Michael Braun's Blog

When Democrats criticized the war in Iraq, Republicans accused them of hoping the country would fail. So while the clear argument was in favor of getting our troops out of harms way and ending an illegal war, Republicans equated it with treason. Now that Democrats are in control, Republicans are wishing that same failure on the United States Economy. They hope for a deep, deep recession, simply to prove, in their backwoods logic, that Bush was a good president and Obama a failure.

Bobby Jindal said it on Larry King last night. Comedian Rush Limbaugh says it everyday on his syndicated radio squawk fest. Every Republican with an iron in the fire hopes the stimulus package bankrupts the country. Why? Because they know this is the only chance they have to get elected.

But in their hopes for failure, they also seem to wish for Yahweh and Jesu to strike down the institutions of capitalism that they hold so dear. If their efforts are to prove that capitalism works best, then why would they want a company like AIG to fail? If we can get no insurance for secure and safe financial transactions, what motivation is there to trust others in the system? Why would Republicans want banks to go bust, if banks are the primary motor in our economic system? If the Democrats are for socialism, and the Republicans for capitalism, then why is it the Democrats with all the ideas for how to keep our economy going, even in the face of a huge financial meltdown?

Imagine if the stimulus package does fail. Imagine if it fails to create even one single job, sinking the country further and further into debt. The Republicans will declare victory and maybe even win an election or two. But then what? Cut taxes and spending? Scrap Social Security and Medicare? These are the exact programs that have driven our economy to such lofty heights. It’s because the government provides a (small) layer of security that individuals can choose to take risks. If no one is willing to take a risk, for fear of bankruptcy, prison, starvation, and homelessness – how strong can our economy be?

In the end, the Republicans don’t want a strong economy, and this is not a debate about the best ways to grow a nation. The Republicans want power for themselves and scraps for the rest of us. They want a “thrifty working class” like Mr. Potter in It’s A Wonderful Life. And when they achieve it, they’ll tell all those poor voters (without whom they cannot stay in power) that the solution to grow the economy is deeper tax and spending cuts. Before you know it, we’ll have a large underclass with no education, no insurance, and no chance.

When it comes to the American people, I would never place a bet against them. The Republicans have their hand, and their determined to play it. But as they go all in, the Democrats can see their call and keep raising. Failed ideas have bankrupted this country all ready; the Republicans now just need to own their past mistakes.