Republican Hypocrisy category archive
Misunderstanding or Misdirection? 0
Jared Bernstein, in another excellent article, points out that Republican statements on health care and other aspects of the “social safety net” betray (or portray) an essential misunderstanding of how insurance works.
It’s like the old joke about life insurance: You’re betting you’re going to die, the insurance company is betting you won’t, and you hope they are right.
The purpose of experience is to spread risk so that each person bears a little tine bit of the cost so that, if someone needs assistance, the assistance is available without crushing expense. In contrast, Republicans seem to believe that crushing persons who do not have buckets of money under mountains of cost is somehow a good and moral thing.
Of course, that might seem reasonable to those who believe that there is no such thing as the common good. Here’s a bit from the article (emphasis added):
That’s kind of a description about how insurance works.
(snip)
Two things, at least. First, I do think today’s conservatives are uniquely uneducated when it comes to the role of government in mitigating risk. But second, the old Upton Sinclair insight about people being paid not to understand something is also very much in play.
Worst Aid Kit 0
Jared Bernstein, writing at Philly.com, struggles to understand why the Republican Party, with control of the legislative and executive branches of the federal government, has been so far unable to accomplish their most vocally-stated goal: repeal of the Affordable Care Act. He warns that his speculation is just that, speculation, but it is a thoughtful piece and worth the few minutes of your time reading it requires.
Here’s a bit:
There may still be enough representativeness left in our democracy to block such venal efforts. But then again, there may not. Stay tuned.
Credulity Gap 0
Brian Greenspun stands amazed at the willing, compliant credulity of the Trumpettes. A snippet:
I don’t know if what happened is criminal, yet. That is what the special counsel will determine. Criminal or not — maybe the Trump team really is just incompetent and stupid — what we are watching in real time couldn’t even be conceived of in the minds of Hollywood’s most creative writers.
But, beyond all of this, what is criminal to me is that practically every Republican voter and elected official believes it is OK and patriotically American to just accept what Trump says even though what he says is now totally and demonstrably untrue.
Russian Impulses 0
Shaun Mullen follows the money trail. A snippet:
It is tempting to say that Trump built that network himself as his business empire grew, but in reality members of the network more often used him as a convenient patsy. This has been especially true of money launderers.
Ryan’s Derp 0
In the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, David D. Haynes documents the new dance craze–the Ryan Shuffle. A snippet:
Call it the Ryan Shuffle.
He dodges. He weaves. He loses his voice — and then he loses his nerve.
More steps at the link.
How Much Is Too Much? 0
That’s what Dick Polman wants to know. A snippet:
(snip)
. . . they’re still fine with Russia penetrating our sovereignty, and with Russia’s chumps running the White House into the ground, as long as they can cling to their wet dream of getting Trump’s signature on a bill that slashes taxes for the wealthy and zaps health coverage for 20 million people.
“Words Mean What I Want Them To Mean” 0
At the Boston Review, Lawrence B. Glickman examines the evolution of the conservative political vocabulary. He points out the much of what passes for conservative discourse has its roots in opposition to Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal and is as flawed and fraudulent now as it was then. A snippet:
Trumpling “Administration” 0
At The Guardian, Carol Anderson thinks that “Trump Administration” is a misnomer; she suggests that “regime” is a more apt term. A snippet:
Follow the link for more examples.
GOP Health Care: Don’t Get Sick
If You Do Get Sick, Die Quickly
0
Mike Malloy discusses the Republicans’ advocacy for the freedom to die.
Warning: Language.