economic agenda that reflects their small-government, antiregulation
philosophy, but also suggests internal divisions that could hinder a
united front against President Obama — much as happened in the 1990s,
when a Republican-led Congress confronted President Bill Clinton.
The
proposals would mainly benefit energy industries, reduce taxes and
regulations for businesses generally, and continue the attack on the
Affordable Care Act. It is a mix that leaves many economists, including
several conservatives, underwhelmed.
proposals would mainly benefit energy industries, reduce taxes and
regulations for businesses generally, and continue the attack on the
Affordable Care Act. It is a mix that leaves many economists, including
several conservatives, underwhelmed.
“Some
of those things will help,” Matthew J. Slaughter, an economics
professor at Dartmouth College, said after reviewing nearly four dozen
measures that House Republicans have labeled “jobs bills.” He cited some
business tax cuts, for example, even as he cautioned about the cost of
such actions.
of those things will help,” Matthew J. Slaughter, an economics
professor at Dartmouth College, said after reviewing nearly four dozen
measures that House Republicans have labeled “jobs bills.” He cited some
business tax cuts, for example, even as he cautioned about the cost of
such actions.
“But,”
added Mr. Slaughter, who served on President George W. Bush’s Council
of Economic Advisers, “it just struck me as sort of a compendium of
modest expectations. If you ask me, ‘What’s your ballpark guess for how
many jobs are going to be created?,’ it’s just not many.”
added Mr. Slaughter, who served on President George W. Bush’s Council
of Economic Advisers, “it just struck me as sort of a compendium of
modest expectations. If you ask me, ‘What’s your ballpark guess for how
many jobs are going to be created?,’ it’s just not many.”
Gridlock is here to stay. According to the article, expectations are low. The best one can hope for is marginal change and no self inflicted pain such as another government shutdown.
Economists See Limited Gains in G.O.P. Plan - NYTimes.com
I don't entirely agree with the author's viewpoint. I think it is almost entirely one-sided, saying that Republican policies can only hurt the economy, not help it. Some of the measures, specifically those that deal with lowering environmental regulation and corporate taxes, I do not agree with. I think that instead of aiding the economy, these are partisan efforts to reinforce the ideology of the GOP. Look at Boehner's 5-point plan: "address the debt, overhaul the tax code, fix the legal system, rein in excessive regulations and strengthen education." Surely not all of these policy updates would hurt the economy?
ReplyDeleteI think that addressing the debt is important, although we discussed in class that the deficit basically doesn't exist anymore. At least philosophically, I believe that a government should not spend more than it can generate in revenue (in the long-run.) This is why an "overhaul" of the tax system SHOULD include a more progressive tax! This would be the number one way to generate revenue while not blindly cutting programs we depend on. This leads to the next point, excessive regulation. Maybe we can make our government more efficient! (It has been done before.) What programs are not reaching their desired result? De-regulation, notice, is not synonymous with "tax breaks," it just means a simplification of our laws. Tax breaks throw the entire system off, and lead us to the deficit that we have today. Lastly, education is a huge priority that could actually jump-start the economy. I would be curious to see what Boehner's plan is to revamp the system. Not EVERYTHING is bad about a Republican-held Congress, see? It just depends on the angle one looks at it.
I think the author's viewpoint is too aggressive. I agree with Beth that we have to look at different angles toward one problem. To some extent, we have to acknowledge the part that Republican have achieved and it is not fair to claim that everything they have done is bad.
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