An explanation of why GOP politicians still hate Medicare
Let me point out that the plot against the social safety net isn't a conspiracy theory. The general shape of the scheme has been widely reported for months. The arithmetic is also clear: Without deep cuts in popular social programs, it isn't possible to achieve huge reductions in the budget deficit while at the same time depriving the
And beyond all that, we now have it in black and white - well, blue on blue.
So, the plan isn't a mystery. But where is this determination to gut programs that are crucial to well over 100 million Americans coming from? These programs are extremely popular - even among Republican voters.
It's true that self-identified
Unfortunately, that poll didn't ask about Medicaid, a program targeted at lower- income Americans that many
One reason even
The attitude of the Republican rank and file, then, seems to be that big government is bad - but when we get down to specifics, don't cut you, don't cut me, cut that fellow behind the tree. Which means that the priorities of the new House majority are wildly out of line with those of its own voters, let alone those of the electorate as a whole.
And history says that attacks on the safety net come with a heavy political price.
So, where is the push to gut
Here's what I think is going on: Even now many, perhaps most
I'm not completely sure that this analysis is right. But all indications are that at some point this year, the Biden administration will have to deal with a full-scale effort at economic blackmail, a threat to blow up the economy unless the safety net is shredded. And I worry that
Krugman is a columnist for The New York Times.
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Why does GOP Want to cut Social Security & Medicare?
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