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> Haven't republicans been campaigning on reducing govt spending for like 50 years? Not really. There is a political strategy Republicans have engaged during
by AdieuToLogic 2y ago
> Haven't republicans been campaigning on reducing govt spending for like 50 years?
Not really. There is a political strategy Republicans have engaged during this time known as "Two Santas" which can explain it:
First, the Two Santas strategy dictates, when Republicans
control the White House they must spend money like a
drunken Santa and cut taxes to run up the U.S. debt as far
and as fast as possible.
This produces three results: it stimulates the economy thus
making people think that the GOP can produce a good
economy; it raises the debt dramatically; and it makes
people think that Republicans are the “tax-cut Santa
Clauses.”
Second, when a Democrat is in the White House, Republicans
must scream about the national debt as loudly and
frantically as possible, freaking out about how “our
children will have to pay for it!” and “we have to cut
spending to solve the crisis!” Shut down the government,
crash the stock market, and damage US credibility around
the world if necessary to stop Democrats from spending
money.
This will force the Democrats in power to cut their own
social safety net programs and even Social Security, thus
shooting their welfare-of-the-American-people Santa Claus
right in the face.[0]
0 - http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/thom-hartmann/two-santas-strategy-gop-used-economic-scam-manipulate-americans-40-years/ http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/thom-hartmann/two-santas...
- rukuu001 2y agoHa! That's great. The opposite of that play is: Voted-in Conservatives: we are the party of fiscal responsibility. We shall reduce govt spending by running services into the ground. Voted-in Libs: We were voted in to undo all this f*kery... gotta spend those $$$ Conservatives: Didn't we say you can't trust those libs with the $$$? For the record - I think society needs both parties alternating in power to function properly. Either one in power forever is a mistake
- AdieuToLogic 2y agoWhat you describe is the insidious effect of repetitive use of the "Two Santas" strategy: > Voted-in Conservatives: we are the party of fiscal responsibility. Conservatives are provably not. See[0]. > Voted-in Libs: We were voted in to undo all this f*kery... gotta spend those $$$ This is a common misperception, fostered in large part by the effectivity of the "Two Santas" political strategy. 0 - https://www.investopedia.com/us-national-debt-by-year-7499291 https://www.investopedia.com/us-national-debt-by-year-749929...
- rukuu001 2y agoOh I very much agree the cons are bad at money. Just talking about what they say.
- dgb23 2y agoExcept that is inaccurate. With the exception of the Biden admin, Republicans have been increasing the national debt at a _much_ higher rate. Both private and public dept have been rising rapidly since the 70/80's and the introduction of neoliberal policies. Real wages have stagnated, so Americans go into debt. Tax cuts for the rich, so the US has to borrow.
- rukuu001 2y agoYes I agree with that. I’m just talking about what they say rather than reality. I’d have edited for clarity but I missed the window.
- blitzar 2y ago> With the exception of the Biden admin The last year in office Trump was spending $8 trillion a year and Biden left office spending $6.7 trillion.
- dgb23 2y agoYes, but it would be dishonest to claim that only Republican admins drastically increased the deficit. Biden is an exception. I’m not comparing him to Trump either.