Alternate Reality

Most of what you need to know about today’s Republican Party is illustrated in their viewpoint about the 2020 election. The party is rife with election skeptics; many of their candidates are deniers and if elected, many will be positioned to influence the outcome of elections after the voting is done.

That large numbers of Republicans still deny the validity of the 2020 election with absolutely no proof illustrates that wishing for a different outcome is overruling their reason, creating a warped viewpoint. This is surely not the criteria for an informed electorate making life-changing decisions. Certainly not all members subscribe to the party’s alternate reality, but their silence is startling and does not bode well for democracy.

This characteristic of self-deception reverberates through the party and is seen in their policies. “Trickledown” economics, where those who need the least relief from taxation influence the laws to increase their advantages is one of the tenets. If the GOP takes charge, we will likely see broad tax cuts, not offset by spending cuts, much as the last British Prime Minister attempted to do and resigned because of Parliamentary disapproval due to the market tailspin.

With majorities, Republican leaders will also likely work against affirming the debt ceiling, money that is already spent, endangering the American and global economies already on shaky ground. Ten years ago, this tactic caused a downgrade to American credit worthiness. We can expect attacks on programs like Social Security and Medicare.

The Supreme Court brought to us by Republican chicanery will again attack civil rights in their next term. The judicial concept of precedence is tossed aside; the 50-year-old Roe vs. Wade decision was upended with little concern for real world results, or promises made in confirmation hearings, and done with the support of a minority of Americans. SCOTUS wants to limit the power of the EPA, charged with protecting clean air and water for Americans families. Hard won voting rights were diminished in previous decisions. A Roberts Court decision toed the Republican line by allowing unlimited campaign contributions by donors. These wealthy donors will expect a return on their investments.

The GOP’s environmental plan will not outlive the election cycle. They ignore recurring 500- and 1000-year storm events, unprecedented wildfires, droughts, and floods, refusing to follow science in favor of their donors wishes to avoid the cost of meeting environmentally favorable reforms. The right overlooks the fact that we are already paying for the damage to the environment in recovery costs to these increasingly intense natural disasters.

The worldwide problem of inflation did not originate in the U.S., nor will it be corrected solely by domestic measures. But the unfunded tax cuts and debt limit fights which are the mainstays of Republican legislatures will worsen inflation, increase deficits, and hand them a self-manufactured weapon – “we can’t afford it” – to wield against Social Security and Medicare.

In contrast, Democratic action instituted measures that drastically reduced deaths and hospitalizations from COVID; crafted a worldwide response to Russian aggression in Ukraine; bolstered support for NATO and approved 2 new members to the organization. Democrats voted for funding to rebuild roads and bridges and renew our crumbling infrastructure. Democrats want to help expand broadband into rural and under-served areas.

There is ample evidence of the deficiency of the GOP grasp on reality. Republican counties had higher COVID death rates than Democratic counties, a result of bad information and decisions promoted by the party. The party is in the grip of a hysteria that depends upon manipulation by unreasonable fear and repetition to overwhelm reason. Their culture prompts them to feel victimized and aggrieved. A minority of radicals holds the entire enterprise hostage to extremism. Gullibility and magical thinking do not make for good decisions. Our futures are at stake. Please look beyond the slogans when you vote this fall.

Steve Foreman
Warren County, Virginia