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no_hypocrisy

(55,410 posts)
2. The Two Santa Claus Theory
Tue Jul 1, 2025, 08:59 AM
Jul 2025

The Two Santa Claus Theory is a political theory and strategy published by Wanniski in 1976, which he promoted within the United States Republican Party.[15][16] The theory states that in democratic elections, if members of the rival Democratic Party appeal to voters by proposing programs to help people, then the Republicans cannot gain broader appeal by proposing less spending. The first "Santa Claus" of the theory title refers to the Democrats who promise programs to help the disadvantaged. The "Two Santa Claus Theory" recommends that the Republicans must assume the role of a second Santa Claus by not arguing to cut spending but offering the option of cutting taxes.[15]

According to Wanniski, the theory is simple. In 1976, he wrote that the Two-Santa Claus Theory suggests that "the Republicans should concentrate on tax-rate reduction. As they succeed in expanding incentives to produce, they will move the economy back to full employment and thereby reduce social pressures for public spending. Just as an increase in Government spending inevitably means taxes must be raised, a cut in tax rates—by expanding the private sector—will diminish the relative size of the public sector."[16] Wanniski suggested this position, as left-liberal observer Thom Hartmann has clarified, so that the Democrats would "have to be anti-Santas by raising taxes, or anti-Santas by cutting spending. Either one would lose them elections."[17]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_Wanniski#:~:text=The%20first%20%22Santa%20Claus%22%20of,the%20option%20of%20cutting%20taxes.

Recommendations

7 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

They'll start screaming and yelling Debt and Deficit next week dalton99a Jul 2025 #1
The Two Santa Claus Theory no_hypocrisy Jul 2025 #2
You nailed it with media control. Democrats say this all the time. unblock Jul 2025 #3
"for some reason the Democratic Party has refused to call them out on this" Baitball Blogger Jul 2025 #4
But our party never seems to put everything back to the same place where it worked. I have never figured it out. LiberalArkie Jul 2025 #7
We realize it. Biden realized it. rubbersole Jul 2025 #12
I have a weird feeling that if we ever get control of anything again, the wealth tax needs to be reimplemented. Even LiberalArkie Jul 2025 #20
Such an obvious truth Gingermolly Jul 2025 #5
The democrats keep saving them Turbineguy Jul 2025 #6
Sheldon Whitehouse has been calling this out for a long time. jmbar2 Jul 2025 #8
thanks. Democrats have been making plenty of noise stopdiggin Jul 2025 #15
You left out the part where EndlessWire Jul 2025 #9
Bernie's been on this for decades Arazi Jul 2025 #10
yes. i remember he was on hartmann's show (was it one a week?) & the segment was "lunch with bernie" nt orleans Jul 2025 #11
It is true that Repugs have cause most of the debt mdbl Jul 2025 #13
Yup. Martin68 Jul 2025 #14
GOP Duplicity gfarber Jul 2025 #16
Plain and simple, the GOP is a mafia with a Borgia papa on the top, and women that fall in line. SalamanderSleeps Jul 2025 #17
I'll leave this here... Rigpa108 Jul 2025 #18
I say this all the time Gingermolly Jul 2025 #19
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