Republicans Campaign Like Its 1984

Obama cut taxes on the middle class and small business. Republicans attack Obama for raising taxes.

Obama reduced the deficit (as proportion of gross domestic product) and increased it far less than the Republicans. Republicans attack Obama for spending and the deficit.

Obama saved the country from the Bush depression. Republicans attack Obama because of the state of the economy.

Orwell would have been very impressed with (and appalled by) the propaganda abilities of the right wing. Due to their dominance of broadcast media, they can spread propaganda more effectively than dictatorships of the past.

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The Consequences of Repealing The Affordable Care Act

It is understandable that there are portions of the Affordable Care Act which Republican might want to repeal. There are even some aspects which I don’t agree with–but the bill in its entirety is far better than the former status quo. John Boehner says that everything must go:

“We voted to fully repeal the president’s healthcare law as one of our first acts as a new House majority, and our plan remains to repeal the law in its entirety,” Boehner said to reporters. “Anything short of that is unacceptable.”

Repealing everything would mean:

  • Insurance companies would be able to deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions
  • Insurance companies would be able to drop people should they get sick and cost them too much money
  • Many young people up to age 26 now covered under their parents’ policies would have to buy their own policies
  • The plans to eliminate the donut hole for Medicare Part D prescription plans would be dropped, increasing costs for seniors
  • The limitations on how much profit an insurance company can make off policies would be dropped–along with the rebates many customers will soon be receiving
  • Small businesses would lose tax breaks for providing health care to employees
  • There would be an increase in the deficit according to CBO projections

Why Do Conservatives Oppose Deregulation By Democrats?

The Boston Globe ran a story on the banking industry backing Romney, preferring the candidate who supports only limited regulation of banks over Obama. This comes as no surprise, but it is something to keep in mind when Republicans raise their dubious argument blaming the financial crash on Clinton (for deregulating banks) as a diversion to try to keep the blame off of Bush and Republican economic policies.

If conservatives think that deregulation of banks by Clinton was bad, shouldn’t they support Obama over Romney? How come they almost always oppose deregulation, except when done by Bill Clinton?

(And yes, there are arguments from the left that the regulation supported by Obama is too little, but he still favors far more reforms than Romney. Despite his centrist economic views, Obama will not lose a meaningful number of votes for being too moderate.)