The Great GOP Budget Gamble(s)
April 7, 2011 - by
In Raleigh and Washington, Republican lawmakers are moving forward confident in the belief that – this time – the American people are really, really ready to really, really cut spending.
They better hope so.
Historically, we elect politicians who promise to cut taxes and cut spending. Then we revolt when we see the cuts. So the Republicans cut taxes, but not spending. Witness Reagan and Bush II.
Republicans are betting that things are different now. That Americans finally understand that “we’re broke.” That they’re ready to make hard choices and inflict real pain. That we’ve finally grown up. We’re ready to cut up our credit cards and live within our means.
Right.
Democrats, understandably, are afraid to make the case for more revenues. And why should they? Why not just wait for Republicans to crash and burn once again?
So in Raleigh we’ll see over the next couple of weeks how Republicans would cut some $3 billion. In Washington Republican budget wizards like Paul Ryan are showing us how to cut Medicare spending. The scope of Ryancare makes Obamacare look like pattycake.
And we may see the federal government shut down.
Take this to the bank: Republicans will get blamed. The American people know that Democrats love government too much to shut it down.
The real question is whether, this time, the voters believe the budget problem is so serious that a shutdown is a necessary evil.
The party that wins this public opinion battle – in the state and across the nation – will win the 2012 election.
The Great GOP Budget Gamble(s)
April 7, 2011/
In Raleigh and Washington, Republican lawmakers are moving forward confident in the belief that – this time – the American people are really, really ready to really, really cut spending.
They better hope so.
Historically, we elect politicians who promise to cut taxes and cut spending. Then we revolt when we see the cuts. So the Republicans cut taxes, but not spending. Witness Reagan and Bush II.
Republicans are betting that things are different now. That Americans finally understand that “we’re broke.” That they’re ready to make hard choices and inflict real pain. That we’ve finally grown up. We’re ready to cut up our credit cards and live within our means.
Right.
Democrats, understandably, are afraid to make the case for more revenues. And why should they? Why not just wait for Republicans to crash and burn once again?
So in Raleigh we’ll see over the next couple of weeks how Republicans would cut some $3 billion. In Washington Republican budget wizards like Paul Ryan are showing us how to cut Medicare spending. The scope of Ryancare makes Obamacare look like pattycake.
And we may see the federal government shut down.
Take this to the bank: Republicans will get blamed. The American people know that Democrats love government too much to shut it down.
The real question is whether, this time, the voters believe the budget problem is so serious that a shutdown is a necessary evil.
The party that wins this public opinion battle – in the state and across the nation – will win the 2012 election.