Today Republicans will release their legislative agenda know as the Pledge to America. I guess after two years of doing everything they can to halt progress the Republicans have decided doing nothing isn't a very good campaign slogan.
I'm sure you like me were very eager to hear about how the Republicans plan to change things and make America a better place. The big ideas are extending all of the Bush tax cuts, holding spending at 2008 levels, and repealing health care reform.
Its no surprise that the Republicans waited until near election time to release this information since it is simplistic ideas that poll well (sort of).
If you have read this blog before or taken the time to read any information on the Bush tax cuts you already know that tax cuts are one of the worst ways to stimulate the economy. Additionally these tax cuts are heavily weighted towards the top for people who have a multitude of ways to hide their money. One other thing to consider is that this fiscal policy is largely responsible for the cluster F#@k that is our current economy.
Holding spending at 2008 levels is clearly aimed at people who don't believe thinking and politics go together. Its fine to suggest you want to cut spending but why arbitrarily pick 2008 spending? This basically gets you to a break even, which means the Republicans have no plans to lower the deficit. Apparently the only care about the deficit when it comes to how Democrats affect it. Additionally the problem with spending is the wasteful spending. Suggesting you want a number to top out at with no direction on what stays and what goes is asinine.
I find it odd that on the day when some of the best provisions of the Health Care reform go into affect, Republicans decide one of the main talking points is to rail against it. Below are some of the things that start today:
Young people can remain on parents' insurance until age 26
No discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions
No dropping people from coverage when they get sick
No dropping people from coverage for errors on forms
No lifetime limits on coverage
New plans must offer free preventive care
Expanded ability to appeal decisions made by the health plan
Individually all of these things are popular ideas but since Health Care reform as a whole is not popular (in no small part because almost none of the provisions have been enacted). Republicans are playing on this idea but will probably offer very little in the way of specifics before the election since that would expose this chasm between popular opinion and reality.
In the end I'm sure this simplified legislative agenda will gain the votes of people who don't really follow politics and the less educated, but I don't want to hear the complaints when Republicans regain power and return us to the Bush era.
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