-
Recent Posts
Archives
- August 2018
- June 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- March 2014
- September 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
Categories
- abortion
- alt-right
- Ayn Rand
- book review
- capitalism
- Catholic Church
- Christian worldview
- conservatism
- corruption
- criminal justice
- culture war
- economic policy
- education
- environment
- framing
- human rights
- Islamophobia
- journalism
- Koch brothers
- liberalism
- libertarianism
- media
- political rhetoric
- political strategy
- politics of extremism
- populism
- privatization
- progressivism
- Religious Right
- revisionist history
- secularism
- separation of church and state
- Tea Party
- theology
- Trump administration
- Uncategorized
Meta
Category Archives: economic policy
The Trump-Republican Tax Cut: What Were They Thinking?
As a mental exercise, let’s ask the following question: what if Trump and the Republicans, instead of tilting their tax-cut legislation heavily towards corporations and the rich, had come up with a bill that truly favored white middle class voters, … Continue reading
How Not to Govern: U.S. Highways and Infrastructure the Victim of Ideology
Once upon a time, government investment in the nation’s infrastructure was a bipartisan thing. Democrats saw such investment as encouraging jobs, the Republicans saw it as helping business, and everybody agreed that it strengthened the nation. This view has been shared by both parties throughout our history. Democrats were … Continue reading
The “Dependent” Ones
On the basis of Mitt Romney’s comments on the 47%, it seems obvious that he believes being “dependent on government” in any form is a condition worse than sin. His view that almost half of us fit into that category … Continue reading
Posted in economic policy, political rhetoric
Tagged 47%, dependency on government, dependent, entitlements, Mitt Romney, sloth, TANF, tax entitlements, welfare
Leave a comment
Paul Ryan, Son of John Galt
Paul Ryan has downplayed his Ayn Rand associations lately in deference to Christian sensibilities. Rand, the popular priestess of über-individualism, was a militant atheist and no friend of the Christian religion. Still, while Ryan dismisses Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism, he in no way … Continue reading
Deregulation Fever
Congressional Republicans, unlike the elephant that symbolizes their party, act as though they have short memories. A key example is their embrace of deregulation in the wake of two of the biggest regulatory screw-ups in generations: the 2008 financial meltdown and the … Continue reading
Posted in economic policy, framing
Tagged Darrell Issa, deregulation, red tape, regulation, small business
Leave a comment
The Public Starting to See Through the Republicans’ Game
Many Americans seem to realize what the Republicans are up to on the economy. According to a recent Daily Kos-SEIU poll, a plurality of citizens now believe the Republican Party is intentionally stalling the recovery. Most informed progressives would view this as … Continue reading
Posted in economic policy
Tagged aggregate demand, austerity, economic sabotage, job-creators, stimulus, unemployment
Leave a comment
The Buffett Rule and Democratic Tactics
Frames are important in politics. The way an issue is presented is sometimes of greater weight than the accuracy of one’s debating points or the clarity of one’s reasoning. What is critical is how one’s argument plays upon the experience of one’s audience and … Continue reading
Posted in economic policy, framing, political strategy
Tagged Buffett Rule, Ryan budget, Tea Party movement
2 Comments
The Ayn Rand Budget
Paul Ryan, the author of the GOP’s recent budget proposal, is a big fan of Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand is the writer who inspired the young Ryan some fifteen years ago to get into politics. Today, unsurprisingly, her go-it-alone individualism permeates his worldview and guides his policy-making. Her … Continue reading
Posted in economic policy
Tagged Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, budget, capitalism, Paul Ryan, producers
Leave a comment
The GOP Budget Strategy: Reframing plus Shock Doctrine
Without a doubt, the Republicans seem set upon a high-risk strategy. Their congressional contingent last week decided to put all their chips on the Paul Ryan budget plan (all but ten Republicans voted for it in the House), which if adopted … Continue reading
Posted in economic policy, framing
Tagged framing, gridlock, Medicare, Ryan budget, Shock Doctrine
Leave a comment
Political Optic 