Dangerously Confused

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_03/017207.php

DANGEROUSLY CONFUSED.... The House Republican leaders' pre-recession mindset is so overwhelming, their ignorance isn't just embarrassing, it's frightening.

House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio, appearing after Orszag on "Face the Nation," replied: "American families are tightening their belt, but they don't see government tightening its belt. And I think we can get through this year and lead by example, and show the American people that the government can go on a diet as well." <...>

On CNN, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia said: "Director Orszag and others say, look, we've inherited these trillions dollars of deficits. Well, if you've got a situation like that, how in the world should you be going and make it worse? Families are not doing that."

I know there are people who take these guys seriously. I just don't know why. When it comes to economic policy, two of the top Republican policymakers in the federal government are not only in flat-earth territory, they can't imagine why anyone would have the audacity to think the planet is round.

In case there's any lingering confusion here, publius recently explained: "The micro-considerations of an individual family or business has nothing much to do with what governments need to do to get the larger economy moving again. Even worse, it's often affirmatively harmful to adopt microeconomic solutions to macroeconomic problems."

It's only fair to describe Boehner's and Cantor's policy prescription, to borrow David Brooks' word, as insane. It's my sincere hope that the House Minority Leader and Minority Whip know full well what they're saying is ridiculous, because given a choice, I'd much prefer shameless dishonesty to abject stupidity.

It was, by the way, nice to see OMB Director Peter Orszag pushing back a bit on the Sunday shows.

"I would urge you to invite the Republicans on this show and ask for their specifics, and then compare them head-to-head," Orszag told John King, anchor of CNN's "State of the Union."

"Because we are proposing a change in course in which we are not only fiscally responsible, but we are investing in education, we are investing in energy, and we're investing in health care."

Orszag also declared: "We've been down a path that has not been working. We're proposing a change in course. And with regard to the criticisms, it's almost like, as Ronald Reagan said, 'there they go again.'"

—Steve Benen

[On the Road]

1. It is Amazing

how the modern "pro-business" party can hold onto positions that were discredited a century ago.

I can understand the queasiness about the massive deficits, even though no one blinked an eye over Reagan and the Bushes' deficits. It's the failure to comprehend the consequences of inaction that's absolutely breathtaking. If the Lehman failure resulted in the kind of panic we saw in September, what would happen in BoA, Citi, and/or AIG went under?

If Republicans had any political power, the whole financial system would have collapsed by now. And they still would have no idea what was going on around them.

[babylonsister]

2. I think they absolutely know what's going on around them. But, to

admit their culpability is a non-starter. They know the situation in this country is their fault, and there's no way they're going to own up to it.

[On the Road]

4. I Really Don't Think They Get It

The Republican party has become an echo chamber where all this misinformation keeps reinforcing itself. I can't imagine even a politician being willing to take the country down for a cheap political trick.

Fiscal conservatives used to approach depressions by tightening the financial reins. It was perverse and usually made things worse. Some of these people should have learned something in the last century.

[babylonsister]

5. If we 'get it', not being in politics, to think they don't is too much of

a stretch imo. And if they're that stupid, they should change their professions.

[On the Road]

7. Once You're Tied to an Ideology

changing requires a revolution in how you see the world. That is a difficult process, especially if everyone around you is constantly voicing support.

It reiforces the status quo if there is a grain of truth in your ideology. There is nothing wrong in general with not liking government debt or huge increases in expenditures. There is nothing wrong with optimism that economies rebound and crashes do not last forever.

What's wrong is not being able to see that the consequences of doing nothing dwarf all these other considerations.

[spanone]

3. it's blind arrogance. they won't accept anything 'we' offer. party over everything. raw partisans

[lmn84]

6. I think they aren't confused

but desperate to maintain the destroyed image of "fiscal Republican". They're saying what the followers of the party want to here, they're doing what they want them to do. And I think that they know while it's not the right thing to do, since they're in a minority they don't have to worry about it. It's not like them voting no is necessarily going to stop anything.