GOP tax cut 'obsession': David Brooks versus Paul�Ryan

Can't talk: too busy thinking about tax cuts
(Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

One of the hallmarks of our current political environment is that it is so populated with Crazy that there's often nobody to root for. There is a minor amount of entertainment to be found in trying to sort out who is crazier than who, however: sort of a Batshit Crazy fantasy league, but with terrifying real-world effects. But that's about all. Michele Bachmann, Rand Paul, Herman Cain...crazy has a deep bench, these days.

Today's fight finds old hand David Brooks (not terribly crazy, but never in danger of anyone thinking he's very bright) pointing out in rather vigorous terms, for a Real Media Pundit, that the modern Republican Party is, glory be, populated by kooks:

The party is not being asked to raise marginal tax rates in a way that might pervert incentives. On the contrary, Republicans are merely being asked to close loopholes and eliminate tax expenditures that are themselves distortionary.

This, as I say, is the mother of all no-brainers.

But we can have no confidence that the Republicans will seize this opportunity. That?s because the Republican Party may no longer be a normal party. Over the past few years, it has been infected by a faction that is more of a psychological protest than a practical, governing alternative.

The members of this movement do not accept the logic of compromise, no matter how sweet the terms. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch in order to cut government by a foot, they will say no. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch to cut government by a yard, they will still say no.

The members of this movement do not accept the legitimacy of scholars and intellectual authorities. A thousand impartial experts may tell them that a default on the debt would have calamitous effects, far worse than raising tax revenues a bit. But the members of this movement refuse to believe it.

The members of this movement have no sense of moral decency. A nation makes a sacred pledge to pay the money back when it borrows money. But the members of this movement talk blandly of default and are willing to stain their nation?s honor.

The members of this movement have no economic theory worthy of the name.  Economists have identified many factors that contribute to economic growth, ranging from the productivity of the work force to the share of private savings that is available for private investment. Tax levels matter, but they are far from the only or even the most important factor.

But to members of this movement, tax levels are everything. Members of this tendency have taken a small piece of economic policy and turned it into a sacred fixation.

Youch! Well first off, this David Brooks fellow sounds like a crazy blogger: he could learn a thing or two from Real Pundits, who know that the answer to any insanity by the Republican Party is to pen an earnest plea for "bipartisanship," where "bipartisanship" means that the Democrats should just go along with whatever nutty scenery-chewing thing the GOP wants or the Democrats will be mean and unserious and nobody will like them.

But ask yourself: what could prove David Brooks right in his assessment of the current Republican Party treating tax cuts as a "sacred fixation," nullifying every other principle of governance in favor of their obsession? Oh, I know?how about a prominent Crazy Republican stating it outright!

Congressman Paul Ryan, who for some crazy-ass reason is actually in a position to be in charge of this economic stuff (proof right there that the GOP has lost the reins some time ago), was asked about Brooks' assessment. His response:

What happens if you do what he?s saying, is then you can?t lower tax rates. So it does affect marginal tax rates. In order to lower marginal tax rates, you have to take away those loopholes so you can lower those tax rates. If you want to do what we call being revenue neutral ? If you take a deal like that, you?re necessarily requiring tax rates to be higher for everybody. You need lower tax rates by going after tax loopholes. If you take away the tax loopholes without lowering tax rates, then you deny Congress the ability to lower everybody?s tax rates and you keep people?s tax rates high.

So let's review. David Brooks: the current GOP is populated with "fanatics" that dismiss logic, knowledge, morality and intellectual integrity in favor of this "sacred fixation" with lowering tax rates. Congressman Paul Ryan: David Brooks is wrong because if we do what he's saying, we can't lower tax rates. Did I mention lowering tax rates? Let me say that again a few more times: lowering tax rates, lowering tax rates, lowering tax rates. There, that should prove I'm not obsessive about this or anything.

That pretty much sums it up, don't you think?

Source: http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/kVajCwuNpb0/-GOP-tax-cut-obsession:-David-Brooks-versus-Paul Ryan

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