman himself argues this point well - and convincingly with real evidence. This is their real policy objective, and they are pursuing it rationally.
It is also true, however, given the nature of democracy, that Republicans must not be explicit about their true interests and intentions, but must manifest an apparent concern for the larger issues and the economic concerns of the lower classes, and it is here that lies the disconnect that gives the Republicans the appearance of being simply crazy and irrational. One just has to understand what their true goals are, and to understand that they must throw up a lot of smoke and propaganda to cover up their true agenda. They must fool the people. The appearance of what they say and do is irrational, but they are not dummies and fools. They just aren't democratic.
-- Paul Krugman in The New York Times
Although I agree with the spirit of Krugman's conclusion, it is not literally true to say that the Republicans are not pursuing real solutions to real problems; they just are not the problems of liberals and of the general humanity. It is true that the Republicans are not really seeking to enrich the lower and working classes, nor are they seeking to protect the environment. Their cardinal objective is to enrich the rich. Of course, this is hardly a fresh insight, and Krugman himself argues this point well - and convincingly with real evidence. This is their real policy objective, and they are pursuing it rationally.
It is also true, however, given the nature of democracy, that Republicans must not be explicit about their true interests and intentions, but must manifest an apparent concern for the larger issues and the economic concerns of the lower classes, and it is here that lies the disconnect that gives the Republicans the appearance of being simply crazy and irrational. One just has to understand what their true goals are, and to understand that they must throw up a lot of smoke and propaganda to cover up their true agenda. They must fool the people. The appearance of what they say and do is irrational, but they are not dummies and fools. They just aren't democratic.