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HughBeaumont

(24,461 posts)
Thu Mar 15, 2012, 11:10 AM Mar 2012

Can you be pro-Republican Economics and still be considered a Democrat? [View all]

Last edited Sun Mar 18, 2012, 07:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Just curious how that works, considering the obvious damage 31 years of never-leaving Reaganomics and top-favoring, top-down business models has done to the population. I thought Democrats in general shouldn't be about voting against your best interests and should be championing a more sustainable, long-term growth model for business, not hailing more debt-increasing tax cuts for the wealthy.

This notion that America "isn't business friendly" has got to the be biggest bunch of bunk I've ever heard. American business controls America and the world. America's tax structure heavily favors American business and the wealthy that run it. Surely we shouldn't be suggesting that American workers lower wages even further while the cost of necessities never decreases.

I edited this to add clarification to this question. By "Pro-Republican economics", I mean "Belief and Support of one or more of the following theories":

* The prime function of a business or corporation is to care for the shareholder's needs only, by which I mostly mean "major".

* Business functions best as a "top down" model; hypothetically speaking, of course.

* You CAN "feed the birds by giving the horse more oats".

* That this country's economic problems have more to do with "high taxes", "high wages" and "strangling regulations" than wealth inequality and top-heavy greed.

* It's absolutely not possible to pay workers a better wage and still be profitable (an idea that completely ignores the very real fact that Middle/Working/Poor wages haven't risen in real dollars since 1979 while income of the wealthy has outpaced inflation, productivity, their cost of living and lotteries).

* The post-WWII boom cannot be replicated (no one's really saying it HAS to be; that doesn't mean we have no choice but to accept "Trickle-On" . . . there ARE happy mediums).

* The Republican model of Free Trade, a zero-sum proposition that surmises because the price of tchotchkes are going down, the worker is better off . . . among other things (this ignores the very real fact that it's ever-increasing-in-price necessities (i.e. education, housing, health care, transportation, food, etc) that are killing the average American's pocketbooks).

* The Republican model of Globalization, a zero-sum proposition that dictates (for all nations involved) environmental standards, worker rights, worker wages, worker morale, worker safety and business regulations must be destroyed in proportion to the enormous increase in company productivity on the BACKS of those strained workers, layoffs, profits, CEO/management salaries, perk packages, stock options, exit packages and, as we're tragically seeing, governmental influence.

* The Republican model of offshore outsourcing, another zero-sum proposition that laughably states "While we ship low-skill work over THUR, it frees up better jobs fur the higher-skill 'Murkin workers over HERRR!" (yet again ignoring the fact that high-skilled work is ALSO being shipped overseas and companies are getting tax breaks to DO so).

* Americans simply have to accept a lower standard of living adherent to their inevitably lower wages (There's never a discussion on how wages can keep up with the cost of living, productivity and inflation . . . only that we can't participate in a consumer-based economy by proxy, but the wealthy absolutely HAVE to have THEIR needs met first, foremost and often times, ONLY).

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The bigger question is: Can you be pro-Republican Economics and still be considered intelligent? Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2012 #1
+1 n/t Chan790 Mar 2012 #104
Even more germaine, can you be Horshack and still be Vinny Barbarino? Zanzoobar Mar 2012 #112
Not in my book. sinkingfeeling Mar 2012 #2
Absolutely Yes! AllTooEasy Mar 2012 #49
I didn't say a word about a 'purity test to vote Dem'. Anybody who so desires can sinkingfeeling Mar 2012 #50
Is "Terry Randell" any relation to Randall Terry? 11 Bravo Mar 2012 #93
Apparently so. At least considering the number of........... socialist_n_TN Mar 2012 #3
It's probably the reason "Bewsh got everything he wanted" . . . HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #7
Sure, why not? It's a big tent. Quantess Mar 2012 #4
Clinton at least raised taxes on the rich, which worked for the most part. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #8
Clinton is a good example of a popular Democrat pnwmom Mar 2012 #15
Oh sure, Big Tent or Fifth Column, why quibble? kenny blankenship Mar 2012 #11
First, I agree with the OP. Second, here's what I don't understand... shcrane71 Mar 2012 #5
ALL monies are "double taxed" jmowreader Mar 2012 #68
Yet this stupidity of "double taxation" is repeated in our business schools. shcrane71 Mar 2012 #86
I Get Your Point, But One Small Quibble ProfessorGAC Mar 2012 #92
They may call themselves Dems, but they are not. hifiguy Mar 2012 #6
Nope. Hatchling Mar 2012 #9
One would think. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #12
No... but they are trying like hell to co-opt the party fascisthunter Mar 2012 #10
They've always been part of the party. pnwmom Mar 2012 #16
how many true liberals is the dem establishment supporting? fascisthunter Mar 2012 #29
I have noticed... kenfrequed Mar 2012 #89
hell, we get that here! fascisthunter Mar 2012 #90
If you vote for Democrats and/or are a registered Democrat, yes. pnwmom Mar 2012 #13
Should we welcome people who would send the unemployed to the streets? HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #17
Many of them were part of the party before we were. pnwmom Mar 2012 #67
They should have left with Reagan. Chan790 Mar 2012 #106
No. Chan790 Mar 2012 #105
Where would a socially liberal,economically conservative person sit? Swede Mar 2012 #14
Libertarian Party, which take votes away from Republicans more than anything. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #18
To their credit, the Libertarian Party supports marriage equality. Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #28
Every time I've asked a die-hard Libertarian about where HE (why are they all men?) stands on shcrane71 Mar 2012 #31
So not Libertarians. Just Repubs but ashamed to admit it (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #33
Die-hard Ron Paul supporters. I guess he is running as a Republican. shcrane71 Mar 2012 #34
Their support has more to do with getting the government out of the marriage-defining business. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #36
Well said. shcrane71 Mar 2012 #39
Current Repub crazy economics--not really Spike89 Mar 2012 #19
We can be pro-business without EC Mar 2012 #20
Maybe a re-framing is needed? HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #27
Apparently but not by me, I consider them as much a deadly enemy as bigot or a theocrat and cut TheKentuckian Mar 2012 #21
Hear hear. nt woo me with science Mar 2012 #72
I think economic far-right-wingers ARE bigots and theocrats LeftishBrit Mar 2012 #97
VERY good point in your last sentence....... socialist_n_TN Mar 2012 #99
+100. Don't forget America's worship of Horatio Alger. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #101
Truth TheKentuckian Mar 2012 #119
No, I don't think so Populist_Prole Mar 2012 #22
I thought it was well put. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #42
No guitar man Mar 2012 #23
There has been an infiltration and deliberate corruption of the party. woo me with science Mar 2012 #24
Both of the Clintons are. So is Carville. Taverner Mar 2012 #25
I think corporate taxes should be cut, and that the tax code should be simplified. Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #26
NAFTA was a loss for the environments, wages and worker progress of all three nations. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #30
Did Paul Krugman deserve the Nobel Prize? Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #37
Does your non-sequiter respond to the previous post? brentspeak Mar 2012 #52
When was Jonathan Tasini awarded a Nobel Prize? (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #55
Which, I guess, is your way of admitting you have no argument to make n/t brentspeak Mar 2012 #57
Milton Frideman also won a Nobel Prize. Does that mean we should listen to him? white_wolf Mar 2012 #59
Friedman would strongly endorse Obama's free trade policies (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #62
Yes, he would and he would disagree with Krugman on many things. white_wolf Mar 2012 #64
His argument is based on a bogus strawman karynnj Mar 2012 #85
You should consider the other party. Do youy have ANY evidence free trade creates jobs? grahamhgreen Mar 2012 #47
Why should I consider the other party? Obama agrees with me on all those issues (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #48
He agrees with you on dismantling the American middle class? n/t brentspeak Mar 2012 #53
Perhaps you missed my earlier post? Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #54
Yes, it helps to clarify that you indeed prefer the middle class gets demolished brentspeak Mar 2012 #58
I guess you're not a fan of Obama (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #63
You're right, but I think he's wrong on these issues, grahamhgreen Mar 2012 #113
No. n/t Cali_Democrat Mar 2012 #32
Absolutely. Economic policy is very complex... badtoworse Mar 2012 #35
Not using their current sabotage economics. backscatter712 Mar 2012 #38
From what I've seen the past decade. Sure. raouldukelives Mar 2012 #40
it depends on how you define pro-Republican economics... Green_Lantern Mar 2012 #41
Except we know that there's a time and a place for such conservative economic measures. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #45
In that case I'd lean towards no they aren't Democrats.. Green_Lantern Mar 2012 #46
Apparently. It's a big tent. But sometimes I want to leave it because of all the clowns. n/t librechik Mar 2012 #43
Yes Aerows Mar 2012 #44
Evidently so. nt Starry Messenger Mar 2012 #51
Sadly, yes Doug Diggler Mar 2012 #56
Not in this world. RagAss Mar 2012 #60
Ask the New Dem/DLC types. Seems to be working for them. FLAprogressive Mar 2012 #61
Anti-union, pro-Republican economics have been popular on this board since I landed here NNN0LHI Mar 2012 #65
Anti-union, pro-Republican economics are popular with our elected (and apppointed) Democrats progressoid Mar 2012 #81
No DonCoquixote Mar 2012 #66
I hope so - most Dems are since the neocon revolution saras Mar 2012 #69
All you have to do to be a Democrat is register as one. You can believe in any policy totodeinhere Mar 2012 #70
K&R woo me with science Mar 2012 #71
Not only NO, but HELL NO! Firebrand Gary Mar 2012 #73
+1 Crowman1979 Mar 2012 #76
Rec. This thread reminds me of the "old DU" (that so many of us used to know & love) inna Mar 2012 #74
Yeah, one where Republicans are actually policed and not welcomed with open arms. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #79
If one is unfamiliar with the constraints of a particular group, OnyxCollie Mar 2012 #75
The answer is MOST DEFINITELY YES. Selatius Mar 2012 #77
Then again, could that be the reason progressives aren't getting promoted? HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #80
No. limpyhobbler Mar 2012 #78
It's obvious most people are confused mathematic Mar 2012 #82
No, you can be pro-Republican Economics and be Libertarian Motown_Johnny Mar 2012 #83
Can you define what "pro-Republican Economics" is? MineralMan Mar 2012 #84
The belief and support of one or more of the following ideas: HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #87
Obama has signed more free trade agreements than any Republican. Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #98
Uh . . . BECAUSE IT IS??? HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #100
Clinton signed NAFTA. Al Gore lobbied hard for it. Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #102
Er, maybe I'm trying to tell you something about every modern Democrat since the 1980s? HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #108
Pro Republican economics policy also means pro Republican war policy. woo me with science Mar 2012 #88
Death at a 2547% profit margin!! Other People's Money used for slaughter is awesome! HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #95
Republican Economics usrname Mar 2012 #91
See post #87. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #94
I suppose 'a Democrat' just means how you vote LeftishBrit Mar 2012 #96
I've always staunchly felt that the answer is no. Chan790 Mar 2012 #103
I agree with this answer. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #107
So you're redefining the word "Democrat" because you don't like the policies of post-LBJ Democrats. Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #109
Geez... Chan790 Mar 2012 #110
OK. The message I'm getting is that the policies of the Democratic party over the last 30 years Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #111
No not at all even though we have Republicans Prentending to be Democrats currently ChunderingTruth Mar 2012 #114
I think it's been this way for years, as the rhetoric moves further to the right. HughBeaumont Mar 2012 #115
Being Nice and Compromise is the problem ChunderingTruth Mar 2012 #116
I do agree with Republicans on one thing regarding economics. DCBob Mar 2012 #117
Kick. nt woo me with science Mar 2012 #118
Democrat? Yes. Liberal? Hell no. (nm) handa Mar 2012 #120
This message was self-deleted by its author LeftishBrit Mar 2014 #121
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