For years, the G.O.P. stood for fiscal responsibility and conservative spending. It occurs to me, though, that in recent years, at least the past couple of decades, that has changed. Nowadays, they are for such conservative policies when Democrats are in power, but not nearly so reticent with spending when Republicans are at the helm.
The Dubya Bush administration allowed a recession to materialize just in time to leave it for the incoming Obama administration to deal with. On spending, in the final months of the Bush administration, Congress "did the right thing" by approving a spending bill for economic recovery (one that the GOP could take credit for) even while insisting spending be "limited" and after the election, refusing cooperation in further support for recovery. Currently we see the same thing occurring again, as Republicans sign on to a minimal relief bill, in time to take credit for doing something, even as that rudder of principled constancy, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, is already suggesting that what's been approved is enough - we dare not spend more!
To which my reply would be what I heard one woman, being interviewed about a month ago, said: "Six hundred dollars is what rich people think poor people will see as a lot of money." How do you pay your rent, put food on the table, and keep the electricity on with a one-time payment of $600, especially if you've lost your job?
So we will soon find out how Republicans will respond to Biden's announced plan for further relief. The saving grace may be that the Democrats do have a majority, albeit a weak one.
It's key to understand where the economy stands at this juncture. If like Mr. Trump, you think the burgeoning stock market represents a healthy economy, I'd just note that stock markets have been known to crash. Fortunately however, the Washington Post provides an excellent report on government spending under the Trump administration: "Trump's Most Enduring Legacy.."
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