The Bottom Line:
Any middle class person who votes for a Republican candidate is committing economic suicide.
This is because both the economic and political policies of the Republican Party have been destroying the middle class for the last forty years. Democratic presidents have contributed to this process by pursuing Republican type policies in order to attract campaign contributions from corporations. In spite of a situation where both Republican and Democratic Party establishments are more concerned about the well being of corporations than human beings, there is a major difference for voters.
The Democratic Party still has a large left-wing, anti-corporate faction as well as moderate and conservative factions. The Republican Party has no left-wing faction any more. In the past it existed and its members were called “liberal Republicans.” There are still moderate Republicans but they are a shrinking group and generally must go along with their right-wing and ultra right-wing colleagues and party leadership.
Republicans state that their policy goals are: 1) Lower taxes 2) Less regulations, and 3) Smaller government. They claim that these policies will result in a strong growing economy. On the surface they don't sound bad. But when you analyze what they mean in practice they don't hold water.
This is why:
1) The bulk of lower taxes are intended for large corporations and rich individuals. The middle class voter is thrown some crumbs in the form of slightly reduced taxes paid for in the form of reduced services at some point in the future. Reality is that voters demand a certain level of government services. In a state like Minnesota the level is high compared to low income states. Somebody has to pay for these services. Republicans avoid specifics about how to avoid reducing services if taxes are cut. The old standby of “Eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.” is an old joke in politics. In a fairly well run state like Minnesota, the amount of waste, fraud and abuse is tiny. There are no significant savings in this area.
The Republican Party in Minnesota, when it has been in control of state government, has closed the gap between inadequate revenues and not cutting services by using various accounting tricks. This just kicks the can down the road. Republican politicians promise a “Free Lunch.” There is no such thing as a “Free Lunch.”
2) Businesses in general don't like regulations because they cost money. But regulations protect consumers and public welfare in general. It is not possible to just cut regulations across the board. There has to be an ongoing process of reviewing regulations to see if they need to be modified or eliminated or replaced or expanded. Here again there are no specifics from Republican politicians.
3) Smaller government is a fantasy. As political units grow in size and complexity, their governments must also grow in size and complexity. Minnesota can't have the same size government in 2015 that it had in 1915 or in 2000. Just adjusting each year to a larger population and changing demographics of the population like a rapidly growing K thru 12 student population forces the government to expand. Minnesota has a rapidly aging population. This means more services/money for the elderly. Can Republican politicians stop people from growing old or having babies?
Any middle class person who votes for a Republican candidate is committing economic suicide.
This is because both the economic and political policies of the Republican Party have been destroying the middle class for the last forty years. Democratic presidents have contributed to this process by pursuing Republican type policies in order to attract campaign contributions from corporations. In spite of a situation where both Republican and Democratic Party establishments are more concerned about the well being of corporations than human beings, there is a major difference for voters.
The Democratic Party still has a large left-wing, anti-corporate faction as well as moderate and conservative factions. The Republican Party has no left-wing faction any more. In the past it existed and its members were called “liberal Republicans.” There are still moderate Republicans but they are a shrinking group and generally must go along with their right-wing and ultra right-wing colleagues and party leadership.
Republicans state that their policy goals are: 1) Lower taxes 2) Less regulations, and 3) Smaller government. They claim that these policies will result in a strong growing economy. On the surface they don't sound bad. But when you analyze what they mean in practice they don't hold water.
This is why:
1) The bulk of lower taxes are intended for large corporations and rich individuals. The middle class voter is thrown some crumbs in the form of slightly reduced taxes paid for in the form of reduced services at some point in the future. Reality is that voters demand a certain level of government services. In a state like Minnesota the level is high compared to low income states. Somebody has to pay for these services. Republicans avoid specifics about how to avoid reducing services if taxes are cut. The old standby of “Eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.” is an old joke in politics. In a fairly well run state like Minnesota, the amount of waste, fraud and abuse is tiny. There are no significant savings in this area.
The Republican Party in Minnesota, when it has been in control of state government, has closed the gap between inadequate revenues and not cutting services by using various accounting tricks. This just kicks the can down the road. Republican politicians promise a “Free Lunch.” There is no such thing as a “Free Lunch.”
2) Businesses in general don't like regulations because they cost money. But regulations protect consumers and public welfare in general. It is not possible to just cut regulations across the board. There has to be an ongoing process of reviewing regulations to see if they need to be modified or eliminated or replaced or expanded. Here again there are no specifics from Republican politicians.
3) Smaller government is a fantasy. As political units grow in size and complexity, their governments must also grow in size and complexity. Minnesota can't have the same size government in 2015 that it had in 1915 or in 2000. Just adjusting each year to a larger population and changing demographics of the population like a rapidly growing K thru 12 student population forces the government to expand. Minnesota has a rapidly aging population. This means more services/money for the elderly. Can Republican politicians stop people from growing old or having babies?