Did… did I just slide to a parallel universe? Do I get to meet Jerry O’Connell? What the hell is going on?!
republicans aren’t for systemic change… they’re literally about the status quo.
Trump took over GOP. It’s not the same party as before.
Tariffs and deporting millions of people are both quite radical changes of the status quo. Illegals have been a fundamental part of our labor market for decades. GOP historically has been pro-illegal immigrants even if they’ve kept mostly quiet about it. It’s good for business. Reagan, the GOP quasi-religious symbol, legalized millions of illegals.
Tariffs fly in the face of established free market capitalism economics. Milton Friedman would be turning in his grave. You are artificially repressing the market through strong government regulation. Again, a radical reshaping of American policy.
I think Trump actually has a short window of action for very dramatic change. For example, if he comes out and says he believes we need universal healthcare because of the corrupt elites and whatnot, I think people will rally behind him. His popularity would jump up 20 points overnight. I think his voters are actually expecting some type of radical change.
The country is hurting and when people elect populists, it means they’re at the end of their ropes. Some of the class consciousness needs to be released with a pressure valve otherwise we’re headed for some murky and potentially ugly consequences.
People like Bannon understand this. I think they see the way the winds are blowing and want to be in a position to benefit
Trump took over GOP. It’s not the same party as before.
yeah it is; it’s still the same party of billionaires and tax cuts
Tariffs and deporting millions of people are both quite radical changes of the status quo.
lol what? tariffs and protectionism have been the policies of the republican party and conservatism forever
. For example, if he comes out and says he believes we need universal healthcare because of the corrupt elites and whatnot
And I have a bridge to sell you
lol what? tariffs and protectionism have been the policies of the republican party and conservatism forever
since Reagan it’s been the party of pro-business and free market capitalism. it wasn’t until the right wind populism that slowly started during the tea party and eventually led to Trump that we started seeing protectionism
And I have a bridge to sell you
I’m not claiming he is going to do this, I’m saying I think he has an opportunity to do it. The fundamental question is what Trump has in mind. Is his goal to just extract as much money as possible for him and his friends while keeping everything else more or less the same? Or does he have a more radical vision?
Certain individuals connected with the new Trump administration (looking at Vance and his financier Peter Thiel) have some radical beliefs in a new sort of technocratic authoritarian state. If this is really their goal, I think universal healthcare is a useful stepping stone to popular support for more radical items.
Republicans do want to change the system, but only in ways that make it easier for the already wealthy to extract even more money from the rest of the country, and do it faster.
Imagine how rich a small number of people can get if those pesky consumer protection and environmental regulations are tossed in the trash.
