The virtue of the question I would ask is that it's even simpler: "Scientists generally agree that the earth is about 4.6 billion years old. Do you go along with them?" Any candidate who can't answer a simple yes to that question probably doesn't deserve the office he or she is running for. And certainly not the presidency.
107
I appreciate Mr. Friedman's dedication to being practical and reasonable. However, my suspicion is that the candidates will spend their debate time talking up their crusade to legislate vaginas, deny immigrants a fair shake, and puff their chests up over military intervention in the Middle East. If one is looking for priorities like our infrastructure to receive logical treatment, the GOP is not the place.
67
There are some very good questions ideas here, from the commenters and Tom Friedman. But they all amount to a hill lf beans because whatever the questiion the answers will be:
- Obama - Bad; and Clinton will be four more years of Obama in a skirt, make that pant suit.
- Repeal Obamacare
- Tear up the Iran Nuclear Deal
- Benghazi
- REPEAT ABOVE
- Obama - Bad; and Clinton will be four more years of Obama in a skirt, make that pant suit.
- Repeal Obamacare
- Tear up the Iran Nuclear Deal
- Benghazi
- REPEAT ABOVE
72
The biggest issue with the GOP is that it stands for nothing and is against everything with the exception of a strong military and gun rights.
Perhaps the way to get the GOP to fund the Highway bill is ask them considers Eisenhower's revelation that good roads are an intergral part of national defense.
Perhaps the way to get the GOP to fund the Highway bill is ask them considers Eisenhower's revelation that good roads are an intergral part of national defense.
13
Any thing that raises the price of gas only hurts the poor. Mr. Friedman the consummate mouth piece of the Democratic Party, who are a bunch of rich people, convincing poor people,to vote for rich people,by telling the poor people,that other rich people,are the reason they are poor.
6
Tom should begin with the facts on the ground: we already have a center-right party. It's called the Democrats. It would be helpful if the Republicans at least returned to being a pro-America party instead of a pro-Confederacy party.
Lets all stop pretending that the democratic party is going to offer up anything but market-based solutions to our country's problems. From health care to climate change, they've adopted right-wing policy prescriptions. There is no left-wing party in the USA, and continuing to promote a narrative where one exists only obfuscates the orthodoxy underpinning our political system: Capitalism is wonderful and shall never be challenged.
Lets all stop pretending that the democratic party is going to offer up anything but market-based solutions to our country's problems. From health care to climate change, they've adopted right-wing policy prescriptions. There is no left-wing party in the USA, and continuing to promote a narrative where one exists only obfuscates the orthodoxy underpinning our political system: Capitalism is wonderful and shall never be challenged.
24
Oh c'mon, Tom. Let's not get bogged down with any serious questions for the Republican "Debate". Republicans do not warrant any seriousness whatsoever. They are truly a bunch of clowns packed sardine-like in a car careening haplessly off the cliffs. The only thing we, especially we Democrats, care about is watching with baited breath to see what utterances emerge from The Donald curled lips. The Donald IS the only candidate who matters out of that whole sorry excuse for presidential aspirants. We want to hear simple, blunt, "telling it like it is" solutions to complicated problems facing us, with a few insults delivered in Don Rickles fashion directed at the Other Nine nincompoops on the stage to spice things up. Only The Donald has the uncanny ability to dominate any stage he's on with his outrageous barbs and quips worthy of a reality TV program Superstar, which The Donald was. His rating were "tremendous". If you don't believe him, ask. He'll tell you so.
"You're Fired!" Republicans. The Donald doesn't need this. We know it and the GOP knows it. The Donald can buy and sell all of them combined. He'll tell you'll and them that too. And how they come a-begging to him for money. Sure, he'll write them a check, then smear their faces in it.
The Donald will once again make Thursday MUST-SEE TV Night. When you go to the circus, you want to see clowns.
Well, Send them in.
Don't bother, they're here.
DD
Manhattan
"You're Fired!" Republicans. The Donald doesn't need this. We know it and the GOP knows it. The Donald can buy and sell all of them combined. He'll tell you'll and them that too. And how they come a-begging to him for money. Sure, he'll write them a check, then smear their faces in it.
The Donald will once again make Thursday MUST-SEE TV Night. When you go to the circus, you want to see clowns.
Well, Send them in.
Don't bother, they're here.
DD
Manhattan
14
The problem isn't Republican politicians, it is republican voters pasted together in a coalition with a glue made of falsehood, deceit, and bad policy. To adopt a center right policy would mean to flat out lose at least 1/3 of the Republican coalition. Thinking of the coalition as having right and left wings misses the point and describes a kind of natural ideological cohesiveness that does not exist.
Religious conservatives, nativists/racists, Billionaires, and generally disaffected working class whites can not be held together if you abandon any of the sacred cows that each groups holds especially dear no matter how anti-science or counter factual they may be, because these policies are "all" that hold the coalition together. Without an absurd tax and climate change policy, you lose your billionaires. Without hostility towards the poor, minorities and immigrants, you lose your disaffected whites and nativists/racists, and without opposition to gay rights/women's health you lose your christian conservatives. This toxic brew of odious random positions (with conservative slapped on the label) is unsustainable without the perfuming that Fox news provides. Each of the noxious positions shouldn't be neutral to the other members of the coalition. They should be odious.
Middle class and poor whites are hurt by Republican tax/spending policy. Billionaires aren't generally anti-immigrant or against gays, and Christians should be for helping the poor.
Religious conservatives, nativists/racists, Billionaires, and generally disaffected working class whites can not be held together if you abandon any of the sacred cows that each groups holds especially dear no matter how anti-science or counter factual they may be, because these policies are "all" that hold the coalition together. Without an absurd tax and climate change policy, you lose your billionaires. Without hostility towards the poor, minorities and immigrants, you lose your disaffected whites and nativists/racists, and without opposition to gay rights/women's health you lose your christian conservatives. This toxic brew of odious random positions (with conservative slapped on the label) is unsustainable without the perfuming that Fox news provides. Each of the noxious positions shouldn't be neutral to the other members of the coalition. They should be odious.
Middle class and poor whites are hurt by Republican tax/spending policy. Billionaires aren't generally anti-immigrant or against gays, and Christians should be for helping the poor.
35
Mr. Friedman asks a good question and it would be interesting to hear the candidate's answers. However, I suspect that I know what the answers will be - something akin to "read my lips, blah blah blah, freedom." Friedman is expecting sound reasoning from a party that believes in fairy tales, and not just one, but many. First and foremost among their irrational beliefs is that Barack Obama is not the legitimate President of the United States. The reason that he's in the White House is (nonexistent) voter fraud. I could go on with climate change, ebola will kill us all, bomb Iran, et cetera and ad nauseum, but all are just examples of their faith in fairy tales.
The Republican Party is the party of divide, distract, and rob the 99%. Infrastructure is to be used up, and then let them eat cake. Even something as attractive to trickledowners as a regressive tax on gasoline won't appeal to a party that thinks it is the only legitimate political entity on the planet. They are well on their way to doing away with legitimate elections. They are clearly the party of the plutocrats. My only hope is that they don't drag the entire country down with them.
The Republican Party is the party of divide, distract, and rob the 99%. Infrastructure is to be used up, and then let them eat cake. Even something as attractive to trickledowners as a regressive tax on gasoline won't appeal to a party that thinks it is the only legitimate political entity on the planet. They are well on their way to doing away with legitimate elections. They are clearly the party of the plutocrats. My only hope is that they don't drag the entire country down with them.
28
Mr. Friedman is correct in much of his diagnosis, but the problem (as his column implies) goes well beyond a gas tax: it is the Republicans' sworn opposition -- well-illustrated in the 2012 primary debates -- to any form of tax increase whatsoever. We have a political and economic system in which taxes and expenditures are fundamental. Given that, saying that one won't raise taxes for anything, anyway, anytime is ridiculous: politicians, whether they like it or not, are playing in a system that collects taxes, lots of them. Mr. Friedman inadvertently reinforces that problem when he distinguishes between "expenditure" and "investment", between "energy research" and "pork-barrel projects." Let's face it, one person's "investment" in early childhood education or job training will be seen by someone else as an "expenditure"; one person's university will be, to someone else, a "pork-barrel" project. Republicans have to accept that taxation and expenditure are part of the game, and therefore both need to move in different directions, at different times, in response to different priorities and, yes in a democracy, political pressures. The problem here is compromise. I'd be glad to return to the days of horsetrading, in which I'll fund your project, if you fund mine, provided some substantial constituencies regard each one as worthwhile, and, yes, we'll be honest with the public and say we have to pay for it through taxes (and negotiate over from whom and how much).
12
The problems of 2015 date to 1861. We should have let the decadent, backward, racist and agrarian south go. Today they'd be Mexico (if they were lucky) and we'd be Canada - rich and sane. The country is too big and diverse. Mississippi and Vermont do NOT belong in the same country with the same laws.
49
In my view the most critical question to ask is:"Do you believe the global scientific community's projections about the serious adverse affects of global warming, and if so are you willing to commit significant national resources to counteract or prevent these affects?"
If the baker's dozen or so of GOP hopefuls all say no to both parts of the question, it means that the GOP is really irrelevant to serious governing, and if voted to govern, will place us further on track to a "burn baby burn" fortress America - to hell with the rest of world and whoever can't take the heat.
And Mr Friedman, do you believe that to survive or not survive global warming is the free market's call, as opposed to national will? We didn't let the free market decide what defenses we needed to fight the Cold War, and trillions were spent with bipartisan equanimity? Global warming will present a greater danger to us, mainly because you can't negotiate safeguards, and threat reduction strategies with the climate.
If the baker's dozen or so of GOP hopefuls all say no to both parts of the question, it means that the GOP is really irrelevant to serious governing, and if voted to govern, will place us further on track to a "burn baby burn" fortress America - to hell with the rest of world and whoever can't take the heat.
And Mr Friedman, do you believe that to survive or not survive global warming is the free market's call, as opposed to national will? We didn't let the free market decide what defenses we needed to fight the Cold War, and trillions were spent with bipartisan equanimity? Global warming will present a greater danger to us, mainly because you can't negotiate safeguards, and threat reduction strategies with the climate.
26
"Offering market-based responses to science- and fact-based problems and opportunities. Being ready to compromise to get fundamentals like a transportation bill passed and making a distinction between an “expenditure” and an “investment.” ". These are some of Mr. Friedman's ideas for what the U.S. must be doing.
But he points out how Republicans can't seem to get their priorities straight. They have been almost coerced by political considerations. Thus they can't prioritize infrastructure spending, even though that seems just as important as making sure people get their welfare benefits.
Why not make the two inextricably linked. Why be paying people in effect, not to work, if they could get good jobs working on the highways, the infrastructure projects that have been put on hold?
Meanwhile the people who still have jobs behave in ways deleterious to the nation and its ecology. They build, they overdevelop land, taking away from the acreage that should remain for farmland.
Their money is going for their own interests, and that money is mainly wasted that way, as far as helping the country or its economy, or making for any new jobs that could help the most.
Congress needs to work on things like this, but rational planning just isn't compatible with a 'democratic' system that depends on votes from gullible and selfish people, and on people who aren't educated well.
Shouldn't we require literacy tests for elections as much as for the purpose of improving schools?
But he points out how Republicans can't seem to get their priorities straight. They have been almost coerced by political considerations. Thus they can't prioritize infrastructure spending, even though that seems just as important as making sure people get their welfare benefits.
Why not make the two inextricably linked. Why be paying people in effect, not to work, if they could get good jobs working on the highways, the infrastructure projects that have been put on hold?
Meanwhile the people who still have jobs behave in ways deleterious to the nation and its ecology. They build, they overdevelop land, taking away from the acreage that should remain for farmland.
Their money is going for their own interests, and that money is mainly wasted that way, as far as helping the country or its economy, or making for any new jobs that could help the most.
Congress needs to work on things like this, but rational planning just isn't compatible with a 'democratic' system that depends on votes from gullible and selfish people, and on people who aren't educated well.
Shouldn't we require literacy tests for elections as much as for the purpose of improving schools?
6
A country with a weakening infrastructure is a weak country. To find the funds to repair it, decree the cost of infrastructure repairs to be included in the $600 billions-plus defense budget. Call it "defense'--which it is--and money will be made available in unlimited amounts.
58
The strategic oil reserve has reached its initial goals for storage but is still storing oil. Selling some of it makes sense. That much the GOP is right about. Still, the gas taxes are designed as a use tax for the roads. They should be inflation adjusted.
6
"And because Senate Republicans refused to pay for any of it with a gas tax, they raise the funds instead, in part, by selling oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is our insurance against another oil crisis. I’m not making this up."
Senate Republicans may be knavish, as here suggested, but it is worth remembering that Al Gore urged Clintion to open up the reserve so as to drive down gas prices just before the presidential election was "stolen" from him by republicans. Sacred thing, that reserve, isn't it?
Senate Republicans may be knavish, as here suggested, but it is worth remembering that Al Gore urged Clintion to open up the reserve so as to drive down gas prices just before the presidential election was "stolen" from him by republicans. Sacred thing, that reserve, isn't it?
3
I advocate a $15 per barrel tax on all oil we import from OPEC.
4
Reply to George R
"Illegals" make up 1/3 of 1% of our population, so the saving to the federal budget by cutting them off from government benefits don't exist. I just drove across the Central Valley of California and I saw hundreds of illegals picking our fruits and vegetables at sub-poverty wages.
We don't need to build a wall to prevent illegals all we need to do is enforce hiring laws-- jailing those who hire undocumented workers or heavily fining them, but then the economic tax in the form of higher prices would hit us hard at the grocery store, where that small population has a outsized impact.
Lets face it America has a love affair with exploitation of the blue collar worker. The far-right attacks on unions while talking about free market economics-- free for the wealthy to organize unions of wealth but the worker has no reasonable avenue to organize--"free?"
It amazing how many issues represent small parts of our population, gay marriage 1/300 of 1%, abortion 1/20 of 1% and the issues such as job opportunities, wages, education, global warming, infrastructure repair, money in politics... impacting our our entire population are minimized by the far right. But they sure can use these minor issues to stir hatred and bring our the worst in Americans.
"Illegals" make up 1/3 of 1% of our population, so the saving to the federal budget by cutting them off from government benefits don't exist. I just drove across the Central Valley of California and I saw hundreds of illegals picking our fruits and vegetables at sub-poverty wages.
We don't need to build a wall to prevent illegals all we need to do is enforce hiring laws-- jailing those who hire undocumented workers or heavily fining them, but then the economic tax in the form of higher prices would hit us hard at the grocery store, where that small population has a outsized impact.
Lets face it America has a love affair with exploitation of the blue collar worker. The far-right attacks on unions while talking about free market economics-- free for the wealthy to organize unions of wealth but the worker has no reasonable avenue to organize--"free?"
It amazing how many issues represent small parts of our population, gay marriage 1/300 of 1%, abortion 1/20 of 1% and the issues such as job opportunities, wages, education, global warming, infrastructure repair, money in politics... impacting our our entire population are minimized by the far right. But they sure can use these minor issues to stir hatred and bring our the worst in Americans.
18
Where has sanity gone? Raising the gas tax makes sense; the average driver might pay 50 cents to one dollar per week to maintain safe roads. In the greater sense of sanity why can't we have a government with clear goals eliminating bills with attachments and hidden agendas? Corporations deal with risk assessment and management, yet our elected officials are not able to use this process to deal with impending natural disasters, health costs, immigration and economic stability for working americans.
7
If you wish to find a conservative you are going to have to look for one in the Democratic Party, there are nothing but reactionaries in the gop.
Lincoln, Roosevelt, nor Eisenhower would recognize this party, Mussolini however would have no problem.
When people become anti science, anti minority, anti women, anti investment, anti youth, anti intellectual, anti urban what is it they are for?
When these folks say they love America but hate our government, what is it they love?
The only thing that makes America any different from any other country is our government. The government that was framed by those patriots these folks love to cite, but are loath to emulate.
Friedman is partially correct, the Nation needs a conservative balance to progressive ideals and momentum, I'm not so sure about center right, though.
The best thing that could happen to the Nation and the republican party would be for Trump to run as an independent, siphoning off the radical stupid vote leaving the gop to rebuild without the hate, and the snarling. and the blatant insistence to ignore democracy and the will of the people.
The billionaires will follow, especially once a few of them get locked up for tax evasion.
Lincoln, Roosevelt, nor Eisenhower would recognize this party, Mussolini however would have no problem.
When people become anti science, anti minority, anti women, anti investment, anti youth, anti intellectual, anti urban what is it they are for?
When these folks say they love America but hate our government, what is it they love?
The only thing that makes America any different from any other country is our government. The government that was framed by those patriots these folks love to cite, but are loath to emulate.
Friedman is partially correct, the Nation needs a conservative balance to progressive ideals and momentum, I'm not so sure about center right, though.
The best thing that could happen to the Nation and the republican party would be for Trump to run as an independent, siphoning off the radical stupid vote leaving the gop to rebuild without the hate, and the snarling. and the blatant insistence to ignore democracy and the will of the people.
The billionaires will follow, especially once a few of them get locked up for tax evasion.
15
On economic issues the "market oriented center right" has been taken over by "new" Democrats who now own the party leaving little room for old-style Republicans except with "culture war" social issues. Old-style Democrats are equally voiceless on economic issues.
4
What role could the oil companies, who post billions of dollars in profits play in helping rebuild our ailing and inadequate roads? It seems silly to tax families, who are already struggling, while we witness these profits. I don't want to make anyone mad, but surely you can't do this to families who are just scraping by, while "that" goes on? At the same time, I know our roads need updating (read my earlier post concerning Cedar Rapids, IA), and because, I mentioned the overcrowded highway with swamped entrance ramps, it would also be a good time to to warn all of the young kids pouring into this state with the various campaigns to please be careful, and drive sensible, helping other drivers fit in.
1
Perhaps this is the time to start throwing carrots from the left to the moderates, etc. who no doubt are appalled at the pandering the desperate right wing has done to attract the angry mobs. Many of the Tea8ags are still angry and feel they are getting a voice via Trump, which is echoed in the other candidates hungry for that sliver of the fractured GOP caucus. HRC needs to appear statesmanlike and stay above the fray, looking like the accomplished adult she truly is. The attacks from the 90s will only be welcomed by the greyhairs who are desperate for any chance to attack that which is not part of her record, which is alot more than Fiorina, whose acidic personality and hilarious ousting from HP should be given up AGAIN as yet another reason to not consider her legit.
1
In California the gasoline tax is used for every pet project any democrat legislator can get votes for. It is rarely used for highways. In fact, Cal Trans has engineers and estimators sleeping at their desks due to lack of work that in not allowed to be sub contacted out due to union rules. However if you want a bike lane, light rail, or anything else that is not auto or truck related, you'll get that!
What money comes in from gas taxes is thrown to the wind, or otherwise used to paper over the general fund.
What money comes in from gas taxes is thrown to the wind, or otherwise used to paper over the general fund.
6
No one here in Ohio is under the impression that Kasich is center right. He supports multiple attempts to pass a heartbeat bill, looks to Scott Walker as someone to surpass in union suppression, illegally appointed an unqualified person to the state health board, covers for the corruption of the state treasurer and attorney general, and supported privatizing our turnpike.
Please, look at his record. Ohio has never recovered from the recession. We are 4th last in terms of "job creation", despite what he says when his lips are moving. He's allowed unrestricted tracking despite it causing earthquakes, and constantly mentions god and religion in every speech. He has a horrible temper, and our turkish- owned religious based abysmal charter school system is a cautionary tale for all other states. Please, please, do your research. He'll destroy the country as he has destroyed our state.
Please, look at his record. Ohio has never recovered from the recession. We are 4th last in terms of "job creation", despite what he says when his lips are moving. He's allowed unrestricted tracking despite it causing earthquakes, and constantly mentions god and religion in every speech. He has a horrible temper, and our turkish- owned religious based abysmal charter school system is a cautionary tale for all other states. Please, please, do your research. He'll destroy the country as he has destroyed our state.
18
Reading various comments today, it seems that all of us – including Thomas Friedman – are forgetting that Thursday is a Republican debate, and Republicans have a very different recollection of history than the rest of us. Today’s Republicans are convinced the Ronald Reagan never raised any taxes and never raised any spending levels. We must ignore our memories and realize that the higher taxes and spending were solely the product of the deceptively affable Speaker Tip O’Neill.
President Reagan was placed under extreme duress by O’Neill, and we cannot believe our lying eyes when watching those videos of Reagan happily signing various bills into law and handing out pens to the gathered senators and congressmen. Any debate question needs to take this truthiness into account.
President Reagan was placed under extreme duress by O’Neill, and we cannot believe our lying eyes when watching those videos of Reagan happily signing various bills into law and handing out pens to the gathered senators and congressmen. Any debate question needs to take this truthiness into account.
6
There's really no point in posing thoughtful questions for the myriad of Republican candidates since Jeb Bush is going to win the nomination. Jeb Bush is really just a more serious (&dangerous) version of Donald Trump behind the trumpeting ballast of his fiery & hyperbolic rhetoric. The only manner in which the Republican Party (orchestrated by billionaires) can win over high school educated, blue collar people is by repeating the same themes over & over again until them become a battle cry of the Republic.
Read my lips, no new taxes
Strong military, strong America
Biblical values are key to a moral society
Climate change is a hoax concocted by Liberals
Fossil Fuel/Coal production is key to an Independant America
Federal deficit needs to be cut by cutting programs
Entitlements lead to a lazy underclass
Social Security/Medicare need to be privatized
Obamacare is example of Federal government overreach
Federal government is wasteful - leave it up to States
Cut government regulation - let free markets prosper
Immigration is out of control - build huge walls & get tough
Farm subsidies are important lifeblood of economy
Increase free trade including TPP - trickle down economy
No minimum wage
No unions
Transform Universities into For Profit Enterprise Zones
Individual Responsibility
What the above Koch designed platform neglects to mention is that the collective boat will eventually sink due to the greedy scum at the bottom which is the Plutocracy.
Read my lips, no new taxes
Strong military, strong America
Biblical values are key to a moral society
Climate change is a hoax concocted by Liberals
Fossil Fuel/Coal production is key to an Independant America
Federal deficit needs to be cut by cutting programs
Entitlements lead to a lazy underclass
Social Security/Medicare need to be privatized
Obamacare is example of Federal government overreach
Federal government is wasteful - leave it up to States
Cut government regulation - let free markets prosper
Immigration is out of control - build huge walls & get tough
Farm subsidies are important lifeblood of economy
Increase free trade including TPP - trickle down economy
No minimum wage
No unions
Transform Universities into For Profit Enterprise Zones
Individual Responsibility
What the above Koch designed platform neglects to mention is that the collective boat will eventually sink due to the greedy scum at the bottom which is the Plutocracy.
7
"Bernie Sanders notwithstanding, the Democratic Party is still dominated by its center-left — Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton." Really? Obama gave us the ACA, doubled the deficit partially by given us more government spending on more social programs, while the economy is in the tank, and has torn this country apart with class and race warfare. Obama is much farther left than Friedman thinks. I will take my "anti-intellectualism that became dominant in the Republican Party with the rise of the Tea Party" and my doctorate over Mr. Friedman's intellectualism. Insults and political hackery do not make for a sound argument.
4
I may be wrong but one of the messages I think you can pull out of this column is that the left, which has moved a great deal to the right already, should compromise their ideals even more if only the right would move a teeny tiny bit to the left of Vlad the Impaler. The Corporate left has led us to the place where no one below the top 5% feels represented by anyone. When W first came in I remember hearing that when the public got to see how really bad it would be they would rise up and move left again. Not so much.
The Republicans have beaten the pants off the Democrats in defining issues, wordsmithing, and appealing to the basest of instincts. The wrong-wing still has a death grip on blue collar workers, comforting them with bile, while they vote overwhelmingly against their own economic interests. They succeeded in paralyzing governance and getting their own way even when Democrats controlled the White House and Congress. Why would they stop with the crazy with another White House loss? It would only reinforce their feeling of victimhood by 'the other.' This is not a Republican problem, this is the feeling of powerlessness experienced by all Americans not in the top 5%. With Bernie, however flawed and quixotic he may be, they are starting to find a voice, and that voice is saying: "Enough, already."
The Republicans have beaten the pants off the Democrats in defining issues, wordsmithing, and appealing to the basest of instincts. The wrong-wing still has a death grip on blue collar workers, comforting them with bile, while they vote overwhelmingly against their own economic interests. They succeeded in paralyzing governance and getting their own way even when Democrats controlled the White House and Congress. Why would they stop with the crazy with another White House loss? It would only reinforce their feeling of victimhood by 'the other.' This is not a Republican problem, this is the feeling of powerlessness experienced by all Americans not in the top 5%. With Bernie, however flawed and quixotic he may be, they are starting to find a voice, and that voice is saying: "Enough, already."
2
Five cents is nothing. Make it 25 cents. Gas is going down to $2 this winter. We use 33 billion gallons of gas a year. At 25 cents that would be more than $8 billion for a full year for infrastructure
The gas tax subsidizes mass transit. If we raise the gas tax, where would the new money go? Nobody knows.
1
Jonathan Haidt has massive amounts of data that show 2 things clearly. 1) While conservatives and moderates clearly understand how liberals think, liberals do not understand how others think. 2) Liberals consider fewer factors when making moral judgements than do conservatives (while Haidt has not gone this far, it seems obvious this applies to most of their decision making). Confirmation can be found in this column and, especially, in the public response.
Conservatives would answer like this: “If highway funding were the dominant Federal problem now, this might be reasonable. However, it is not and the nation spends too much, is taxed too much, and has an excessively complex tax system. Gas taxes need to be part of overall reform – not a standalone. Especially given the history of Democrats nickel and diming our overall tax burden upward.”
“Moreover, while many conservatives want to fund government through consumption taxes while decreasing our dependence on income taxes, it is usually leftists who oppose this on the basis that they are regressive taxes. Increased gas taxes could be seen in this light – even as a means to shift some of the tax burden from highly populated urban areas (where a car is not a necessity and people vote blue) to the more thinly populated states where even the poor have to rely on automobiles to get to work and to secure their basic necessities (and people vote red). Mr Friedman, justify this and what is the left's plan for tax reform?”
Conservatives would answer like this: “If highway funding were the dominant Federal problem now, this might be reasonable. However, it is not and the nation spends too much, is taxed too much, and has an excessively complex tax system. Gas taxes need to be part of overall reform – not a standalone. Especially given the history of Democrats nickel and diming our overall tax burden upward.”
“Moreover, while many conservatives want to fund government through consumption taxes while decreasing our dependence on income taxes, it is usually leftists who oppose this on the basis that they are regressive taxes. Increased gas taxes could be seen in this light – even as a means to shift some of the tax burden from highly populated urban areas (where a car is not a necessity and people vote blue) to the more thinly populated states where even the poor have to rely on automobiles to get to work and to secure their basic necessities (and people vote red). Mr Friedman, justify this and what is the left's plan for tax reform?”
2
This is the GOP paradox:
Without the Tea Party, the GOP does not have enough votes to win the Presidency.
But, with the Tea Party, it cannot create a slate of candidates with a platform suitable for winning the Presidency.
What puzzles me is why the Democrats have such a hard time exploiting this situation.... i.e. why don't the Dems implement a "divide and conquer" strategy by calling out the existence of a bifurcated GOP?
Without the Tea Party, the GOP does not have enough votes to win the Presidency.
But, with the Tea Party, it cannot create a slate of candidates with a platform suitable for winning the Presidency.
What puzzles me is why the Democrats have such a hard time exploiting this situation.... i.e. why don't the Dems implement a "divide and conquer" strategy by calling out the existence of a bifurcated GOP?
5
jeb is just plain right-no center to him.
2
It's time to end the federal gas tax and the trust fund along with it. Let the states tax themselves to pay for their infrastructure. The exit of Uncle Sugar from the infrastructure game will improve accountability, end a lot of waste (no more "free money" from far away) and reduce lobbying in our corruption-ridden capital. Better to put it closer to home where it's easier to see.
What Friedman is saying is that the Center Left and the Center Right would be fairly similar, except that in actuality, there is no Center Right.
The GOP drooled at the sight of the Tea Party, and eagerly accepted the short term advantages of this angry, dishonest, anti-intellectual group.
Now it's payback time, and the Tea Party/Fox creation, Donald Trump, is destroying the Republican Party.
Good to see that sometimes, when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas...or worse.
The GOP drooled at the sight of the Tea Party, and eagerly accepted the short term advantages of this angry, dishonest, anti-intellectual group.
Now it's payback time, and the Tea Party/Fox creation, Donald Trump, is destroying the Republican Party.
Good to see that sometimes, when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas...or worse.
6
I think the problem with this op ed's question - and maybe with some of the comments - is that it presumes the hard right is truly against spending as a principle. They're not against spending - they're just against spending that doesn't fit their agenda, whether derived from self-interest, religious fundamentalism, or a true belief that their ideology will help Americans prosper. They're perfectly happy to spend on stupid wars. It just so happens that conservatives have a powerful ideological "small-government" chorus to back them up whenever spending doesn't fit their agenda. Liberals have internalized the conservative small-government platform, but the evidence shows that Reagan and Bush were the heaviest spenders of all. Don't be fooled.
3
"and offsetting tax cuts to provide for revenue neutrality.”
Which would utterly nullify the purpose of a carbon tax in the first place - which is to make spewing carbon-based pollution expensive and, thus, prompt innovation in cleaner technology. An offsetting tax cut eliminates the expense and, thus, the incentive. And this is supposed to be a reasonable exchange for removing regulations? Typical libertarian clap trap.
Which would utterly nullify the purpose of a carbon tax in the first place - which is to make spewing carbon-based pollution expensive and, thus, prompt innovation in cleaner technology. An offsetting tax cut eliminates the expense and, thus, the incentive. And this is supposed to be a reasonable exchange for removing regulations? Typical libertarian clap trap.
2
Perspective depends on where you are coming from. To say that Obama is Center-Left indicates that the chattering class has moved so far left that even Obama and Clinton appear to be close to the center and Republicans altogether blurred as extreme right-wing. Nothing is further from the truth. The Obama elections were outliers owing to the Obama personality and historic significance and having relatively nothing to do with Left-Right agendas.
Friedman saying that the first alternative to the upgrade of infrastructure is to raise taxes is a far left knee jerk. Other alternatives such as accounting for the tremendous waste of the current gas tax revenue should always be the initial focus of good government. Throwing good money after bad is what got us to where we are now.
Friedman saying that the first alternative to the upgrade of infrastructure is to raise taxes is a far left knee jerk. Other alternatives such as accounting for the tremendous waste of the current gas tax revenue should always be the initial focus of good government. Throwing good money after bad is what got us to where we are now.
1
Perhaps if we hadn't spent trillions of dollars on the Iraq war, which Mr. Friedman was a cheerleader for, we have have more money to deal with things like our crumbling infrastructure. Or if billionaires, like Friedman, paid their fair share of the bills. Just sayin'.
4
We can begin marginalizing the "Tea Party," and its "Far Right" extremists by refusing to provide them with continuous media coverage.
Apparently it works very well, especially if you are Bernie Sanders, who, according to you, merits only the "notwithstanding" label, and is virtually invisible on the corporate owned MSM.
Apparently it works very well, especially if you are Bernie Sanders, who, according to you, merits only the "notwithstanding" label, and is virtually invisible on the corporate owned MSM.
1
If the GOP won't throw out their Tea Party members, then the few brave moderate Republicans should peel off to form the Ike Party. They would be joined by many of the more conservative Democrats, and the old GOP would reconstitute--a very good thing. I jokingly consider myself (a flaming lefty liberal) as an Eisenhower Republican, but it fits. Just look at the 1956 Republican platform! Well to the left of recent Democratic platforms.
President Obama is very similar to Ike, you know.
President Obama is very similar to Ike, you know.
4
"Republican Presidential Debate" is weighted down with oxymorons.
TF: In the name of sanity, why do you kowtow to a process that has been handed over by the RNC to the Murdoch Mob? Imagine the next presidential debate in France outsourced to Le Monde?
TF: In the name of sanity, why do you kowtow to a process that has been handed over by the RNC to the Murdoch Mob? Imagine the next presidential debate in France outsourced to Le Monde?
3
Here, in New Jersey, we have one of the lowest gas taxes in the country (and we don't have to pump our own gas like you other people!) For years liberals have been incensed over the low tax and have been trying to raise it. But we New Jerseyans know that (1) the increased revenue undoubtedly won't go to "infrastructure" projects but will simply be more revenue that is unwisely spent by our corrupt government, (2) the low gas tax is the only "low" tax we New Jerseyans have, as our out of control property taxes and income tax are causing people to leave the state, yet liberals still want to raise yet another tax, (3) it's unfair to penalize those businesses and individuals, like truckers, who have to pay for gasoline, and (4) if we raise it now it will still not stop people like Friedman from calling for future increases. So, no, you will raise the gasoline tax only over my dead body. You could easily have the money to fix the roads simply by de-funding other wasteful government programs. Maybe start with requiring public employees to contribute a dollar more to their publicly-funded health plans. Enough already with the taxes.
1
Too much rambling. Can’t see the forest for the trees Tom?
“But can they (Bush or Kasich) run, win and govern from the center-right when the base of their party and so many of its billionaire donors reflect the angry anti-science, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-minorities, anti-gay rights and anti-immigration views of the Tea Party and its media enforcer, Fox News?”
The answer to your key question is a resounding NO!
Fact is nothing about our anti-almost-everything, partisan dominated, big money controlled politics is gravitating to the center. Divergence is the current and dominant mode.
Bottom line, winning the political game is everything no matter how dysfunctional, no matter how destructive to the common good and the welfare of the Nation and its People.
That is not a Tea Party thing, the fundamental problems go far deeper and broader, and both of our major political factions (red and blue) are fully culpable henchmen.
Till this changes everything else is just wheel spinning.
“But can they (Bush or Kasich) run, win and govern from the center-right when the base of their party and so many of its billionaire donors reflect the angry anti-science, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-minorities, anti-gay rights and anti-immigration views of the Tea Party and its media enforcer, Fox News?”
The answer to your key question is a resounding NO!
Fact is nothing about our anti-almost-everything, partisan dominated, big money controlled politics is gravitating to the center. Divergence is the current and dominant mode.
Bottom line, winning the political game is everything no matter how dysfunctional, no matter how destructive to the common good and the welfare of the Nation and its People.
That is not a Tea Party thing, the fundamental problems go far deeper and broader, and both of our major political factions (red and blue) are fully culpable henchmen.
Till this changes everything else is just wheel spinning.
1
My question for the Republican Presidential candidate: if you become our POTUS, confrontation between the president and Congress will be the same: strife, misunderstanding, stubbornness and zero effectiveness?
1
I agree with many of the comments that the "moderates" in the Republican party are not moderates at all. They are only moderate in comparison to the extremists. We would be very bad off as a country with a "moderate" like Jeb Bush or Chris Christy as President.
3
Corporations wanted a balanced political playing field to compete with Unions so they went to the Scotus and got their wish. Then they hired political hit men like walker to kill the Unions. Now there is no balance or competition. The trickle down is working for the Corporations because what trickles down is a foul food for thought that sickens us to sap our strength and keeps at each others throats long enough for them to usurp our country by destroying our ( the people ) government. This is going on all over the world not just here.
1
Although I haven't come across it, the contemporary definition of political center as used here must be found somewhere in Mr. Bierce's devilish dictionary.
2
What a cogent coincidence to have a Letter to the Editor on the facing page to Mr. Friedman's superb essay, today. The letter writer is noting that a column a day earlier on political "bunkum," comparing its 19th Century origins to the bunkum of today, falls short of concluding that those who most produce this are Republicans. "While Democratic candidates sometimes make misleading comments or exaggerate the truth, they almost never say anything as truly idiotic as what Donald Trump, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz and Ben Carson---all cited by yesterday's columnist---have said." And so, Mr. Friedman, in chastising the Tea Party's idiocy in their influence over the highway funder/gasoline tax, notes that the Republicans looking "to make cuts across the board, like the sequester, is stupid."
And so, we have the majority party, operating not from statesmanship but from bunkum, destroying our country. With the continuing Jebya gaffes--the man cannot think on his feet at all and trails Trump by roughly 11 points in the FOX debate-determining poll, is the more moderate candidate but so burdened by ineptitude. Out of office since 2007, he spent these years making money. A pity he didn't try to learn something valuable and use a bit of introspection about his two terms ruining Florida. The debates would benefit from someone with the intellect of Mr. Friedman asking questions--although most of the clown car trolls would struggle to answer them--instead of FOX "anchors."
And so, we have the majority party, operating not from statesmanship but from bunkum, destroying our country. With the continuing Jebya gaffes--the man cannot think on his feet at all and trails Trump by roughly 11 points in the FOX debate-determining poll, is the more moderate candidate but so burdened by ineptitude. Out of office since 2007, he spent these years making money. A pity he didn't try to learn something valuable and use a bit of introspection about his two terms ruining Florida. The debates would benefit from someone with the intellect of Mr. Friedman asking questions--although most of the clown car trolls would struggle to answer them--instead of FOX "anchors."
2
John Dean of Nixon White House fame says that it will only be disaffected Republicans that will send the Republican Clown Car into retirement (my words, clearly not his -but the essence is there).
His point is the the Democrats are feckless and apparently enough compromised by whatever there is to gain from the .01% to actually do anything robust in terms of calling out the insanity.
Maybe?
His point is the the Democrats are feckless and apparently enough compromised by whatever there is to gain from the .01% to actually do anything robust in terms of calling out the insanity.
Maybe?
If you don't want to tax gas, tax cars, based on their mileage. Cars with a green grade of up to 5 (scale is 0-15) would have no tax added to sticker price. Cars with a 6-10 grade would have a tax of 25% added to sticker price. Cars with a grade 11-15 would have a tax of 50% added to the sticker price.
As to the GOP, the only way to end the radical right's reign of terror over the party is the formation of a new center-right party (how does "Patriot Party" or "National Party" or "Middle American Party" strike you) that initially will not run for the presidency, but will concentrate on ensuring neither party has a majority in Congress, enabling them to promote centrist common sense solutions irrespective of who sits in the White House. Such a party will either neither the elephants nor the donkeys stray too far from the middle, because if they do they will be marginalized. After a decade, the new party could consider occupying the White House itself. such a party could reverse the extreme partisanship that is making this country all but ungovernable.
As to the GOP, the only way to end the radical right's reign of terror over the party is the formation of a new center-right party (how does "Patriot Party" or "National Party" or "Middle American Party" strike you) that initially will not run for the presidency, but will concentrate on ensuring neither party has a majority in Congress, enabling them to promote centrist common sense solutions irrespective of who sits in the White House. Such a party will either neither the elephants nor the donkeys stray too far from the middle, because if they do they will be marginalized. After a decade, the new party could consider occupying the White House itself. such a party could reverse the extreme partisanship that is making this country all but ungovernable.
The trouble with the Democrats is that they kicked Howard Dean out of the leadership of the party. The Republicans cannot govern nationally but they can make a lot of trouble locally and in the states. Republicans pay attention to the local and state politics and this is their strength.
Democrats should stop thinking that winning the presidency is all that matters and all they need. Democrats need a 50 state strategy. Democrats need to be on the local school boards, mayors, counselors, state reps, etc.
We need a deep strategy instead of one that focuses only on the top of the pond. And we need better candidates: Maine's governor Lepage won twice because our state campaigns were lame.
Every request for donations to Democratic candidates that I received in 2014 said they were "fighting" to win. But they didn't fight. And the didn't win.
Wake up Dems. Work hard in your town, county, state. Don't count on the President and the Supremes to do all the work.
Democrats should stop thinking that winning the presidency is all that matters and all they need. Democrats need a 50 state strategy. Democrats need to be on the local school boards, mayors, counselors, state reps, etc.
We need a deep strategy instead of one that focuses only on the top of the pond. And we need better candidates: Maine's governor Lepage won twice because our state campaigns were lame.
Every request for donations to Democratic candidates that I received in 2014 said they were "fighting" to win. But they didn't fight. And the didn't win.
Wake up Dems. Work hard in your town, county, state. Don't count on the President and the Supremes to do all the work.
1
If we could ask your question to the Republican candidates each one would answer with the following accepted Republican catechism: NO, we should not raise the gas tax - raising taxes stifles innovation and discourages much needed investment - instead we should lower taxes for individuals and corporation so that we can get this stagnant economy moving again - if revenue is needed to fund roads then we should get welfare cheaters off the government dole, reform Medicaid and Medicare, and close tax loopholes. In asking this question we learn nothing new. A better question to ask each candidate would be how many donors have given more than $500,000 to your Super Pac and what did you do to solicit these donations?
2
I have a simple question:
1) Can these 17 candidates debate themselves with other GOP leaders to decide who is the best one to represent the general election?
2) At least they agree on a minimum number of candidates out of these 17
3) If not, none of them is well qualified to be the President
4) They should debate on issues to unify conservative values, national values, war values, etc.
1) Can these 17 candidates debate themselves with other GOP leaders to decide who is the best one to represent the general election?
2) At least they agree on a minimum number of candidates out of these 17
3) If not, none of them is well qualified to be the President
4) They should debate on issues to unify conservative values, national values, war values, etc.
There is too much emphasis on the terminology "right," "left," "conservative," "liberal," etc. What we need are candidates and elected officials who clearly see the problems facing our country and try to implement policies that realistically have a chance of solving those problems. It would also help if pundits would stop placing every policy proposal on a contrived political spectrum, thereby making it politically more difficult for politicians to embrace real solutions.
One can engage in wishful thinking, can't one?
One can engage in wishful thinking, can't one?
1
"Republican Billionaire donors". who exactly are you trying to fool. Anyone who looks honestly at the issue knows the rich disproportionately give to the Democratic party. Friedman, you have the same credibility problem Hillary does. Try honest journalism instead of opinion journalism, you're worse than Fox because you won't admit your bias.
1
Bill Clinton and George Bush didn't raise the tax. Congress did, and then the President signed the bill.
The United States is a constitutional democracy, not a dictatorship. The President doesn't make the law, though he can veto laws Congress passes. The only things he can change on his own are internal workings of the executive branch.
This isn't just a lesson in elementary school civics. It is recognition that the functioning of government requires the cooperation of both these branches, and compromise by elected officials with a broad range of views and interests.
The United States is a constitutional democracy, not a dictatorship. The President doesn't make the law, though he can veto laws Congress passes. The only things he can change on his own are internal workings of the executive branch.
This isn't just a lesson in elementary school civics. It is recognition that the functioning of government requires the cooperation of both these branches, and compromise by elected officials with a broad range of views and interests.
2
I think many are focusing on the mole (the tax) and not on the face ( the core ). The face of delegitimization and privatization is what we need to focus on. Our failure to do so will bring us to the point (or already has ) where we lose our ability to debate and decide and that will lead to the loss of our Democratic Republic.
If editing this column I would only make one change - the lack of a responsible Republican center-right and the dominance of the Tea Party is not "indirectly"undermining our country - it is directly and seriously harming this country. The radical right which relies on ignorance and lack of critical thinking skills to thrive is the single most destructive phenomena wreaking havoc on everything from educating our children (issues ranging from evolution to whether slavery was the cause of the Civil War), to economic policy, to responsibly conducting international diplomacy or being able to address climate change. Many problems which are complex only become unsolvable because of right wing obstruction.
Good luck with that, Thomas.
"We’re paying a huge price for the way the Tea Party has marginalized the center-right."
Say what? The center-right of the GOP loves the appearance of size that the TP has given them. (Just ask Boehner and McConnell if they would like to return to minority status.)
Building a high wall is not center-right strategy, its nonsense. If all you want to do is end illegal border crossing, you have to build one between the U.S. and Canada, too. Air fare from Mexico to Canada aren't all that large. A more sound fix is a sane migrant worker policy that permits the labor to travel back and forth more freely than it does now. But ending illegal border crossing is not the only source of the U.S. illegal immigration issue.
Say what? The center-right of the GOP loves the appearance of size that the TP has given them. (Just ask Boehner and McConnell if they would like to return to minority status.)
Building a high wall is not center-right strategy, its nonsense. If all you want to do is end illegal border crossing, you have to build one between the U.S. and Canada, too. Air fare from Mexico to Canada aren't all that large. A more sound fix is a sane migrant worker policy that permits the labor to travel back and forth more freely than it does now. But ending illegal border crossing is not the only source of the U.S. illegal immigration issue.
You have to love it when a Democrat provides such keen advice to Republicans. The right question to ask is: How much of our transportation spending is on needless stuff rather than maintaining our core infrastructure?
1
In the spirit of the media coverage of this cohort I would ask:
Who does your hair and how much does it cost?
Who does your hair and how much does it cost?
By now, we have all heard at least several extreme right voices compare Obama or his policies to the extreme of Hitler and Naziism.
Most of us marvel at the foolishness, the disconnect from reality, or, if you're Jon Stewart, you make your living off it.
One thing any modern day German would tell us is how that darkest period in their nation's history was marked by a leave of all norms, disconnect from reality, extreme dogma, a vacating of common sense, sanity, and of course normal humanity.
Friedman may have written his masterpiece here.
A paroxism of rationality that beautifully captures the problem with today's Republican party.
But it's not complete without a sober and disturbing mention of how far the party has moved toward by a leave of all norms, disconnect from reality, a vacating of common sense, sanity, and of course normal humanity.
If the shoe fits…
It took the destruction of Germany to purge it of its mental illness, its cancer.
I hope the Republican party can listen to the reason of Reagan's words and people like Bartlet and avoid a catastrophe for their party and our nation.
Most of us marvel at the foolishness, the disconnect from reality, or, if you're Jon Stewart, you make your living off it.
One thing any modern day German would tell us is how that darkest period in their nation's history was marked by a leave of all norms, disconnect from reality, extreme dogma, a vacating of common sense, sanity, and of course normal humanity.
Friedman may have written his masterpiece here.
A paroxism of rationality that beautifully captures the problem with today's Republican party.
But it's not complete without a sober and disturbing mention of how far the party has moved toward by a leave of all norms, disconnect from reality, a vacating of common sense, sanity, and of course normal humanity.
If the shoe fits…
It took the destruction of Germany to purge it of its mental illness, its cancer.
I hope the Republican party can listen to the reason of Reagan's words and people like Bartlet and avoid a catastrophe for their party and our nation.
1
Friedman fails to acknowledge that the Tea Party was created by so-called center right Republicans as an election strategy.
"...to promote legal immigration of the high-I.Q. knowledge workers... "
Are we saying Americans workers are low I.Q. or is this a new code word to bring in engineers to work at $30-50k in order to fire the 200k/yr American engineers?
As for the gasoline tax, it's a tax on low income people who live in areas that lack transportation. Why don't we make hedge fund managers pay income tax instead?
Are we saying Americans workers are low I.Q. or is this a new code word to bring in engineers to work at $30-50k in order to fire the 200k/yr American engineers?
As for the gasoline tax, it's a tax on low income people who live in areas that lack transportation. Why don't we make hedge fund managers pay income tax instead?
2
Obama and Clinton are always clamoring for more regulations and higher taxes. And TF finds them to be centrists?
And he explicitly says that centrist Rs should hike gas and carbon taxes?
And he wonders where the no compromise, No more taxes TEA Party wave came from?
We routed the center right, Me Too Republicans a while back. Time for the Democrats to work across the aisle and start cutting spending and ending programs with us.
And he explicitly says that centrist Rs should hike gas and carbon taxes?
And he wonders where the no compromise, No more taxes TEA Party wave came from?
We routed the center right, Me Too Republicans a while back. Time for the Democrats to work across the aisle and start cutting spending and ending programs with us.
1
The Tea Party should be just that: a party. Then they would have to survive on their own merits like the Green Party and others. Friedman is correct: the Republicans sold their soul for the easy votes, and they have been (we have been) paying the price ever since.
The Republican Party country club elite is anti-tax because their wealth is inherited; they're private equity; their specialty is generating commissions and declaring special dividends; they invent and produce nothing. For the elite to convince the embittered white lower-middle class wage-earners that they're sending too much money to Washington is a one-hopper to first.
1
The one enduring characteristic or value of this country is an insistence on individual liberty and freedom.
Within our individual "freedom," we have grown arrogant and forget that freedom comes with responsibilities, our opinions are not facts, our choices are not always virtuous, our desires and wants are often selfish greed, we often know very little and know incorrectly, and most of all, whether we like it or not, we forget that we are a web of life and that the public or communal aspect of us are as important as the private and individual part.
This country has become the contemporary leading exemplar of such individualized society for the world and proud of it; and the Republican Party and their supporters are the crystalized illustrations.
Within our individual "freedom," we have grown arrogant and forget that freedom comes with responsibilities, our opinions are not facts, our choices are not always virtuous, our desires and wants are often selfish greed, we often know very little and know incorrectly, and most of all, whether we like it or not, we forget that we are a web of life and that the public or communal aspect of us are as important as the private and individual part.
This country has become the contemporary leading exemplar of such individualized society for the world and proud of it; and the Republican Party and their supporters are the crystalized illustrations.
1
The sad truth is that no one is listening to common sense -- just look at some of the comments to this piece. Look also at the Iran deal debate. When you have not a single ELECTED Republican come out and support this historic and consequential deal, you know no one is listening or caring either to show political courage or true patriotism. No matter how rational the exposition, all revert to talking points, even the most intelligent of people. It is disheartening.
Typical Friedman: Always proposing hiking the Gas Tax, a tax that would disproportionately affect the poor and those who live outside the "bubble" of big cities where they can rely on subsidized public transit.
Instead of this, why not impose a 5% "Financial Transaction Tax" on every Wall Street trade and hedge fund transaction...not only would that fund our infrastructure needs, but it would also tamp down on reckless speculative trading that adds little "real" value to our ecomomy.
What are the chances that Tom Friedman would get behind supporting such a proposal???
Instead of this, why not impose a 5% "Financial Transaction Tax" on every Wall Street trade and hedge fund transaction...not only would that fund our infrastructure needs, but it would also tamp down on reckless speculative trading that adds little "real" value to our ecomomy.
What are the chances that Tom Friedman would get behind supporting such a proposal???
2
It's a very dangerous question. If I were charged with answering it, this is how I'd do it.
"We need to pay for what we do for a change, and rebuilding our infrastructure is important to me. But why is it that Democrats can never see the contradiction in their constant talk about concern for our working poor and their insistence that we address this challenge on the backs of the same Americans?
"As we speak, gas averages about $4.00 per gallon for unleaded regular in L.A., but about $3.70 per gallon for CA as a whole, and about $2.65 nationally. What do we suppose that difference means to a family in L.A. making $25,000 whose breadwinner needs to drive to work? There ARE a few people in L.A. who drive to work. It could mean the difference between feeding their children real food and cardboard.
"Now, a lot of that difference is taxes. The most regressive taxes we impose, with a devastating effect on working families. These are DEMOCRATIC taxes, not Republican taxes.
"Americans really need to ask themselves who is looking out for them. Democrats who want to take food from the mouths of their children, or Republicans who want them to keep more of what they earn for their OWN needs."
Now, that wouldn't be completely fair by a ton; but, hey, when was politics or who gets allocated chin-clefts at birth ever fair? Tom asked a question. I provided the political answer that makes it a VERY dangerous question to be asked a Republican in front of millions of viewers.
"We need to pay for what we do for a change, and rebuilding our infrastructure is important to me. But why is it that Democrats can never see the contradiction in their constant talk about concern for our working poor and their insistence that we address this challenge on the backs of the same Americans?
"As we speak, gas averages about $4.00 per gallon for unleaded regular in L.A., but about $3.70 per gallon for CA as a whole, and about $2.65 nationally. What do we suppose that difference means to a family in L.A. making $25,000 whose breadwinner needs to drive to work? There ARE a few people in L.A. who drive to work. It could mean the difference between feeding their children real food and cardboard.
"Now, a lot of that difference is taxes. The most regressive taxes we impose, with a devastating effect on working families. These are DEMOCRATIC taxes, not Republican taxes.
"Americans really need to ask themselves who is looking out for them. Democrats who want to take food from the mouths of their children, or Republicans who want them to keep more of what they earn for their OWN needs."
Now, that wouldn't be completely fair by a ton; but, hey, when was politics or who gets allocated chin-clefts at birth ever fair? Tom asked a question. I provided the political answer that makes it a VERY dangerous question to be asked a Republican in front of millions of viewers.
14
I'm not voting Republican until they advocate coin-operated traffic lights. That'll reduce the cost of infrastructure!
1
That is a false choice and you know it. Funds that should be spent for highways are being spent for bike paths, parks,bullet trains etc.If we would spend the funds on nothing but highways we would have enough money. I don't wantT to give government a new slush funds. Remember the shovel ready projects?
3
You keep saying Tea Party and, yes, that is the name of the movement that crystallized these ideas. But in fact what is going on here is not a conventional Party movement, with policy differences at its core, at all. It is the longing, mainly of older white people, for a world in which they felt much more in control. So long as they stayed in charge, they preferred center-right policies because that kept things as they were. But they have seen their primacy slip away and there's no way center-right policies are going to restore things to the way they were. Something more radical will be needed. And it doesn't really matter if it's not possible to roll back time; all it takes is someone who promises to do it--and if Donald Trump didn't, someone else would.
The Democrats have worked around this problem by simply abandoning their old coalition, and creating a new one, based on younger people, and especially people of color. That positions them well for the future, and leads them to promote policies that respond to the world as it is and will be, instead of looking backward to the world as it was.
The Republicans will eventually figure this out, as their core older white voters die off. But there's no way to convince the voters that are the core of their party to stop looking backward. They are not wrong to do so; things really were better back then, for them.
The Democrats have worked around this problem by simply abandoning their old coalition, and creating a new one, based on younger people, and especially people of color. That positions them well for the future, and leads them to promote policies that respond to the world as it is and will be, instead of looking backward to the world as it was.
The Republicans will eventually figure this out, as their core older white voters die off. But there's no way to convince the voters that are the core of their party to stop looking backward. They are not wrong to do so; things really were better back then, for them.
2
Friedman neglects to say that the federal government competes with states when it comes to taxing gasoline. Including the federal tax, Californians pay over 60 cents a gallon in tax. The national volume-weighted average is 48.8 cents per gallon. Naturally, raising the federal tax puts pressure on the states to cut theirs. Friedman can be careless when he discusses economics. He misses these kinds of details. Maybe those Republicans are not as dense as he thinks.
1
Well Paul, of course you realize, attempting to implement rational government policies is so far down on the list of priorites of the current party of 'Nyet' (that the GOP leadership represents) that it would take a telescope to see it. I can't remember a Congress in which the need for funding of our nation's infrastructure was not at given lip service, if not at least symbolic support. When 40 % of our nations bridges and highways are given deteriourating or failing marks by independent engineers, and the trucking companies are expected to be actively lobbying for even more and larger mega-trucks to be allowed to pound along on our higways and bridges, one would think that politics would be set aside, and some sort of compromise be reached. Faint hope for this crew, it seems.
Maybe the gop knows there is no reason for more taxes, just stop the excessive waste in Medicare, welfare, planned parenthood, food stamps,billions in military support to other countries, billions for a soon to be failed health system, just to name a few.
1
Friedman offers an interesting question. Unfortunately, the only answer you're going to hear from any one of the candidates - to any question, is what a terrible job Obama has done and what a worse job Clinton will do. The only difference will be which one can project the most hate and anger. Anyone who watches these debates looking for substance is going to have a long night.
1
Robespierre also thought that he could control the mob that he gathered and set loose in a frenzy of frustration, self-righteousness and irrationality. When he was overwhelmed by the brutality and destruction he'd used to gain his power and he tried to contain it, he was in turn subsumed and beheaded.
Our modern day Rovespierres of the Republican Party, deniers of history that they are, have followed in his footsteps. They saw the political advantages of firing up ignorant, irrational and frustrated people and manipulated media and districts to give those guaranteed supporters more power, supremely and arrogantly confident that their own superior intellect and experience would allow them to remain in control. They were wrong.
As in the French Revolution, the stupid hate, the bigotry and the mindless destruction that characterize the far right have grown so vicious and counterproductive that the nation has been sickened. Bartlett's scenario of Trump, the acme of ignorance and bloviating self-interest, use the system cynical Republicans created to win the nomination and be blasted by national voters, beheading support for the 'traditional Republicans' that facilitated the disaster along the way, would be a fitting end to a story that has already been played out.
Our modern day Rovespierres of the Republican Party, deniers of history that they are, have followed in his footsteps. They saw the political advantages of firing up ignorant, irrational and frustrated people and manipulated media and districts to give those guaranteed supporters more power, supremely and arrogantly confident that their own superior intellect and experience would allow them to remain in control. They were wrong.
As in the French Revolution, the stupid hate, the bigotry and the mindless destruction that characterize the far right have grown so vicious and counterproductive that the nation has been sickened. Bartlett's scenario of Trump, the acme of ignorance and bloviating self-interest, use the system cynical Republicans created to win the nomination and be blasted by national voters, beheading support for the 'traditional Republicans' that facilitated the disaster along the way, would be a fitting end to a story that has already been played out.
1
Outside of a few stragglers from blue states, there is no center-right wing in today's GOP. It's gone.
The far-right wing is today's right wing. And it's engaged in a years-long temper tantrum that's shown, over and over again, that they're more interested in emotional validation against "the other" than actual governance.
There has undoubtedly been a hollowing-out of the American middle class, but to see that marginalization result not in the dogmatization of policies directly antithetical to the middle class' own interests is at once shocking and sad.
The far-right wing is today's right wing. And it's engaged in a years-long temper tantrum that's shown, over and over again, that they're more interested in emotional validation against "the other" than actual governance.
There has undoubtedly been a hollowing-out of the American middle class, but to see that marginalization result not in the dogmatization of policies directly antithetical to the middle class' own interests is at once shocking and sad.
3
Asking Republicans to care about roads is a waste of time.Their Master, the 1% fly Private Jets or Helicopters.
More seriously, the first time I came to the US as a foreign student in 2003, I was amazed by how bad the roads were in New York . There were potholes on roads near Wall street. I asked myself how was that possible that a place where $Billions transactions were been made could have roads that bad and Rats that big .
More seriously, the first time I came to the US as a foreign student in 2003, I was amazed by how bad the roads were in New York . There were potholes on roads near Wall street. I asked myself how was that possible that a place where $Billions transactions were been made could have roads that bad and Rats that big .
2
Perhaps if Mr. Friedman's colleagues in the media should spend more time asking the perspective candidates, Republican and Democratic, about their plans. The questions to Sec. Clinton have exclusively been about why 'people find her untrustworthy', the question to the Republican candidates have been about Mr. Trump and the primary 'horse race'. I don't think the media cares one way or another who wins, though their contempt for Ms. Clinton is reaching Al Gore proportions, but they are asking all the wrong questions.
The rest of us don't have a microphone, and those with the microphones are practicing lazy journalism. Mr. Friedman's basic questions are never explored, but they point to a critical path for our country. All of the Republicans will tell you that we need less regulations and lower taxes, OK, which regulations? Pollution? Food inspection? Clean air? Lower taxes for whom? What are you looking to cut to pay for tax breaks? We have no idea.
The rest of us don't have a microphone, and those with the microphones are practicing lazy journalism. Mr. Friedman's basic questions are never explored, but they point to a critical path for our country. All of the Republicans will tell you that we need less regulations and lower taxes, OK, which regulations? Pollution? Food inspection? Clean air? Lower taxes for whom? What are you looking to cut to pay for tax breaks? We have no idea.
2
Before raising taxes, we must ensure prudent spending, e.g. eliminating “prevailing wage” laws which jack up costs by 1/3 or more.
The left lament "crumbling" infrastructure, yet elevates special interests over the taxpayers. Too, while railing against “pork barrel”, they prioritize bike paths over repairing bridges.
Yeah, Republicans are taxphobic; we should be. The feds already blow through 21% of GDP; the states add another 10%. You exalt Clinton for raising taxes, but he limited spending to 18% of GDP. Reducing spending to that level eliminates the need for a new tax.
Indeed, the GOP might agree to a carbon tax, conditioned upon repeal of the 16th Amendment. (If carbon is a problem, the only legit solutions are nukes and dams; ask the local eco-lefty where we should build the first nuke, or which river to dam.) But the left never suggests a carbon tax without some Rube Goldberg scheme for ensuring that “the poor” don’t pay it, which defeats its purpose.
When will you urge that the Dems anoint Sanders, whose (admitted) socialism gets them so badly crushed that they return to something approaching the center, like Bill Bradley or Evan Bayh? There IS no “center left”; only socialists, and socialists-lite.
And you’re right; the sequester – a BHO idea – IS stupid, as it conflates necessary spending on defense with frivolities, like welfare.
Transportation should, mostly, be left to the states. They can better assess priorities than can the feds.
The left lament "crumbling" infrastructure, yet elevates special interests over the taxpayers. Too, while railing against “pork barrel”, they prioritize bike paths over repairing bridges.
Yeah, Republicans are taxphobic; we should be. The feds already blow through 21% of GDP; the states add another 10%. You exalt Clinton for raising taxes, but he limited spending to 18% of GDP. Reducing spending to that level eliminates the need for a new tax.
Indeed, the GOP might agree to a carbon tax, conditioned upon repeal of the 16th Amendment. (If carbon is a problem, the only legit solutions are nukes and dams; ask the local eco-lefty where we should build the first nuke, or which river to dam.) But the left never suggests a carbon tax without some Rube Goldberg scheme for ensuring that “the poor” don’t pay it, which defeats its purpose.
When will you urge that the Dems anoint Sanders, whose (admitted) socialism gets them so badly crushed that they return to something approaching the center, like Bill Bradley or Evan Bayh? There IS no “center left”; only socialists, and socialists-lite.
And you’re right; the sequester – a BHO idea – IS stupid, as it conflates necessary spending on defense with frivolities, like welfare.
Transportation should, mostly, be left to the states. They can better assess priorities than can the feds.
1
"... raise the funds instead, in part, by selling oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve..." in a collapsing energy market: brilliant!
4
The current GOP candidates serve their masters and funders, and they answer to them, not the American people. There was a time when paying your fair share of taxes was a responsibility because there was hopefully transparency in what that money was going for (infrastructure, for example). Then "tax responsibility" became "tax burden" and the GOP won the populist battle. I would like to ask the candidates: Please tell me what the current tax rates are in countries like Germany and Holland and how to they compare to our own, and why are such things as infrastructure in those country so much better than in the US?
2
Great idea, Thomas. While you're at it, could you also ask HRC if the private jets she gallivants around the world in to make speeches so the Clinton Foundation can wipe away tears from the eyes of poor women and children, are solar powered and whether she would stay away from large "palaces on air" to reduce greenhouse emissions?
My guess is she'd put forth another economic plan that'd pander to all. Taxes be damned as long she can take advantage of all the tax breaks through the family enterprise. I agree one can have different ideologies and policy differences with the Republicans (some of them are quite unsavory and slimy characters), but the last word that comes to my mind about HRC is she's no bold visionary, but a coldly calculating opportunist. She'll will say and do anything to win, one who could successfully sell a refrigerator (solar powered of course) to an Eskimo in an igloo . And, sadly, we the apathetic electorate are being conned by her posturing.
My guess is she'd put forth another economic plan that'd pander to all. Taxes be damned as long she can take advantage of all the tax breaks through the family enterprise. I agree one can have different ideologies and policy differences with the Republicans (some of them are quite unsavory and slimy characters), but the last word that comes to my mind about HRC is she's no bold visionary, but a coldly calculating opportunist. She'll will say and do anything to win, one who could successfully sell a refrigerator (solar powered of course) to an Eskimo in an igloo . And, sadly, we the apathetic electorate are being conned by her posturing.
1
Great words, for the GOP, abortion, gay marriage and anti immigration are their real priorities. The Country can burn and flood, because they are not scientists. They are talking about shut down the government to defund Planned Parenthood, that mostly helps poor women take care of their most basic health needs. Who doesn't see the need to revamp the infrastructure?what can be controversial about that? The Republican party acceptance of Trump, it is the proof that madness is now elevated to "serious contender" status.
1
The author bemoans the "loss of center right" partly because they support a needed component in our economy = market based solutions. What he fails to see is that markets are being crushed by policies of the progressive left. Typical Friedman - everything has got to be the fault of Republicans.
1
Mr Friedman is spot on with his question and one could only hope that this question would be asked as stated during the republican presidential debate show.
Perhaps the NYT and the Pew institute could do all Americans a favor and do a statistically predictable survey of the electorate in each state to get the viewpoint of the American people.
My guess is that Americans are much more inclined to invest their tax dollars into the highway, road and bridge system than into the next $250B jet fighter system. Might be useful to conduct a similar poll of business leaders who depend on the transportation network in their business operations.
Let the people lead the way. At some point in time, the politicians will follow like they always do ... once their funding masters allow them to do so.
Perhaps the NYT and the Pew institute could do all Americans a favor and do a statistically predictable survey of the electorate in each state to get the viewpoint of the American people.
My guess is that Americans are much more inclined to invest their tax dollars into the highway, road and bridge system than into the next $250B jet fighter system. Might be useful to conduct a similar poll of business leaders who depend on the transportation network in their business operations.
Let the people lead the way. At some point in time, the politicians will follow like they always do ... once their funding masters allow them to do so.
If the gas tax was used to actually improve and build new roads & bridges, then it would be a reasonable suggestion. Compounded with state gas taxes, the total tax on a gallon of gas is from $0.35 to $0.70 per gallon. Considering annual consumption of gas (~134,000,000,000 gals/yr), this amounts to about $70 billion per year! We should be asking: Where is that money going?
2
You can sum up this article in the truism Adapt or Die. It is what the Tea party denies and do not see that they make things worse. If the Immigration bill were passed a few years ago, we would have a more secure border, fewer illegals, a solution for the dreamers and longer term illegals. We would be working through the problem. The purveyors of our way or no way must be held accountable for their damage.
1
Never mind the Republicans, I'd just love to hear center-right politician Hillary Clinton call for a gas-tax increase to invest in infrastructure, but sadly that would involve some actual leadership and courage and vision, and she seems more interested these days in reminding us about her mother and her granddaughter.
Come to think of it, of all the issues Bernie Sanders keeps pounding away at, I haven't heard him make raising the gas tax one of them. The reality that this is not one of the issues that Sanders's progressive base is clamoring for points to a broader problem our electorate. Whether it's on the left or the right, we're stuck in "Tax the other guy" mode; we can't quite bring ourselves to say, "Tax me."
Come to think of it, of all the issues Bernie Sanders keeps pounding away at, I haven't heard him make raising the gas tax one of them. The reality that this is not one of the issues that Sanders's progressive base is clamoring for points to a broader problem our electorate. Whether it's on the left or the right, we're stuck in "Tax the other guy" mode; we can't quite bring ourselves to say, "Tax me."
2
We thought it would never happen. But it has. The Republican Party is no longer the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower and Bush 1. To paraphrase a former Republican vice president, Republicans have become "nattering nabobs of negativity." They have no interest in passing laws; they want to repeal laws, starting with federal healthcare and environmental laws. They want to ensure that the Supreme Court has a solid majority who agree that the Constitution guarantees the right of everyone to carry guns and the right of everyone with money to carry elections, free of governmental interference. Tax and regulatory laws are a nuisance: get rid of them. Privatize the construction and maintenance of highways and bridges. America should be free of governmental interference and return to the teachings of classic capitalism, ensuring "survival of the fittest."
2
That the GOP is mostly firing blanks when it comes to public policy is hardly a surprise. Fundamentally, the party is no longer concerned with governing responsibly. Rather it has become a vehicle for reactionary elements who feel existentially adrift in a changing world they can barely understand, much less control. Co-opted and controlled by nefarious "bureaucrats," the government can no longer be trusted. Hence all the hysteria surrounding taxes, immigrants and guns. But what many Republicans are going to discover sooner or later is that we are all in this together, there are solutions and there is no going back.
1
No disrespect, Mr. Friedman, but your column presupposes that the current Republicans party cares about actually doing something in regard to America's problems. That's not the point. The point is eternal opposition. It is about generating the anger, energy and, yes, dollars, to fully seize power top to bottom so that the needs and desires of the mega-rich and big corporations can be addressed in hundreds of small pieces of legislation that wouldn't be widely noticed but which would transform the nation into one of unmitigated brutality toward the poor and the lower rungs of the middle economic classes.
To talk about comprise and giving in to little adjustments on the gasoline tax is a bit like knocking 10 miles per hour off a rocket ship headed to outer space: no difference to anyone, except, damaging THE PRINCIPLE of total, unyielding, adamant, no compromises ever!, especially on taxes. Might as well ask for a tenth of a penny. (Gerald Ford once considered a 50 cent per gallon increase in gasoline taxes, but when it sold for far less than today.)
Are the Democrats just as bad on eternal opposition? No, not as a party, they are far too disorganized and lacking in clear leadership. Their flotilla of outside interest groups, like the Environmental Defense Fund, pick issues specifically because they can't be resolved, because it brings in memberships and dues. The Dems, as of yet, haven't been fully captured the way the Republicans were by the tea party radicals, however.
To talk about comprise and giving in to little adjustments on the gasoline tax is a bit like knocking 10 miles per hour off a rocket ship headed to outer space: no difference to anyone, except, damaging THE PRINCIPLE of total, unyielding, adamant, no compromises ever!, especially on taxes. Might as well ask for a tenth of a penny. (Gerald Ford once considered a 50 cent per gallon increase in gasoline taxes, but when it sold for far less than today.)
Are the Democrats just as bad on eternal opposition? No, not as a party, they are far too disorganized and lacking in clear leadership. Their flotilla of outside interest groups, like the Environmental Defense Fund, pick issues specifically because they can't be resolved, because it brings in memberships and dues. The Dems, as of yet, haven't been fully captured the way the Republicans were by the tea party radicals, however.
1
You need to look for opportunities where now you can only see difficulties.
Embrace the death of the gas tax as well as the national highway network it has long paid for. The 1% the Republicans legislate for do not use interstate highways, they take a plane and then rent a car to drive around city and county roads paid for mostly by sales and property taxes or at times by toll authorities.
The remaining gas taxes should just be enough for the next several decades to keep up the portion of interstates that circle our major cities and to keep a few key bridges from falling down.
In the meantime critical food and other supplies to our Republican suburbs can be slowly but certainly transitioned to either the rail system or to a new breed of cross country trucks. The inner cities will just have to whither and die, but consider they are Democratic strongholds of mostly takers and the worthless 47%. (If not actually overrun with undocumented immigrants who shimmied over that low wall).
Indeed immigrants that don't get themselves into the fields to pick our fruit for next to nothing or have the training to take jobs from our recent college grads should be starved out of our inner cities anyway.
Really, why should Americans pay to build more interstate highways or repair the ones we already have? China owns most of the good stuff anyway, we should let them pay if they want easy access for shipping their junk to Walmart.
(Above Tea Party rant taken from a Coffee Shop near you)
Embrace the death of the gas tax as well as the national highway network it has long paid for. The 1% the Republicans legislate for do not use interstate highways, they take a plane and then rent a car to drive around city and county roads paid for mostly by sales and property taxes or at times by toll authorities.
The remaining gas taxes should just be enough for the next several decades to keep up the portion of interstates that circle our major cities and to keep a few key bridges from falling down.
In the meantime critical food and other supplies to our Republican suburbs can be slowly but certainly transitioned to either the rail system or to a new breed of cross country trucks. The inner cities will just have to whither and die, but consider they are Democratic strongholds of mostly takers and the worthless 47%. (If not actually overrun with undocumented immigrants who shimmied over that low wall).
Indeed immigrants that don't get themselves into the fields to pick our fruit for next to nothing or have the training to take jobs from our recent college grads should be starved out of our inner cities anyway.
Really, why should Americans pay to build more interstate highways or repair the ones we already have? China owns most of the good stuff anyway, we should let them pay if they want easy access for shipping their junk to Walmart.
(Above Tea Party rant taken from a Coffee Shop near you)
2
last year we used almost 140 BILLION gallons of gas in the US. that means just the federal tax on gas - not state or local - was almost $30B. Seems like a lot every year to fix and repair interstate roadways. and it doesn't include the fess and taxes truckers pay, tolls, and as I said the taxes that the states take in on gasoline to supposedly pay for roadwork.
I am a republican, I think center right, and I am not reflexively against any and all taxes. I am just not sure that raising the costs borne by working class people trying to live their lives makes sense. I am also wary of the move used by the government where they tax for one purpose but put the funds in the general account and use it to pay for everything else. does anyone know if the
highway trust fund is actually left alone? and finally, like I said there is a lot of money collected for roads and infrastructure already, how much do we collect overall and how much do we need?
I am a republican, I think center right, and I am not reflexively against any and all taxes. I am just not sure that raising the costs borne by working class people trying to live their lives makes sense. I am also wary of the move used by the government where they tax for one purpose but put the funds in the general account and use it to pay for everything else. does anyone know if the
highway trust fund is actually left alone? and finally, like I said there is a lot of money collected for roads and infrastructure already, how much do we collect overall and how much do we need?
24
On climate: you don't even have to believe that climate change is happening and is due to human activities. Taylor's point is key. The RISK of climate change is real. Good policy making manages risk. Even if there's only a low probability that humans are causing the earth to warm up, the very high severity of that development requires that the risk be managed.
The gas tax question is a nice way of getting at this issue. Modestly incremental pain as a first step toward risk management. We won't get an answer on Thursday night, however. No Fox correspondent will ask that question.
The gas tax question is a nice way of getting at this issue. Modestly incremental pain as a first step toward risk management. We won't get an answer on Thursday night, however. No Fox correspondent will ask that question.
1
They appear to want to pay for the highway bill by cutting Medicaid to Planned Parenthood and spending on women's health. Jeb Bush just said we don't need half a billion dollars for women's health. You could ask him if that's what he had in mind.
" A Trump rout is Republican moderates’ best chance to take back the G.O.P." I have been wondering for a while now how the center-right takes back their party from the hard right that now controls the primary process and therefore the ideological face of the party. They will not win a presidential election until they do, and they know that.
So, how do you recapture your own primary process and wrest it out of the hands of the insurgency that the hard right represents to establishment Republicans?
The author posits a Trump defeat sever enough to shock even the insurgency into the realization that American is simply not as far to the right as they are and that they need to moderate if they wish to win a national election.
That, however, does not square with the fact that after every national election defeat in recent years, the Republican orthodoxy is that the candidate lost because he was not conservative enough. Republicans can never say that they lost because their candidate was so conservative as to be out of step with the general electorate. The smart ones know that's the case, but cannot admit it since to do so is to throw down the gauntlet to the hard right and risk being "primaried." A potent deterrent.
The Republicans have painted themselves into a corner from which there is no easy escape. They will need to lose several more presidential elections before it sinks in sufficiently that this is, at heart, a centrist country and not a hard right one.
So, how do you recapture your own primary process and wrest it out of the hands of the insurgency that the hard right represents to establishment Republicans?
The author posits a Trump defeat sever enough to shock even the insurgency into the realization that American is simply not as far to the right as they are and that they need to moderate if they wish to win a national election.
That, however, does not square with the fact that after every national election defeat in recent years, the Republican orthodoxy is that the candidate lost because he was not conservative enough. Republicans can never say that they lost because their candidate was so conservative as to be out of step with the general electorate. The smart ones know that's the case, but cannot admit it since to do so is to throw down the gauntlet to the hard right and risk being "primaried." A potent deterrent.
The Republicans have painted themselves into a corner from which there is no easy escape. They will need to lose several more presidential elections before it sinks in sufficiently that this is, at heart, a centrist country and not a hard right one.
1
The Republican party philosophical leadership fell off of a cliff years ago on every issue that matters. Why, they have been taken over by anti intellectual 17th century religious fanatics such as those who founded the Massachusetts Colony.
Sensible people like Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Bob Dole, Bush41 have no place in the modern GOP. Heck - Bush43 might not make the cut.
Sensible people like Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Bob Dole, Bush41 have no place in the modern GOP. Heck - Bush43 might not make the cut.
3
Republican political Saint Ronald Reagan proclaimed that neither debt nor deficits mattered as government was the problem. Ronald Reagan condemned the undeserving individual poor depending on government welfare while praising the corporate plutocrats depending on deductions, credits, subsidies and lower tax rates. Reagan was predictably bellicose in his foreign policy national defense policy rhetoric and practice.
Reagan shifted the American political discourse away from the center left legacy of FDR and LBJ. So much so that Ike and Nixon would be in political lock-step with Clinton and Obama. Even Reagan in governing practice, in contrast to his rhetoric, could also be considered center-left in today's America.
But Reagan's Republican heirs have focused on the rhetoric. And the Republicans have lost the popular vote in five out of the last six Presidential elections. Why ask any questions from a Republican party focused on winning primaries and losing general elections?
Reagan shifted the American political discourse away from the center left legacy of FDR and LBJ. So much so that Ike and Nixon would be in political lock-step with Clinton and Obama. Even Reagan in governing practice, in contrast to his rhetoric, could also be considered center-left in today's America.
But Reagan's Republican heirs have focused on the rhetoric. And the Republicans have lost the popular vote in five out of the last six Presidential elections. Why ask any questions from a Republican party focused on winning primaries and losing general elections?
2
Fox is not holding a debate. It is holding the political equivalent of speed dating. Which carnival barker impresses you most in a few minutes of face time?
2
Do you mean to say that you can ask an intelligent question from this Fox News basketball freshman team and expect an intelligent answer? That will never happen.
1
Why would anybody vote Republican? They still promise to take our healthcare away from us, while keeping theirs. They still want to reduce our Medicare benefits. They still want to cut our Social Security, while maintaining their own retirement system. They still want to block the immigration bill because their corporate sponsors still want keep their illegals working for them. They still want to block infrastructure rebuilds because it would create jobs. They still want to block your wage increases by blocking minimum wage increases, while still increasing their own wages and benefits. They still want to keep Medicare from negotiating for prices with pharmaceuticals because Republican still get 'donations' from them. They still want to block the lowering of student loan rates down to what the market is. They're still against equal pay for women or women's rights; and still want to prevent women from taking birth control. Can anybody reply and tell us why they'd vote Republican?
2
Jeb Bush is so moderate that he thinks Dubya made the right decision by invading Iraq. Ask the candidates whether George W. Bush lied to us about Iraq. I bet you none of them would say yes, even though those involved - including Colin Powell and Tony Blair - have admitted that truth.
The Republican Party vacated the real world and moved into its own echo chamber about 15 years ago.
The Republican Party vacated the real world and moved into its own echo chamber about 15 years ago.
2
The emergence of Tea Party after 2008 economis catastrophe is not the work of GOP - it is the manifestation of a section of American white culture - false sense of exceptionalism and fearful of change and future chLlenges. They adopt the ostrich syndrome - denial of all challenges.
The unscrupulous business interest took advantage of this white outbursts to fan the madness for their profit and provided life to this force and created a successful TV business.
Finally snake oil salesmen republican politicians came and took control of it for election victory - all center - right GOP politicians are gone. The sequence is a copy book example of 'tripping point' concept.
To change this situation another trigger for 'new tripping point' will be required. May be the Trump Presidency is the starting point of this new 'tripping point'. The business interest will be a strong element to make the new tripping point successful - is FOX news ready to take this role. I am not sure?
The unscrupulous business interest took advantage of this white outbursts to fan the madness for their profit and provided life to this force and created a successful TV business.
Finally snake oil salesmen republican politicians came and took control of it for election victory - all center - right GOP politicians are gone. The sequence is a copy book example of 'tripping point' concept.
To change this situation another trigger for 'new tripping point' will be required. May be the Trump Presidency is the starting point of this new 'tripping point'. The business interest will be a strong element to make the new tripping point successful - is FOX news ready to take this role. I am not sure?
On October 27, 1787, Alexander Hamilton wrote, " the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force." That question is relevant today for the nation and its voting citizens; and for the GOP which desires to be a governing party. Can the GOP govern from genuine reflection and choice, or do they just hope for the best letting market forces determine national economic policies and civil order maintained by a militarized law enforcement and well armed vigilantes. Interesting, the night of the GOP Presidential Candidates Debate, that evening the musical "Hamilton" opens.
1
That there are so many idiots in office is an indication of the amount of idiotic
voters in this country. I think there is not a polite way of saying this.
voters in this country. I think there is not a polite way of saying this.
2
Mr. Friedman,
The same government that levied the tax to build the highways, still collects that tax. The tax they already collect to maintain the roads remains. Roads continue to deteriorate.
Did you know they still collect the tax they levied in the early 1900s to erect telephone poles and run phone wires around the country?
What do you think will happen with the new tax? They squandered the highway trust fund, they mismanage the taxes they already collect. Do you really think another new/more tax will be handled any differently?
Oh, and the paltry 18.4 cents per gallon you cite is only the FEDERAL tax. The national average is somewhere around 50 cents a gallon.
Is the glass half empty or half full? When central planners like you are holding a leaky glass, one with cracks and holes all over it, the only solution you see is to get more liquid into the glass. Never to fix the holes. More tax is not the solution. They need to use the taxes they already collect efficiently.
The same government that levied the tax to build the highways, still collects that tax. The tax they already collect to maintain the roads remains. Roads continue to deteriorate.
Did you know they still collect the tax they levied in the early 1900s to erect telephone poles and run phone wires around the country?
What do you think will happen with the new tax? They squandered the highway trust fund, they mismanage the taxes they already collect. Do you really think another new/more tax will be handled any differently?
Oh, and the paltry 18.4 cents per gallon you cite is only the FEDERAL tax. The national average is somewhere around 50 cents a gallon.
Is the glass half empty or half full? When central planners like you are holding a leaky glass, one with cracks and holes all over it, the only solution you see is to get more liquid into the glass. Never to fix the holes. More tax is not the solution. They need to use the taxes they already collect efficiently.
2
The sequester was stupid. Denying our role in climate change is stupid. So is wondering where our President was really born. But these truths just point out a sad fact; An enormous portion of our citizenry is stupid. Stupid beyond hope.
I argue that the majority of stupid voters cannot really help being stupid.
If only they could stop thinking they are smart/right. If only they would stay away from the ballot box. If only our leaders had only to answer to informed voters of both parties. Alas, we pay an extraordinarily high price to live in a true democracy.
I argue that the majority of stupid voters cannot really help being stupid.
If only they could stop thinking they are smart/right. If only they would stay away from the ballot box. If only our leaders had only to answer to informed voters of both parties. Alas, we pay an extraordinarily high price to live in a true democracy.
Stupid question: the government is filled to the brim with wasteful spending trying to buy votes from unions and paying for wars we shouldn't be a part of and defending countries that hate us. Why should Americans that are now travelling on highways, because it's cheaper than flying, be the ones to pay for new roads. Perhaps the government should look into the billions they're wasting everyday around the world and ask themselves: would these funds be better spent rebuilding infrastructure in America?
1
What we have here is a fifth column of seditionistists who work for wannabe feudal barons.
Give them nothing.
Give them nothing.
I believe we already have a center right president. He name is Barak Obama. He implemented a previously conservative affordable care act that relies mostly on "market" solutions to keep costs down. His education secretary pushes for school privatization. He raises large amounts of money from corporate donations. I ask "how is he ideologically different than the first Bush president?" Hillary Clinton would most likely be similar ideologically. She is the obvious center right candidate. How are Bush and Kasich center right? Just because they might be for immigration reform and not degenerating the character of Mexican immigrants. Jeb Bush in particular seems as radical as any candidate just look at his stances on abortion. I know there are conservatives that support a Carbon tax but thinking any Republican would implement it is fantasy. The fossil fuel industry has bought the Republican Party.
3
Thomas Friedman is correct as far as he goes, but it's not far enough. Since Ronald Reagan, there has been a wholesale flight from reality on the part of the Republican Party. Joe Biden challenged them to come up with an example of anything they got right about Iraq. I challenge them to come up with an example of anything they got right about anything. When was the last time a Republican came up with a realistic, feasible solution to any of our society's ongoing problems?
Part of their pathology no doubt stems from the fact that the people funding their campaigns pay them to evade reality. Part of it stems from the fact that they confuse what they get from Ruppert Murdoch's Fox channel with actual news.
Part of their pathology no doubt stems from the fact that the people funding their campaigns pay them to evade reality. Part of it stems from the fact that they confuse what they get from Ruppert Murdoch's Fox channel with actual news.
2
Absolutely agree. The loss of a responsible center right party has created an institutional void in American public life. The country needs one now that is free from the know-nothing angry ranters that have taken control of the Republican party and that is refocused on providing good governance with sound finance instead of no governance at all.
1
As both an economist and a person with strong Republican leanings (and voting record), I have just had the rare pleasure of reading an article of yours with which I completely agree with!
2
And isn't this exactly what happens in Third World countries? Increasingly fanatic leaders become increasingly hostile to outside ideas that threaten their world view, and who then cement their power in a bogus election?
Raising the gas tax is absolutely the right thing to do. The problem is that no one trusts the government to spent the money properly. Remember Solantra,
half a billion dollars thrown away. Perhaps each state could set up a bipartisan commission to designate the transportation projects that should be built or repaired.
half a billion dollars thrown away. Perhaps each state could set up a bipartisan commission to designate the transportation projects that should be built or repaired.
Cry me some more crocodile tears on the demise of the center-right that carries the left's water.
1
Re: Republican core beliefs. You forgot: anti-women, anti-poor and anti-democracy. The flip side of this coin is pro-rich, pro-oligarchy and pro-war. All in all, not a very inviting vision of America's future.
2
We have a two-party system where one party is dominated by ideologues who simply cannot deal with the real world. Facts mean nothing when they contradict one of their orthodoxies. We're fast becoming a plutocracy if we are not already one. The Republican Party of the 1950s is a distant memory. Even Reagan looks good when compared with the current people who control the House and Senate. There must be a road back to sane politics, but I don't really have much faith in Tom's prescriptions. After all, he gave us the Iraq War -- oh, I forgot, he would have managed it professionally unlike Bush and Cheney. Tom at least occupies the real world. Someone of his views might have a place in a legislature that took our really important problems seriously. But, that would be a legislature and a presidency whose occupants essentially endorse Bernie Sanders common sense positions, not radical in any meaningful sense of that term.
1
Dear Congress:
If you can't maintain the property and pay the help, you aren't much of a going concern. If you don't like government, please find other work.
Sincerely,
America
If you can't maintain the property and pay the help, you aren't much of a going concern. If you don't like government, please find other work.
Sincerely,
America
2
I keep having these images of the end times of America: billionaires sweltering in a light rain, huddled over a smoldering fire trying to boil up wads of $100 bills for dinner, and many less amusing visions.
Please vote, center- and further left people, if we hang together we won't hang alone; it's so much better than armed revolution. Now kindly excuse me while I go sharpen my pitchfork, just in case.
Please vote, center- and further left people, if we hang together we won't hang alone; it's so much better than armed revolution. Now kindly excuse me while I go sharpen my pitchfork, just in case.
2
Just so you know how bad things are, please read todays' editorial on
"Who will fund the MTA". Now you know why we have such problems in this country.
"Who will fund the MTA". Now you know why we have such problems in this country.
So if Thomas could only ask a single question it would be regarding something Reagan did back in the 1980s?
Well I guess that Thomas is a 'serious' joun-0-list. So his 'concern' about Republicans moving too far to the right is really a super important issue. After all, the 'moderate' Democratic Party has a major candidate who is a self proclaimed....socialist?
So is Thomas likewise concerned about the leftward tilt in the Democratic Party?
No so much.
Thanks for the 'sincere' concern, Thomas.
Well I guess that Thomas is a 'serious' joun-0-list. So his 'concern' about Republicans moving too far to the right is really a super important issue. After all, the 'moderate' Democratic Party has a major candidate who is a self proclaimed....socialist?
So is Thomas likewise concerned about the leftward tilt in the Democratic Party?
No so much.
Thanks for the 'sincere' concern, Thomas.
6
I can't help wondering if the Koch Brothers feel any remorse about their midwifery in starting the Tea Party. Certainly their strong financial support and strategic political apparatus enabled a numerically small, socially regressive, emotionally fractured, group of buffoons to dominate public policy by electing opportunist idiots to Congress.
2
There is not one thought worth five cents in these stooges. The are simply suckups for money.
1
The pathology of current Republican politicians isn't emphasized enough even in the New York Times. Their lemming-like behavior in signing Grover Norquist's anti-tax pledge suggests either terrible, malignant cynicism or genuine stupidity. As Mr. Friedman points out, most GOP candidates are anti-anything that is good for the citizens of the United States. Being against taxes, against science, against health care, and on and on suggests some kind of personality disorder.
Normal people don't have the savage knee-jerk reaction against reasonable ideas or reasonable people. Let's call the GOP collective response to anything that President Obama proposes what it is: pathological!
Normal people don't have the savage knee-jerk reaction against reasonable ideas or reasonable people. Let's call the GOP collective response to anything that President Obama proposes what it is: pathological!
2
I fear you just gave Ted Cruz his next legislative agenda. I can hear him now "Isn't it time we sold off those old European paintings in the National Gallery and put that money to work for America by cutting taxes for my friends in he oil and gas industry?"
Thanks Tom, there goes van Gogh.
Thanks Tom, there goes van Gogh.
2
Center Left, Center Right ... perhaps a working definition for these? I guess for one thing, Center = Good. Center of what though?
1
The so-called debates are nothing more than an audition to prove who is the most conservative as defined by the extreme right. It's a scary place that "conservative" world, full of ignorance and fear. A simple, logical question like Mr. Friedman wants to ask is beyond their scope of understanding. The republican party doesn't exist anymore.
My question would be -What makes you think us so called liberals like paying taxes any more than you do? The answer should be because we have a responsibility to do our part to keep our country free and growing. The real welfare queens are hiding in the libertarian and conservative groups.
My question would be -What makes you think us so called liberals like paying taxes any more than you do? The answer should be because we have a responsibility to do our part to keep our country free and growing. The real welfare queens are hiding in the libertarian and conservative groups.
1
The tea-party and Trump are the effect rather than the cause of a long standing GOP approach to politics. The party is caught in a self-reinforcing feedback loop. Everyone up for national election is caught in the lie.
While I support a re-centering of the entire political spectrum (read: social conscience with at least a pretense of unpurchased reason), I'm not sure dropping the 'Trump'-bomb on a national election is the best approach. The fact that I'm undecided speaks to how truly toxic the rest of the GOP field is right now.
I'm sadly reminded of Dr. Strangelove. (aka: how I learned to love the bomb). Has it really come to this? I for one get no say in the matter. I'd have to go canvas Colorado to have an echo of a voice.
While I support a re-centering of the entire political spectrum (read: social conscience with at least a pretense of unpurchased reason), I'm not sure dropping the 'Trump'-bomb on a national election is the best approach. The fact that I'm undecided speaks to how truly toxic the rest of the GOP field is right now.
I'm sadly reminded of Dr. Strangelove. (aka: how I learned to love the bomb). Has it really come to this? I for one get no say in the matter. I'd have to go canvas Colorado to have an echo of a voice.
Interesting that Mr. Friedman defines a centre right party as one which believes that "All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds". Market based solutions are an ideological position that has enabled rogue Corporations to
(1) gouge the earths resources for private benefit
(2) Play with financial instruments so that they provide no comprehensible measure of value
(3) Distort shares in the distribution of production of Wealth to create a plutocracy of decisionmaking
This is illustrated by the notion of eliminating an already weak EPA as a tradeoff for agreeing to a carbon tax.
(1) gouge the earths resources for private benefit
(2) Play with financial instruments so that they provide no comprehensible measure of value
(3) Distort shares in the distribution of production of Wealth to create a plutocracy of decisionmaking
This is illustrated by the notion of eliminating an already weak EPA as a tradeoff for agreeing to a carbon tax.
1
What we need are GPS trackers in every vehicle so that the government can charge a per-mile tax. That way those who use the road system are paying for it.
I think 15 cents a mile sounds about right.
I think 15 cents a mile sounds about right.
1
"A Trump rout is Republican moderates’ best chance to take back the G.O.P."
The GOP has become a toxic mix of Old Energy Inc. and Tea Party crazyness.
It is beyond redemption. Even if Trump wins the primaries and gets trounced in the general election, still nothing would change. It would be the fault of the main stream media and republican establishment. You betcha.
The GOP has become a toxic mix of Old Energy Inc. and Tea Party crazyness.
It is beyond redemption. Even if Trump wins the primaries and gets trounced in the general election, still nothing would change. It would be the fault of the main stream media and republican establishment. You betcha.
1
THANK YOU Mr. Friedman, for highlighting the difference between "expense" and "investment"!
For at least 5 years, I have been writing comments and sending emails to columnists and economists - like your colleague, Mr. Krugman- asking why thought leaders aren't pointing out the trap created by the absense on a Balance Sheet in public accounting. This shortcoming traps us in a imaginary view of our national economic health, despite the immediately available and virtually "free" cure.
I hope you and your colleagues will INCREASE coverage of this challenge in Front Page, Business & Opinion sections, and catalyze formation of a bilateral group of experts to design and promote a more meaningful public accounting Standard!
For at least 5 years, I have been writing comments and sending emails to columnists and economists - like your colleague, Mr. Krugman- asking why thought leaders aren't pointing out the trap created by the absense on a Balance Sheet in public accounting. This shortcoming traps us in a imaginary view of our national economic health, despite the immediately available and virtually "free" cure.
I hope you and your colleagues will INCREASE coverage of this challenge in Front Page, Business & Opinion sections, and catalyze formation of a bilateral group of experts to design and promote a more meaningful public accounting Standard!
1
while Republicans may appear to be in disarray, Democrats are manifestly brain dead. Democratic Party has been brought to the lowest common denominator of in your face corruption by the corporate influence channeled by the Clinton Family. If one can retain some hope in this difficult situation, I would vote for the ferment.
The corruption that is the Democratic party is clearly expressed at the end of the article by the now ritualized tribute to the God of Global Warming, aka Climate Change. What once was a rather poorly motivated scientific theory, has since morphed into an instrument of social control that the privileged are trying to wield, and will not give up even if not giving up means suborning and ultimately destroying the very institution of science. Democratic Party has become the penultimate let them eat cake cabal.
The corruption that is the Democratic party is clearly expressed at the end of the article by the now ritualized tribute to the God of Global Warming, aka Climate Change. What once was a rather poorly motivated scientific theory, has since morphed into an instrument of social control that the privileged are trying to wield, and will not give up even if not giving up means suborning and ultimately destroying the very institution of science. Democratic Party has become the penultimate let them eat cake cabal.
3
If we spend any more on education"=build more buildings, fight cheaper on-line universities, making sure even the worst qualified can become degre'ed, only qualified for a gov't job, (Heaven help our students in public schools!!) hire more radical professors, etc." the poor successful but still not educated graduates will be so deeply in debt that they will suffer their entire life, all financed by their debt that makes the "elite" university gods positions, health care, and generous retirements possible. It's time to give educators a chance to teach by allowing them to maintain discipline and getting rid of the teachers who can't do the job. Seperate the kids who want an education from the ones disrupting that process EARLY, then give those kids the help they need to catch up. Maybe more kids given a better chance in life by really getting an education will make more people want to spend more, kinda like what we spend on sports???
1
I do hope you're right on this. Taxing is a healthy use of the system to fund infrastructure. And while I love far left progressive ideologies, I do long for the day when sensible government shows some balance, consistency and discipline. The governance of the tax structure is currently so off balance that any movement forward will be a relief.
While we can fantasize that Trump will continue to ride the wave of mockery through the primaries and into the general election, I suspect even Republicans will end their game of chicken at some point and Bush will prevail...leaving us with one last, final round of baby boomer debates between Bush and Clinton.
While we can fantasize that Trump will continue to ride the wave of mockery through the primaries and into the general election, I suspect even Republicans will end their game of chicken at some point and Bush will prevail...leaving us with one last, final round of baby boomer debates between Bush and Clinton.
I would ask them these questions.
Do you own a home? If so, when it requires maintenance, What do you do? Do you let it fall into disrepair causing further deterioration and lose value? Or do you affect the necessary repairs and spend the money to preserve its function and value?
It they say that they repair their homes, then ask them this.
Since you, as President, will be the chief steward of the nation, will you spend the money to affect the necessary repairs to our crumbling infrastructure and raise the gas tax to pay for them?
They will predictably respond by saying that government is too big and bloated and the money can be found elsewhere. Then remind them that taxes and discretionary spending have already been slashed to the bone.
Then they will counter that the smaller government is, the more more money people will have to spend, which will raise tax revenues. If that is true, then why can't we raise the gas tax since they have more money to spend? They will counter that because of inequality, they don't have any money for more taxes.
The ask them where the inequality come from? They will say from government policy. The primary government economic policy has been to reduce spending and taxes. Is that the policy you are referring to?
This where they will all go into a tirade about guns, liberty, immigration and Obamacare. Ask them what this has to do with roads and bridges. Answer: Next question please.
Do you own a home? If so, when it requires maintenance, What do you do? Do you let it fall into disrepair causing further deterioration and lose value? Or do you affect the necessary repairs and spend the money to preserve its function and value?
It they say that they repair their homes, then ask them this.
Since you, as President, will be the chief steward of the nation, will you spend the money to affect the necessary repairs to our crumbling infrastructure and raise the gas tax to pay for them?
They will predictably respond by saying that government is too big and bloated and the money can be found elsewhere. Then remind them that taxes and discretionary spending have already been slashed to the bone.
Then they will counter that the smaller government is, the more more money people will have to spend, which will raise tax revenues. If that is true, then why can't we raise the gas tax since they have more money to spend? They will counter that because of inequality, they don't have any money for more taxes.
The ask them where the inequality come from? They will say from government policy. The primary government economic policy has been to reduce spending and taxes. Is that the policy you are referring to?
This where they will all go into a tirade about guns, liberty, immigration and Obamacare. Ask them what this has to do with roads and bridges. Answer: Next question please.
112
When the Tea Party came into being, the Establishment in the GOP thought they could
co-opt this populist, "mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore" fervor.
What actually happened, was more like "the canary that swallowed the cat."
With their representatives acting like the disruptive kids in the back of the classroom (and demonstrating how well they've been paying attention, by espousing remarks on everything from abortion and rape, to gun possession/control, to climate change, that range from downright ignorant, to embarrassingly outlandish), and John Boehner
acting more like the clueless substitute teacher,
instead of Speaker of the House, and Senator Mitch ( be careful what you wish for) McConnell, who as Senate Majority leader, things haven't exactly gone his way, the Republican Party has shown itself incapable of
dealing with its own checks and balances, never mind those ftom across the aisles.
And now with Donald Trump of all people leading (for the time being) in the polls, the Party continues to fail in learning from its own
mistakes.
In its present condition, can anybody honestly expect forward movement?
co-opt this populist, "mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore" fervor.
What actually happened, was more like "the canary that swallowed the cat."
With their representatives acting like the disruptive kids in the back of the classroom (and demonstrating how well they've been paying attention, by espousing remarks on everything from abortion and rape, to gun possession/control, to climate change, that range from downright ignorant, to embarrassingly outlandish), and John Boehner
acting more like the clueless substitute teacher,
instead of Speaker of the House, and Senator Mitch ( be careful what you wish for) McConnell, who as Senate Majority leader, things haven't exactly gone his way, the Republican Party has shown itself incapable of
dealing with its own checks and balances, never mind those ftom across the aisles.
And now with Donald Trump of all people leading (for the time being) in the polls, the Party continues to fail in learning from its own
mistakes.
In its present condition, can anybody honestly expect forward movement?
1
Deny, deny, deny. That's all they want to do. Let's face it. There is no Sanity Claus in the minds of the far right, but they'll deny that too.
The trouble we are in is that people in general, old an young, Republican or Democrat, simply do not have the data or the historical knowledge to make rational decisions. Thus their answers depend on emotions or what they hear from their friend or the media. Here is a T - F quiz you can take to see how you do.
1. Significantly (say, no deficits for more than 3 years) paying down the federal debt has usually been good for the economy.
2. The single payer health care systems of other developed countries produce no better results at not much lower costs.
3. The very high top tax rates after WWII combined with high real (ratio of taxes actually paid to GDP) corporate taxes stifled economic growth.
4. The devastation of WWII caused the output of Europe to stay low for many (>10) years.
5. A small ratio of federal debt to GDP has always insured prosperity.
6. Inequality such as we have today (Gini about ,50) has usually encouraged entrepreneurship thus helping the economy.
7. Our ratio of our corporate taxes actually paid to GDP is among the highest of all developed countries.
8. Since WWI, the cause of severe inflation in developed countries has usually been the printing of money.
9. As a percentage of GDP, today's federal debt service is the highest in many years.
10. Inequality such as we have today is an aberration; the history of capitalism has shown that periods like 1946 - 1973 with low inequality are the norm.
1. Significantly (say, no deficits for more than 3 years) paying down the federal debt has usually been good for the economy.
2. The single payer health care systems of other developed countries produce no better results at not much lower costs.
3. The very high top tax rates after WWII combined with high real (ratio of taxes actually paid to GDP) corporate taxes stifled economic growth.
4. The devastation of WWII caused the output of Europe to stay low for many (>10) years.
5. A small ratio of federal debt to GDP has always insured prosperity.
6. Inequality such as we have today (Gini about ,50) has usually encouraged entrepreneurship thus helping the economy.
7. Our ratio of our corporate taxes actually paid to GDP is among the highest of all developed countries.
8. Since WWI, the cause of severe inflation in developed countries has usually been the printing of money.
9. As a percentage of GDP, today's federal debt service is the highest in many years.
10. Inequality such as we have today is an aberration; the history of capitalism has shown that periods like 1946 - 1973 with low inequality are the norm.
I'm with Bruce Bartlett WRT Donald Trump and the Tea Party triumph in Republican politics, but I'm much more gleeful about the prospect of an electoral whuppin' for Republicans than Bartlett. Putting the Donald out there as the party leader would, I believe, complete the switch-back from "conservative" (i.e. radical right wing) to modestly liberal in both Presidential and Congressional politics.
The question would be a good one if it were addressed to members of a legitimate political party, but not as it is to a criminal conspiracy of dunces.
1
You write much but say little. I agree with the gas tax. Since you dwell on the market economy you might have included. You Republicans love free enterprise and praise the market economy and its supposed efficiencies over government bureaucracy-- How would you ensure that oligopolies get no bigger? How would you enforce the anti-trust laws and do you think mergers that allow three or four companies to control whole industries are good for the nation? Is monopoly or oligopoly the ultimate end result of an unregulated free market system? Do you support Citizens United? What solutions do you have for the future when there will be fewer jobs, less manufacturing employment, and more people? How will you ensure that all citizens of this nation will live well in that future? There are of course many more you could have added. Climate change will matter little to those that do not have anything, and have nothing but a bleak future.
1
Mr. Friedman...my question to you is why you supported the Iraq 2 War, pound for pound the worst foreign policy blunder in US history.
Then after asking your question, ask them what they would do differently after supporting policies from 2000-2008 when in power that almost brought us to another great depression and gave us the worst foreign policy blunder in our history..Iraq 2 war...
Then after asking your question, ask them what they would do differently after supporting policies from 2000-2008 when in power that almost brought us to another great depression and gave us the worst foreign policy blunder in our history..Iraq 2 war...
2
No fair throwing logic and their own demi-god's words back at them. They will run home crying, no doubt, that it is all Obama's fault for being such a wimpy, dictatorial, Kenyan Muslim meany boy.
Mr. Friedman makes an excellent point arguing, essentially, that politics in America are currently out of equilibrium and suggesting that a bad loss in the presidential election can evoke the " invisible hand" to nudge back toward equilibrium. However, the Republican strategy depends more on winning congressional seats, governorships and state houses than it does the presidency, and this strategy is enhanced by the unrestricted campaign financing created as a result of the Citizens United decision of the Supreme Courts. The party is betting that all politics are local and investing its extreme donor money in extreme candidates at the local level ( several are running for president). Fix the campaign finance issue and you fix the problem.
1
Friedman forgets, the last time we elected a "center-right" president, we got a bizarre, catastrophic invasion of Iraq followed by an economic collapse. The rich got richer, and the poor got poorer.
They won't admit it, but I suspect the tea party people created their movement out of disgust with the establishment GOP, and George W Bush administration in particular.
Friedman thinks that the great divide is between left and right, or between the fact-based world and the faith-based world. It's not. The real divide is between the one percent, who have abused their power for four decades running, and the ninety-nine percent, who have been abused for four decades running.
They won't admit it, but I suspect the tea party people created their movement out of disgust with the establishment GOP, and George W Bush administration in particular.
Friedman thinks that the great divide is between left and right, or between the fact-based world and the faith-based world. It's not. The real divide is between the one percent, who have abused their power for four decades running, and the ninety-nine percent, who have been abused for four decades running.
1
What's missing in this discussion is the reality that our country is center-left, not center-right. If you don't believe that, look at the results of all the recent polls on the key issues; gun control, income inequality, voter access, minority and women's right, minimum wage etc. Need I go on? We are a center-left country and failure to acknowledge that fact results in the inability to compromise in government and voter dissatisfaction with what politician are doing.
Ok, Mr. Friedman, ask that question to Scott Walker. The answer is a big fat No, no tax hikes, none.
Wisconsin, home of tourism for our beautiful and pristine environment. Been up here lately? Bumpitty bump bump. The roads are in horrendous shape and Walker will absolutely not raise gas taxes. In fact he takes great pleasure in defunding our schools, K-12 and University of Wisconsin systems, while he gave Wisconsin constituents a tax break of approximately $113 last year. Wow - that sure made a difference in our economy. Bumpitty bump bump.
The man has vowed to get rid of environmental regulations in Wisconsin and it seems has re-invited mine explorers back in (we were on the verge of Gogebic digging and pollution the last couple years). This will be baited again.
To top it off - he appointed as the head of the state's Department of Natural Resources, a woman who has No College Degree (like him), no environmental experience prior to her Heading the State of Wisconsin DNR.
The latest - while he is trying to get rid of environment protections, she will not release a statement because something like there hasn't been enough time for us to read the environmental report yet.......as if "we" understood a scientific report.
Try going up north Wisconsin with your camper and boat (or anywhere in WI).....enjoy the ride....but take extra cushions - lots of them. Rather than pay extra for the gas, you'll love the rambunctious roads. Bumpity bump bump. An adventure.
Wisconsin, home of tourism for our beautiful and pristine environment. Been up here lately? Bumpitty bump bump. The roads are in horrendous shape and Walker will absolutely not raise gas taxes. In fact he takes great pleasure in defunding our schools, K-12 and University of Wisconsin systems, while he gave Wisconsin constituents a tax break of approximately $113 last year. Wow - that sure made a difference in our economy. Bumpitty bump bump.
The man has vowed to get rid of environmental regulations in Wisconsin and it seems has re-invited mine explorers back in (we were on the verge of Gogebic digging and pollution the last couple years). This will be baited again.
To top it off - he appointed as the head of the state's Department of Natural Resources, a woman who has No College Degree (like him), no environmental experience prior to her Heading the State of Wisconsin DNR.
The latest - while he is trying to get rid of environment protections, she will not release a statement because something like there hasn't been enough time for us to read the environmental report yet.......as if "we" understood a scientific report.
Try going up north Wisconsin with your camper and boat (or anywhere in WI).....enjoy the ride....but take extra cushions - lots of them. Rather than pay extra for the gas, you'll love the rambunctious roads. Bumpity bump bump. An adventure.
3
It is surprising to me, how the Left likes to ignore the fact that Government rairly spends the money given to them for the purpose it was given for. Example, Katrina hurricane relief that went to West Virginia. No conversation about giving the Federal Government more money should be started without first talking about new forms of accountability and a means of penalizing those bent on wasting the money.
My problem with your line of magic thinking, Tom, is that it gives legitimacy to any of these Republican Koch Bros. brown nosers and the foolish Americans who continue to support them and believe our country has anything to gain if they win the White House. Instead, as this next election season unfolds, I propose looking back at the last seven years and imagining how much worse off this country would be if any of these Republicans had been president. In that scenario, there is no center right.
I have great respect for Thomas Friedman. I just am concerned that the concept of center-right is a moving target. When it comes to foreign policy, I hear them spouting the old policies that not only fail, but lead us to even graver problems at home and abroad. Do you truly think that either Bush or Kasick without pressure from their bosses ( the billionaire bosses or base) would address our economic and racial divides or worsening self inflicted security issues?
1
My question is, if there is continued growth in the GOP thought trajectory should we see a continuation of drum beats against:
1) Infrastructure (sans oil pipelines)
2) Voting Rights
3) Women's Health Care-All Health Care for that matter
4) Equal Pay for Genders
5) Education (preschool and higher education)
6) Mass Killing Weapons in the hands of Civilians
7) Renewable Anything
8) Financial Services Guidelines
9) Environmental Safety
10) PAC/Voting Reform
Or will the GOP activate ten brain cells and have them work in unison?
1) Infrastructure (sans oil pipelines)
2) Voting Rights
3) Women's Health Care-All Health Care for that matter
4) Equal Pay for Genders
5) Education (preschool and higher education)
6) Mass Killing Weapons in the hands of Civilians
7) Renewable Anything
8) Financial Services Guidelines
9) Environmental Safety
10) PAC/Voting Reform
Or will the GOP activate ten brain cells and have them work in unison?
1
There are a few--but serious--flaws in Mr. Friedman's argument.
First and foremost--what "centrists" like Friedman never acknowledge is the center has shifted--in some ways radically--to the right.
And the unending rightward lurch of the GOP is, in large measure, responsible for it.
The fundamental truth is that Richard Nixon and the policies and programs he supported--as a conservative Republican President--back in the 70's--would place him well to the left of our current President. Given the furious conviction with which today's GOP denounces Obama as a "socialist"--I have to believe an unrepentant Nixon would be labelled a Trotskyite and chased from the party.
The second mistake is in believing the problem with the GOP is the lack of a center-right.
The real problem is that nobody in the "center-right" of the party has the backbone to denounce the utter garbage and nonsense (as Friedman puts it "the angry anti-science, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-minorities, anti-gay rights and anti-immigration views") of the base, for what they are--utter garbage and nonsense that is shortsighted, stupid and counterproductive.
The best evidence of that is provided here--by Mr. Friedman's endorsement of a wall on the southern border(what the base wants) but with really "big gates" (what the billionaire class wants) to let in "high-I.Q. knowledge workers.
The overwhelming majority of "illegals" in this country entered legally--but overstay their visas. A wall won't fix that.
First and foremost--what "centrists" like Friedman never acknowledge is the center has shifted--in some ways radically--to the right.
And the unending rightward lurch of the GOP is, in large measure, responsible for it.
The fundamental truth is that Richard Nixon and the policies and programs he supported--as a conservative Republican President--back in the 70's--would place him well to the left of our current President. Given the furious conviction with which today's GOP denounces Obama as a "socialist"--I have to believe an unrepentant Nixon would be labelled a Trotskyite and chased from the party.
The second mistake is in believing the problem with the GOP is the lack of a center-right.
The real problem is that nobody in the "center-right" of the party has the backbone to denounce the utter garbage and nonsense (as Friedman puts it "the angry anti-science, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-minorities, anti-gay rights and anti-immigration views") of the base, for what they are--utter garbage and nonsense that is shortsighted, stupid and counterproductive.
The best evidence of that is provided here--by Mr. Friedman's endorsement of a wall on the southern border(what the base wants) but with really "big gates" (what the billionaire class wants) to let in "high-I.Q. knowledge workers.
The overwhelming majority of "illegals" in this country entered legally--but overstay their visas. A wall won't fix that.
1
A gas tax of only 18.4 cents per gallon is the reason why Americans are the biggest wasters of energy per capita on the planet, and not just only of the advanced countries.
When travelling, U.S. tourists often marvel at the superb infrastructure in other nations, including high speed trains and public transportation such as subways in all major cities.
That infrastructure is financed by gas taxes that range between $2 and slightly more than $3 per gallon.
Families in the rest of the advanced world often only own one car, and teens don't get their own car the minute they turn 18 - the legal driving age abroad.
The American dream used to be a house with a picket fence, Now it is a car for every family member parked in front of the house as well. With that attitude we will never be able to build an infrastructure comparable to other nations.
When travelling, U.S. tourists often marvel at the superb infrastructure in other nations, including high speed trains and public transportation such as subways in all major cities.
That infrastructure is financed by gas taxes that range between $2 and slightly more than $3 per gallon.
Families in the rest of the advanced world often only own one car, and teens don't get their own car the minute they turn 18 - the legal driving age abroad.
The American dream used to be a house with a picket fence, Now it is a car for every family member parked in front of the house as well. With that attitude we will never be able to build an infrastructure comparable to other nations.
1
No new taxes. And let everything fall apart. Will that make it easier or harder for China to take over?
17
China regards the US as a friend....is that too much to ask with every APPLE made in China....who benefits from that "cheap" Chinese labor? Priorities?
no taxes did not do a whole lot for Greece .
I'm sorry Mr. Friedman, but to tell your readers that they pay 18.4 cents in taxes per a gal. of gas is, disingenuous at best. The national AVG of taxes paid per gal. of gas is 50 cents per gal. (some states pay more per gal.). Federal being 18.4, and the remainder being state taxes (and in some cases city/county taxes on gasoline). So on AVG, at least 1/5 of what we pay per gal. goes to the government (federal and state). I'm sorry, but before I would dole out more money in taxes for a gal. of gas, I'd like to see exactly how the 50 cents I'm paying right now is being used. Plus, the price of gas is hardly a stable commodity by which you can simply say "a year ago it was $3.50." You want to increase taxes based upon the annual unstable price of a commodity?
Additionally, cherry-picking a "libertarian... making a conservative case for a carbon tax" is laughable. The premise of the argument being that climate change is man-made, and therefore can be altered by human intervention. News flash: a majority of conservatives don't believe this: 1) look how much money is thrown at this topic in research and "green innovation." No MANMADE climate change = no grant money, no subsidies, no tax credits, no new 'green' products, etc. (don't tell me this doesn't happen. My employer profits from this) 2) the U.S. alone won't alter the course of climate change EVEN IF it were manmade. China and India are mega-polluters, and I don't see them matching U.S. efforts any time soon.
Additionally, cherry-picking a "libertarian... making a conservative case for a carbon tax" is laughable. The premise of the argument being that climate change is man-made, and therefore can be altered by human intervention. News flash: a majority of conservatives don't believe this: 1) look how much money is thrown at this topic in research and "green innovation." No MANMADE climate change = no grant money, no subsidies, no tax credits, no new 'green' products, etc. (don't tell me this doesn't happen. My employer profits from this) 2) the U.S. alone won't alter the course of climate change EVEN IF it were manmade. China and India are mega-polluters, and I don't see them matching U.S. efforts any time soon.
4
It's being used to maintain roads that otherwise would fall into a state of nature, becoming rutted dirt tracks that stopped at rivers' edges.
You know exactly where an increase in the gas tax to pay for roads would go, and if the price goes up, that increase is an even smaller proportion of the cost. Is it really cherry picking to quote a libertarian who calls himself a Republican? Isn't it the point to show that there is a non-Tea Party Republican out there who appears to be rational? And aren't you demonstrating exactly the same point as Mr. Friedman, that the tea party and the Republicans that cater to them (i.e. most of the candidates running for President) have brought the country to a political stand still? And your letter also shows the pessimism and defeatism that prevents us from moving forward. No matter what you say about China and India, the US is still one of the largest sources of green house gasses. What is worse, China and India haven't rejected science and stuck there heads in the sand. There is more hope for action from them than there is from the United States.
1
You are aware that each level of government uses the taxes for different things, right? The federal tax in question is specifically going to be applied to build roads & highways. The state and local taxes are used for general funding, and have nothing to do with raising the federal gas tax by $0.05. If you want to see exactly where the money goes at the state & local level, you can request a copy of their budgets directly from them.
The cost for you to be able to continue to drive on well maintained and safe roads is raising the gas tax. That gargantuan extra nickel per gallon is the sacrifice you and everyone else is going to have to make for the good of America. I'm pretty sure it won't drive you or anyone else into poverty, no matter what the baseline price of gas is. It will actually save you money on car repairs if that 80 year old bridge doesn't disintegrate underneath you.
Also (not that this has anything to do with the topic of infrastructure spending), people once believed the sun revolved around the earth. The majority of conservatives not believing in climate change does not make it any less of a reality.
The cost for you to be able to continue to drive on well maintained and safe roads is raising the gas tax. That gargantuan extra nickel per gallon is the sacrifice you and everyone else is going to have to make for the good of America. I'm pretty sure it won't drive you or anyone else into poverty, no matter what the baseline price of gas is. It will actually save you money on car repairs if that 80 year old bridge doesn't disintegrate underneath you.
Also (not that this has anything to do with the topic of infrastructure spending), people once believed the sun revolved around the earth. The majority of conservatives not believing in climate change does not make it any less of a reality.
1
After reading Reagan's comments, I don't think he would get a single vote in a GOP primary today and would probably be derisively called a RINO. My how things have changed
21
But they've all signed an agreement to never ever raise taxes.
Without the T-partiers, who is left for the Republicans? Corporate America and Wall Street bankers play both sides. Old white people are doing what old people have always done - leaving us. The future hasn't looked particularly bright for the GOP since 2004. If the Democrats can figure out how to get a 60 percent turn out of eligible voters, the GOP could be crushed and go to its much deserved fate, that of the Whig party.
Without the T-partiers, who is left for the Republicans? Corporate America and Wall Street bankers play both sides. Old white people are doing what old people have always done - leaving us. The future hasn't looked particularly bright for the GOP since 2004. If the Democrats can figure out how to get a 60 percent turn out of eligible voters, the GOP could be crushed and go to its much deserved fate, that of the Whig party.
17
This opinion piece is spot on. However, I would not call Jeb Bush "center right." Bush wants to privatize all our public schools, selling them to the highest bidder - particularly beneficial to him as he has financial stake in these educational companies. His reach is so long that he even tried to do this in Idaho when he convinced our governor to lay off 900 teachers and replace them with laptops for kids. This bill actually passed our legislature and took a citizen referendum to defeat it.
23
If Trump is nominated and beaten badly it will merely shift the Republicans even further to the right; remember Barry Goldwater? This has been a 50 year history of the Republican Party, it can't be denied or modified and it won't die because that seemingly lunatic fringe runs the show.
10
Shamefully, the daily question most Republicans ask themselves is what do I need to do to ensure my re-election, and, am I doing everything I need to do to please my sources of campaign funding?
Until the Citizens United decision is reversed or laws are established to correct the insane notion that money is a form of "free expression" protected by our Constitution, nothing will change, conditions in our country will only worsen.
Until the Citizens United decision is reversed or laws are established to correct the insane notion that money is a form of "free expression" protected by our Constitution, nothing will change, conditions in our country will only worsen.
23
I never thought I would say this, but Barry Goldwater is certainly missed!
"Making cuts across the board, like the sequester, is stupid."
What is stupid is the Federal Government spreading its tentacles across the land and attempting to assume responsibility for every problem and providing benefits so that everyone can live a middle-class lifestyle, whether they've earned it or not.
And what is truly stupid is the government spending money and saddling future generations with an enormous debt which now totals over $18 trillion:
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
What is stupid is the Federal Government spreading its tentacles across the land and attempting to assume responsibility for every problem and providing benefits so that everyone can live a middle-class lifestyle, whether they've earned it or not.
And what is truly stupid is the government spending money and saddling future generations with an enormous debt which now totals over $18 trillion:
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
2
If Americans weren't gullible enough to buy into the Reagan initiated idea that tax cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals would trickle down to American society America wouldn't have a debt issue. Both Reagan and G.W. Bush created substantial deficits with huge tax cuts targeted at donors. Without those tax cuts the revenue stream would have been adequate to substantially narrow any annual deficit.
In the early 1980's a corporation was required to pay federal income taxes on its "retained earnings". Retained earnings were earnings that weren't disbursed to shareholders or otherwise invested. The Reagan administrations did away with the retained earnings tax rule. Ergo, corporations are holding trillions of dollars offshore that is not being taxed. Imagine the impact that closing the corporate tax avoidance scam could have on annual deficits.
Remember who has been lighting and relighting the debt bomb the next time you complain about deficits.
In the early 1980's a corporation was required to pay federal income taxes on its "retained earnings". Retained earnings were earnings that weren't disbursed to shareholders or otherwise invested. The Reagan administrations did away with the retained earnings tax rule. Ergo, corporations are holding trillions of dollars offshore that is not being taxed. Imagine the impact that closing the corporate tax avoidance scam could have on annual deficits.
Remember who has been lighting and relighting the debt bomb the next time you complain about deficits.
1
A question I'd like to ask the all male Republican debate team: what was your nickname in high school among your classmates?
6
Timely article....but I doubt the Tea Party will notice; in leading the G.O.P. by its nose, it continues to claim willful ignorance of the facts, hence, the sore condition of U.S.'s infrastructure, the functioning of schools and the negation of science, evolution and climate change. Raising necessary taxes are anathema to the Right because their rigid ideology takes precedence over reality as is, living a lie instead of embracing truth and beauty...and causing chaos in the process. This is sheer madness to some, stupidity to most. And no hope for repair and redemption anytime soon. A national disgrace, a downfall in the making. And our complicity in not crying foul.
19
The Republican Party is beyond hope or redemption.
20
The only thing that is keeping them relevant is gerrymandering.
1
You win elections in the U.S. at the center, which is one of the reasons Sanders threatens the prospect of Democrats -- I am one and he is not -- winning the White House.
But more than merely disturbing it is now dramatically impossible to govern the United States because the Republican Party has no center. It has fallen off the right edge of the world.
It is not simply that the Republican Party has become the party of no, a party as Friedman write that is anti-science-government-gay rights, etc. It is that the only thing Republicans stand for today is ignorance - profound, wickedly obtuse ignorance.
As a result it vomits up the likes of Palin, who knew nothing and has learned nothing since emerging as a national figure, and I mean knows nothing, no knowledge, no understanding of anything she actually says. And now there is Trump, who knows enough to know that he is appealing to a party full of Palins and it is working because he knows them.
Who are they? Virtually universally white, overwhelmingly and increasingly those with less orleast education in white America; southern and southwestern racists; fearful and easily driven by fear; resentful because resentment of others is how they shift blame for their failure to others who have different religions, skin color skin, better education and and far better prospects.
In sum we are witnessing the destructive death throes of the Republican Party, a party that has outlived its history. It cannot die soon enough.
But more than merely disturbing it is now dramatically impossible to govern the United States because the Republican Party has no center. It has fallen off the right edge of the world.
It is not simply that the Republican Party has become the party of no, a party as Friedman write that is anti-science-government-gay rights, etc. It is that the only thing Republicans stand for today is ignorance - profound, wickedly obtuse ignorance.
As a result it vomits up the likes of Palin, who knew nothing and has learned nothing since emerging as a national figure, and I mean knows nothing, no knowledge, no understanding of anything she actually says. And now there is Trump, who knows enough to know that he is appealing to a party full of Palins and it is working because he knows them.
Who are they? Virtually universally white, overwhelmingly and increasingly those with less orleast education in white America; southern and southwestern racists; fearful and easily driven by fear; resentful because resentment of others is how they shift blame for their failure to others who have different religions, skin color skin, better education and and far better prospects.
In sum we are witnessing the destructive death throes of the Republican Party, a party that has outlived its history. It cannot die soon enough.
37
The Republican Party, today, is much like Israeli politics: dominated by a small faction of extreme thought: but a faction that can control the swing votes that determine the party’s direction. Pollyannaish daydreams about reinvigorating the center right can’t overcome the fear that drives center right Republican candidates to the hard right (Mr. Romney, anyone?). True, a Trump fiasco might stimulate the broader party to try harder to stay relevant, but dismantling the nominating system that empowers tea addicts is what’s really needed.
2
The GOP had a center-right candidate three years ago with Mitt. The trouble for him was that his torturous effort to twist himself into a 'severe conservative' to placate his party's rabid Right left him (deservedly) looking like a complete phony. Until and unless the 'GOTP' manages to purge these detached-from-reality fanatics and anti-tax enforcers, we're not likely to see any Republican candidate embrace such relatively sane policies.
6
Friedman's usual advice for Republicans. Become liberal Democrats.
3
I didn't realize Reagan was a liberal Democrat. He must be rolling over in his grave at this thought.
1
When persons are afraid and angry at words such as "liberal" or "Democrat...or words like "environmentalist" or "evolution"...or even words like "compromise" or "peace"; they certainly will not be able to have an adult conversation using those words.
1
I think that every presidential candidate, regardless of party, should submit to an IQ test. Additionally, they should all be tested on thier knowledge of, economics, science, foreign policy, the Constitution, etc.
7
Based on the results of the 08/12 elections, I have to agree with you.
Signed
All the conservatives, everywhere.
Signed
All the conservatives, everywhere.
1
Completely agree. Unfortunately for Democrats this would disqualify any of their candidates.
1
I don't believe for a minute that Fox will allow any questions that suggest that Ronald Reagan in fact would agree with many "Democratic" principles, such as taxes to pay for things. The Fox "debate" will have the central and biased thrust of getting a G.O.P. candidate to the White House. Some people might be preferred over others, but in the end, even a Fiorina/Huckabee ticket would do if that's what it takes. Fox will allow nothing to repudiate the radical tea-party principles of the modern, even though highly radicalized and corporate-controlled, form of the G.O.P.
10
This brings up a question. Who is sponsoring the other debates that are scheduled? Hopefully, FOX is not sponsoring all of them!
When I was first learning to drive in the early '80's, a horrible accident happened in the middle of the day on I95 in Cos Cob, Ct. The heavily traveled Mianus River bridge collapsed and several cars and drivers tumbled to their deaths below. I drive over that bridge twice a day now and shake my head at the shortsightedness of our so called leaders for not taking care of us and our infrastructure. I visit Sweden often, for example, and you won't see a pothole in th entire country. But they are, God forbid, Democratic Socialists!
Republicans are all about the individual and the attitude of "I can do whatever I want and I am not helping out others because I do not believe in considering the common good." It is all about forcing their ignorant agenda around gun violence, education, women's health, climate change, and economics on all of us to the benefit of the very wealthy.
It is time wake up and remember that You Get What You Pay For, and if you are not willing to invest in the things we desperately need, not just the roads will crumble, but a large part of the economy will too.
Christie's stupid decision to decline billions to fix the Amtak tunnels five years ago affects the area between DC and New England greatly, and was connected to his campaign promise not to raise the state gas tax, by far the lowest in the tristate area. We all are then inconvenienced with no end in sight.
Hopefully they will indeed give us Trump as a nominee, and that will backfire big time.
Republicans are all about the individual and the attitude of "I can do whatever I want and I am not helping out others because I do not believe in considering the common good." It is all about forcing their ignorant agenda around gun violence, education, women's health, climate change, and economics on all of us to the benefit of the very wealthy.
It is time wake up and remember that You Get What You Pay For, and if you are not willing to invest in the things we desperately need, not just the roads will crumble, but a large part of the economy will too.
Christie's stupid decision to decline billions to fix the Amtak tunnels five years ago affects the area between DC and New England greatly, and was connected to his campaign promise not to raise the state gas tax, by far the lowest in the tristate area. We all are then inconvenienced with no end in sight.
Hopefully they will indeed give us Trump as a nominee, and that will backfire big time.
23
Sweden ceased to be a socialist welfare nation years ago:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/sorry-leftist-americans-your-swedish...
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/sorry-leftist-americans-your-swedish...
The national GOP is now beyond useless. They have no capability to govern; and all they do is whine & complain. This country is falling apart and falling down and you can thank the "do nothing" Republicans for that. They are incapable of any work for the good of the country. How in their right mind does anyone vote for a Republican is beyond me! But then a lot of voters are just as angry & lazy as them.
10
The Republican obsession with limiting democracy and shutting down government 'trumps' all logic.
Their only ideas are two bad ideas designed to serve them and their ilk, and they're committed to using every lying, cheating stealing tactic available to them to pursue that badness.
The purpose of government is to level the playing field of human progress. The subversion of government to serve mammon at the expense of humans and human progress is evil.
Progressive ideas that fosters the right to vote, the right to health care, te right to preserve the planet, equality for women, and equality for ALL other law abiding folks of ALL ilk does represent overreach in areas of the world that still fight those ideas. Perhaps that's where Republicans should live.
Their only ideas are two bad ideas designed to serve them and their ilk, and they're committed to using every lying, cheating stealing tactic available to them to pursue that badness.
The purpose of government is to level the playing field of human progress. The subversion of government to serve mammon at the expense of humans and human progress is evil.
Progressive ideas that fosters the right to vote, the right to health care, te right to preserve the planet, equality for women, and equality for ALL other law abiding folks of ALL ilk does represent overreach in areas of the world that still fight those ideas. Perhaps that's where Republicans should live.
8
From the Republican perspective, center-right or right (there are no liberal Republicans any more), your suggestions look like radical-left abominations. Anything with the word "tax" is a non-starter.
3
...and that's exactly the problem.
My question for Mr. Friedman - would you agree to modify your question to "would you agree to raise the gasoline tax by 5 cents a gallon today if this increase were absolutely prohibited from being spent anywhere other than highway infrastructure?" Just as all the taxes from tobacco are spent on anti-smoking expenditures. Oh, wait .....
2
Why are you against a Representative Government?
You really are against the Constitutional aren't you?
fwa
You really are against the Constitutional aren't you?
fwa
"Taxed Enough Already" started the TEA party, but the real revolution is maintained via the 2nd amendment. Big Carbon (and the arms industry) funds NRA absolutism which maintains a hypersensitized anti government base, which can then be manipulated against ANY governmental regulation or even responsibility. The resulting cognitive dissonance can only be resolved by simply denying science. The circle is complete, and all governmental responsibility is thus hindered ( including infrastructure maintenance) in the service of the oligarchy...and the 2nd amendment. And all done with plausible deniability. Have a nice day v
7
I said it when i first heart of the Tea Party and i will say it again with gusto "the Tea Party is a cancer growing on the Republican party", divide and conquer.
1
Friedman makes sense to me. And it all boils down to a lack of negotiation skills by the so-called wise. I'm not talking about applied leverage; that's too simple of a definition of negotiation. I'm talking about leaving something on the table that the other side values -- it's called getting along, and wanting to get along. In the long run that leads to stability of the country.
Leaders interested in only their interest (their purse) can never consider that larger picture of stability of the country. The me, me generation has become a dangerous element to the fabric of democracy. The Thursday debates will help us identify who is worthy of calling him or her an American.
Leaders interested in only their interest (their purse) can never consider that larger picture of stability of the country. The me, me generation has become a dangerous element to the fabric of democracy. The Thursday debates will help us identify who is worthy of calling him or her an American.
"If I got to ask one question of the presidential aspirants at Thursday’s Fox Republican debate, it would be this..."
You have one question to ask the possible future President of the United States, and you use it to ask if they will raise the gas tax? That's more important than their position on the Iran deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Obamacare, sending troops to the Middle East, fighting Islamic State expansion, defunding Planned Parenthood, support for fracking and clean nuclear energy?
You have one question to ask the possible future President of the United States, and you use it to ask if they will raise the gas tax? That's more important than their position on the Iran deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Obamacare, sending troops to the Middle East, fighting Islamic State expansion, defunding Planned Parenthood, support for fracking and clean nuclear energy?
3
I think keeping low gas prices has multiple implications. First of all, at the moment, the economy needs it. The middle and lower classes are already finding the cost of gas prohibitive.....the relief in the price of gas has been welcome for people seeking jobs across the state, as an example.
Beyond that, I think there are global economic and political consequences. Lower gas prices have kept many of our enemies in check.
I do think the gas pricing is a "right now" approach and gas prices will invariably come up anyway. To add a tax at the moment, may precipitate that, but regardless, when the hikes do go up, I think a gas tax would make things more problematic.
For once, we are not in agreement, Mr. Friedman.
Beyond that, I think there are global economic and political consequences. Lower gas prices have kept many of our enemies in check.
I do think the gas pricing is a "right now" approach and gas prices will invariably come up anyway. To add a tax at the moment, may precipitate that, but regardless, when the hikes do go up, I think a gas tax would make things more problematic.
For once, we are not in agreement, Mr. Friedman.
1
How do we improve the infrastructure which is needed for driving? Also, I noticed where 1000's of employees were of oil companies were being laid off because of the drop in gas prices. Nothing is absolute--except. death.
the GOP made the decision to co-opt the Tea party, which was founded as a third party; recent Republican party infighting is the result, but, given the fact that Tea party supporters generally come around and support the GOP candidate in the end, I don't see how the GOP would veer to the center as long as they need those voters to have a chance. given demographic trends, this odd alliance of GOP center-right and Tea party far-right (although that's too simple a label for a very disparate group) is the Republicans' only hope for remaining viable at the polls. one has to admire the way the big-money Republicans have convinced the populist Tea partiers that the GOP actually represents their interests, when in fact the true power in the GOP only cares about the rich.
3
Here's my question: Why are you so concerned with the rights of the unborn, when after a child is born it is painfully apparent that unregulated capitalism's "regard for human welfare" is little more than an evil catchphrase?
http://lifeamongtheordinary.blogspot.com/2014/05/trs-new-nationalism-and...
http://lifeamongtheordinary.blogspot.com/2014/05/trs-new-nationalism-and...
154
Friedman has become such a joke, it is very sad. The pro-Iraq War voice of a decade ago was one of the great thinkers of our time, and I had read all of his books. Now he has become a hack and a shill for the governing elite.
Republicans have nominated 2 center-right parties and lost badly in 08 and 12. People forget McCain was leading in the first polls of September and the financial collapse occurred. And wishing for Trump to lose - Trump is riding the Tea Party wave of "re-taking America," which has a lot of pull as we see in the polls, but he has past liberal positions and is not necessarily what most would consider a staunch conservative.
Republicans would support the gas tax, once the rest of the crony capitalism and waste and fraud are swept out. This is not 1950, 1980, or even 1990, our problems are much greater across the board than the simple question of how to pay for a transportation bill. Two examples amongst hundreds I could give under this President - Solyndra, and 20-something speech writers earning 6 figure in the White House.
When there is a serious spending reduction, tax simplification, and elimination of such waste as I listed above, then any thinking conservative will support reasonable tax increases to pay for things we need. But until the criminals in Washington fix the current generational theft, their is no incentive to give them even more money to waste.
Republicans have nominated 2 center-right parties and lost badly in 08 and 12. People forget McCain was leading in the first polls of September and the financial collapse occurred. And wishing for Trump to lose - Trump is riding the Tea Party wave of "re-taking America," which has a lot of pull as we see in the polls, but he has past liberal positions and is not necessarily what most would consider a staunch conservative.
Republicans would support the gas tax, once the rest of the crony capitalism and waste and fraud are swept out. This is not 1950, 1980, or even 1990, our problems are much greater across the board than the simple question of how to pay for a transportation bill. Two examples amongst hundreds I could give under this President - Solyndra, and 20-something speech writers earning 6 figure in the White House.
When there is a serious spending reduction, tax simplification, and elimination of such waste as I listed above, then any thinking conservative will support reasonable tax increases to pay for things we need. But until the criminals in Washington fix the current generational theft, their is no incentive to give them even more money to waste.
1
Really? Your answer is to berate the messenger? How does insulting the author of this article reinforce your opinions? I stopped reading your response at the end of the 1st paragraph.
The only thing which Republicans liked about Ron Reagan, was exactly what the plutocrats who are their reservoir of baksheesh liked, and that was that he iconized the proposition that: "Government is the problem!" After that they and the Tea Party, which serves the interests of a very few Americans, but certainly not their own: HEARD NOT ANOTHER WORD THAT HE UTTERED IN THE EIGHT YEARS OF HIS TERM.
Hear we have a reputedly pro business party of savvy Conservatives, who want to do something, which only a poorly run government could afford to do. The Strategic reserve, if oils is to be sold from it, should be sold when the price for oil is high as a result of supply and demand, but these geniuses want to sell it as required to meet operating costs for transportation infrastructure. In other words the party, which bills itself as the party of responsibility and circumspection wants us to behave as if supply and demand were just: kind of a GUIDE LINE, and not a LAW of Economics.
That they have a rapt audience of well meaning cretins in tri corner hats, who are receptive to this reasoning is truly frightening because they actually think that they are informed American Conservatives.
Most of us should have recognized by now that our problems have originated by ignoring costs, and banishing supply and demand in order to manipulate markets to the advantage of the few who have been enabled to legally bribe our elected officials. Yet, the Tea Party remains absolutely clueless!
Hear we have a reputedly pro business party of savvy Conservatives, who want to do something, which only a poorly run government could afford to do. The Strategic reserve, if oils is to be sold from it, should be sold when the price for oil is high as a result of supply and demand, but these geniuses want to sell it as required to meet operating costs for transportation infrastructure. In other words the party, which bills itself as the party of responsibility and circumspection wants us to behave as if supply and demand were just: kind of a GUIDE LINE, and not a LAW of Economics.
That they have a rapt audience of well meaning cretins in tri corner hats, who are receptive to this reasoning is truly frightening because they actually think that they are informed American Conservatives.
Most of us should have recognized by now that our problems have originated by ignoring costs, and banishing supply and demand in order to manipulate markets to the advantage of the few who have been enabled to legally bribe our elected officials. Yet, the Tea Party remains absolutely clueless!
6
“I think that sometimes people say the democrats are shortsighted and muddle-headed,” Mr. Conquest once told NPR. “But I think you want to be a bit shortsighted. It’s better than having a long sight into a nonexistent future.”
"What does it mean to be a center-right Republican? It means starting each day by asking, What world am I living in and how do I best align the country to thrive in that world?" from this Friedman piece by Bruce Bartlett.
The democrats above is all of us, not just the party. The reference is to Stalinist Russia. I was just struck by the similarities between Communist utopia and Libertarian fantasy.
"What does it mean to be a center-right Republican? It means starting each day by asking, What world am I living in and how do I best align the country to thrive in that world?" from this Friedman piece by Bruce Bartlett.
The democrats above is all of us, not just the party. The reference is to Stalinist Russia. I was just struck by the similarities between Communist utopia and Libertarian fantasy.
1
Jeb Bush is so far right he nearly falls off the chart. He used all the power of his office and the State to take a woman in a perpetual coma, brain dead, away from her husband's care and decisions and make them do what HE wanted. He killed public education, kindergarten to college, in Florida. He's against anything progressive, scientific, logical and forward moving. He wants to take America back, to the 1800s.
15
Interesting that the center right you describe is still laughably dunderheaded. Every policy suggestion that you call a 'compromise' is pretty basic to the survival of both our species and our democracy. When survival becomes a 'compromise' it is clear how far from rationality the Republican Party has shifted.
9
I have a much better question that would probably decide the election!
"Do you, Mr. or Ms. Candidate believe in the Darwin concept of evolution? Yes or No."
That one question would answer whether the candidate believes in science or theology. Global warming and all the other issues would be answered with this one question....."evolution".
"Do you, Mr. or Ms. Candidate believe in the Darwin concept of evolution? Yes or No."
That one question would answer whether the candidate believes in science or theology. Global warming and all the other issues would be answered with this one question....."evolution".
10
Mr. Friedman,
In NYC we pay 70 cents a gallon in combined taxes.
That's about a 25% tax rate.
We are Taxed Enough Already.
In NYC we pay 70 cents a gallon in combined taxes.
That's about a 25% tax rate.
We are Taxed Enough Already.
Those who use the roads most, pay the most. NYC has wonderful public transportation ~ wish I could say the same for my own community.
1
It's hard to advocate for a gasoline tax when your core primary/caucus voters are aging rural and small town residents on fixed or low income who nonetheless drive gas-guzzling SUVs and pick-ups, and your main donors are the robber barons of the oil and coal industries.
6
The partisan Republican justices of the Supreme Court destroyed the American democracy with the Citizens United decision of January, 2010, which led to enormous political bribes by inconceivably rich benefactors. Since then American has gone downhill, thanks to Republicans in the Congress who continue to support that decision and benefit from the bribes.
Why, then are the media so surprise by the refusal of all the Republican candidate for President do face and deal with climate change, gun proliferation, the need for single-payer health insurance, voter disenfranchisement, immigration, police brutality, and all the other critical issues of the day?
No informed voter should ever again vote for a Republican candidate for any position at any level, but electorate is ignorant, thanks to the media.
Why, then are the media so surprise by the refusal of all the Republican candidate for President do face and deal with climate change, gun proliferation, the need for single-payer health insurance, voter disenfranchisement, immigration, police brutality, and all the other critical issues of the day?
No informed voter should ever again vote for a Republican candidate for any position at any level, but electorate is ignorant, thanks to the media.
12
Where's Obama's plan to address the infrastructure problem?
there is none
stop asking what Republicans should do and ask Obama - hello...
there is none
stop asking what Republicans should do and ask Obama - hello...
1
Given that the Republicans control Congress, and Congress controls spending, wouldn't one have to draw the conclusion that the Republicans need to address the problem, too. After all, President Obama and the Department of Transportation have indeed made proposals to upgrade our infrastructure, but it can't be done without money.
1
You must be kidding, right? In 30 seconds I googled "Obama infrastructure" and found several links.
2011 - GOP Congress blocks Obama's $60B transportation bill
2011 - GOP Congress blocks Obama's AJA with large knfrastructure component
2014 - NYT article Obama urges congress to pass infrastructure bill
2015 - $478B infrastructure bill blocked by GOP Senate.
2011 - GOP Congress blocks Obama's $60B transportation bill
2011 - GOP Congress blocks Obama's AJA with large knfrastructure component
2014 - NYT article Obama urges congress to pass infrastructure bill
2015 - $478B infrastructure bill blocked by GOP Senate.
1
The problem with a revenue neutral tax on carbon being counterbalanced with ending EPA authority, killing subsidies for green initiatives, and offsetting tax cuts, is how complicated and non-transparent that mouthful of policy is, and how screwed up the congress could make it. Far more simple and tamper proof is the escalating revenue neutral Fee and Dividend approach advocated by Citizens' Climate Lobby. It is totally market based, and citizens would get a check each month, so they would know where the money went. Projections are it would add jobs, increase GNP, and reduce carbon emissions by 50% over 20 years. If you want to do some counterbalancing as well, kill fossil fuel subsidies along with green subsidies. But killing the EPA initiative implies one thing is enough. The planet is being fried. The carbon tax is the engine; but the EPA regs are a steering wheel. We need both, and we need them now.
2
The idea that a editorial writer from The New York Times is espousing the tax wisdom of Ronald Reagan is making me doubt my sanity.
3
All I can think to say is "Oh dear, oh dear!" We are actually resisting the radical notion of users sharing in the cost of the infrastructure they use through a gasoline tax? That this point is even debatable truly twists the mind beyond comprehension.
Subsidized use of America's highway system is a form of socialism. I thought the right-wing hated socialism. But then, ideological integrity never stopped a hearty Tea Partier.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
Subsidized use of America's highway system is a form of socialism. I thought the right-wing hated socialism. But then, ideological integrity never stopped a hearty Tea Partier.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
6
To all the 'antis' Mr. Friedman pins on the Tea Party, he should add the most important one, anti-community. These people seem to subscribe to Margaret Thatcher's bogus idea that society is an illusion. Our unbalanced emphasis on individualism blinds many Americans to the reality that none of us can prosper unless the community of which we are a part thrives. This old problem prompted John Kenneth Galbraith in the 1950s to write "The Affluent Society," in which he contrasted the high living standards of many American families with the relatively impoverished public sector (including infrastructure). The structure of our tax system, in contrast to that of the Europeans, reflects the different choices we make about how to provide goods and services. Their approach is not necessarily one we would wish to adopt, but our current antipathy to taxes threatens to undermine the willingness to sacrifice for the common good emphasized in the preamble to the Constitution and which forms the bonds that unify a democratic society. The Tea Party, with its suspicion and hostility toward most institutions above the level of the family, seeks to persuade Americans that the public sector can prosper only at the expense of the individual. The triumph of that attitude will prove a disaster for all of us.
216
TF: your question is far too complex for the current crop of clowns and for their groomers. America wasn't built on logic.
3
Except they fundamentally reject climate change. They reject it's happening. They believe it's a hoax. They believe even if their wrong it isn't a big problem because the climates always changing. They believe a little climate change is probably good, because, you know, winter. They look at faulty data, don't believe Nasa, and won't engage in a debate to find proof that might change their minds.
Oh yeah, and their leader are being funded to the tune of billions of dollars by oil companies.
So Tax? TAX??? You want to talk about a tax???? Might as well be negotiating with ISIS.
Oh yeah, and their leader are being funded to the tune of billions of dollars by oil companies.
So Tax? TAX??? You want to talk about a tax???? Might as well be negotiating with ISIS.
4
The tax increase on gas pump sales is the reason there has been a decline in the present prices. If folks couldn't see this coming they are roaming the streets of their life with blinders on. I am surprised that this discussion hasn't started before now.
But you watch, once all parties collecting taxes on pump sales the price for that gallon is going to jump back up to where it was. Then there will be places where you'll be paying close to five dollars a gallon, which is where suppliers of refined fuels has wanted it for decades.
But you watch, once all parties collecting taxes on pump sales the price for that gallon is going to jump back up to where it was. Then there will be places where you'll be paying close to five dollars a gallon, which is where suppliers of refined fuels has wanted it for decades.
1
You have no idea what you're talking about.
1
It is where Obama wants it. He said so himself.
When Friedman and other liberals talk about Republican skepticism about tax increases they ignore the real context. The taxpayer's money is the politicians stock in trade. He barters it for votes. He spends it to get elected and reelected. He isn't trusted to apply it in a way that benefits the country. More likely it will find its way into the bank accounts of unions, bureaucrats, and interest groups that want a handout.
That taxpayer's lack of confidence in government is the real problem tax-raisers face and are unwilling to come two grips with. It's more gratifying to accuse them of being "mean-spirited", as the Pelosis of the Congress, academics like Krugman, and liberal journalists are wont to do.
That taxpayer's lack of confidence in government is the real problem tax-raisers face and are unwilling to come two grips with. It's more gratifying to accuse them of being "mean-spirited", as the Pelosis of the Congress, academics like Krugman, and liberal journalists are wont to do.
5
@Roy Rogers: Please identify the government services and/or benefits that you and your family personally take advantage of that you'd be willing to decline. Social Security? Medicare? Public school education? The military? Police and fire fighters? Those handouts you refer to also include tax subsidies to corporate interests. For conservatives the mantra is always "Blame the poor and the unions" as if they were responsible for income inequality and stagnant wages.
21
Ah, Trickle Down Theory in 25 words or more-Sharp, but long dead and mercifully buried.
1
You start with a false premise, Tom is not a liberal. Further you seem to forget the taxpayer dollars wasted by the defense industry, ethanol subsidies to name a couple.
1
Should a Republican win the 2016 election, the real test will be whether they also extend their leads in the Senate and House, and, whether the minority Democrats vow, like Mitch McConnell, to turn the newly-elected into a one-term president.
Obama came in on a wave of enthusiasm and promises of hope and change. He then ran into the reality of a Congress bent on undermining him at every turn. Will the same happen to a Republican president? More importantly, if a moderate wins, will it be the Tea Party who turns on that individual rather than the Democrats as has happened to any number of moderate Republicans in office today?
Obama came in on a wave of enthusiasm and promises of hope and change. He then ran into the reality of a Congress bent on undermining him at every turn. Will the same happen to a Republican president? More importantly, if a moderate wins, will it be the Tea Party who turns on that individual rather than the Democrats as has happened to any number of moderate Republicans in office today?
18
Obama came in and inspire a whole generation of voters with his hope and change -it wan tremendously out of this world. Unfortunately for us who voted for him there was an immediate about face when it came to reach out, reconcile and making deals with the other party.
We just didn't know he had this chip on his shoulder to begin with -there was no room for compromise with this President -it was his way or the hwy.
So it began, the other party when on the defensive and our President just shrugged his shoulders and said " I won".
Rep/conservatives always -no matter the opposition- will find a way to compromise and reach out for the American people. It happened before and will happen again if giving the chance.
We gave our President the chance -twice- to be the best of them all but the only thing we will have after he leaves office is more divisiveness, racial tensions, riots in the name of fairness and writers like this who will keep making/printing excuses for this failed administration.
All that is sad, but America will survive and move forward.
We just didn't know he had this chip on his shoulder to begin with -there was no room for compromise with this President -it was his way or the hwy.
So it began, the other party when on the defensive and our President just shrugged his shoulders and said " I won".
Rep/conservatives always -no matter the opposition- will find a way to compromise and reach out for the American people. It happened before and will happen again if giving the chance.
We gave our President the chance -twice- to be the best of them all but the only thing we will have after he leaves office is more divisiveness, racial tensions, riots in the name of fairness and writers like this who will keep making/printing excuses for this failed administration.
All that is sad, but America will survive and move forward.
Who needs a tax? I thought we were going to build our own roads, and teach our home-schooled kids to refine gasoline in our back yards.
46
This goes right along with each of us learning medicine and to perform open heart surgery.
Well, at least then there will be fewer riots against Planned Parenthood as it will be the only place for women to get reproductive information. Or no, even that will go without some government aid, only abortion will remain as an option for pregnant women.
Let's see, the government also funds Homeland Security which means no more of those dastardly lines at airports, but also no guarantee that your pilot knows how to fly the plane. Here we go, Back to the Future.
Well, at least then there will be fewer riots against Planned Parenthood as it will be the only place for women to get reproductive information. Or no, even that will go without some government aid, only abortion will remain as an option for pregnant women.
Let's see, the government also funds Homeland Security which means no more of those dastardly lines at airports, but also no guarantee that your pilot knows how to fly the plane. Here we go, Back to the Future.
1
Describing any of these candidates as center right is serious deception. It is possible to argue that Ms. Clinton is center right, but the entire GOP candidate group represents variations of the extreme right wing. The only candidate remotely representing the average working American (that IS the center, isn't it?) is Bernie Sanders. Raising the gas tax could do a lot to rebuild bridges and highways in our country, and this should begin as soon as possible.
The other critical question that should be asked ----but which Mr. Friedman avoids, most likely because he still does not fully acknowledge his own role:
"Who really benefitted from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and what does this teach us about any possible future war with Iran?"
The other critical question that should be asked ----but which Mr. Friedman avoids, most likely because he still does not fully acknowledge his own role:
"Who really benefitted from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and what does this teach us about any possible future war with Iran?"
279
I guess if this happens we will have to reinstitute the draft. Since the government subsidy for those who served in the military and want to get an education will also be removed we will have an even larger pool of idiots with high power and capacity guns to take care of any over population problems with a gun.
One would hope that instead all funding for any more wars will be eliminated and the military/industrial complex will be required to fund any problems themselves.
One would hope that instead all funding for any more wars will be eliminated and the military/industrial complex will be required to fund any problems themselves.
Need you ask who benefits from our litany of rampant open-ended wars....the default setting at mission control? Happiness is a warm gun......look at the world and it seems to be turning (somehow)....with every mistake we must surely be learning: BEATLES WHITE ALBUM 1968
I agree with many of Bernie Sanders' positions so am thrilled to hear that he represents the average working American (at least in St. Paul). Which means that he should win in a landslide. Unless there's a conspiracy to prevent it, of course.
"But can they run, win and govern from the center-right when the base of their party and so many of its billionaire donors reflect the angry anti-science, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-minorities, anti-gay rights and anti-immigration views of the Tea Party and its media enforcer, Fox News?"
You missed "anti-women," Mr. Friedman.
You missed "anti-women," Mr. Friedman.
32
You als missed anti-solution. The Republicans (with the help of Fox News) would rather seize an opportunity to mischaracterize policy issues and the challenges that face this country in a way that creates outrage than to rationally discuss and debate potential solutions. It is disgusting--and why I have declared my home a Fox Free Zone, lest I hurl a chair at my television.
No. Jeb is not center right. Kasich is, but he has little chance with the mob that the Republican Party relies on. They have become like the mob described by Suetonius in the Lives of the Caesars, mindless, brutal, and run by money.
Trump rallies the mob, works the mob, runs the mob better than the amateurs who imagine that they understand the mob. Racism, immigrants, abortion, the poor, the elderly are not coherent issues yet they can be energized with the code words that Trump blurts out in seemingly, at random. The tea party has always been a Golem. Trump has personified the anger that resonates with the tea party. The "center right" failed to use and then discard the tea party and are now its subordinate.
Tom's question is a good one. The answers given to it will be most valuable. They can be read in the audience and the immediate polls after the event. His question will not be asked. The result would be too revealing.
Trump rallies the mob, works the mob, runs the mob better than the amateurs who imagine that they understand the mob. Racism, immigrants, abortion, the poor, the elderly are not coherent issues yet they can be energized with the code words that Trump blurts out in seemingly, at random. The tea party has always been a Golem. Trump has personified the anger that resonates with the tea party. The "center right" failed to use and then discard the tea party and are now its subordinate.
Tom's question is a good one. The answers given to it will be most valuable. They can be read in the audience and the immediate polls after the event. His question will not be asked. The result would be too revealing.
15
Boy, Joseph. I'm afraid citing Suetonius and Golem to the twenty-something iPhone-texting, social-media posting, narcissistic, self-absorbed generation is like strewing pearls in front of porcines. Good luck if it resonates.
The irrationality of the GOP has gone beyond merely disappointing to become genuinely disturbing. It seems that no idea is too good to be ridiculed and rejected by Republican politicians. When the GOP absorbed the Tea Party, the GOP lost its mind and its soul and has done nothing good for the country since.
42
Democrats may lean left, but they are willing to support market-based solutions that work. Some still forget that Obamacare was a market-based Republican solution when the GOP was a serious political party. Same for the cap and trade solution to acid rain. But, for Democrats, the solution must actually work and not just make more oligarchs at the expense of everyone else. The Democrats are a party that has repeatedly shown its competence to govern. Somehow, Democrats with widely-ranging political perspectives can reach consensus. The current GOP is a wasteland. I agree with Bartlet.
35
Perhaps the bigger problem with the decline of the center right is the loss of the necessary politicians and managers who can get things done efficiently and effectively. We should repair our national infrastructure, and it would create lots of jobs, but Republicans won't vote for it and if Democrats did they'd use it as an opportunity to overpay their union allies. If we had a lot of center right politicians, they'd support an infrastructure-focused stimulus, but they'd also oversee it and ensure repairs didn't cause tons of traffic and were done at reasonable costs.
I worry the same hollowing out is happening on the center left. Centrists, whichever way they lean, are desperately needed right now, and we have to keep the parties from being dominated by extremists of any sort.
I worry the same hollowing out is happening on the center left. Centrists, whichever way they lean, are desperately needed right now, and we have to keep the parties from being dominated by extremists of any sort.
6
I do resent the line "overpay their union allies"....being that in these days of income inequality, unions are the only entity that has kept some of the working class in the middle class, and out of the poverty class. Unions support the Democrats because the Republicans have made it perfectly clear that decent wages and working conditions are of no interest to their agenda. They clearly as you do, think we are overpaid, although most of us are making average salaries that can't even buy a house in today's market. Construction labor, when not union, is often underpaid, dangerous, and I see a lot of contractors that hire illegals. So if road projects are hiring decently paid union workers, that earn enough to contribute to the economy, I see that as a good thing.
2
Do you see how pervasive the republican's mantra has become?
Unions were one of the primary reasons this country has/had a middle class.
If you like your weekend, thank a labor union.
Now, even center left democrats feel the need to bash unions. They own their fair share of blame for some things, but they are not the enemy.
Unions were one of the primary reasons this country has/had a middle class.
If you like your weekend, thank a labor union.
Now, even center left democrats feel the need to bash unions. They own their fair share of blame for some things, but they are not the enemy.
The likelihood of getting a straight or reasonable answer or provoking a useful debate among the crowd of candidates pandering for the Republican base vote is miniscule. Perhaps a better question might be "why bother" with such a debate? ....or perhaps we could just ask them for a sound bite or two and save everyone from the spectacle of their mindless posturing...
108
If all you want is a sound bite from each republican candidate, you will have to put a sound muzzle on Trump.
My great fear at the moment is that he will win. How could this happen? The same way we got Arnold Schwartzenegger as governor of California--Name Recognition. Everyone knows his name whether they liked his show or not. A few are sent running in the opposite direction as soon as they hear Trump's name, but too many are hooked on TV and just lap it all up.
My great fear at the moment is that he will win. How could this happen? The same way we got Arnold Schwartzenegger as governor of California--Name Recognition. Everyone knows his name whether they liked his show or not. A few are sent running in the opposite direction as soon as they hear Trump's name, but too many are hooked on TV and just lap it all up.
You ask a good question pitting reverence for Saint Reagan against a new wave of radical right wing politics that leaves the so called Reagan revolution in the dust and puts mindless ideology above everything. A classic example of the tail wagging the dog.
Another possible question: Would you ask Congress to raise the gas tax to fund the transportation bill if the you were president but oppose it as long as Obama or any Democrat is president?
There is a revolution going on and the goal is a total plutocracy where a cabal of billionaires own our government. We have seen this before in the mid and late Thirties and FDR told us straight out that this was the very essence of fascism, which we call Conservatism today.
The people living under the yoke fascism knew that government was their enemy as do blacks in some Southern states. If you grew up under the New Deal and Great Society you had unparalled liberty and opportunity and a high standard of living (we still had bigotry) and since Reagan our freedom has diminished along with the middle class and now Conservative candidates are vying for Koch millions with promises of being their willing puppets as president owing their allegiance to the billionaires who bought the presidency for them and not the voters.
Another possible question: Would you ask Congress to raise the gas tax to fund the transportation bill if the you were president but oppose it as long as Obama or any Democrat is president?
There is a revolution going on and the goal is a total plutocracy where a cabal of billionaires own our government. We have seen this before in the mid and late Thirties and FDR told us straight out that this was the very essence of fascism, which we call Conservatism today.
The people living under the yoke fascism knew that government was their enemy as do blacks in some Southern states. If you grew up under the New Deal and Great Society you had unparalled liberty and opportunity and a high standard of living (we still had bigotry) and since Reagan our freedom has diminished along with the middle class and now Conservative candidates are vying for Koch millions with promises of being their willing puppets as president owing their allegiance to the billionaires who bought the presidency for them and not the voters.
34
Your question in the second paragraph is why the country went so deep into recession, the health care bill is a mess (it should have been single payer), terrorists seem to be popping out of every sand dune. Actually, the real problem is the latest instructions for police, "shoot first, then the rest will come around and you can question them".
The reason there aren't any centrist GOP candidates is because there aren't enough centrist GOP voters. The crazy wing of the party is just way too big. A centrist candidate would have to kiss them off and hope a lot of independents register Republican to make up the difference - not an easy task. A longer term strategy would involve trying to marginalize or kill off the bile and disinformation apparatus - Rush, Fox, et al. - that the party relies on so that stupidity isn't such a big problem for the party. Good luck with that.
22
Tom,
This is a sensible and well written piece. But it is lost. The GOP is indeed the Tea Party now. The reasonable Republicans are hiding and pandering to the wing nuts. The anti-science and anti-intellectual bigots are winning. I live in a "progressive" state. But I keep hearing the the GOP talking points being presented as if there needs to be a revolt. The vitriol is frightening. The anti-immigrant sentiment is right out of the 19th century.
So although you make a well reasoned case for a moderate GOP, it's too late. And our job is to destroy them. The very core of the GOP platform now is anti-American. It is anti-human. The GOP needs to be marginalized and exposed for what it is: a puppet masters victory. The Oiligarchs are winning, Tom. I did not misspell that. The US needs a "center-right" party, indeed, but it must be started from scratch. The names "Republican" and "GOP" have been stolen and ruined. Remember the "Whigs"?
This is a sensible and well written piece. But it is lost. The GOP is indeed the Tea Party now. The reasonable Republicans are hiding and pandering to the wing nuts. The anti-science and anti-intellectual bigots are winning. I live in a "progressive" state. But I keep hearing the the GOP talking points being presented as if there needs to be a revolt. The vitriol is frightening. The anti-immigrant sentiment is right out of the 19th century.
So although you make a well reasoned case for a moderate GOP, it's too late. And our job is to destroy them. The very core of the GOP platform now is anti-American. It is anti-human. The GOP needs to be marginalized and exposed for what it is: a puppet masters victory. The Oiligarchs are winning, Tom. I did not misspell that. The US needs a "center-right" party, indeed, but it must be started from scratch. The names "Republican" and "GOP" have been stolen and ruined. Remember the "Whigs"?
25
"...Republican leaders have had deep misgivings about the Tea Party since the beginning, but the short-term benefits were too great to resist."
Nonsense. Gracious me, but there are plenty of Christian evangelicals who expect poor teenage girls and boys to resist, among other things, sex and drugs, about the only two things those kids can imagine might make them feel good for twenty minutes in our society, and yet the Republican leaders, beholden to the religious right as well as the Tea Party, are incapable of resisting the short-term benefits of Tea Party support? My, how weak they are in comparison to the standards their own constituents set for other people in our country. The short-term benefits were perfectly resistible if the GOP leadership had had the courage to marginalize the TP immediately by doing to the Tea Party what the likes of Sen. Cruz has done to them. Sen. Cruz has no trouble trashing the leadership, which, after all, represents a larger chunk of the party than he does. The GOP is stuck with Wimp McConnell and Wimp Boehner and all the wimps running for president who are willing to diss Donald Trump now because they are afraid he will beat them, but not the TP five years ago. Funny, Pres. Obama was forced to disassociate himself from his preacher, and from a guy who served with him on some committee, and had no trouble doing it. I have absolutely zero sympathy for those in the GOP who were not willing to jettison the TP right at the beginning.
Nonsense. Gracious me, but there are plenty of Christian evangelicals who expect poor teenage girls and boys to resist, among other things, sex and drugs, about the only two things those kids can imagine might make them feel good for twenty minutes in our society, and yet the Republican leaders, beholden to the religious right as well as the Tea Party, are incapable of resisting the short-term benefits of Tea Party support? My, how weak they are in comparison to the standards their own constituents set for other people in our country. The short-term benefits were perfectly resistible if the GOP leadership had had the courage to marginalize the TP immediately by doing to the Tea Party what the likes of Sen. Cruz has done to them. Sen. Cruz has no trouble trashing the leadership, which, after all, represents a larger chunk of the party than he does. The GOP is stuck with Wimp McConnell and Wimp Boehner and all the wimps running for president who are willing to diss Donald Trump now because they are afraid he will beat them, but not the TP five years ago. Funny, Pres. Obama was forced to disassociate himself from his preacher, and from a guy who served with him on some committee, and had no trouble doing it. I have absolutely zero sympathy for those in the GOP who were not willing to jettison the TP right at the beginning.
21
As usual Friedman gets it wrong. There would be plenty of money to repair roads and bridges in the HTF if the Democrats didn't siphon off funds for mass transit, streetcars, trolleys, parks, national trails, and a sundry of other pork projects. Funds for these projects has increased by 38% since 2008 while highway spending has been flat. It is the age old government ploy, don't pickup the garbage for lack of funding while spending lavishly in other areas.
2
Excuse me, but mass transit is no pork project, and neither are national trails. These benefit everyone, not just drivers - and I do believe there were a number of road projects that were federally funded, especially in Ohio - where John Kasich claimed credit for the economic benefits they brought the state. Obama wanted to do much more for infrastructure, but the Republicans blocked funding not so much for their so called fiscal conservatism but to ensure there would be no economic boom that could be credited to that man in the White House.
2
Excuse me? What are "mass transit, streetcars, trolleys, parks, national trails," if not infrastructure that hires and pays the wages of those who build them.
"Keep your government hands off my medicare" is the essence of the stupidity of the tea party.
In '09, when stimulus spending had a realistic chance of passing most of it had to be disguised as tax breaks. But if the program had gone as Obama planned it we would have started rebuilding our roads and bridges then. Why didn't we? Because republicans in Congress will give no victory to Obama, even when it will benefit the vast majority of Americans.
There is no lack of stupid from fox news.
"Keep your government hands off my medicare" is the essence of the stupidity of the tea party.
In '09, when stimulus spending had a realistic chance of passing most of it had to be disguised as tax breaks. But if the program had gone as Obama planned it we would have started rebuilding our roads and bridges then. Why didn't we? Because republicans in Congress will give no victory to Obama, even when it will benefit the vast majority of Americans.
There is no lack of stupid from fox news.
1
One man's 'pork' is another man's infrastructure.
1
Increasing the gas tax is out of the question. What do the Republican wealthy owners want. That's what's important.
Neither logic nor insults are having any positive affect on our utterly useless and gutless Congress. The strong entry of Fox News into the candidate fray is a scary example of where our politics have gone.
Keys are "Ignore science. refuse to acknowledge women's rights, deny help to the needy, and stop cold any suggested legislation by the President.
Trump has so frightened the field that they are quivering and bending before him.
Neither logic nor insults are having any positive affect on our utterly useless and gutless Congress. The strong entry of Fox News into the candidate fray is a scary example of where our politics have gone.
Keys are "Ignore science. refuse to acknowledge women's rights, deny help to the needy, and stop cold any suggested legislation by the President.
Trump has so frightened the field that they are quivering and bending before him.
12
Before this Congress will act LOTS of people will have to die from [provable] failures of the infrastructure, and Obama cannot be President so that the Congress can take credit for the improvements,.
4
I admit this is digression, but there is evidence that LOTS of people dying due to a preventable cause will NOT prompt this congress to action. Look at all the shootings and our refusal to enact reasonable gun control laws.
Hope Bruce Bartlett gets his wish. The Republican Party, as he knows and most everyone else knows, is no longer the party of Lincoln, and it has not been the party of Lincoln for some time.
Republican icon former Senator Bob Dole has also called attention to the party of Lincoln going off the rails. He was recently quoted as saying: "“I don’t know where we lost track after Abraham Lincoln” (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/29/magazine/voting-rights-act-dream-undon...®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront)
Does anyone think Lincoln be able to recognize his political party today, with all the Republican supporters in the former slave-owning states and their affection for the Confederate Battle Flag?
Republican icon former Senator Bob Dole has also called attention to the party of Lincoln going off the rails. He was recently quoted as saying: "“I don’t know where we lost track after Abraham Lincoln” (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/29/magazine/voting-rights-act-dream-undon...®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront)
Does anyone think Lincoln be able to recognize his political party today, with all the Republican supporters in the former slave-owning states and their affection for the Confederate Battle Flag?
6
Donald Trump is the most liberal and centrist Republican I can remember: he is for universal healthcare and believes everyone should have healthcare, he is against any new wars and wants to rebuild America home, he wants to bring higher skilled immigration based on merit, like in the heydays of USA, he is pro life personally but will not make abortions illegal, and he will bring more jobs to the US (from China, etc). Besides, he is not the destroyer and nay sayer type, but a builder. And most importantly as a president he will not be beholden to special interests, like all the other Reps and Dems, for that matter, because they need corporate matter to run. Nobody is perfect, and he isn't, but so far he seems to bring the most to the table.
4
When did Trump announce those policies? I haven't heard him say or write any of those things. I think it's what you want him to be, not what he is. Take a look at who he really is. Four bankruptcies? Three wives? Inherited money, squandered money. Uncensored mind. Bloviator, rude, crude.....not presidential in any way.
1
Friedman has is right, except for one formidable wall. The gas tax is fundamentally needed for the right reasons he suggest and motorists experience daily. The wall? Democrats will divert the new money into politically favored areas (bike paths, city beautification, walking trails) rather than fix the roads, bridges, and ports that actually make America run. We all need a gas tax increase, but we know from experience how it will be misspent. As is often said, we have a spending problem in DC.
2
"What does it mean to be a center-right Republican?"
Well, at the moment it means being a Democrat. Elizabeth Warren is trying to pull the party back to familiar ground, as is Sanders, and make Democrats act like Democrats. But no one is speaking for Republicans, and trying to make Republicans act like Republicans, not like Reactionaries and Populists.
And no one in the party that always stood for fiscal pragmatism has the guts to tell us Americans the truth: we are acting like immature whiners. We need to grow up. Pay the rent. Fix the roof. Help out Mom and Dad. Suck it up and spend our hard earned cash on things we don't really want to spend on, but do it anyhow because that is what grown-ups do.
So there's my question for the Republican debate: which one of you has the courage to tell Americans to grow up?
Well, at the moment it means being a Democrat. Elizabeth Warren is trying to pull the party back to familiar ground, as is Sanders, and make Democrats act like Democrats. But no one is speaking for Republicans, and trying to make Republicans act like Republicans, not like Reactionaries and Populists.
And no one in the party that always stood for fiscal pragmatism has the guts to tell us Americans the truth: we are acting like immature whiners. We need to grow up. Pay the rent. Fix the roof. Help out Mom and Dad. Suck it up and spend our hard earned cash on things we don't really want to spend on, but do it anyhow because that is what grown-ups do.
So there's my question for the Republican debate: which one of you has the courage to tell Americans to grow up?
350
What made the "greatest generation" the greatest was not only winning WWII. It's what they did _after_ the war: paying high taxes to have the best highways, outstanding schools, finest public health ... oh, yeah, and the strongest military in the world. Making the world a better place for their children and grands ...
I repeat: paying high taxes. TANSTAAFL! The Republican agenda is the path to being an also-ran tomorrow.
I repeat: paying high taxes. TANSTAAFL! The Republican agenda is the path to being an also-ran tomorrow.
I agree that the gas tax should go up. I used to drive a car that got 20 miles to the gallon. I now get 40. The money has to come from somewhere. I tire of the anti science comment. I recommend that everyone go to the Pew research site and take their quiz comparing what scientists believe vs. the population as a whole. I suspect that the liberal readers of the NYT will find themselves in the anti science group. They ask questions about nuclear power, genetically modified foods, vaccines, global warming, and more. You will be surprised, I suspect.
1
The thing about science, Robert, is that if the conclusions are not what you want them to be, but the process at arriving at those conclusions was sound, you cannot honestly disagree with it.
I totally agree with your statement about gas tax -- even with the rate staying the same, we've been paying less thanks to increased fuel efficiency, and with increased efficiency mandated, an increase in the tax rate will be felt less.
I totally agree with your statement about gas tax -- even with the rate staying the same, we've been paying less thanks to increased fuel efficiency, and with increased efficiency mandated, an increase in the tax rate will be felt less.
Thank you Tom Friedman!
Fuel taxes (gasoline and diesel) to pay for road infrastructure make perfect policy sense. It's a user fee.
Objections that it is unfair to gas-guzzlers are absurd. Yes, our driving habits and technology are changing, and they need to change in order to reduce our environmental impact and to conserve precious resources. Therefore, a gas tax, in addition to providing needed funding for transportation, will encourage people to carpool, buy more efficient vehicles, use alternatives or simply conserve by driving less.
Since these are all good things, all the more reason to get our act together and raise the gasoline tax as part of a transportation bill.
Fuel taxes (gasoline and diesel) to pay for road infrastructure make perfect policy sense. It's a user fee.
Objections that it is unfair to gas-guzzlers are absurd. Yes, our driving habits and technology are changing, and they need to change in order to reduce our environmental impact and to conserve precious resources. Therefore, a gas tax, in addition to providing needed funding for transportation, will encourage people to carpool, buy more efficient vehicles, use alternatives or simply conserve by driving less.
Since these are all good things, all the more reason to get our act together and raise the gasoline tax as part of a transportation bill.
9
At their core the Republican Party, beginning with Reagan, was the Tea Party. He sowed the seeds of the beliefs, values, and practices of parties starve the beast - anti-government mentality. His genius, if you want to call it that, is using his smile and personality to paper over the ugliness behind his policy agenda. Since the founding father of this movement, two Bushes struggled with a redefined party whose goal was destruction of the New Deal and restoration of corporate interests over the common good. Now we are in the culminating cycle of this ideological joyride. The problem confronting this party, is even in defeat, they have so long relied on the Reagan talking points, that no candidate really has a substantive policy alternative that they know how to talk about --which will become obvious during the coming debates or better termed, who can out Reagan, Reagan.
25
When are the American people going to wake up?
5
Selling off the Strategic Oil Reserve into today's falling market would be a perfect example of buying high and selling low.
13
It would also be a perfect example of treason.
My question would be: Each and every one of you has said that every initiative President Obama has managed to enact by legislation or fiat would be "job killing". Indeed employment in the U.S. is back to where it was during the Clinton Administration and better than at any time during the GWBush administration. The question is" "Why is it just so hard for each and everyone of you to admit that you were wrong, wrong and wrong about Obama?"
397
As right as you may be, intellectual lectures from a left-leaning Times columnist are not going to move the GOP to the center. The lecturing has to come from within the party, and unfortunately, no one in the GOP appears inclined to do that lecturing.
8
The debate question suggested by Thomas Friedman is excellent, but it has one fatal flaw: taking a traditional approach of financing the transportation bill by a gasoline tax is much too logical, too simple and too traditional for today’s breed of Republican. It removes all opportunity for the confrontation and class-warfare upon which the Senate majority thrives. Even though it would be a regressive tax felt more by the poor and the middle class, today’s self-described conservatives are allergic to anything with the word “tax” in it.
You might as well ask a question about gun control or women’s reproductive rights or immigration law reform. The ten first-team Republicans and the seven substitutes are all too conditioned as devout nay-sayers to be forthrightly in favor of anything. Except tax cuts for the wealthy.
You might as well ask a question about gun control or women’s reproductive rights or immigration law reform. The ten first-team Republicans and the seven substitutes are all too conditioned as devout nay-sayers to be forthrightly in favor of anything. Except tax cuts for the wealthy.
6
An aggressive gasoline tax of say, 35 cents per gallon, levied by NY and Nj with the revenue going towards the Nj/NYC freight tunnel, and funding NyC and NJ path and subway service that would half commuter fares would be a boon to every working person in the metropolitan area. Even working people who drive, since lower transit fares and great service would encourage less auto use.
Excellent mass transit is the life-blood of urban economies. It opens up new areas for populations to spread out and live in more affordable neighborhoods and increases real estate value (think more Williamsburgs, Astorias, and Long Island Cities, where convenient and reliable subway service makes them so attractive).
And don't forget that Tourism is a major industry in NYC--think of hotels and Air B and B in Hunts Point, Crown Heights and prospect Heights.
Finally, lower fares for working people would be like getting a $50 per month raise--no small thing and spent right back into the economy.
Excellent mass transit is the life-blood of urban economies. It opens up new areas for populations to spread out and live in more affordable neighborhoods and increases real estate value (think more Williamsburgs, Astorias, and Long Island Cities, where convenient and reliable subway service makes them so attractive).
And don't forget that Tourism is a major industry in NYC--think of hotels and Air B and B in Hunts Point, Crown Heights and prospect Heights.
Finally, lower fares for working people would be like getting a $50 per month raise--no small thing and spent right back into the economy.
6
Very good question but what makes you think any of the debaters will use their eight or nine minutes in front of the camera to answer any question of substance? It's a political debate. the debaters will try and differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack, try not offend their low information constituency while "not" attacking their nearest competitor. It will be the lowest form of entertainment and Mr. Trump has the most experience in low forms of entertainment. A Poland Springs for Mr. Rubio, please.
5
There's a pit in my stomach whenever I read about the level of denial on the part of Republican 'base' and the party's overall anti-logic stance. Sad and frightening.
8
Two words that the GOP lexicon lacks--among many other rational ideas--is comprehensiveness and consistency. Sanity also comes to mind, by the way.
When you take out a loan--mortgage, car, business, etc.--the lender would be a total idiot to verify only that you can re-pay half of it. No wonder that the great GOPers of the past, such as former Senator Bob Dole, seem to have a really, really big smile on their faces nowadays when he visits the Senate Floor. Relief?
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
When you take out a loan--mortgage, car, business, etc.--the lender would be a total idiot to verify only that you can re-pay half of it. No wonder that the great GOPers of the past, such as former Senator Bob Dole, seem to have a really, really big smile on their faces nowadays when he visits the Senate Floor. Relief?
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Hmm. Mr. Friedman's ideal of a Center-Right Republican looks to me to be indistinguishable from a Democrat. They both support gas taxes. They both support carbon taxes.
Then why bother voting?
Then why bother voting?
1
You assume that two people with different points of view can't agree on a few things, while disagreeing on others. If what you want is a candidate who disagrees with the "opposition," then you don't get how the world works. What you're asking for is a dictatorship, not a democracy.
That's the problem with Republicans today; they do not believe in finding a middle ground that both can live with, and frankly that's why we have this frozen government.
That's the problem with Republicans today; they do not believe in finding a middle ground that both can live with, and frankly that's why we have this frozen government.
57
Why bother indeed. If you do not approve of sensible market economics as per AEI - vote for someone else.
Hmm. Are you suggesting that it is better for people choose between EXTREME forms of government? Friedman's article points out that the Republican Party is currently not controlled by the Center-Right, but rather by the crazy, far-far away Right (e.g. Trump). That is, if the GOP moved to the Center then, yes, COMMON GROUND could be found between the Center-Right and Center-Left, aka, a stable political system. As it is, the GOP is being controlled by big donors like the Koch Bros. who fuel the tea-party, and Fox News, which makes money off the chaos that ensues.
2
The problems is that the government CAN NOT even account for how it spends this user fee. THEY DON'T let us know how the spend the money now and it they had a surplus from the tax they would spend it on other things.
1
What part of paying for highway and bridge maintenance construction did you not comprehend? The Highway Trust Fund pays for the interstate highway and national highway roadways. It hasn't been adequately funded for years because of the refusal of the GOP to raise the gas tax. And let's not forget that the gutless Democrats didn't bother doing it when they had a majority in both the Senate and House at the start of Obama's first term.
What are you talking about? The federal - as well as state - gas taxes are precisely accounted for as are the expenditures. Can you not read and understand simple budget numbers?
Well, Jose of Tucson, if you'd take a moment to do a simple search of the Internet, you would find a raft of articles about exactly how the money is spent. The federal tax is 18.4 cents per gallon (there is also a significant state component that varies by state), and it is distributed about 85% to the highway trust fund for roads and bridges and 15% to mass transit. A very small component goes to pedestrians and bicyclists.
If, as Bruce Bartlett suggested, Trump got the nomination and was soundly defeated, that would not end the Tea Party — they would still be trumpeting their view of things and would find some way to blame everyone else for the loss, probably with new conspiracy theories. The problem is that the GOP has created a monster, Fox News, that generates outright lies for political purposes — the word for this is "propaganda" — while at the same time cutting funding for education to ensure that a larger and larger proportion of the populace is uneducated and can be led around by those lies. This juggernaut has now gathered steam and is lurching around the countryside, and is completely uninfluenced by what actually happens in the real world.
19
Answer: Yes to gas tax, except it won't go to our highway infrastructure. It would go to general funds and be spent on all sorts of needless wasteful crap.
SS and Medicaid are bust. There is no "lock box". SSD is depleted. The Democrat welfare state, combined with open borders where illegals get our welfare, is a complete disaster. It's now down to 2 workers for every SS recipient. It used to be 40 workers.
SS and Medicaid are bust. There is no "lock box". SSD is depleted. The Democrat welfare state, combined with open borders where illegals get our welfare, is a complete disaster. It's now down to 2 workers for every SS recipient. It used to be 40 workers.
3
You uncap the dollar limit on which workers pay the tax. And eliminate it at the other end. I.e., you don't pay into SS on the first $10,000 of your earnings, but after that, the sky's the limit. Y
ou means-test social security recipients and disability benefits. You should not need to get a lawyer to get SSD; either you're medically disabled or you're not. Doctors, not lawyers or bureaucrats should be the arbiters.
And if you're on a military pension, you should not also be able to get SSD (I personally know 8 people who live a whole better than I do on those monthly checks while I work 50 hours/week and they don't).
You cut the military budget (and maybe some Congressional salaries/perks) and throw that into Medicare for everyone, like the rest of the world.
It's all a matter of where you choose to spend the money available to spend.
ou means-test social security recipients and disability benefits. You should not need to get a lawyer to get SSD; either you're medically disabled or you're not. Doctors, not lawyers or bureaucrats should be the arbiters.
And if you're on a military pension, you should not also be able to get SSD (I personally know 8 people who live a whole better than I do on those monthly checks while I work 50 hours/week and they don't).
You cut the military budget (and maybe some Congressional salaries/perks) and throw that into Medicare for everyone, like the rest of the world.
It's all a matter of where you choose to spend the money available to spend.
The decline in worker to recipient ratio is not due to illegal immigration, it's due to demographics. This issue was around when Reagan was president, and was one of the reasons people pressed to push the age at which you can take benefits out; more people were retiring than were entering the workforce.
You also ought to be aware that there are simple steps that could be taken to fix social security and medicare; repeal Bush's illogical requirement that medicare not negotiate pharmaceutical costs (which given people's propensity to gobble down the latest drug du jour drives costs up), and reduce the COL adjustment (painful in the short run, I know, but adjusting to a more meaningful measure would save a lot). But republicans won't buy into that sort of a solultion nor will democrats because they don't have the guts to do so.
You also ought to be aware that there are simple steps that could be taken to fix social security and medicare; repeal Bush's illogical requirement that medicare not negotiate pharmaceutical costs (which given people's propensity to gobble down the latest drug du jour drives costs up), and reduce the COL adjustment (painful in the short run, I know, but adjusting to a more meaningful measure would save a lot). But republicans won't buy into that sort of a solultion nor will democrats because they don't have the guts to do so.
Excellent question! This is a user tax and it needs to be raised, assuming we want to maintain a decent highway system.
5
But the tea party is CONTROLLED by the Koch Brothers. It is a created astro turf construct of phoney grass roots angst, aimed at ignorant, disenfranchised white people, feeding their basest instincts of hatred against blacks, immigrants, the poor, women, government, and taxes. Who went begging for campaign donations from the Kochs and other billionaire libertarians of their ilk? Why non other than John Kasich and Jeb! Bush. To beg is to be beholden. Claiming that Jeb! Is a CENTER right, aka "sensible, less crazy candidate, is silly and willfully ignorant. Bush is against public anything - public education, private anything unless it's private corporations, hell, he's even against the separation of church and state, as evidenced by forcing brain dead Terry Schiavo to stay on life support against her husband's wishes. Jeb! Was pandering to the crazies in the Schiavo case, a political calculation revealing his character.
Thomas Friedman is so out of touch with reality or so compromised by his love of corporate solutions to everything, he can't see the truth about the current state of the GOP if he got an attitude adjustment at one of the black sites created by the George W. Bush administration. Jeb! has admitted that his brother was correct in invading Iraq and he would do the same. How is that center right thinking?
Thomas Friedman is so out of touch with reality or so compromised by his love of corporate solutions to everything, he can't see the truth about the current state of the GOP if he got an attitude adjustment at one of the black sites created by the George W. Bush administration. Jeb! has admitted that his brother was correct in invading Iraq and he would do the same. How is that center right thinking?
11
The operative word in GOP is Old!!! And this is what a political party looks like when led down the path of crypto-racism (nod to Gore Vidal). Starting with Nixon and going into fifth gear with Reagan. The problem for the Republicans is that it worked in the past. They haven't rec'd the memo that it will not work in a general election anymore.
You have to love the age of information!
You have to love the age of information!
4
And the leader in the Democratic Party is a socialist. Screwballs all!
Regarding the gas tax, that one is easy: no. The GOP's base is dead-set against any tax increases at all (and that includes a carbon tax). Whether a Republican president would actually fulfill that promise is another question, but as far as the debates go, its a no-brainer.
Regarding the suggestion that a massive defeat by an extreme far-right candidate like Trump would force the GOP back towards the center, I think the answer there would also be no. The last few losing Republican candidates (Romney, McCain and Dole) were all moderates that were considered electable and yet the base failed to show up for them, despite their kowtowing to the far right throughout their campaigns. The only moderate GOP victor in the past 40 years was Bush1, and he later on lost the base by raising taxes. So I believe the GOP is determined to nominate a hard right candidate along the lines of Reagan and Bush2, and all the candidates seem to know this.
Regarding climate change, I think the Republicans will probably hold out on passing legislation to address it until the Democrats are willing to give up everything they hold dear in order to induce an agreement. We shouldn't be surprised if the same people that threaten to shut down the government every few months hold the planet hostage to get what they want. And, as crazy as it sounds, I think the Dems should seriously consider caving in on this one. Climate change is not something you should be playing chicken with.
Regarding the suggestion that a massive defeat by an extreme far-right candidate like Trump would force the GOP back towards the center, I think the answer there would also be no. The last few losing Republican candidates (Romney, McCain and Dole) were all moderates that were considered electable and yet the base failed to show up for them, despite their kowtowing to the far right throughout their campaigns. The only moderate GOP victor in the past 40 years was Bush1, and he later on lost the base by raising taxes. So I believe the GOP is determined to nominate a hard right candidate along the lines of Reagan and Bush2, and all the candidates seem to know this.
Regarding climate change, I think the Republicans will probably hold out on passing legislation to address it until the Democrats are willing to give up everything they hold dear in order to induce an agreement. We shouldn't be surprised if the same people that threaten to shut down the government every few months hold the planet hostage to get what they want. And, as crazy as it sounds, I think the Dems should seriously consider caving in on this one. Climate change is not something you should be playing chicken with.
2
Thank you Mr Friedman. Now, if there were any Republican politicians representing positions such as what you describe, I would seriously consider voting for them. Sadly it wont happen, and we are stuck watching what surely will be an embarrassment to America when the journalistic mouthpiece for the GOP, Fox News, "hosts" the Republican lineup of charlatans.
12
it does not matter what questions are asked. the answers will be as follows: 1.It's all Obama's fault. 2. Cutting taxes will make us prosperous. 3. Fewer gun restrictions will make us safer. 4. More religion in public life will make us a great nation again.
728
You forgot items 5 to 10 - It's all Obama's fault, because the Republican candidates will blame him for everything. God knows Fox News does.
1) The logical response to seven years of Bush's fault
2) Krugmann in his last column about the problems in Puerto Rico said so much.
3) Another case where the "science loving" left ignores all facts that don't fit the narrative.
4) True.
2) Krugmann in his last column about the problems in Puerto Rico said so much.
3) Another case where the "science loving" left ignores all facts that don't fit the narrative.
4) True.
And every one of those positions qualify as the Big Lie.
It would be interesting to know where Democrats stand on issues. I know Bernie Sanders wants to rebuild the crumbling infrastructure and, at the same time employ 13,000,000 Americans. However, the DNC has yet to schedule any debates. For the 2008 election, DNC debates started in April. There were 15 debates. This year, there will be only 6 debates and the Chair of the DNC will only say the debates will start "in the fall." Rather than asking what the Republicans will say, the issue is becoming why are the Democratic candidates are not allowed to debate. What is the DNC trying to hide?
5
Nothing of course. it is the age old political tactic of "when your enemies are busy hurting themselves, stay out of it".
Charlotte, there is no way the Democrats can compete with the 3-ring circus that is the republican field. They are finally showing some smarts and letting the republicans start eating themselves before having their debates.
And, hopefully, the Democrats will actually debate and discuss substantial items. Keeping my fingers crossed.
And, hopefully, the Democrats will actually debate and discuss substantial items. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Nice attempt at sidestepping the spotlight on the Republican misfits. Unlike Donald Trump who has no platform or policy initiatives, just hot egotistic air, the Democratic candidates have all made most of their positions quite clear. All one has to do who is interested in differentiating them is Google http://www.ontheissues.org and then type in their name. The rest is just advertising & personality preference.
1
What the Tea Party and Trump have done is to extend the Southern Strategy to include a Southwestern Strategy. Republican Party leadership has diminished any influence by centrists to enhance their own power. If only Boehner and McConnell were more concerned with attacking the nations problems instead of Clinton and Obama.
8
My questions for the GOP candidates:
Why are you a Party First:Country Last political party that cultures and harvests America stupidity as an annual Southern Strategy crop that has a demonstrated record of potholing roads, collapsing bridges and suppressing votes, knowledge, science, contraception, tax collections and public safety by making America a national shooting gallery ?
Is political power worth destroying your country and your own party with corn-syrup-flavored intellectual bankruptcy ?
Why are you anti-abortion for poor women and yet happy to abort the entire middle class with trickle-down fraudonomics and happy to abort the climate with unregulated carbon emissions, zero sex education and zero contraception in an exploding world of seven-plus billion humans ?
Why are Chris Christie's and Bobby Jindal's Republican policies so widely held in contempt by the citizens of New Jersey and Louisiana ?
Who should be the last person to die in a GOP state because GOP governors and legislatures failed to expand Medicaid for the working poor ?
Explain exactly how 'money is speech' and 'corporations are people', my friend ?
Why is Sen. James 'Global Warming Is a Hoax' Inhofe the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ?
Do you believe in the separation of church and state ?
America spends 17% of its GDP in healthcare - much more than other countries - do you have any thoughts about that aside from 'repeal Obamacare' ?
Do you care about America ?
Why are you a Party First:Country Last political party that cultures and harvests America stupidity as an annual Southern Strategy crop that has a demonstrated record of potholing roads, collapsing bridges and suppressing votes, knowledge, science, contraception, tax collections and public safety by making America a national shooting gallery ?
Is political power worth destroying your country and your own party with corn-syrup-flavored intellectual bankruptcy ?
Why are you anti-abortion for poor women and yet happy to abort the entire middle class with trickle-down fraudonomics and happy to abort the climate with unregulated carbon emissions, zero sex education and zero contraception in an exploding world of seven-plus billion humans ?
Why are Chris Christie's and Bobby Jindal's Republican policies so widely held in contempt by the citizens of New Jersey and Louisiana ?
Who should be the last person to die in a GOP state because GOP governors and legislatures failed to expand Medicaid for the working poor ?
Explain exactly how 'money is speech' and 'corporations are people', my friend ?
Why is Sen. James 'Global Warming Is a Hoax' Inhofe the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ?
Do you believe in the separation of church and state ?
America spends 17% of its GDP in healthcare - much more than other countries - do you have any thoughts about that aside from 'repeal Obamacare' ?
Do you care about America ?
809
The fundamentals of American Capitalism include beliefs like:
1. America is there to let me fleece Americans with impunity
2. America should care FOR me, and not the other way around.
1. America is there to let me fleece Americans with impunity
2. America should care FOR me, and not the other way around.
Bruce Bartlett's quote says it all, "I think many Republican leaders have had deep misgivings about the Tea Party since the beginning, but the short term benefits were too hard to resist". The chickens have come home to roost with the Trump candidacy and all can see the rot of hate that is the Tea Party, a party that from day one was created to protest the election of Barack Obama because of his race. Not only do they (G.O.P. "Leaders") not care about America, they also have no answer as to how to harness the base they fed, encouraged and created who is now turning on them. Even before the election of 2008, hate media was poisoning fact based information, now there is an entire universe of impenetrable alternate facts and millions who believe it, can recite it and are ready to fight to the death for it. How else can it be explained that a sizable portion of the Republican base is ready to sign on with a megalomaniac know nothing with the emotional maturity of a toddler?
2
Remember the comment by Lord Varys ( Game of Thrones spy master) regarding Little Finger. "He would see the kingdom in ashes if he could stand on the ashes as king" or something like that.
The GOP has accepted nihilism as its root philosophy like the children in "Lord of the Flies". You should read that book - very instructive.
The GOP has accepted nihilism as its root philosophy like the children in "Lord of the Flies". You should read that book - very instructive.
2
My first question to the Republican candidates would be, "Specifically, what do you see as the role of government, at the federal and state level?" Implied are such issues as national infrastructure maintenance, national health funding, equal access to education, regulating activity that could threaten our financial system, etc.
My next questions would be to require them to cite sources as the justification for their stances on a wide range of issues, such as global warming, evolution, importance of war over diplomacy, etc.
My next questions would be to require them to cite sources as the justification for their stances on a wide range of issues, such as global warming, evolution, importance of war over diplomacy, etc.
136
Now those are good questions and unbiased.
They believe the function of government is to protect contracts - well, not all of them if they apply to employees. To do that one function, it is necessary to have a strong police force to quell any outrage at home and a strong military to milk for contracts here and abroad.
Otherwise, sell all public goods at fire sale prices to private entities so they can charge whatever they wish while giving lousy, arrogant "service" to their "customers" - the very public that paid for the creation of those goods and services in the first place.
Otherwise, sell all public goods at fire sale prices to private entities so they can charge whatever they wish while giving lousy, arrogant "service" to their "customers" - the very public that paid for the creation of those goods and services in the first place.
What used to be "center" now would be decried by many in this country (including, I am guessing, Friedman) as "socialism." This country has gone nuts. The problem isn't the ghastly batch of candidates. The problem is the American voter.
23
I love how Mr Friedman accuses Fox News as being the far right 'mouthpiece'. A typical Obama line. Never forget that Mr Friedman is one of Obama's golfing pals plus he has no problem going on Fox to publicize one of his new books.
2
Mr. Friedman has the intestinal fortitude to go where the fight is, and spar with those "analysts" on the basis of his own expertise. And if Obama characterizes fox news as a republican mouthpiece, he's only joining the tens of millions of Americans who recognize that fair and balanced fact.
And yet that does not detract from the truth - fox IS the far right mouthpiece.
Do you seriously believe that Fox News isn't the "mouthpiece" for the far right? Really?
We have sufficient taxes to fund the highway system, roads, bridges, etc...the massive corruption is the problem.
2
Evidence?
Specific numbers?
Specific numbers?
Those senseless wars don't come cheap either.
The Donald is right.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Problem: he is too.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Problem: he is too.
5
Center-left, center-right, middle of this and the middle of that. Instead of spending billions in benefits for illegal immigrants why not spend the money on highways? That, of course, is beyond the left's scope of reason. Whacking 25% out of our bloated government budget would pay for the repair of a lot of bridges. Incomes going down and taxes going up, the left's recipe for prosperity.
2
@ GeorgeR FL
Bush cut taxes twice. 3 million jobs created under 8 years of Bush. Also increased yearly deficit from a balanced budget to $1.4 trillion.
Obama raised taxes. 12 million jobs created under 6 years of Obama. Yearly deficit cut by two-thirds, down to $500 billion.
And all of that was with the "job-killing" Obama-care.
Bush cut taxes twice. 3 million jobs created under 8 years of Bush. Also increased yearly deficit from a balanced budget to $1.4 trillion.
Obama raised taxes. 12 million jobs created under 6 years of Obama. Yearly deficit cut by two-thirds, down to $500 billion.
And all of that was with the "job-killing" Obama-care.
Well, we don't spend billions on benefits for illegal immigrants to start with. And the only place you could pull 25% out of our budget would be by hacking up the military. Of course, then we'd only spend more on our military then the top ten other national military budgets instead of the top fifty.
Our roads and bridges are used by drivers. The more you drive the more you should pay towards their maintenance and that is why increasing the gas tax is perfectly logical and reasonable.
But there's the rub: Republicans are not logical or reasonable. Their anti-science, anti-education, anti-intellectual beliefs, drive their actions. Through their efforts, Republicans have obstructed our economic recovery; through their efforts Republicans have torn gashes into our social safety net; through their efforts Republicans have transferred the tax burden onto the backs of the middle class to give tax relief to the super wealthy. Through their efforts, America is much worse off than before GWB and Republican controlled branches of congress. Only Obama has kept Republicans from furthering damaging America and Americans.
Republicans have proven they cannot govern. Republicans should not be allowed anywhere near government offices. Republicans are harmful to the general welfare of our country and citizenry. Voting for a Republican is a cynical death wish.
But there's the rub: Republicans are not logical or reasonable. Their anti-science, anti-education, anti-intellectual beliefs, drive their actions. Through their efforts, Republicans have obstructed our economic recovery; through their efforts Republicans have torn gashes into our social safety net; through their efforts Republicans have transferred the tax burden onto the backs of the middle class to give tax relief to the super wealthy. Through their efforts, America is much worse off than before GWB and Republican controlled branches of congress. Only Obama has kept Republicans from furthering damaging America and Americans.
Republicans have proven they cannot govern. Republicans should not be allowed anywhere near government offices. Republicans are harmful to the general welfare of our country and citizenry. Voting for a Republican is a cynical death wish.
15
As someone who logs over 40,000 miles annually on the nation's interstates, I can tell you why this will never happen. For every car on the interstate, there are at least two semis (and that means corporations) barreling down on you, causing horrific accidents, violating speeding laws, and ruining the roads with their overweight loads. Raising the gas tax would add to the cost of transporting those Chinese goods to your nearest Walmart and the corporations and Walmart shoppers would put up a stink. Instead, most of our highways are in deplorable condition.
Only when they are no longer passable for those semis does the work get done and then the road project is massive since basic maintenance has been ignored.
Or they are turned into toll roads which the state then sells out to a private entity to shore up some budget hole and the work never gets done; or the private company goes belly up due to mismanagement and/or corruption. Are you listening, Indiana?
Only when they are no longer passable for those semis does the work get done and then the road project is massive since basic maintenance has been ignored.
Or they are turned into toll roads which the state then sells out to a private entity to shore up some budget hole and the work never gets done; or the private company goes belly up due to mismanagement and/or corruption. Are you listening, Indiana?
To,. you are trying to reason with a bunch that is impervious to any reasoning.
An example: You are trying to reason with a party that has a Rhodes Scholar, no less, who is a governor of a coastal state. who denies global warming in any and all shapes and forms, to get some traction, any traction, in the presidential run and get some political space in his beloved GOP.
Intellectually, it is a race to the bottom in the GOP. Whoever gets to the darkest depth first (Trump?) will prevail as the frontrunner, until Election Day.
An example: You are trying to reason with a party that has a Rhodes Scholar, no less, who is a governor of a coastal state. who denies global warming in any and all shapes and forms, to get some traction, any traction, in the presidential run and get some political space in his beloved GOP.
Intellectually, it is a race to the bottom in the GOP. Whoever gets to the darkest depth first (Trump?) will prevail as the frontrunner, until Election Day.
6
My question would be, "What is the purpose of government?"
If you seek to run a huge organization, you should be able to articulate it's what is is supposed to be doing.
If you seek to run a huge organization, you should be able to articulate it's what is is supposed to be doing.
3
I really would like to know what the billionaires that are supporting extreme right candidates have to be angry about. These people are raking it in, so much so that they are willing to dish out millions to any narrow thinking politician that comes along.
There are always people that have weird ideas of what it is to govern so we have to take it as a given. Unfortunately, the supposed anger of voters is not directed to them individually. They keep on voting for the incumbents, as if their own representatives were perfect legislators. The big problem which is not sufficiently recognized is the rules and practices of the Senate. The idea that a flame-thrower like Cruz can individually put a stop to deliberations is absolutely crazy and unacceptable. That you should have a vote with 60 votes in order to vote on a bill is irrational.
That a bill is put aside because of a mere threat of filibuster is cowardly. Everybody recognizes that this is harmful but senators don't want to give up their unconstitutional privileges and so they drag the country into their unspeakable and stupid parliamentary maneuvers that create deadlocks.
There are always people that have weird ideas of what it is to govern so we have to take it as a given. Unfortunately, the supposed anger of voters is not directed to them individually. They keep on voting for the incumbents, as if their own representatives were perfect legislators. The big problem which is not sufficiently recognized is the rules and practices of the Senate. The idea that a flame-thrower like Cruz can individually put a stop to deliberations is absolutely crazy and unacceptable. That you should have a vote with 60 votes in order to vote on a bill is irrational.
That a bill is put aside because of a mere threat of filibuster is cowardly. Everybody recognizes that this is harmful but senators don't want to give up their unconstitutional privileges and so they drag the country into their unspeakable and stupid parliamentary maneuvers that create deadlocks.
4
There is no longer a Republican center-right because this president tried to yank everyone to the left with Obamacare, and republicans have been in response mode ever since. They trust him on nothing. Their role was forced to become one of "containment."
Just as things have eased up since the end of Reid's tenure (or should I say "terror") as leader, things will ease up significantly once this president leaves the White House. Until then, republicans and even some democrats will spend their time constraining his measures.
Just as things have eased up since the end of Reid's tenure (or should I say "terror") as leader, things will ease up significantly once this president leaves the White House. Until then, republicans and even some democrats will spend their time constraining his measures.
2
Obamacare is actually Romneycare from when the latter was a governor. How is that yanking everyone to the right? No, I think we have the tea party intelligentsia ("keep the government out of my social security & Medicare") to thank for pulling GOP to the far, far right.
You can't bring yourself to criticize the GOP at all, can you? What you said about health reform is complete trash. The GOP's rejectionism was brought into the summit, where the president tried and failed to find common ground and get Republicans to negotiate -- they were simply unwilling to do that. Rejectionism was in play before Obamacare's passage, not engendered by it.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?292260-1/white-house-health-care-summit-part-1
The unwillingness of Republicans to negotiate on the issue was the chief stimulus for David Frum's lone voice of reason decrying extremism as the Tea Party, and its lockstep opposition to anything and everything "Obama," began to rise.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?292260-1/white-house-health-care-summit-part-1
The unwillingness of Republicans to negotiate on the issue was the chief stimulus for David Frum's lone voice of reason decrying extremism as the Tea Party, and its lockstep opposition to anything and everything "Obama," began to rise.
Yes, and an obstructionist congress had nothing to do with anything.
Try again.
Try again.
The gas tax hurts average and poor Americans because businesses write the costs off their taxes so the rest of us get to subsidize them - again. Take away the mileage tax exemption for everyone and guess what - we won't need a tax hike and will have enough money to pay for the highway infrastructure IF we cut and control construction and administration costs.
10
If done correctly, any hurt would be greatly surpassed by the long term good. When gasoline is priced low, liked it is now, that is the time to put a moderate tax on it to improve roads, not when it is priced high or when the country is in a recession.
Our crumbling highways hurt the poor much more than any tax, ie..adding billions of dollars in cost due to transportation delays.
Our crumbling highways hurt the poor much more than any tax, ie..adding billions of dollars in cost due to transportation delays.
So naive .... this is the same republican pablum that has been served up for decades ... always blame someone else. Agreed a higher gas tax will hit the poor harder ... so maybe we increase the earned income tax credit to help the hardest hit. But we all need to pay for what we use. And we all use the highways.
More silly pixie dust from a no nothing ideology--let's pay for something we need with nothing!!! Yeah, that's the ticket.
Thanks for a good, thoughtful column. The 'take no prisoners' positions of the extremes makes governing difficult, if not impossible. Instead of a Congress which is an esteemed body of thoughtful individuals trying to do what is best for the country, the strength of the extreme ideologues gives us only crisis after crisis as brinkmanship is the preferred way of interacting; compromise is a dirty word; and getting anything less than 100% capitulation from the other side ("the enemy" in Tea Party parlance) is unacceptable.
Unfortunately, as is seen in the furor over the Iran deal, this need to humiliate and squelch those with whom one disagrees also bleeds into foreign policy where it can do great harm. Also unfortunately, electing a relative moderate (Jeb Bush) to the White House is not sufficient as long as the undemocratic forces of "no" are deeply influential on Capitol Hill. Shock therapy might, indeed, do the trick.
Unfortunately, as is seen in the furor over the Iran deal, this need to humiliate and squelch those with whom one disagrees also bleeds into foreign policy where it can do great harm. Also unfortunately, electing a relative moderate (Jeb Bush) to the White House is not sufficient as long as the undemocratic forces of "no" are deeply influential on Capitol Hill. Shock therapy might, indeed, do the trick.
18
What we will hear, in the Republican “debates” today, is an attempt to prove an old adage of another Circus Leader, P. T. Barnum; that there is a sucker born every minute.
Bush is hardly a relative moderate. Most of his positions are a nutty as the rest of the republican clowns, he just doesn't scream as loud
I sympathize with Tom Friedman's article. We need a rational, market driven party to represent the right, keep gov't efficient and be able to reach productive compromises. Unfortunately, I do not know if it still exists. The center right seems to be saying things that are not science driven, fact driven or market driven. Those "moderate" Republicans seemed to have disappeared along with portable CD players. Those that are there now seem so compromised by their opportunism who could take over a Republican party "sanctioned" by a landslide loss led by Donald Trump? ( BTW - they would have to loose the House too)
10
Not for the GOP to worry! Sooner rather than later the people holding these truly goofy (sorry Goofy!) ideas will pass on. I believe it was Max Planck said "new ideas in physics succeeded because those holding the old ones died off.."
10
Given the advances in geriatric medicine, KBD, not to mention how Republican gerrymandering has created so many safe seats in Congress, the country cannot simply wait for the Grim Reaper to help us out. We need to figure out how to win some seats on our own.
"Senate Republicans refused to pay for any of it with a gas tax, they raise the funds instead, in part, by selling oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is our insurance against another oil crisis. I’m not making this up."
Why would we think you're making it up? They've done the same thing with Social Security and then had the temerity to say it doesn't work. It's a white elephant. Get rid of it. No one even bothers to talk about how Congress has raided Social Security any longer. They just warble on about cutting entitlements--"entitlements" I've paid into my entire life because the government mandated it and from which I likely won't receive a dime if the Republicans have their way.
Why would we think you're making it up? They've done the same thing with Social Security and then had the temerity to say it doesn't work. It's a white elephant. Get rid of it. No one even bothers to talk about how Congress has raided Social Security any longer. They just warble on about cutting entitlements--"entitlements" I've paid into my entire life because the government mandated it and from which I likely won't receive a dime if the Republicans have their way.
47
Mr. Friedman, I understand the problem, but the people's budgets are strained. (Wages have been flat for how long?) And, remember what happened when the price of gas shot up --- I kind of remember it being followed by the home mortgage crisis.
But, it's not that the people don't like or want nice things, including roads - these are safe things.
I was in Cedar Rapids, IA, yesterday, for baseball, and one of the mothers commented on only two lanes and the swamped entrance ramps. I had already mentioned to my newly licensed grandson, on the way in, how important it is to be accommodating in busy traffic to those trying to enter the highway. (I also mentioned to him, "wouldn't it be cool if a fast train ran up that center grassy section between the north and south bound lanes!")
So, yes, I think we need to some new roads, and a tax would be fine, but I also think we need to get wages up, so that the home budgets aren't so drastically affected, as many in rural communities commute an hour or more to work, and on budgets strained, it may mean a child wouldn't get piano lessons or baseball!
But, it's not that the people don't like or want nice things, including roads - these are safe things.
I was in Cedar Rapids, IA, yesterday, for baseball, and one of the mothers commented on only two lanes and the swamped entrance ramps. I had already mentioned to my newly licensed grandson, on the way in, how important it is to be accommodating in busy traffic to those trying to enter the highway. (I also mentioned to him, "wouldn't it be cool if a fast train ran up that center grassy section between the north and south bound lanes!")
So, yes, I think we need to some new roads, and a tax would be fine, but I also think we need to get wages up, so that the home budgets aren't so drastically affected, as many in rural communities commute an hour or more to work, and on budgets strained, it may mean a child wouldn't get piano lessons or baseball!
8
Disappointed Mr. Friedman. Just 5c? So much soft pedalling towards the Republican positions that are hurting our country. no wonder we are where we are.
6
If Republicans so dislike science and facts, at least they could consider history. This country moved forward with great leaps when it took on major public works projects. The expansion of the canal and railroad systems, the interstate highways, WPA, electrification and dam projects, and even the space program, all contributed to making the US a modern economic powerhouse.
Sure, there were occasional hiccups in funding (and some over-building) of those projects, but we were bolder then, with more vision and determination. We tried harder, and succeeded more. Reagan's "government is the problem" is what has set us so inexorably on the road to second-class national status.
Sure, there were occasional hiccups in funding (and some over-building) of those projects, but we were bolder then, with more vision and determination. We tried harder, and succeeded more. Reagan's "government is the problem" is what has set us so inexorably on the road to second-class national status.
60
You forget--they don't like history any more either. I've actually heard Republicans say the Depression never happened--it's just a liberal myth cooked up by folks who want to pretend that public works projects, like those you mention, do some good.
Its hard to know how to deal with people who, faced with an inconvenient truth--and today's Republicans are faced with many, from science to history to economics--they simply respond by denying reality, and continue to scream their lies and distortions, as though louder makes them true.
Its hard to know how to deal with people who, faced with an inconvenient truth--and today's Republicans are faced with many, from science to history to economics--they simply respond by denying reality, and continue to scream their lies and distortions, as though louder makes them true.
You are exactly on target AM from Hew Hampshire; you forgot the GI Bill after WW2 which created a highly skilled workforce that enabled businesses to grow and prosper. Also GI mortgages that drove a housing expansion and created jobs. The conservatives forgot that it's government and business together that created us. Government isn't the problem RR it's part of the solution.
How about a tax on the millions of new billionaires and millionaires in the country. They have had a nice, easy ride. This gas tax is recidivistic as it is the same for the low worker and the millionaire. The tax burden falls more heavily on the lower classes and it should be the opposite.
22
Republican behavior is recidivistic but the gas tax is regressive. As opposed to progressive like the income tax ...
Yes, but I think you mean "regressive". Just like the Flat Tax, a similar tax hurts those who have the least while the richest pay in pocket change.
By the way I don't mind anyone getting rich. And I dislike the term "income inequality". There will never be income equality. Just let those with the most pay their fair share, progressively.
By the way I don't mind anyone getting rich. And I dislike the term "income inequality". There will never be income equality. Just let those with the most pay their fair share, progressively.
If I got to ask one question, it would be this: " What change do you propose to make foreign-based multinational corporations operating in the US pay their fair share of corporate income taxes and level the playing field for all corporations - big, small, multistate and multinational?" Per a recent Economist article, Tax them and they will grow - Poor countries need to get better at raising tax, and multinational firms need to get better at paying it, "The most common way multinationals avoid taxes is through transfer pricing" which allows taxable profits to be shifted to subsidiaries purposely located in tax havens. But, of course, it not just poor African countries that are being shortchanged by multinationals. Every non-tax haven country is at risk and, in dollar amounts, the US most likely loses more corporate income tax revenues than any other single country. And it is getting worse with more and more US-based corporations pursuing tax inversions to change their "nationality" by moving to a foreign country.
For a good example, look at the beer business in the US. Per recent Senate testimony by Boston Beer founder and chairman, Jim Koch, 90% of the beer made in the US is made by foreign-owned companies. The US beer business is now dominated by Europe's Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and SABMiller Plc. Jim Koch told the Senators that "Because of our broken corporate tax system, I can honestly predict that I will likely be the last American owner of Boston Beer Company."
For a good example, look at the beer business in the US. Per recent Senate testimony by Boston Beer founder and chairman, Jim Koch, 90% of the beer made in the US is made by foreign-owned companies. The US beer business is now dominated by Europe's Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and SABMiller Plc. Jim Koch told the Senators that "Because of our broken corporate tax system, I can honestly predict that I will likely be the last American owner of Boston Beer Company."
9
Want a quick solution for the problem on tax haven countries? Impose a big tariff on the goods from any tax haven country--we will kill your economy unless you stop trying to kill ours. End of story.
Mr. Friedman misses a key point in today's column. There is no "center left" anymore. The Democrats he cited -- President Obama and Secretary Clinton ARE "center right" by any sane historic measure. Today's compromises do not happen between a "center left" and a "center right." There is only a "center right" and an "unhinged base". Does Mr. Friedman have any doubt that in today's Republican primary Dwight Eisenhower could never win a nomination, but he could sweep to the Democratic nomination?
Heck, as the column suggests at the beginning, even Ronald Reagan, the patron saint of the Tea Party, would have to be condemned as a mushy centrist by the likes of Ted Cruz.
Heck, as the column suggests at the beginning, even Ronald Reagan, the patron saint of the Tea Party, would have to be condemned as a mushy centrist by the likes of Ted Cruz.
33
@ JR
You are absolutely right about Democrats actually being a center right party. Before the last general election, The Guardian published an editorial about the fact that the US is mainly center right, and argued they didn't have to look for another president since they already had their solidly center right man in President Obama.
As to the unhinged base, they probably would consider Eisenhower of being an outright pinko.
You are absolutely right about Democrats actually being a center right party. Before the last general election, The Guardian published an editorial about the fact that the US is mainly center right, and argued they didn't have to look for another president since they already had their solidly center right man in President Obama.
As to the unhinged base, they probably would consider Eisenhower of being an outright pinko.
As Mr. Friedman has pointed out before, the Tea Party takeover has not only marginalized Republicans in serious policy debates, it is marginalizing the United States, and indeed federal governments around the world. I'm currently attending the International Congress for Conservation Biology in Montpellier France, where the major topic is balancing the linked needs of nature and human society. Most of the basic tenets of these discussions originated in the U.S. and incorporated in our environmental laws, but the focus of the conference is on solutions developed by NGOs and their academic collaborators worldwide. There are many brilliant strategies being put forward here about how to conserve the minimum geography needed to preserve a functioning global ecosystem. Sadly, the Republican/Fox takeover of U.S. policy, replicated in much of Europe and Australia, has removed the perception of government (other than at the city or regional scale) as a serious partner for implementing the urgently-needed changes. What will it take to bring back rational pragmatism?
9
If you added up all the potholes, sinkholes broken bridges and tunnels into one big hole it would be the size of a giant bomb crater, maybe bigger than that. Their refusal to fund infrastructure maintenance is like being bombed bit by bit. If you add up the car repair costs, the delays when tunnels go out it's just another kind of theft. They steal from the poor and give to the rich.
23
Tom Friedman always sees thing from a broad perspective and has a solution to any problem
In this case he sees what is happening to our country as we are being taken by the GOP that is controlled by a group of people who are angry and have issues that are destructive to our nation.
Since there is little chance that they will be willing to negotiate, our country will be losing ground.
Donald Trump has become the poster boy for the party and its angry anti tax, anti. Education, anti diplomacy anti immigration,anti science anti women etc.
Until the party returns to its roots there is little hope for progress.
In this case he sees what is happening to our country as we are being taken by the GOP that is controlled by a group of people who are angry and have issues that are destructive to our nation.
Since there is little chance that they will be willing to negotiate, our country will be losing ground.
Donald Trump has become the poster boy for the party and its angry anti tax, anti. Education, anti diplomacy anti immigration,anti science anti women etc.
Until the party returns to its roots there is little hope for progress.
7
Good question. But being mendacious politicians, they'd dodge it.
4
Keep dreaming, Tom. There's about as much chance of any of the GOP presidential candidates backing a hike in the gas tax as there is to any of them admitting they believe in evolution or climate change.
17
If you're expecting a direct answer to a direct question, you're living in a fantasy world every bit as unreal as the one conservative Republicans live in.
8
Want a direct answer to a direct question ask The Donald. That is one reason he is so popular.
17
Jeb Bush is not center-right; he is in the extreme right-wing of this country. But he is left of some of his fellow wing-nuts running for President.
The Republican Party cannot be fixed. It sold its soul to the Devil ever since it stole the election of 2000. The Devil has since demanded many payments: the attacks of 9/11 (which could have been prevented by a competent Administration), two insane wars in the Middle East, the conversion of the largest federal budget surpluses ever into the largest deficits ever, the largest trade deficits in our history, the transfer of income and wealth to the rich from the rest, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and the most vile attacks on a sitting President in history.
I share Mr. Bartlett's hope that Mr. Trump wins the nomination of the Greedy Old Party, because he would lose to any Democrat in a landslide.
The Republican Party cannot be fixed. It sold its soul to the Devil ever since it stole the election of 2000. The Devil has since demanded many payments: the attacks of 9/11 (which could have been prevented by a competent Administration), two insane wars in the Middle East, the conversion of the largest federal budget surpluses ever into the largest deficits ever, the largest trade deficits in our history, the transfer of income and wealth to the rich from the rest, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and the most vile attacks on a sitting President in history.
I share Mr. Bartlett's hope that Mr. Trump wins the nomination of the Greedy Old Party, because he would lose to any Democrat in a landslide.
898
Wing-nuts. Devils. Greedy Old Party. This is a pick? Seriously?
By the way, only the most extreme leftist would consider Bush "extreme right-wing." (But your name-calling already gave that away.)
By the way, only the most extreme leftist would consider Bush "extreme right-wing." (But your name-calling already gave that away.)
1
The 9/11 attack could not have been avoided by America, for it was planned and executed by America
Be careful what you wish for, Trump might just win. American people are just that stupid.
1
Tom, the first response from the panel would be, "That's not true." There was a time when hard evidence meant something. That time has passed. For many in our country, America is now faith-based.
To wit: Evolution is not controversial among scientists, but it is controversial (or just flatly denied) by GOP presidential contenders;
Climate change is not controversial, but ....
The world is threatened by overpopulation, but all our GOP friends can see is that the Bible, during an age in which ethnicities disappeared, counseled, "Be fruitful and multiply."
Imagine if the President suggested raiding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
No, ask them about Israel and Saudi Arabia, two of our dearest friends in the Middle East whom we arm so that they can fight each other in the name of each one's particular religious fantasy.
Ask them about the economics that is currently practiced worldwide in which governments cut spending in the face of reduced consumer spending, claiming that such behavior will somehow bolster "confidence," when it has in fact prolonged downturns and recessions.
On second thought, don't bother with that one, because they'll make some analogy to a family tightening its belt, which is remarkably inappropriate but will resound with a crowd that enjoys inappropriate analogies.
Ask them what the third cabinet position Rick Perry wanted to eliminate.
Ask them how soon after they take office Americans will invade Iran.
Ask them what day it is.
To wit: Evolution is not controversial among scientists, but it is controversial (or just flatly denied) by GOP presidential contenders;
Climate change is not controversial, but ....
The world is threatened by overpopulation, but all our GOP friends can see is that the Bible, during an age in which ethnicities disappeared, counseled, "Be fruitful and multiply."
Imagine if the President suggested raiding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
No, ask them about Israel and Saudi Arabia, two of our dearest friends in the Middle East whom we arm so that they can fight each other in the name of each one's particular religious fantasy.
Ask them about the economics that is currently practiced worldwide in which governments cut spending in the face of reduced consumer spending, claiming that such behavior will somehow bolster "confidence," when it has in fact prolonged downturns and recessions.
On second thought, don't bother with that one, because they'll make some analogy to a family tightening its belt, which is remarkably inappropriate but will resound with a crowd that enjoys inappropriate analogies.
Ask them what the third cabinet position Rick Perry wanted to eliminate.
Ask them how soon after they take office Americans will invade Iran.
Ask them what day it is.
591
Far too many of our lawmakers have signed the Norquist Pledge. They should be removed from office immediately. Further, it should be obvious by now that the republicans are powered by campaign contributions as they work to privatize the functions that would normally fall to government employees. The partisan slush fund is another of their favorite tools as exemplified by Governor Scott Walker's Wisconsin Economic Development Fund which handed out over $120 million to his cronies, much of it without so much as an application being submitted. I believe this is the rationale behind the destruction of the Import-Export Bank; it is non-partisan and it helps many businesses that employ trade-union workers.
12
Great piece Tom. I hope they ask your question but this is Fox News. We are going to hear about KEEPING AMERICA SAFE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
3
Mr. Friedman, why worry whether or not some bought and paid for Koch toadie from the GOP Clown Car understands the facts of life?
Do what we grownups do, vote American.
Do what we grownups do, vote American.
8
The problem the GOP has generated is that its core has been radically fragmented into self serving cadres funded by very wealthy and very angry, or fearful, constituencies. So we see radical positions on abortion; radical positions on taxation; radical positions on climate change; radical positions on gun control; radical position on our social safety nets, all fighting tooth and nail to win the day. Every candidate on the podium this week will have a maze of litmus like positions to defend or support or attempt to avoid as they struggle to gain some ground.
Were I a Republican, I would be concerned. As a democrat I see the same issue in my party, just not so ideological and clear. There is no answer to it until of the source is removed, that being single source, big money donors to political action groups. Our election system has been broken by a Supreme Court which quantifies corporations as people, and money as speech. Until those decisions are overturned, our political system is screwed.
Were I a Republican, I would be concerned. As a democrat I see the same issue in my party, just not so ideological and clear. There is no answer to it until of the source is removed, that being single source, big money donors to political action groups. Our election system has been broken by a Supreme Court which quantifies corporations as people, and money as speech. Until those decisions are overturned, our political system is screwed.
18
make voting mandatory and then "middle ground" becomes the place every candidate wants to occupy.
"But can they run, win and govern from the center-right when the base of their party and so many of its billionaire donors reflect the angry anti-science, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-minorities, anti-gay rights and anti-immigration views of the Tea Party and its media enforcer, Fox News?"
This is the best assessment of the morass facing the Republican party, which,, as you say, made a pact with the devil in 2010 and kept it up until it culminates in Donald Trump, that I've every read. The GOP is the party of "anti". It's a negative, fact denying, mud-slinging, mean-spirited group of naysayers beholden to a bunch of rich oligarchs who want to keep running dirty coal plants.
The simple fact we can't even fund highway restoration really says it all. As America drives (or not), so goes the country. The richest nation on earth is falling on every economic and social parameter, from health outcomes to educational scores, to quality of life, to justice and voting rights. And we can thank the thankless Tea Party for that.
So, I agree: let Donald Trump have his say, and his sway, and pull a Goldwater to expiate once and for all the negativity dominating this party. Let it rise again, maybe under a different name--hey, let's call them the "Compromisers".
It would be apt use of a word that's fallen out of use for far too long.
This is the best assessment of the morass facing the Republican party, which,, as you say, made a pact with the devil in 2010 and kept it up until it culminates in Donald Trump, that I've every read. The GOP is the party of "anti". It's a negative, fact denying, mud-slinging, mean-spirited group of naysayers beholden to a bunch of rich oligarchs who want to keep running dirty coal plants.
The simple fact we can't even fund highway restoration really says it all. As America drives (or not), so goes the country. The richest nation on earth is falling on every economic and social parameter, from health outcomes to educational scores, to quality of life, to justice and voting rights. And we can thank the thankless Tea Party for that.
So, I agree: let Donald Trump have his say, and his sway, and pull a Goldwater to expiate once and for all the negativity dominating this party. Let it rise again, maybe under a different name--hey, let's call them the "Compromisers".
It would be apt use of a word that's fallen out of use for far too long.
9
Good Idea! Why not ask Limbaugh etc.what they think? They control the thought process of the GOP! Right or Center Right!
2
One hears often about the hidden GOP moderates. I seriously doubt their existence, and certainly question their backbone. If such a 'center-right' exists their presence is certainly hidden from view. The Bush's have been notoriously weak purveyors of the center right, often surrendering to the more extreme wings. GHW Bush showed his weakness when he gave himself over to Lee Atwater, the right wing viscous campaigner that he was. His son, GW Bush, was even weaker in the face of the right wing, inviting them into his Cabinet. I once heard John Ashcroft described as the face of American Fascism, which I thought a bit far fetched. Today Jeb Bush seems similarly disposed - another closeted 'center-right' candidate who boasts his conservative bonda fides, while in coquettish fashion teases Tom Friedman. Sorry, Tom, you've been misled.
4
Not much of a question when the Ten men are fully aligned against women, contraceptive freedom, minimum wage disinterest and laughable maternity benefits. The lame construct that if the GOP could get behind "running of Government for the benefit of business" the social "meanest men and girl hatred" will not matter. Bunk.
3
Cmon now! Those are ISIS and Taliban ideas! Are you saying that Republicans are the Western incarnation of the right wing extremists who are populating and agitating the rest of the world in the interest of protecting the status quo of times past? Who woulda thunk!
The fundamentalist religious epistemology harbored by Tea Party members makes compromise on the carbon tax or any other issue impossible. Think government shutdown.Think Planned Parenthood. The embrace of religious dogma stems from a mind set that by definition rejects reason,empirical evidence, and compromise. The wisdom of the carbon tax is backed by overwhelming empirical evidence. Dogmatists don't compromise.The irony is that the "Framers" the Tea Party so often refers to, designed a republican form of government that was based on compromise.The Constitution, another frequent Tea Party referent,is the embodiment of compromise. The current dysfunction in our political system stems from their dogmatic belief system.
6
We need to figure out a way to 'toggle' the human genes that demand rote rules and certainty. The Republican idea that they can bend reality to create absolute certainty for more that a short period of time defies the fact that time doesn't run in a straight line, it spirals in time. This is compounded by the fact that the distance between humans and human ideas has been accelerated by human progress.
This makes the spiral tighter and more offensive to the rule based pursuers of absolutism and certainty. That's why they're squealing so loudly.
It would be better if we could fix that. Perhaps a strategically placed ten pack of xanax would help.
This makes the spiral tighter and more offensive to the rule based pursuers of absolutism and certainty. That's why they're squealing so loudly.
It would be better if we could fix that. Perhaps a strategically placed ten pack of xanax would help.
Milton Friedman, the demi god of the "conservative" movement, argued for a carbon tax in the early seventies. There is probably a paper or two on the subject. I do agree that "market based solutions" must be part of the political calculus. However, this means that the "conservatives"(whatever that word means today or tomorrow for that matter) must, no MUST accept that markets fail and there are situations where they do cannot be solved by the "invisible hand". Also, the common MUST be protected. This goes hand in hand with market failure. Externalities exist, can be accounted for and MUST be internalized in the firms cost structure.
3
Those were the days when fair taxes made sense.
Those clever folks who don't like fair taxes (or anything fair) have spent the last four decades defiling words that define fair and open governance. AND they do it by hijacking and carefully redefining the meaning of the very words that symbolize fair and open governance.
They use historically controversial issues like women's rights and abortion, and egalitarian issues like taxes, governance, and regulation to harvest self interests centered in hate, fear, greed, jealousy, and bigotry rather than pursue the 'higher order', humanitarian instincts of voters. It's a dark, sinister, 'law of the jungle' approach to governance.
The sad part is that these are the very tactics and ideas that have driven the despotism of every evil regime in the history of mankind. The promotion of a 'master race', and the exploitation of hate, fear, greed, jealousy, and bigotry are dangerous and foolhardy pursuits.
We're out of the jungle. It's time to celebrate and perfect human, rather than animal instincts.
Those clever folks who don't like fair taxes (or anything fair) have spent the last four decades defiling words that define fair and open governance. AND they do it by hijacking and carefully redefining the meaning of the very words that symbolize fair and open governance.
They use historically controversial issues like women's rights and abortion, and egalitarian issues like taxes, governance, and regulation to harvest self interests centered in hate, fear, greed, jealousy, and bigotry rather than pursue the 'higher order', humanitarian instincts of voters. It's a dark, sinister, 'law of the jungle' approach to governance.
The sad part is that these are the very tactics and ideas that have driven the despotism of every evil regime in the history of mankind. The promotion of a 'master race', and the exploitation of hate, fear, greed, jealousy, and bigotry are dangerous and foolhardy pursuits.
We're out of the jungle. It's time to celebrate and perfect human, rather than animal instincts.
As a moderate Republican, I feel like the character played by Mia Farrow in "Rosemary's Baby", when she says, with rising horror, "This isn't a dream - this is really happening!"
5
We've spent the last 7 decades trying to police the world in an effort to stem the tide of any perceived 'shoots' of Nazism (aka the ideological perversion of a working society through the promotion of a self defined, "exceptional", master race, and the purging of "others").
We forget to keep our eye on America.
We forget to keep our eye on America.
Bush and Kasich are center right, because the support raising the gas tax? I do not recall them specifically saying this, but okay. There is nothing center right about them. If 5 is the center on a 1 to 10 scale they are both 10's (okay I might give Kasich a 9).
Stop misleading the reading public into thinking that Republicans are okay, if you use the word center in modifying their conservatism. Republicans in now way resemble the party of Reagan's day. Reagan would not make it onto the tonight's debate stage if he were in the campaign.
Stop misleading the reading public into thinking that Republicans are okay, if you use the word center in modifying their conservatism. Republicans in now way resemble the party of Reagan's day. Reagan would not make it onto the tonight's debate stage if he were in the campaign.
8
I wouldn't trust my mother if she was a Republican.
Dysfunctional ideology, and the delusional commitment to self serving, "exceptionalism" (aka master racism) are the precursors to genocide (even if it only begins by 'offing' a few disenfranchised people don't match the thinking or color scheme of the 'offers').
We live in a time when there is a need for great change in virtually all of our economic and governing institutions, and none of those changes involve either small government, less regulation, or less taxes. We need smarter, more efficient, and more effective governance to cope with the uncertainty, and the global challenges of the 21st century. The Republican idea of returning to some previous century in order to hide from reality, and improve certainty, is a fools pursuit led by "exceptional" fools who have faith in themselves rather than humanity (or democracy).
The party needs to introduce some concern for "human values" (and not just the 'trickle on' or profit for the few kind), before I'd risk the chance of introducing one of these bad apples into my barrel.
Dysfunctional ideology, and the delusional commitment to self serving, "exceptionalism" (aka master racism) are the precursors to genocide (even if it only begins by 'offing' a few disenfranchised people don't match the thinking or color scheme of the 'offers').
We live in a time when there is a need for great change in virtually all of our economic and governing institutions, and none of those changes involve either small government, less regulation, or less taxes. We need smarter, more efficient, and more effective governance to cope with the uncertainty, and the global challenges of the 21st century. The Republican idea of returning to some previous century in order to hide from reality, and improve certainty, is a fools pursuit led by "exceptional" fools who have faith in themselves rather than humanity (or democracy).
The party needs to introduce some concern for "human values" (and not just the 'trickle on' or profit for the few kind), before I'd risk the chance of introducing one of these bad apples into my barrel.
A call to raise the federal tax on gasoline is so predictable, especially as oil prices drop. How about a plan to fix our broken healthcare system and be honest that we can not write a blank check to DoD. How about all Republican candidates not groveling to see who can love AIPAC more. How about fixing our tax code rather than saying they will shut down the IRS.
7
The core belief of the party of 'me'ism' is anarchy for "me", and slavery for you! It suits their thinking to a 't'.
AND, I've got to admit that without 'slavery for you', it is impossible to have anarchy for me. The problem is that as the thought progresses, there are more and more slaves, and less and less anarchists........until there is one!
AND, I've got to admit that without 'slavery for you', it is impossible to have anarchy for me. The problem is that as the thought progresses, there are more and more slaves, and less and less anarchists........until there is one!
As usual Friedman gets it right. Gas prices are fixed by the market. Any economist will tell you, above the production cost, whatever we don't take in taxes goes out to the foreign producers. That's a choice we have. Our gov't takes it in taxes or it goes out to producers. Increased taxes don't increase the market price, they only reduce what the producers will get instead.
6
There was a time when we didn't have computers, advanced science, and information at our fingertips.
During those times, we had no way to estimate the environmental and social impact of the 'free market resource extraction' of "common goods such as gas, oil, iron, and copper.
We now have that ability, and it makes enormous sense to both tax resource extraction to compensate for it's cost and social impact, and to tax pollution to compensate for for it's cost and social impact.
Smart governance will require smart solutions to the problem of reconciling the contrarian nature of humans with the rest of nature.
The Republican idea of wasting and burning the planet in an effort to produce more multi-billionaires who can 'trickle down' on the rest of us is a bit of an over simplification. It completely ignores the complex set of emotional, economic, physical, chemical, and natural interactions between the cosmos and things in it that science has revealed. Denying science and facts is a 'feel good' option, but it is not the answer to our human future.
During those times, we had no way to estimate the environmental and social impact of the 'free market resource extraction' of "common goods such as gas, oil, iron, and copper.
We now have that ability, and it makes enormous sense to both tax resource extraction to compensate for it's cost and social impact, and to tax pollution to compensate for for it's cost and social impact.
Smart governance will require smart solutions to the problem of reconciling the contrarian nature of humans with the rest of nature.
The Republican idea of wasting and burning the planet in an effort to produce more multi-billionaires who can 'trickle down' on the rest of us is a bit of an over simplification. It completely ignores the complex set of emotional, economic, physical, chemical, and natural interactions between the cosmos and things in it that science has revealed. Denying science and facts is a 'feel good' option, but it is not the answer to our human future.
Common to 3rd world and banana republiks is the absence of reasonable candidates. Blowhards, flip flop "policy" declarations, lack of clarity, raising the flag in the name of false patriotism. The 17 + 1 are significant for their complete insignificance as leaders. They are populist demagogues at best, and dangerous, borderline wackos beholden only to big money. Pollers and media image consultants rule. The candidates have little to nothing to offer that can not be gotten, better, on "professional" wrestling. There at least, the players are honest in the entertainment they offer up. It also damages nobody.
The GOP has fielded a dream team of nothings. Donald comes close to professional wrestling standards, the rest trail even that standard. Hillary has said everything to everybody. She has flip flopped on every issue, she would have to sacrifice most of her personality if she were to become only 2 faced. There is not an issue that she has not been on both sides up (depending on date and donor).
To say I am disgusted is an understatement,
The GOP has fielded a dream team of nothings. Donald comes close to professional wrestling standards, the rest trail even that standard. Hillary has said everything to everybody. She has flip flopped on every issue, she would have to sacrifice most of her personality if she were to become only 2 faced. There is not an issue that she has not been on both sides up (depending on date and donor).
To say I am disgusted is an understatement,
5
Small minded, scared people, rise up in protest and seek refuge against any need for systemic change.
Open minded, courageous people rise up and harness change to serve humanity.
We are in times of great change. The squealing cacophony and loud thumping of the footsteps of small minds retreating into caves is deafening.
Open minded, courageous people rise up and harness change to serve humanity.
We are in times of great change. The squealing cacophony and loud thumping of the footsteps of small minds retreating into caves is deafening.
Grover Norquist has the GOP manly parts in a vise. What I don't get is that so many small busineses and farms need safe and decent roads. We all benefit from them. City dwellers spend too much money burning gas and more importantly time due to inadequate road building, I think the GOP is the party of old people who shouldn't be driving anyway so they oppose the gas tax to pay for roads used by younger people, businesses and corporations.
11
The prescient question is: why did all of those 'manly' women haters put their genitals into Grover Norquist's hands in the first place?
"Bernie Sanders notwithstanding..." There is the problem. What Sanders is saying is straight out of the FDR playbook. If that has become radical, we're in even more trouble than I thought.
As for the GOP, all you need to know is that the party platform consists of one and only one objective - drowning Uncle Sam in a bathtub so the wealthy can own it all while paying the minimum in taxes, the rest of us be damned. Period.
As for the GOP, all you need to know is that the party platform consists of one and only one objective - drowning Uncle Sam in a bathtub so the wealthy can own it all while paying the minimum in taxes, the rest of us be damned. Period.
610
Bill Clinton abolished the FDR playbook, when he mooted the New Deal by deregulating the banking system with his signature on the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act. He gave Robert Rubin what Wall Street wanted, and nothing will ever be right again until the New Deal is restored.
The hilarious thing in all of the nonsense, which has transpired, since the goal of economic policy became to manipulate markets to the advantage of the few, is that Bernie has staked his standard on the high ground of mainstream economics.
He isn't a radical or a leftie as portrayed. On the contrary. He is advocating for proven and time tested banking regulation, which allowed for upward social mobility through sensible depository lending.
What Bernie is railing against is Too Big To Fail, super consolidated, financial institutions, which have overridden the market itself in order to manipulate outcomes to the advantage of the drones, who get rich upon the collateralization of derivative financial assets, but create no new assets in order to stimulate the real economy of goods and services.
Of course we have birthed a new Gilded Age of income inequality. The banks have been structured to be fragile, because even when they fail, no, especially when the fail: the rich only get richer at the expense of the Economy.
Bernie is the only real conservative out there who is stumping for a return to market sanity through sound banking! Absurdly, the so called Conservatives are the looneys!
The hilarious thing in all of the nonsense, which has transpired, since the goal of economic policy became to manipulate markets to the advantage of the few, is that Bernie has staked his standard on the high ground of mainstream economics.
He isn't a radical or a leftie as portrayed. On the contrary. He is advocating for proven and time tested banking regulation, which allowed for upward social mobility through sensible depository lending.
What Bernie is railing against is Too Big To Fail, super consolidated, financial institutions, which have overridden the market itself in order to manipulate outcomes to the advantage of the drones, who get rich upon the collateralization of derivative financial assets, but create no new assets in order to stimulate the real economy of goods and services.
Of course we have birthed a new Gilded Age of income inequality. The banks have been structured to be fragile, because even when they fail, no, especially when the fail: the rich only get richer at the expense of the Economy.
Bernie is the only real conservative out there who is stumping for a return to market sanity through sound banking! Absurdly, the so called Conservatives are the looneys!
2
"while paying the minimum in taxes" don't forget a minimum in wages, too.
2
Top down socialism, aka 'trickle, trickle, trickle' is the Republican hammer and sickle.
1
It makes perfect sense to raise the gas tax by say 5 cents. This is the right time, because oil prices are plummeting and hence gasoline prices are falling.
And yes, the US should be investing way more in infrastructure.
But regarding Republicans, Friedman says,
"….the base of their party and so many of its billionaire donors reflect the angry anti-science, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-minorities, anti-gay rights and anti-immigration views of the Tea Party and its media enforcer, Fox News?"
Well, ant-tax makes little sense, but anti-immigration is an issue that needs to be discussed.
And sadly, the liberal media is censoring the discussion of whether continued illegal immigration makes sense for the US in the long term.
Donald Trump criticized the quality of illegal immigrants who cross the border from Mexico. Unhappy with the message, Hispanic interest groups like Univision tried to shut his message down by cutting coverage of the Miss Universe contest in which Trump had a financial interest. NBC then followed suit.
This reflects a pattern of destroying any journalist or politician who does not speak the conventional wisdom, that continued illegal immigration is inevitable and anybody who notices that it is destroying the country should be characterized as a "racist" and a "bigot."
How sanctimonious of liberals!
Why not allow candidates to express their views and have a free and open discussion of the options?
That would be necessary in a genuine democracy.
And yes, the US should be investing way more in infrastructure.
But regarding Republicans, Friedman says,
"….the base of their party and so many of its billionaire donors reflect the angry anti-science, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-minorities, anti-gay rights and anti-immigration views of the Tea Party and its media enforcer, Fox News?"
Well, ant-tax makes little sense, but anti-immigration is an issue that needs to be discussed.
And sadly, the liberal media is censoring the discussion of whether continued illegal immigration makes sense for the US in the long term.
Donald Trump criticized the quality of illegal immigrants who cross the border from Mexico. Unhappy with the message, Hispanic interest groups like Univision tried to shut his message down by cutting coverage of the Miss Universe contest in which Trump had a financial interest. NBC then followed suit.
This reflects a pattern of destroying any journalist or politician who does not speak the conventional wisdom, that continued illegal immigration is inevitable and anybody who notices that it is destroying the country should be characterized as a "racist" and a "bigot."
How sanctimonious of liberals!
Why not allow candidates to express their views and have a free and open discussion of the options?
That would be necessary in a genuine democracy.
14
Mr. Trumps message was not just "anti-illegal immigration." His statements actually were racist. And in a country that values free speech, others have the right to respond in kind.
121
The Donald DID get to express his viewpoint. The folks at Univision and NBC expressed theirs. I don't see a problem.
12
even Bret has bought into the absurd notion of an all powerful "liberal media". come on Bret, you're better than that. your unexpected sympathies for the Donald and his bombast are undermining your integrity.
5
I would bet the candidates would deflect this question by saying that we needed to reduce "unnecessary programs." The Republicans, including Reagan, have lowered taxes but have really not eliminated any major programs. We still have a Department of Energy for instance. They have basically admitted that all those programs are necessary, but instead of showing leadership on how they could be improved, continue to attack them and, hence, inadequately finance them. I believe that constant stream of attacks is why many people in this country feel we are on the wrong track. This destructive "leadership" is tearing our country down.
458
Some programs the GOP would love to defund are Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, ACA, food stamps, etc. If the program doesn't somehow enhance the oligarchs treasury, it needs to go.
The Tea Party had their chance to lead, they failed. We all know they refuse to comprise and have brought congress to a stand still. They should be voted out of office due to gross incompetence. They have, in essence, done what they set out to do, and that is to form a third party. They should be forced out from under the umbrella of the Republican party. Forced to go it alone I don't think they would fare as well as they have.
I would be willing to pay a few cents more on the gas tax for the repair, and rebuilding of our infrastructure, as long as that is where the money accually went. Selling the strategic oil reserve to pay for it is like paying a credit card bill with another credit card, it is not good sound judgement. It is irresponsible incompetence. I would lose my job, you would lose your job, and so should they.
I would be willing to pay a few cents more on the gas tax for the repair, and rebuilding of our infrastructure, as long as that is where the money accually went. Selling the strategic oil reserve to pay for it is like paying a credit card bill with another credit card, it is not good sound judgement. It is irresponsible incompetence. I would lose my job, you would lose your job, and so should they.
90
It is in the interest of the Kochs and many other oil rich benefactors of the Republican Party to reduce the oil reserve to set them up for another "windfall" profit period. This party does not serve the national interest as they are pandering to their tycoons.
Similarly a gas tax, which might serve to reduce consumption while funding infrastructure will not get the nod from the Kochs.
Similarly a gas tax, which might serve to reduce consumption while funding infrastructure will not get the nod from the Kochs.
They are threatening to shut down the government again. What is it over this time? Planned Parenthood or something equally silly. They will spare no expense (so long as someone else is paying it) to save money.
For those who have forgotten, we are STILL paying the bill for the last time they pulled this trick. It is not cost free. The interest rate on the national debt that they moan about increased because S&P downgraded our credit worthiness after the last shutdown.
These are not serious politicians doing their job. These are adolescents egging each other on in stupid tricks. Hopefully, the high wire they have put themselves on is about to break and take them all down with it. It can't happen fast enough. Our grandchildren will have neither water to drink nor air to breath.
For those who have forgotten, we are STILL paying the bill for the last time they pulled this trick. It is not cost free. The interest rate on the national debt that they moan about increased because S&P downgraded our credit worthiness after the last shutdown.
These are not serious politicians doing their job. These are adolescents egging each other on in stupid tricks. Hopefully, the high wire they have put themselves on is about to break and take them all down with it. It can't happen fast enough. Our grandchildren will have neither water to drink nor air to breath.
Dear Mr. Friedman,
I would not expect the "Koch Three Ring Circus" to allow such thought provoking questions as it involves, well, thought, something the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE's bunch of "non-scientists" do not have in their repertoire, such as it is.
Your center, left, center right reads more like a football play when, in reality, the "professional politicians" spawned by both parties talk a good game but are really in it for a "paycheck", quite a good one at that.
Then along comes Mr. Trump. Not a Clinton, not a Bush and not beholden to the billionaires who finance both parties. Unfortunately, he's not a "breath of fresh air" but a hurricane that has shaken the Republican scrum to it's roots; he speaks the "truth" of what the GOP/TP/K.A. really stands for as nasty as it is.
The very scary part, he's leading in their polls. The other scary part, the lack of voters who actually vote.
When "Hurricane of Hot Air" meets the "Lassitude of the Public", the whole bunch of us may just be surprised by the newly elected President Trump.
If the Republicans are worried about "The Donald" then the Democrats should pay heed. It may not just be the money that matters any more but extreme voters who could care less about "center, left, etc." but who actually voice their opinions by voting, something the bulk of the public sees as a worthless "chore", at least 64% of them who didn't vote in 2014.
Maybe Mr. Trump will lose the "debate" perhaps?
I would not expect the "Koch Three Ring Circus" to allow such thought provoking questions as it involves, well, thought, something the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE's bunch of "non-scientists" do not have in their repertoire, such as it is.
Your center, left, center right reads more like a football play when, in reality, the "professional politicians" spawned by both parties talk a good game but are really in it for a "paycheck", quite a good one at that.
Then along comes Mr. Trump. Not a Clinton, not a Bush and not beholden to the billionaires who finance both parties. Unfortunately, he's not a "breath of fresh air" but a hurricane that has shaken the Republican scrum to it's roots; he speaks the "truth" of what the GOP/TP/K.A. really stands for as nasty as it is.
The very scary part, he's leading in their polls. The other scary part, the lack of voters who actually vote.
When "Hurricane of Hot Air" meets the "Lassitude of the Public", the whole bunch of us may just be surprised by the newly elected President Trump.
If the Republicans are worried about "The Donald" then the Democrats should pay heed. It may not just be the money that matters any more but extreme voters who could care less about "center, left, etc." but who actually voice their opinions by voting, something the bulk of the public sees as a worthless "chore", at least 64% of them who didn't vote in 2014.
Maybe Mr. Trump will lose the "debate" perhaps?
7
Dream on. Until the outrageous problem with $$ in politics is addressed, this will not change. To write an article bemoaning the lack of a legitimate GOP without acknowledging the cause, which is staring us all in the face, seems to miss the point.
168
Every article and TV show I watch talks about the "extreme right wing." What about the extreme left wing? the DEMS are no better. The Clintons, for example, have become part of the 1% not by opening a business or creating a new invention, but by gaming the system. We are told by Elizabeth Warren of the sins of the student loan program yet she pockets the money that the program provides. The last three Republican candidates have been moderate. don't believe me? Geroge W Fully funded education while his party would have preferred the elimination of the education department. John Mccain is a well known maverick. And are you trying to tell me that Romney, who was gov. of perhaps the most liberal state in the union and the author of Romney care is an extreme right wing? Debbie Wasserman Schultz is on TV with DEM friendly Chris Mathews and can explain the difference between DEMS and Socialists - Hardly an Fox news ambush. Where are the Ed Koches and Patrick Moynahans?
7
Oh Larry Please.
The Clintons want to raise the Clinton's taxes to the levels they were under Mr. Reagan.
That's a far cry from the Kochs who want to destroy the government just like their Daddy who founded the John Birch soceity whose charter includes destroying the US Government.
The Kochs are born to privlege rich kids who've never done an honest day's work in their lives and have, from the time they emerged from their mom's gilded birth canal, have never heard a disparaging word in their presense.
David and Charles Koch are, in a very real sense, as removed from ordinary life as the Emperor in the Forbidden City.
But if you feel the Clintons, who've earned what they have, are the same as David and Charles Koch, who won the birth canal lottery, then continue to work tirelessly to make the Koch's pampered lives just a little bit cushier...and of course continue to enjoy Fox-Kids.
The Clintons want to raise the Clinton's taxes to the levels they were under Mr. Reagan.
That's a far cry from the Kochs who want to destroy the government just like their Daddy who founded the John Birch soceity whose charter includes destroying the US Government.
The Kochs are born to privlege rich kids who've never done an honest day's work in their lives and have, from the time they emerged from their mom's gilded birth canal, have never heard a disparaging word in their presense.
David and Charles Koch are, in a very real sense, as removed from ordinary life as the Emperor in the Forbidden City.
But if you feel the Clintons, who've earned what they have, are the same as David and Charles Koch, who won the birth canal lottery, then continue to work tirelessly to make the Koch's pampered lives just a little bit cushier...and of course continue to enjoy Fox-Kids.
1
The last three GOP presidential candidates might have had moderate records in many respects, but each spewed the requisite reactionary filth to whomever would listen, in order to earn (Wall) street cred. Where was Romney when he had the chance to tell the GOP to stop foaming at the mouth over national Romneycare (aka Obamacare) and start doing something worthwhile? Oh that's right, he was busy fanning the flames.
The problem with the current Republican tax agenda is that every tax is viewed as taking money away and redistributing it. However many government services are not redistribution.
The current Republican right wants to use things but not pay for them. A gasoline tax to fund highway construction is about as straight forward a way for users to pay for what they consume. It is a flat tax, it could be argued that it is regressive, and still they say no. Fiscal conservatism used to be a Republican value. Reagan was right, we should all pay for what we use.
The current Republican right wants to use things but not pay for them. A gasoline tax to fund highway construction is about as straight forward a way for users to pay for what they consume. It is a flat tax, it could be argued that it is regressive, and still they say no. Fiscal conservatism used to be a Republican value. Reagan was right, we should all pay for what we use.
508
There's one problem with your premise...Obama spent almost $1 trillion to save the economy and I have not seen so much as a single new stop sign installed as part of "shovel ready" jobs Obama talked about so frequently. Funny how nobody asks "where did all of that money actually go?". Answer that question in detail, and you may have people take actually take Friedman seriously.
1
Look at the growth of deficits under Republicans, especially Reagan. Republicans are about cutting taxes NOT paying for what we use. The only time Reagan claimed he wanted to pay for things was while also claiming he could do that by cutting tax rates on his rich friends. Reagan was a fiscal disaster.
8
This is the philosophy that the Republican Party has foisted on Americans, and it is indeed hard to resist: What the govt does for Republicans is good because Republicans are good and everyone else should pay to make sure those good people have good lives. What govt does for everyone else is bad because everyone else is bad and Republicans shouldn't have to pay for it, if it is done by the govt at all. Despite the fact that the Christianity so many conservatives claim to subscribe to considers this sort of attitude to be one of the most sinful, it is hard to resist a bevy of famous, powerful, rich people telling you how wonderful you are and how all your grievances result from the actions of people different from you, while a major mass media outlet reinforces the message in subtle and not-so-sublte ways 24/7/365. If we don't learn to resist that mode of thinking, though, it is hard to imagine how our great American experiment can turn out well.
123
The tea party reminds me when my son threw a tantrum when he was eight -smart but not smart enough to see his own desires as opposed to the desires of his parents, all very selfish.
22
True, but we are also paying a high price for the way the progressive left has marginalized the center-left. Foolish extremists now dominate both parties. Real moderates have no home in either party and the conditions are ripe for a serious effort at a third party in the middle.
5
Um, no.
Obama and Clinton are conservatives by any rational definition of the word.
Obama and Clinton are conservatives by any rational definition of the word.
The emergence of the Tea Party made the GOP was very happy. After all, they could look reasonable and normal while the TP attacked the Democrats, in general, and Obama, in particular. With its "media enforcer" (what an appropriate phrase!) Fox News the TP grew and grew and grew. But at some point the cancer that was unleashed on the enemy - the Democrats and President Obama - turned around and began to grow in-house, now part and parcel of the GOP itself.
The chickens have come home to roost!
The chickens have come home to roost!
13
Why is it that the 18.4 cents a gallon tax not enough to pay for the road repairs? We also have toll taxes and state taxes (applied at the gas station) for the same purpose. With your rational soon it will be 36 cents a gallon. Yes, gas prices have gone down (for now). They went down last year as well and then rose back up only to come back down. When it comes to gas prices there is no stability. For some people that extra 5 cents you are proposing would be outrageous.
4
It's not enough because costs have risen. The 'real' tax is now much lower than when congress first imposed it. There are many people for whom any gas tax poses a problem, but that is because of wage stagnation. The failure to make investments (the correct term for describing infrastructure improvements) reduces economic capacity and therefore degrades the ability to make future investments, a vicious circle that contributes to economic stagnation. This is about as basic an economic concept as there is, and it should not be difficult to grasp.
2
Sorry, but that's like looking at a $3.89 box of cereal in the store and saying "No! Why isn't $2.39 enough?!" Just because you'd like something to cost a certain amount doesn't mean it's realistic.
This might come as a shock to you, but 18.4 cents in 1993 was worth just a bit more than 18.4 cents is worth today. In fact, it would be equivalent to 30 cents in today's money; nearly twice as much. It was only just enough back then, and now it buys only 61% as much as it did 22 years ago. And it comes at a time when our country is at a crossroads: do we continue to cross our fingers and hope that everyone else stops trying and just accepts that our foam fingers are correct and the U.S. is always #1? Or do we recognize that history is never over, and that to remain relevant we must build for the future as previous generations did for us?
Furthermore, although demand for gasoline spiked in the latter part of the 1990s thanks to the truck-based SUV fad, people have finally started to buy more fuel-efficient cars again – which is a good thing in many ways, but takes
another bite out of this revenue stream at an inopportune time.
This might come as a shock to you, but 18.4 cents in 1993 was worth just a bit more than 18.4 cents is worth today. In fact, it would be equivalent to 30 cents in today's money; nearly twice as much. It was only just enough back then, and now it buys only 61% as much as it did 22 years ago. And it comes at a time when our country is at a crossroads: do we continue to cross our fingers and hope that everyone else stops trying and just accepts that our foam fingers are correct and the U.S. is always #1? Or do we recognize that history is never over, and that to remain relevant we must build for the future as previous generations did for us?
Furthermore, although demand for gasoline spiked in the latter part of the 1990s thanks to the truck-based SUV fad, people have finally started to buy more fuel-efficient cars again – which is a good thing in many ways, but takes
another bite out of this revenue stream at an inopportune time.
1
Because the roads are falling apart and the current tax doesn't pay for the proposed efforts in the highway bill to start fixing them. Gas prices go up and down by 5 cents in a day or two. You won't even notice. But what you will notice is roads with fewer potholes and bridges that don't fall down. Those are investments in the future, and they benefit the economy in at least two ways: first by injecting money into the pockets of workers who will spend it and second by making commerce easier, faster, and more reliable. A win win!
1
Considering how conservative "thought" has been denying science as well as logic and attention to numeric facts their "center" right would exclude Barry Goldwater as too liberal.
Republicans of all stripes fought against full rights and personhood of living people as they sanctify the personhood of big businesses.
Convincing voters into voting against their own interests has worked for the GOP for decades, both the working class folk and the wealthy with investments that consistently surge with Democratic administrations.
Republicans of all stripes fought against full rights and personhood of living people as they sanctify the personhood of big businesses.
Convincing voters into voting against their own interests has worked for the GOP for decades, both the working class folk and the wealthy with investments that consistently surge with Democratic administrations.
33
The GOP is just stuck in neutral. They just run in circles saying everything the President says and does is wrong and destroying the country, however they just have no plan of their own or a plan that a first graded would know is crazy. Thomas is right, give Trump the nomination, maybe that would push the reset button and let out the people in the GOP with a brain. And yes, raise the gas tax.
22
The worst thing to happen for either party would be for Trump or Sanders to go independent. Without Trump on the ticket, destined to lose, the Republican party would squander another decade for some desperately needed soul-searching. And if Bernie Sanders goes it alone, idealistic liberal Democrats could Nader Hillary's chances. Or, worst of all, they both campaign independently, splitting the Democratic vote and leaving the door open just enough for the electrified Tea Party electorate to put Donald Trump in the Oval Office. And that's a terrifying thought.
15
Obama wants to repair our roads and highways which would create jobs but that would make Obama look good so republicans oppose. If they took the Presidency, infrastructure spending would be passed in a NY minute (despite tea party opposition). The storyline would then be two fold. One, Obama was bad because he didn't repair our infrastructure and two, look at all the jobs WE created.
125
You're right. It's entirely about President Obama.
The problem is many Americans don't believe the president is capable of repairing or building anything. Given his poor performance on Obamacare, it's entirely likely the money would never achieve its desired effect and the president would later mumble something about having not yet figured out what a "shovel-ready" project was or how hard it is to actually build things.
Then we'd be subjected to massaged data that tried to spin the failures into a success.
The problem is many Americans don't believe the president is capable of repairing or building anything. Given his poor performance on Obamacare, it's entirely likely the money would never achieve its desired effect and the president would later mumble something about having not yet figured out what a "shovel-ready" project was or how hard it is to actually build things.
Then we'd be subjected to massaged data that tried to spin the failures into a success.
Oh yes the purity of Goldwater who got creamed. Trump is no Goldwater but looked what happened under Johson.
2
Do you honestly think that Goldwater as President would not listen to the generals who brought about the catastrophe of Viet Nam? Do you believe that Goldwater would have pushed through a Civil Rights Act? Johnson's mistake was paying attention to the generals. He realized it in 1968. His mistake haunted him for the few remaining years of his life.
1
The high wall immigration thing is a dumb, wasteful use of money. It won't accomplish anything and we have other needs to spend the money on.
13
Yeah, the Maginot line comes to mind on that wall thing. The Germans just went around it, and so would illegals.
Tom--- their "politics" are, finally and irrevocably, a quasi-religion, so posing a question that might yield an intellectual insight into how they think is an empty exercise, Regarding your question, taxes serve one purpose and it's part of their catechism: taxes were created to be cut-- after all they've all been religiously confirmed having taken the Norquist pledge, and they know that raising taxes violates their religion's first commandment. Referencing St. Ronnie in the context of the historical fact that He raised the gas tax could never be part of a response--- He never raised taxes...a messianic cult is, of course, based on the purity of its mystical superhuman leader. So Tom, you're mistaken, St. Ronnie only cut taxes.. next question.
8
What an excellent question?
Reagan was right and the GOP needs to address highway funding. Let those who drive pay for the roads!
Can't wait to hear the hedging, faking, wailing, ducking and gnashing of teeth.
Reagan was right and the GOP needs to address highway funding. Let those who drive pay for the roads!
Can't wait to hear the hedging, faking, wailing, ducking and gnashing of teeth.
4
Because I'm a tea party guy
I reject all science which does not apply
To my convictions which were dimly conceived
Not by reason but the talk radio I believed.
I reject all science which does not apply
To my convictions which were dimly conceived
Not by reason but the talk radio I believed.
5
Friedman's question for the Fox Republican debate will never come close to
being asked. Millions of viewers will watch for entertainment purposes to
see whether Donald Trump can be derailed. This will not be a thoughtful,
intellectual debate where important questions are asked and answered.
It will be word dueling at its finest.
being asked. Millions of viewers will watch for entertainment purposes to
see whether Donald Trump can be derailed. This will not be a thoughtful,
intellectual debate where important questions are asked and answered.
It will be word dueling at its finest.
6
To start with, your question would be too complex for the current crop of Koch marionettes. Remember: every response they give to any question has to play on three different levels: what the candidate really thinks, what will placate the Tea Party at the primaries, and what will appeal to the larger voting public during the election. None of these people has the subtlety to walk that rhetorical tightrope with any sustained success.
Remember the sad spectacle of the last group of GOP hopefuls, standing on the stage obediently with their right hands in the air, vowing never to raise taxes, and swearing fealty to the Great Oz, one Grover Norquist. After all, what's a GOP candidate without his handlers? (Just ask co-Presidents Rove and Cheney, who suffered the inconvenience of having to implement their policies through a frat boy puppet).
Remember that in GOP world, the government can't help you. It can't redistribute funds from tax revenues, because there are none. In Republican-land, the only thing the government owns is women's uteruses.
Remember the sad spectacle of the last group of GOP hopefuls, standing on the stage obediently with their right hands in the air, vowing never to raise taxes, and swearing fealty to the Great Oz, one Grover Norquist. After all, what's a GOP candidate without his handlers? (Just ask co-Presidents Rove and Cheney, who suffered the inconvenience of having to implement their policies through a frat boy puppet).
Remember that in GOP world, the government can't help you. It can't redistribute funds from tax revenues, because there are none. In Republican-land, the only thing the government owns is women's uteruses.
304
My dream for the GOP platoon-strength debates is that at some point the Koch puppeteers tangle on the catwalk above the stage and fall down. The puppets go slack and their handlers are exposed with control bars in hand.
1
And don't forget, every uttered syllable MUST reflect the stated (and secret) desires of the Koch Brothers, Inc.
1
I believe this is a spot-on analysis. Our push-and-pull in politics should be between the center-right and the center-left. The Republican party is not only becoming polarized and extreme, but it is scaring away center-right voters like myself along the way. Great article.
3
It's not a question of center right or center left, it's a question of what's right and what's wrong. Jeb Bush is supposedly center right, but like his brother, wants to lower taxes and further exacerbate inequality which we have been failing to address for the last thirty five years. Jeb Bush is center right, but he is against Planned Parenthood. Jeb Bush is center right, but he doesn't believe in man exacerbated climate change. 30% of Germany's energy comes from alternative energy because the government gave tax breaks for alternative energy. It's not a question of what's center right, it's a question of what's right.
157
Not to mention "what's intelligent".
3
>
As to your question.
They'll just say if there is one thing Americans don't need or want it is higher taxes. [The crowd cheers]
Your question/effort goes off into the ether.
The GOP has committed itself to America's going out of business sale.
The Democrats just barely hang-on to the ledge they have managed to crawl onto.
The GOP's whole game plan depends on the fact that when presented with the choice of higher taxes or screwing over their fellow man, at least 50.000001% of the voters will choose the latter over the former. This formula is supported by the fact that the GOP controls most of the Federal, State and Local government apparatus in the country.
As to your question.
They'll just say if there is one thing Americans don't need or want it is higher taxes. [The crowd cheers]
Your question/effort goes off into the ether.
The GOP has committed itself to America's going out of business sale.
The Democrats just barely hang-on to the ledge they have managed to crawl onto.
The GOP's whole game plan depends on the fact that when presented with the choice of higher taxes or screwing over their fellow man, at least 50.000001% of the voters will choose the latter over the former. This formula is supported by the fact that the GOP controls most of the Federal, State and Local government apparatus in the country.
7
The author's question is irrelevant as he has never voted for any Rpublican for President - including Reagan.
3
Mr. Reagan?
Who raised taxes on the Middle Class 11 times in 8 years?
Who samshed through the debt ceiling 18 times in that same 8 years?
In today's GOP Mr. Reagan wouldn't stand a literate's chance in Mississippi of making it past the GOP's hilarious primaries.
Who raised taxes on the Middle Class 11 times in 8 years?
Who samshed through the debt ceiling 18 times in that same 8 years?
In today's GOP Mr. Reagan wouldn't stand a literate's chance in Mississippi of making it past the GOP's hilarious primaries.
7
"Bernie Sanders notwithstanding, the Democratic Party is still dominated by its center-left — Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. "
I can't dispute that the Democratic party is dominated by these two, but if you believe that BHO is center-left, no further legitimate discussion is possible. The claim is false. Perhaps the next laugh will be Mr Friedman's categorization of JFK on his sliding scale.
I can't dispute that the Democratic party is dominated by these two, but if you believe that BHO is center-left, no further legitimate discussion is possible. The claim is false. Perhaps the next laugh will be Mr Friedman's categorization of JFK on his sliding scale.
1
I have only one question for all candidates, Republican and Democrat, and it's all we need to know: Who is financing your campaign? And if they can't answer it because their donors want to remain secret, well....
54
Bernie can tell you: paid for by Bernie, not billionaires.
4
Greed is destroying the Republican party, and those who worship at the altar of Self-Interest have become a millstone around America's neck. The burden is too much for our nation to carry much longer.
12
Would love to have the option of voting for moderate Republicans. Unfortunately, the party is so far opff the rails and the structure of power is such, that a moderate Republican in any office, from the state level and beyond, simply amplifies the weight of the crazies.
3
Raise it a dime, not a nickel, and then fix all crumbling bridges as well. Moreover, don't touch the SPR, it's a strategic reserve for sound strategic reasons. Most of the modern GOP is so anti-American interests, they don't deserve to serve.
51
I thought Dwight Eisenhower was a good Republican. I'd vote for him again. But they would never nominate anybody like him now.
But since then the party has just become too goofy and stupid. I really don't expect them to change.
If they really nominate Trump they've indeed gone off the deep end.
But since then the party has just become too goofy and stupid. I really don't expect them to change.
If they really nominate Trump they've indeed gone off the deep end.
16
Obama and the Dems had the opportunity to revise the tax code in 2008 and looked the other way. Friedman is swatting at flies with this flimsy argument simply to take another negative shot at the GOP congress. Did he attack the Democrat congress in 2008 for not raising the gas tax? Did he attack Obama's stimulus package, hundreds of billions in misappropriated funds that were supposed to provide "shovel ready jobs" that "I guess weren't so shovel ready"…? In the big picture, Obama and the Dems wouldn't touch the tax code in 2008 because doing so would require revisions to entitlements, which would have cost the Democrats votes from their base, the 50% of Americans who pay no federal income tax. And, if the GOP attempted to revise the tax code during Obama's reign it would be a political loser for the GOP because Obama and the liberal press would jump on the opportunity to skewer the GOP for taxing those who "can't afford it" and catering to the rich.
And will Larry E. still be vilifying the Koch brothers after they are dead? Give it a rest.
And will Larry E. still be vilifying the Koch brothers after they are dead? Give it a rest.
4
Raising the gas tax in 2009 (Obama didn't take office until then, just an FYI) while the economy was in free fall would have not been smart, politically or economically.
And take a good look at the 50% "entitlement" recipients--you want to tax people on Social Security, who paid income taxes at a higher rate than the rich because they worked for a living instead of enjoying Daddy's money? Poor working families with children--by all means, take away the tax breaks so it's more attractive not to work.
Although I'd be on board with taxing the rich who game the system.
And take a good look at the 50% "entitlement" recipients--you want to tax people on Social Security, who paid income taxes at a higher rate than the rich because they worked for a living instead of enjoying Daddy's money? Poor working families with children--by all means, take away the tax breaks so it's more attractive not to work.
Although I'd be on board with taxing the rich who game the system.
11
I would remind you the idea of selling off federally owned assets to pay for infrastructure instead of raising taxes serves three fundamental rightwing principles. First, to keep money out of the hands of the government and in the hands of the wealthy; second, to get government resources out of the hands of the government and in to the hands of the wealthy; and third, to destroy the government they hate so it is easier for the wealthy to make even more money at everyone else expense.
109
Mr. Freidman:
I don't think a sensible person would find fault with your assessment of the damage the so-called Tea Party has created. However, I find it laughable that you insist that our infrastructure needs market-based solutions. If the market were interested or capable we would not have bridges falling down. When a pile of guaranteed money is put on the table, they'll be interested, no doubt.
Market magic is not a solution we should bank on. Without gov. action we'll be seeing a lot more falling bridges. Our failing infrastructure should be a capiltalist dream. The market is not interested in opportunities; they are interested in a sure thing. Which is what the Republican party tries to provide them in everyway they can. The game is fixed, which is why the bridges aren't. You know that.
I don't think a sensible person would find fault with your assessment of the damage the so-called Tea Party has created. However, I find it laughable that you insist that our infrastructure needs market-based solutions. If the market were interested or capable we would not have bridges falling down. When a pile of guaranteed money is put on the table, they'll be interested, no doubt.
Market magic is not a solution we should bank on. Without gov. action we'll be seeing a lot more falling bridges. Our failing infrastructure should be a capiltalist dream. The market is not interested in opportunities; they are interested in a sure thing. Which is what the Republican party tries to provide them in everyway they can. The game is fixed, which is why the bridges aren't. You know that.
38
Adam Smith would (did) agree.
2
My questions:
Would you, Mr. republican candidate, like George W. Bush, ever make torture USG policy?
Would you, like George W. Bush, subcontract torture to, among others, Bashar al Assad of Syria?
Would you, Mr. republican candidate, like George W. Bush, ever make torture USG policy?
Would you, like George W. Bush, subcontract torture to, among others, Bashar al Assad of Syria?
16
Re immigration: "...a high wall ... with a very big gate..." is an excellent way to describe an ideal policy on immigration, for either party.
And the phrase "...high-energy low-skills immigrants..." is historically accurate, non-insulting, & pithy. We are fortunate to have these people living among us, & working productively every single day.
I truly value, Tom, the way you put arguments in an easily remembered way.
Would to Heaven I could entice all those GOP voters who *feel* center right, & would vote center right if permitted, to demand that their own party veer back to that style, the style of a Reagan & a Bush, both of whom raised the tax on gas so as to build roads & bridges. Would to Heaven I could.
And the phrase "...high-energy low-skills immigrants..." is historically accurate, non-insulting, & pithy. We are fortunate to have these people living among us, & working productively every single day.
I truly value, Tom, the way you put arguments in an easily remembered way.
Would to Heaven I could entice all those GOP voters who *feel* center right, & would vote center right if permitted, to demand that their own party veer back to that style, the style of a Reagan & a Bush, both of whom raised the tax on gas so as to build roads & bridges. Would to Heaven I could.
2
A sudden, sharp increase in the gas tax is a regressive tax on the poor; a law that ensures a very gradual, large increase is a tax on the innumerate.
Poor people who can do the math know that, with cheap gas, the most cost effective transportation is a cheap, used gas-guzzler, so that's what they have to buy (since many US cities and almost all US towns lack adequate public transportation). With foreknowledge that the tax will definitely rise, those who can do the math will buy a gas-thrifty car, so their total cost for gas will be less than without the tax (since they'll consume far less of it).
The fairest approach would be a law that the gas tax would start at 1.25¢, then go up by 1.25¢ every year for three years, then by 2.5¢ every year.
(Eventually, the tax would force all but the very wealthy to find means of transportation that are less environmentally destructive than fossil-fuel-powered POVs, but would give them plenty of time to find them.)
Poor people who can do the math know that, with cheap gas, the most cost effective transportation is a cheap, used gas-guzzler, so that's what they have to buy (since many US cities and almost all US towns lack adequate public transportation). With foreknowledge that the tax will definitely rise, those who can do the math will buy a gas-thrifty car, so their total cost for gas will be less than without the tax (since they'll consume far less of it).
The fairest approach would be a law that the gas tax would start at 1.25¢, then go up by 1.25¢ every year for three years, then by 2.5¢ every year.
(Eventually, the tax would force all but the very wealthy to find means of transportation that are less environmentally destructive than fossil-fuel-powered POVs, but would give them plenty of time to find them.)
5
My question for Mr. Friedman:
The GAO, a bipartisan government accountability organization, has documented instances of waste in federal government spending amounting to approximately 10% of annual receipts. It is notable that chief among these is reducing the size of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, inasmuch as the country is significantly more self-sufficient in producing petroleum that it was during the Reagan Presidency.
No, I am not making this up.
http://www.gao.gov/duplication/overview
Why not eliminate waste in government spending and use the savings for infrastructure, rather than raising taxes, which seems to be the default Democrat solution to every problem. Shouldn't requiring the federal government to be a prudent caretaker of the public treasury be a bipartisan issue?
The GAO, a bipartisan government accountability organization, has documented instances of waste in federal government spending amounting to approximately 10% of annual receipts. It is notable that chief among these is reducing the size of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, inasmuch as the country is significantly more self-sufficient in producing petroleum that it was during the Reagan Presidency.
No, I am not making this up.
http://www.gao.gov/duplication/overview
Why not eliminate waste in government spending and use the savings for infrastructure, rather than raising taxes, which seems to be the default Democrat solution to every problem. Shouldn't requiring the federal government to be a prudent caretaker of the public treasury be a bipartisan issue?
2
Sounds great. I am sure we can find at least 10% of the military/national security budget to transfer to infrastructure and I bet we can find a majority of Congressmen to support said transfer! (Sarcasm)
By the way, the name of the party founded by Andrew Jackson with roots back to Thomas Jefferson is "Democratic". An individual member is a Democrat. The other day, even a host on MSNBC misused the word, proving how well a lie told ad nauseum becomes the "truth".
By the way, the name of the party founded by Andrew Jackson with roots back to Thomas Jefferson is "Democratic". An individual member is a Democrat. The other day, even a host on MSNBC misused the word, proving how well a lie told ad nauseum becomes the "truth".
39
The republicans continue to lionise saint Reagan, the biggest spender in Presidential history until eclipsed by the Supreme Court appointed Bush.
On that dark day when Reagan was inaugurated the total accumulated US debt, from Washington thru the Carter administration, was $1 trillion. 96 miserable months and 17 debt ceiling increases later the debt was $2.9 Trillion, a 190% increase.
That $1.9 trillion increase was not spent building roads, bridges, the high speed rail that Japan and Europe were building, new universities, healthcare or cutting edge research.
It was wasted arming the Afghans who changed their name to Taliban, arming Saddam Hussein, shooting down Iran Air 655, funding death squads in El Salvador, genocide in Guatemala, the terrorist Contra's in Nicaragua, invading Grenada, reconditioning WW II battleships, at $300M each and on the highly lucrative chimera known as Star Wars.
Nearly the entire spectrum of today's GOP, save Paul, is still preaching and pimping perpetual war while starving our country of the desperately needed investment in clean renewable energy, world class infrastructure, 21st century mass transit, education, healthcare and all the things that make any country strong.
On that dark day when Reagan was inaugurated the total accumulated US debt, from Washington thru the Carter administration, was $1 trillion. 96 miserable months and 17 debt ceiling increases later the debt was $2.9 Trillion, a 190% increase.
That $1.9 trillion increase was not spent building roads, bridges, the high speed rail that Japan and Europe were building, new universities, healthcare or cutting edge research.
It was wasted arming the Afghans who changed their name to Taliban, arming Saddam Hussein, shooting down Iran Air 655, funding death squads in El Salvador, genocide in Guatemala, the terrorist Contra's in Nicaragua, invading Grenada, reconditioning WW II battleships, at $300M each and on the highly lucrative chimera known as Star Wars.
Nearly the entire spectrum of today's GOP, save Paul, is still preaching and pimping perpetual war while starving our country of the desperately needed investment in clean renewable energy, world class infrastructure, 21st century mass transit, education, healthcare and all the things that make any country strong.
220
Respectfully, I think you are wrong about the composition of the Republican Party. True, there is no center-right with a moral backbone guiding its market based solutions and economic policies. But there is not one extreme right wing. There are two.
As you mention, there is the Tea Party and its angry rallying cries to return to a time that only exists in their own myths - a time when immigrants were not from Mexico and South America, but from places like Italy, Ireland, or Jews from early 20th Century European countries. They pretend that their ancestors had welcomed these immigrants, because they entered the country legally. They use dog whistles to communicate their racism. They reluctantly took down their Confederate Battle Flag because it was too obvious, but they gladly support ALEC laws that take away voting rights.
But they are not the only right wing jihadists in the party, nor are they the most dangerous. There are the people who control the purse strings. The wealthiest people in the country, those who have funded the Tea Party because they need a big, angry voting bloc to get their candidates elected. Their name is Mammon, or Koch, or Adelson, or Trump. They don't give a darn about science or anti-science, minorities' rights or the right to discriminate against minorities, or anything else that characterizes the America the rest of us live in. They know only money and power, and they want more of both. They are the men behind the curtain of the modern GOP.
As you mention, there is the Tea Party and its angry rallying cries to return to a time that only exists in their own myths - a time when immigrants were not from Mexico and South America, but from places like Italy, Ireland, or Jews from early 20th Century European countries. They pretend that their ancestors had welcomed these immigrants, because they entered the country legally. They use dog whistles to communicate their racism. They reluctantly took down their Confederate Battle Flag because it was too obvious, but they gladly support ALEC laws that take away voting rights.
But they are not the only right wing jihadists in the party, nor are they the most dangerous. There are the people who control the purse strings. The wealthiest people in the country, those who have funded the Tea Party because they need a big, angry voting bloc to get their candidates elected. Their name is Mammon, or Koch, or Adelson, or Trump. They don't give a darn about science or anti-science, minorities' rights or the right to discriminate against minorities, or anything else that characterizes the America the rest of us live in. They know only money and power, and they want more of both. They are the men behind the curtain of the modern GOP.
141
The problem with Friedman's argument is he still believes in a Republican party of the past.
The current batch of candidates cannot go back to their grandfather's party. i say grandfather's and not father's because the rot goes back to Reagan, and, notwithstanding the columnist's original premise, that Reagan was somehow rational, is the fact that raising the gas tax hurt lower and middle class citizens, something Reagan has no problem with as long as income taxes were lowered.
These hucksters make Reagan look like a populist.
Here are the questions I would ask the candidates:
How old is the planet?
Is every word in the Bible to be taken literally?
The current batch of candidates cannot go back to their grandfather's party. i say grandfather's and not father's because the rot goes back to Reagan, and, notwithstanding the columnist's original premise, that Reagan was somehow rational, is the fact that raising the gas tax hurt lower and middle class citizens, something Reagan has no problem with as long as income taxes were lowered.
These hucksters make Reagan look like a populist.
Here are the questions I would ask the candidates:
How old is the planet?
Is every word in the Bible to be taken literally?
416
Follow-up question for any candidate answering "yes" to the last question:
How many slaves is the right number for a man (not woman) to keep?
Ref: Leviticus 25:44-46, Exodus 21:2-6, Ephesians 6:5, 1 Timothy 6:1-2
How many slaves is the right number for a man (not woman) to keep?
Ref: Leviticus 25:44-46, Exodus 21:2-6, Ephesians 6:5, 1 Timothy 6:1-2
5
Republicans have dragged Friedman so far off to the right that he thinks just finding some sanity would be the center.
Hillary is center right. She supports corporate friendly market solutions, like trade deals from NAFTA on no matter how cute she is about it at the moment. She supports wars, all of them. She voted for Iraq War without even reading the material, and Ukraine happened on her watch when she left a couple of pure extreme neocons in charge of our actions there, then backed them up.
Bernie is center left. He's not radical. He's just on the left side of center.
The Republicans? That is one thing McCain got right: "wacko-birds."
They are so crazy that Trump at his worst is stealing their thunder, and they can't bring themselves to deny anything he says.
Oh, and gas prices? They soared so high they were crippling the economy. They were really hurting people West of the Hudson. That was not the new normal. Leave off with presumption of a ratchet effect, prices had to come down.
Also on gas prices: consumption taxes are regressive. That is the last thing we need as the Great Recession lingers for all but the donor class of extreme wealth and privilege. There are many ways to pay for infrastructure, and it is not center just to be willing to pay at all.
That donor class has not seen the center for decades. Someone remotely related to the center cannot get millions from one of those guys, which is how the Republicans are all financing themselves -- except Trump.
Hillary is center right. She supports corporate friendly market solutions, like trade deals from NAFTA on no matter how cute she is about it at the moment. She supports wars, all of them. She voted for Iraq War without even reading the material, and Ukraine happened on her watch when she left a couple of pure extreme neocons in charge of our actions there, then backed them up.
Bernie is center left. He's not radical. He's just on the left side of center.
The Republicans? That is one thing McCain got right: "wacko-birds."
They are so crazy that Trump at his worst is stealing their thunder, and they can't bring themselves to deny anything he says.
Oh, and gas prices? They soared so high they were crippling the economy. They were really hurting people West of the Hudson. That was not the new normal. Leave off with presumption of a ratchet effect, prices had to come down.
Also on gas prices: consumption taxes are regressive. That is the last thing we need as the Great Recession lingers for all but the donor class of extreme wealth and privilege. There are many ways to pay for infrastructure, and it is not center just to be willing to pay at all.
That donor class has not seen the center for decades. Someone remotely related to the center cannot get millions from one of those guys, which is how the Republicans are all financing themselves -- except Trump.
211
Center Right is the new Left. The GOTP has swung the pendulum so far to the right that Center Right seems reasonable and rational.
4
Thank you for raising the point about a gas tax being a regressive tax. That sort of blind spot in people proposing it makes me wonder what else they don't see.
7
The question Tom writes about illustrates that GOPers' problem is not Trump, who, after all, proposed a one-time net wealth tax on all assets held by individuals worth $10 Million$ or more:
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/11/09/trump.rich/index.html?...
The problem with GOP'ers is Grover Norquist and his anti-tax pledge that almost every single GOP'er has signed, which would cost any GOP'er their job, were they to vote to raise taxes - fealty to Norquist's anti-tax pledge is placed above all else by GOP'ers, including their oaths of office, since we saw them deliberately squander the serial Clinton surpluses and borrow to pay for 2 wars over 2000-2008, rather than raise taxes to defend the country.
The rot that has taken over GOP'ers is far far far worse than Trump; it is a rot so bad that even to defend the country against those they say attacked us on our own shores, they would not raise taxes to pay for war against those they said were our attackers - they chose to borrow and spend in order to keep their jobs and not be ' primaried ' by their anti-tax wing.
No company nor country long thrives, nor even survives, under such a scenario of revenue constriction, which is what makes the GOP'ers such radical anarchists.
Tom is on the right track asking about raising gas taxes, but the more critical question for candidates is " Did you sign Grover Norquist's anti-tax pledge " ?
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/11/09/trump.rich/index.html?...
The problem with GOP'ers is Grover Norquist and his anti-tax pledge that almost every single GOP'er has signed, which would cost any GOP'er their job, were they to vote to raise taxes - fealty to Norquist's anti-tax pledge is placed above all else by GOP'ers, including their oaths of office, since we saw them deliberately squander the serial Clinton surpluses and borrow to pay for 2 wars over 2000-2008, rather than raise taxes to defend the country.
The rot that has taken over GOP'ers is far far far worse than Trump; it is a rot so bad that even to defend the country against those they say attacked us on our own shores, they would not raise taxes to pay for war against those they said were our attackers - they chose to borrow and spend in order to keep their jobs and not be ' primaried ' by their anti-tax wing.
No company nor country long thrives, nor even survives, under such a scenario of revenue constriction, which is what makes the GOP'ers such radical anarchists.
Tom is on the right track asking about raising gas taxes, but the more critical question for candidates is " Did you sign Grover Norquist's anti-tax pledge " ?
646
I've never used this word against any American, but here it is: I think Grover Norquist is right on the edge of being a traitor. The reason I say that, is that by insisting that Republicans sign a pledge that in the end harms our country; they do it to stay in office. What else could you call that pledge when it takes precedence over an oath to our country and its health. And what does that make the people who made that pledge. Toadies to a traitor. I know this sounds extreme, and actually I'm a moderate, who believes in being fiscally responsible. Tell me what other conclusion can I come to. I've never heard an argument that tells me different.
30
The Norquist oath must disqualify signers from office as it violates the oath of office.
25
There's nothing "centrist" about Jeb Bush, who wants to gut SS, roll back funding for women's health and burn all of the oil that is left. Even though Bernie Sanders is painted as a fringe element, yet he represents more of the "center", than this country has seen in a long time. Where is sanity? Not in Hiliary Clinton or Jeb Bush.
514
No kidding.
In what world is Jeb Bush a centrist?
Thomas Friedman can't be this naive.
In what world is Jeb Bush a centrist?
Thomas Friedman can't be this naive.
13
The center has shifted far right since Reagan
2
The GOP debater Song:
A center- right am I,
I say this with a sigh,
But how my views apply I cannot say,
Climate change I deny,
Warmed oceans are a lie
Obama's views are wrong in every way.
Dole when the Party Leader
To compromise, a heeder,
But that seems like a million years ago,
To Kochs and the Tea Party
Hate for Science is hearty,
In myriad ways the Scientist's our foe.
A center- right am I,
I say this with a sigh,
But how my views apply I cannot say,
Climate change I deny,
Warmed oceans are a lie
Obama's views are wrong in every way.
Dole when the Party Leader
To compromise, a heeder,
But that seems like a million years ago,
To Kochs and the Tea Party
Hate for Science is hearty,
In myriad ways the Scientist's our foe.
128
Is it time for GOP redux?
Instead of the rule of big bucks?
Where compromise rules
Not fixed rigid fools
Who will end up as sitting ducks!
Instead of the rule of big bucks?
Where compromise rules
Not fixed rigid fools
Who will end up as sitting ducks!
57
Two limericks in a row from Larry? What did we do to deserve such good fortune?
2
The first one wasn't a limerick. I'm glad that Larry's branching out!