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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPaul Krugman: Libertarian populism is a lie
http://www.salon.com/2013/07/12/paul_krugman_libertarian_populism_is_a_lie/cFRIDAY, JUL 12, 2013 10:44 AM EDT
Paul Krugman: Libertarian populism is a lie
The New York Times columnist takes on the politics of Rand Paul -- they're "bunk"!
In todays New York Times, Paul Krugman takes on the idea of libertarian populism the political philosophy he says Republicans have alit on after the wonk theorizing of Rep. Paul Ryan turned out to be crude smoke and mirrors. Libertarian populism, per Krugman, is the set of policy proposals, embodied by the likes of Sen. Rand Paul, that Republicans are hoping will turn out blue collar white voters. The only problem? The policies dont actually help the working class and Krugman calls them bunk:
Moreover, if you look at what the modern Republican Party actually stands for in practice, its clearly inimical to the interests of those downscale whites the party can supposedly win back. Neither a flat tax nor a return to the gold standard are actually on the table; but cuts in unemployment benefits, food stamps and Medicaid are. (To the extent that there was any substance to the Ryan plan, it mainly involved savage cuts in aid to the poor.)
And while many nonwhite Americans depend on these safety-net programs, so do many less-well-off whites the very voters libertarian populism is supposed to reach.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/12/opinion/krugman-delusions-of-populism.html?hp&_r=0
AllINeedIsCoffee
(772 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)reason through what they are being told, yep to some they talk a good game, tell them enough times and they believe what they are being told. The same people wants to drive down our streets and roads but does not want to provide the building and maintaining the roads. The same roads they do not want any rules, no one to police the roads but they think they will still be there and operational.
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)years. He is almost passionate about it. I think he feels the deep pain of the poor more and more and wants to do what he can to beat the bastards...
mick063
(2,424 posts)With the word Paulbot.
There are many true progressives that are ideologically opposed to Paul, yet conveniently placed in the Paul catergory.
A deceitful means of explaining it all away. If you are opposed to our President's policies, you must certainly be a Paulbot.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)but whine and complain when someone says mean things about Rand Paul.
maybe if you stopped acting all butthurt every time Rand Paul gets criticized, people would not find you overly sympathetic to Rand Paul.
"acting all butthurt"
Cha
(297,692 posts)And, you're feeling all persecuted because you think it's about you. Get over yourself.
Yavin4
(35,446 posts)There's not one stable nation on earth whose uses Libertarianism as the basis of their economic policies and laws.
jimlup
(7,968 posts)It's way over the heads of the "libertarian populists" that I argue with on another site.
winter is coming
(11,785 posts)btw, fuck Ron Paul and Rand Paul.
jimlup
(7,968 posts)They are slightly "smarter" than the average person who isn't paying attention at all. Thus they think they have suddenly discovered the answer that "sheeple" haven't considered. I think a few of them might be eventually reachable but not many and at that only the younger ones. I was a "libertarian" for awhile in my twenties - then I grew up. Now I'm still a libertarian but more of the libertarian-socialist as described by Chomsky - the "polite" description.
Cha
(297,692 posts)freaking sure.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)Keeping track of his bus status is becoming a full time job.