Seeing Through the Republican Rhetoric

Digby discusses the fact that, despite all their complaints against the Soviet Union, Republicans have been imitating them in many ways as they have become increasingly authoritarian. He writes:

I have written often about how the Republicans are becoming what they railed against for decades: totalitarians. Unsurprisingly I suppose, it turns out that what they really hated about Soviet communism was the economics. The 50 years of ranting about personal liberty and anti-authoritarian government seems to have been mere political rhetoric. Now that they are in power themselves they have adopted certain Soviet values quite seamlessly.

I’d go even further than Digby. Even Republican attacks on Communism is largely rhetoric. Using the powers of the state to transfer wealth from the top one percent, and to benefit certain large corporations (which tend to be huge contributors) is hardly capitalism. Republican rhetoric in favor of freedom, capitalism, small government, eliminating deficits, and a strong defense is all rhetoric designed to win elections, and has no connection to their actual policies.

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