Biden's next big plan could blow up one of the GOP's biggest lies

[highplainsdem]

Link to tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/20/bidens-next-big-plan-could-blow-up-one-gops-biggest-lies/

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In short, Republicans have repurposed the lie that Democrats are captive to leftist ideas that are fundamentally radical and destructive. Yet they are proving overwhelmingly popular. Large majorities approve of the infrastructure proposals and approve of the covid rescue package. If these are radical leftist ideas, then big majorities of Americans approve of radical leftist ideas.

Why is this happening? In a good column, Paul Krugman tries to explain it. GOP criticism is shockingly weak, in part because Republicans are adrift in a separate information universe where the only thing that resonates is that everything Democrats propose is scary socialism.

What’s more, Democrats no longer fear that bold progressive policies will attract grumbling about undermining economic “confidence” from either deficit scolds or Wall Street “job creators.”

“Biden’s economic advisers evidently believe that if you build a better economy, confidence will take care of itself,” Krugman notes, adding that “all indications are that we’re heading for an economic boom,” which means “Biden’s policies might get even more popular.”

I’d like to add another potential reason to this mix: The coronavirus crisis has laid bare realities about our economy that for too many people had long remained out of sight.

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[Casady1]

1. Finally the shackles

of Reaganism is gone. Forty years of stupid ideology has left us with a divided country, no infrastructure spending in2 generations, and the worst income inequality since the gilded age.

[eShirl]

2. Well said.

and welcome to DU

[highplainsdem]

3. Yes, welcome to DU!

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Plus, infrastructure was popular with Republicans when TRUMP supported it.

Theoretically supported it precisely.

[central scrutinizer]

15. How many infrastructure weeks were there?

I lost count. More like infrastructure weak.

[malaise]

5. Trickle down is a piss poor option

that has failed

[malaise]

6. Trickle down is a piss poor option

that has failed

[ProudMNDemocrat]

7. The people versus The Republican psrty.

Policies popular with the people will be opposed by the Republican Party. They stand for NOTHING.

Example in mind....Republican support for Infrastructure without raising the Corporate tax rate to 28% by raising taxes on everyone else through "User fees ".

There is yet a Republican to convince the American people that Corporations do not rely on Infrastructure be it roads, bridges, internet access, electricity, waterways, airports, Ports, etc , in which to conduct commerce. They can't.

[Johnny2X2X]

8. Yup

I know it was a dark 4 years, but Joe is setup to reap the credit for an absolute booming 2021 and 2022 economy.

A sign that you're winning in politics is when the other side tries to take credit for your achievements, that's all you're going to hear for at least the next 18 months, now Trump and the GOP should get credit for the incredible economy, but that's going to fly over like a lead filled balloon to the American people.

[johnthewoodworker]

9. Republican/nazis are just haters who have no concerns about facts, POC, or democracy.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. We are so fortunate to have gone with someone experienced

He may have been Jr. Senator from Delaware, Jr. Senator on Judiciary, VP to Obama, but 50 years' experience learns ya' something. He's used the term "best ideas". Yeah. Imagine the Rolodex. Look at the Brain Trust that no one's talking about. Especially look at the messaging the quality of the personnel. It doesn't assemble itself. It takes a great mind, concentration, humility, confidence, and experience in knowing what to do. Fingers crossed we can keep it going.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

16. 👏👏🏾👏🏿

[TlalocW]

11. The thing Biden is doing the most right is taking a cue from past republican presidents

And acting like he has a mandate. Which he does unlike some past republican presidents and past/current congressional leaders.

TlalocW

[DFW]

12. Redpublican same old, same old

As usual, all the Republicans have in their weak arsenal is to call every initiative of the Biden administration "socialism," which rings about as true as some at the other end of the spectrum who trash anything they disagree with as "corporatism."

If the overall general welfare of the populace deteriorates, they will latch onto any slogan fed to them. If it improves, they couldn't care less what slogans they are asked to swallow. They just won't.

[IronLionZion]

13. Republicans are the destructive extremist minority

they shifted hard right from conservative long ago. It's time for them to stop holding our country hostage to their radical agenda. Their tax cuts and deregulation have hurt Americans not helped as they promised.

[modrepub]

14. Minor Concern On Infrastructure Spending

I'll point out the Republicans control a lot of state legislatures. They will probably be in charge of where funds actually go. My experience is a lot of state-level allocation processes are both Byzantine and Balkanized. It would be quite easy for funds to be diverted to politicians' pet projects or revenue to be shifted to Republican controlled areas at the expense of Democratic areas. A state could easily hold up appropriations at the state level due to political idealogical differences with little consequences (if there is severe gerrymandering involved).

I'd count on a lot of chicanery taking place regarding any infrastructure bill. There's really too much money to track to ensure it isn't wasted on projects that have little public benefit.

In the end, if waste gets highly publicized, public support could quickly sour.