Kansas City Star, by Martha Thomases – Brilliant Disguise | @MDWorld
July 21, 2012 Martha Thomases 7 Comments
It was just a week ago, in this very column, that I said this:
“We’ve had the so-called Bush tax cuts in effect for the better part of a decade. If they were going create jobs, they would have. …. If the Republicans are going to run on a platform that advocates lower taxes and a balanced budget, they should be required to say whose taxes are going to be lowered and by how much, as well as what government programs will be cut and by how much.”
Little did I know how much power I had. This week, the Kansas state Republican-controlled Congress is trying to pass a budget that attempts to demonstrate how the Ryan plan would actually work. Governor Sam Brownback uses the words, “real live experiment” to describe what’s going on.
This article (which is from Reuters news service, although my link is to the Huffington Post) surprised me for a few reasons. There are still moderate Republicans? And in Kansas?
Still, I’m in favor of this. Not in favor of the proposed legislation (I don’t know anyone in Kansas, but I wouldn’t want anyone to have to live through this draconian nightmare), but in the GOP having to live by the results of their proposals. Look, if I’m wrong here, and Kansas prospers and people get jobs, I’m happy to admit it. My pride is a small price to pay for people being able to pay rent and feed their kids. However, if I’m right, I eagerly anticipate Republicans modifying their ideology in the face of reality.
Yeah, that’ll happen. Politicians never admit they believed something that turned out to be wrong. Instead, they blame the other side. Yes, I think Democrats do this too. See: Lyndon Johnson and Viet Nam War.
In other news, after making fun of liberal celebrities who swore to leave the U.S.A. if Reagan/Bush/Bush won the presidency (and then didn’t), now Republicans are doing this. I refer to John Sununu (who’s had a hell of a week). He says that if Obama is re-elected, the rich will flee to Canada to avoid his terrible policies.
Because, you know, nothing says, “I’m an Ayn Rand libertarian” quite like single-payer health insurance.
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Media Goddess Martha Thomases will not release any of her tax returns because 1) She’s told “you people” all you need to know and 2) She can’t find them.
Mike Gold
July 21, 2012 - 1:23 pm
One generation ago, we had draft dodgers splitting for the Great White North. Now we’ve got… tax dodgers?
I don’t think Sununu and his pals really want to live in a nation with a superior education system, a superior public medical system, and a higher individual tax rate (4 to 53%, federal and provincial in Canada, compared to 0 to 46%, federal and state in the States; your mileage may vary). But if they want to go, fine. As they say up there, “Sayonora, motherfuckers!”
Just take Kansas and Arizona with you.
Howard Cruse
July 21, 2012 - 2:21 pm
Reality + Republicans = oil + water (at least, when ideology is involved — which is most of the time).
Pennie
July 21, 2012 - 4:23 pm
Jan Pauls, Kansas legislator has actually led the charge of the Numb Brigade to ensure Kansans will not face the spectre of queers running amok in her pristine real estate. Yes, she’s a donkey but in a genetic twist of fate is really an ass. Google her jand her antics just for fun.
mike weber
July 21, 2012 - 10:58 pm
I don’t know anyone in Kansas.
I feel sorry for the people of Kansas, though.
Of course, they elected these clowns, so maybe i’m not all that sorry for them.
Pennie
July 22, 2012 - 3:19 am
Def of insanity applies here.
Whitney
July 23, 2012 - 12:59 am
Divine Ms. M –
I still love the movie “The Fountainhead”. But it’s because of the camera work, the clothes, Gary Cooper’s eyelashes, and the lamp with a fish swimming in it. And none of those came from Ayn Rand.
There are better heroes to look to for inspiration.
I like Canada, and I prefer not to burden them with our toxic waste.
Vinnie Bartilucci
July 23, 2012 - 9:25 am
The odds of the plan working are slim, but even if it does, it doesn’t prove that it would work at a national level.
Indeed, much of the argument against Obamneycare is YES, it worked in Massachusetts, which is really tiny, and has a lot more wealthy people per capita.
So there’s always a way to show that the thing you don’t want won’t work.