On the little people
Not that it means anything (except for cancelled subscriptions), but the Washington Post’s Editorial lineup (before it refreshed) is uniformly bearish on Republicans. It’s deserved, of course, but it makes it hard to know where to begin reading. Even Jason Rezaian’s celebration of Slovenian voters’ rejection of its authoritarian strongman bodes ill for Republican autocracy in this country:
Macron’s victory in France may have restored some of our faith in the future of the free world at a time when we desperately need it. But believe me when I say: Slovenia is something to behold. That is even more true now that it voted against the tide of illiberalism.
In its post-truth, anti-democracy, pro-autocrat, white-nationalist configuration, the late, great Republican Party has once again displayed just how vacuous are its moral-patriot-Christian affectations. It is the “all flag, no pole” version of “all hat, no cattle,” all visible to the naked eye.
Catherine Rampell observes that radicalized Republicans have cast aside conservative tropes:
During the Trump years, the GOP kept its eyes on the prize. Republican politicians seemed willing to overlook their standard-bearer’s nest-feathering and political shakedowns. They shunted aside their professed devotion to free trade, free speech, low deficits and family values, all in pursuit of a single goal: tax cuts.
Or, so I and other pundits surmised at the time.
Today, however, tax cuts no longer appear to be the GOP’s top priority. Recent events in Florida suggest Republicans have made room in their hearts — and their policy agenda — for an even higher objective: the culture wars.
Principle, principal, whatever works, ya know?
The rest is about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s war with Disney over its criticism of his “Don’t Say Gay” bill. In revenge, he plans to revoke the state’s largest employer’s special administrative status. Forget about cozying up to capital. Conservatives want now to go full Conan:
Not only DeSantis, but Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott wants to crush enemies too:
Scott has said that the federal government should require every American to pay at least some minimum amount of federal income taxes. Given that roughly half of Americans pay no federal income taxes, that would require raising taxes on … roughly half of all Americans. Scott couched this proposal in the language of moochers, takers and freeloaders, with culture-war rhetoric dating to the welfare-queen references of the Reagan era. No matter that most of those who’d be affected already contribute to federal and state coffers through other taxes, such as payroll and excise taxes.
Scott’s proposal, if taken literally, would raise taxes not only on low- and moderate-income workers but also on millions of retirees. More than half of those 65 and older currently pay no federal income tax, the Tax Policy Center estimates.
I explained to a local candidate on the sidewalk yesterday the Republican effort to “defund the left” at the state level. They mean to strip blue cities of revenue-generating public assets, provoke a financial crisis, force municipalities to cut services and/or raise taxes, then claim (after voters have forgotten why their cities are in financial straits) that it’s what you get when you let Democrats run things.
Don’t forget Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s attack on his own state’s economy. It’s war. Do they have to spell it out?
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