MineralMan (71,157 posts) Tue Mar 31, 2015, 11:32 AM
Imagine a Republican Administration and Congress in 2017
It's a worthwhile exercise for everyone. It bears thinking about in a serious way. Based on the stated goals of the Republicans currently in control of Congress and of the Republicans who have shown a strong interest in becoming President, here are some of the things I'd expect to happen if they controlled both the White House and Congress:
Repeal of the ACA with nothing at all to replace it.
Not true. The free market will replace it, and with less restrictions. Allow people to buy over state lines and insurance companies will have to be more competitive.
Privatization of Social Security and Medicare.
Oh sweetheart, please look at some of those South American countries you so admire. They've privatized Social Security and their retirees have a lot more money than we do. You just want more dependence on nanny government.
Appointment of two conservative SCOTUS Justices at least.
Thank God!!!
National support for Voter ID laws and other voter restrictions.
You do realize that 0bama's proposal that voting become mandatory would require an ID, don't you? How else would you know who did and didn't vote. Besides, you can't even cash a welfare check without an ID. You can't buy cigarettes or alcohol, rent an apartment, etc. There's no damn reason the poor & minorities wouldn't have an ID.
Removing minimum wage requirements at the federal level.
Market driven solutions always work best. All you have to do to prove it to yourself is look at the tech industry. There's never been any unions and pay is competitive.
Elimination of the estate tax.
Good! Do you have any idea it costs family members to pay said taxes? Sometimes have to sell something as precious as a family farm just to pay the taxes.
Additional tax breaks for corporations and the richest Americans.
That would be great! We have one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. If corporations have more of their profits they'll have more to invest, which means more jobs. Rich people with more money means rich people spending money on things which means more jobs and that benefits everyone. And, in both cases there won't be such an incentive to take their money out of our country.
Repeal of many environmental laws.
They should be. They're based on hysteria & flawed & deliberately exaggerated computer models. It's not science, it's a religion full of fanatics.
Shutdowns of a number of major federal agencies, including the Department of Education, HHS, EPA. and the Labor Department.
Not one of those is necessary and education should be a state/community undertaking, not that of a bloated federal government whose job is to restrict rather than encourage learning.
Further limitations on unemployment benefits.
Funny thing about that, when benefits run out people miraculously find jobs.
Privatization of medical care for Veterans.
Because the government has done such a good job, right? Give them an insurance card like the rest of us have. They'd get better quality care and none of them would be dying because they've had to wait too long for care.
Removal of regulations on bankers and other financial organizations.
I'd settle for repeal of Dodd-Frank. No company should be "too big to fail".
Drastic reductions in Pell Grants and other aid to post-secondary education.
They wouldn't be as necessary if professors weren't making $300,000 for teaching one class and then get their full pension. Oh, and let's do away with SEIU. All they do is hold the American people hostage without any input in negotiations. It's called government SERVICE for a reason. They need to remember their place. They work for us, not the other way around.
Bomb, Bomb Iran!
I'd let Israel drop the first bomb if they wanted.
Movement toward a theocracy of conservative religious doctrines.
Now this is just ****ing stupid. No Republican president has ever don't this. We wouldn't tolerate it. Newsflash: not all conservatives are religious. Hell, I even know a few conservative pagans.
There are many other things on the Republican's agenda. None of them could be stopped if Republicans controlled two or even all three branches of government, and those changes would be almost impossible to reverse later. Everyone would be affected, and most gains that have been made in many areas would be reversed. Everyone's welcome to add to the list.
Complete lack of self awareness here!
As we get closer to the 2016 election year, it seems to me that we should look closely at the goals of the Republican Party and work strongly together to prevent conservatives from gaining control of government. Only by uniting and working toward that goal do we have a chance to prevent such a thing from happening. I'm hoping we wake up and see the necessity of making sure we stop the Republicans in their tracks, before they destroy any chance of progress.
I'm all in on this goal. How about you?
Guess what? 0bama has SO screwed things up for your party (lawlessness, vindictiveness & weakness are not good qualities in a president) you'll be lucky if democrats can be elected dog catcher.
Cindie
