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Great Republican Ideas

Elixir

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At the suggestion of @Metaphor, I am creating this thread as a repository for the Republican or conservative ideas that will improve Americans' standard of living, create economic stability and prosperity, improve education and technology - or anything else that would benefit Americans as a whole.

Being personally bereft of any ideas on how Republicans plan to do any such thing, I am left with the cynical view that Republicans are currently devoted to making Americans poorer, less stable, less educated and technologically inept. I hope to be disabused of that notion by the presentation of even just a few of Republicans' Great Visionary Ideas. Thank you in advance.
 
Republican hesitancy to vaccinate is going to keep COVID in play for the foreseeable future, highlighting the holes in our healthcare systems, our economy, even our political leadership's ability and willingness to represent the desires of their constituents. Eventually this highlighting MUST drive change.
One way or another.

Max Planck once said,
“A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.”
― Scientific Autobiography and Other Papers
The GOP approach to vaccines is creating a similar mechanism, speeding the die-off of opponents and the eventual rise to power of those who adopt the safest measures, for themselves and their posterity.
 
How far back in history are we allowed? In other words, is this about the Jekyll republicans or the hyde republicans?
 
How far back in history are we allowed? In other words, is this about the Jekyll republicans or the hyde republicans?

This is so important.

The Republican Party I grew up with had little in common with the TeaParty Republicans we have now.
Tom
 
How far back in history are we allowed? In other words, is this about the Jekyll republicans or the hyde republicans?

This is so important.

The Republican Party I grew up with had little in common with the TeaParty Republicans we have now.
Tom

Talking about CURRENT Republicans. Not back when they were what Democrats are now.

Republican hesitancy to vaccinate is going to keep COVID in play for the foreseeable future, highlighting the holes in our healthcare systems, our economy, even our political leadership's ability and willingness to represent the desires of their constituents. Eventually this highlighting MUST drive change.
One way or another.

Bzzzzt! Unintended consequences don't count. Waiting for positive, life-enhancing Republican ideas, visions and actions.
Looks like it could be a very long wait...
 
How far back in history are we allowed? In other words, is this about the Jekyll republicans or the hyde republicans?

This is so important.

The Republican Party I grew up with had little in common with the TeaParty Republicans we have now.
Tom

I'll go as far as saying the Republicans as of the end of slavery was the new (if not true) founding fathers of America. In comparison what I see in today's Republicans are unrecognizable.
 
Bzzzzt! Unintended consequences don't count. Waiting for positive, life-enhancing Republican ideas, visions and actions.
Looks like it could be a very long wait...

This has to be one of the most difficult challenges out there. You should offer a $1 million reward, like, you know, proof of BigFoot or something.

That said, I found something that is representative of the Republican vision, but I'm not quite sure if it meets all the criteria.

Rand Paul and the 19-Year Libertarian War on Low-Flow Toilets
 
Once upon a time Republicans claimed to care about moral conduct.

They would not support an obvious and pathological liar for office.
 
That said, I found something that is representative of the Republican vision, but I'm not quite sure if it meets all the criteria.

From the article:
Beyond the immediate buzz, conservative activists seem to agree that toilets and lightbulbs make for good talking points

Oh great.
"Marriage equality and feticide rights aren't working like they used to. Let's make water and electricity conservation the new wedge issues!"

Am I understanding that right?
Tom
 
Improve America's health care by repelling ACA and doing nothing else.

Improve America's infrastructure by giving it to the wealthy.

Lower deficit spending by cutting income but not spending.

Protect America's right to commit acts of honestly held religiously based acts of discrimination.
 
Bzzzzt! Unintended consequences don't count. Waiting for positive, life-enhancing Republican ideas, visions and actions.
Looks like it could be a very long wait...

This has to be one of the most difficult challenges out there. You should offer a $1 million reward, like, you know, proof of BigFoot or something.

I think Republican donors should put up the reward money. It's not like they don't wipe their asses with that kind of chump change.

That said, I found something that is representative of the Republican vision, but I'm not quite sure if it meets all the criteria.

Rand Paul and the 19-Year Libertarian War on Low-Flow Toilets

I haven't had to live with gummint-restricted water concerns since I first bought my first house in 1972, so I'm not really qualified to comment on the merits of Mr. Paul's idea.
But the article does explain why he smells like shit:

"Frankly, the toilets don't work in my house," Paul said.
 
Bzzzzt! Unintended consequences don't count.
You said bupkes about intentions. You wanted "ideas that will improve Americans' standard of living."
Republicans killing off Qanon followers cannot help but improve the standards for survivors.

Waiting for positive, life-enhancing Republican ideas, visions and actions.
Two people from my town are going to Federal Prison, in all likelihood, for their participation in that group tour of the capital just after the New Year. This is very positive, and certainly enhances my life, if only by a fraction. Esp. with the anti-BLM punishments likely to enhance their punishments.

That guy who defaced the Gay Pride monument in Florida and faces EXTRA jail time because of the law meant to protect Confederate monuments? That life-affirming. Not, you know, HIS life, but oh well.
 
Bzzzzt! Unintended consequences don't count.
You said bupkes about intentions. You wanted "ideas that will improve Americans' standard of living."
Republicans killing off Qanon followers cannot help but improve the standards for survivors.

Waiting for positive, life-enhancing Republican ideas, visions and actions.
Two people from my town are going to Federal Prison, in all likelihood, for their participation in that group tour of the capital just after the New Year. This is very positive, and certainly enhances my life, if only by a fraction. Esp. with the anti-BLM punishments likely to enhance their punishments.

That guy who defaced the Gay Pride monument in Florida and faces EXTRA jail time because of the law meant to protect Confederate monuments? That life-affirming. Not, you know, HIS life, but oh well.

but what about the unintended consequences of the unintended consequences that you may have thought were good? I mean, what if killing off Qarens actually leads to more conspiracies about why they died which then leads to more Qarens? Look at Ashli Babbitt dying, for example. The Reich wing has completely taken advantage of her death (which was completely their fault) to create more propaganda which then might very well be creating more Ashli Babbitts.

Far from dampening support for the big lie, Babbitt's death is being amplified by Trump loyalists into a powerful rallying symbol for far-right anti-government extremists the FBI calls terrorists, who now find aid and comfort within a Trumpified GOP.

Babbitt's canonization as a right-wing martyr is a dangerous development for a Republican Party with members increasingly comfortable pressing for and defending political violence. Trump himself seems to want to use outrage over Babbitt's death as a blast furnace to heat up his 2024 political comeback — but cheerleading extremism is more likely to send the country up in smoke.
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opini...-killed-capitol-riot-martyr-why-s-ncna1273750
 
You said bupkes about intentions. You wanted "ideas that will improve Americans' standard of living."
Republicans killing off Qanon followers cannot help but improve the standards for survivors.

Two people from my town are going to Federal Prison, in all likelihood, for their participation in that group tour of the capital just after the New Year. This is very positive, and certainly enhances my life, if only by a fraction. Esp. with the anti-BLM punishments likely to enhance their punishments.

That guy who defaced the Gay Pride monument in Florida and faces EXTRA jail time because of the law meant to protect Confederate monuments? That life-affirming. Not, you know, HIS life, but oh well.

but what about the unintended consequences of the unintended consequences that you may have thought were good? I mean, what if killing off Qarens actually leads to more conspiracies about why they died which then leads to more Qarens? Look at Ashli Babbit dying, for example. The Reich wing has completely taken advantage of her death (which was completely their fault) to create more propaganda which then might very well be creating more Ashli Babbits.

Even after openly showing support for someone violently breaking into the US Capital he's not encouraging violence. That's another great idea brought by the current republicans, the bar is so low for indictments, that political criminals have more freedom to incite violence.
 
At the suggestion of @Metaphor, I am creating this thread as a repository for the Republican or conservative ideas that will improve Americans' standard of living, create economic stability and prosperity, improve education and technology - or anything else that would benefit Americans as a whole.

The Republican platform seems to be based around the philosophy that standard of living, economic stability and prosperity and education are the responsibility of the individual to attain for themselves and their children. They emphasise free markets in which a few people will find stable, high-income employment, send their children to good private schools, pay for private health care, and presumably move to an affluent neighbourhood. Potentially a fine arrangement for some but not much of an opportunity for most.
 
At the suggestion of @Metaphor, I am creating this thread as a repository for the Republican or conservative ideas that will improve Americans' standard of living, create economic stability and prosperity, improve education and technology - or anything else that would benefit Americans as a whole.

Being personally bereft of any ideas on how Republicans plan to do any such thing, I am left with the cynical view that Republicans are currently devoted to making Americans poorer, less stable, less educated and technologically inept. I hope to be disabused of that notion by the presentation of even just a few of Republicans' Great Visionary Ideas. Thank you in advance.

Everyone? Even Other People? Well. I'll try. Luckily, I live in Ohio.

Ohio Republicans protect gas drillers rights to drill wherever they want in the state. Who cares what the suburban mom wants. She should be tending to her chores. Not worrying about man stuff. This keeps the price of gas low for all of us. Nevermind it's often is so cheap it's hardly worth pulling out of the ground. The point is, drill baby drill is patriotic. I've seen the sign myself. There was an American flag next to it.

Ohio Republicans protect local government's right to deny wind farms in their communities. This protects the citizens from wind turbine syndrome. And cancer.

And I heard there is a town in North Carolina that refused to allow another solar farm in their county as it would suck up too much of the sunshine. This I'm paraphrasing a comment from a retired science teacher. Oh, and she said cancer too.

Besides, conservatives don't need to improve anything. America is great just the way it is was is. You know what I mean. Except the libbies. That's the only thing wrong with America is the libbies. So, as long as conservatives can own the libbies, everything will be great again again. That's why "owning the libbies" is the number one concern among Republicans. Now do you understand?
















Trump Love.gif
 
In a somewhat serious attempt to address the OP, I checked congress.gov to see what bills Garland Hale "Andy" Barr IV, my Republican Congressman, has sponsored.

HR 790 - "This bill eliminates provisions that fund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) using transfers from the earnings of the Federal Reserve System. The transfers under current law permit the CFPB to be funded outside of the annual appropriations process, and this bill brings the CFPB into the regular process."

Could be good governance, could be a way to restrict funding to the CFPB, an agency whose mission is to reduce opportunities to fleece the financially unsophisticated.

HR 1193 - "This bill expands research on valvular heart disease and its treatment. This disease is caused by damage to or disease affecting any valve that controls blood flow in the heart."

Barr's wife died unexpectedly last year at the age of 39 from this condition.

HR 1479 - "This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal—unless the President commits to submit any successor agreement to the Senate for advice and consent as a treaty."

Could be good governance, more likely a way to prevent the US from rejoining.

HR 1543 - No congress.gov summary yet available. Summary in bill text says "To provide authorities to prohibit the provision of services by social media platforms to certain individuals and entities on the Specially Designated Nationals List and senior officials of governments of a state sponsor of terrorism."

Arguably unconstitutional.

HR 1729 - No congress.gov summary yet available. Summary in bill text says "To amend the Federal Reserve Act to prohibit certain financial service providers who deny fair access to financial services from using taxpayer funded discount window lending programs, and for other purposes."

Effectively prevents banks from denying loans to legal businesses they or a large fraction of their customers find objectionable (refers to "Operation Choke Point", which was a DOJ program that "investigated banks in the United States and the business they did with firearm dealers, payday lenders, and other companies believed to be at a high risk for fraud and money laundering.")

HR 2561 - No congress.gov summary yet available. Summary in bill text says "To require the appropriate Federal banking agencies to establish a 3-year phase-in period for de novo financial institutions to comply with Federal capital standards, to provide relief for de novo rural community banks, and for other purposes."

This might actually be an example of what the OP wanted. It establishes a 3-year phase in period "to meet any Federal capital requirements that would otherwise be applicable to the financial institution" and notes in the findings

(3) A November 2019 report by the Federal Reserve System found that 44 counties in the U.S. were “deeply affected” by trends in bank closures and consolidation (i.e., had fewer than 10 branches in 2012 and lost at least 50 percent of them by 2017).

(4) 89 percent of the deeply affected counties were rural.

(5) Rural counties deeply affected by branch closures had higher poverty rates, lower median income, and a higher share of their population were African American compared to all rural communities.

HR 3012 - No congress.gov summary yet available. Summary in bill text says "To establish a Higher Education Initiative in the Office of Private Sector of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and for other purposes."

Targets "suspected incidents of individuals participating in federally funded research as agents of a foreign government in institutions of higher education and National Academies." "Foreign government" is later defined as (basically) China.

HR 3802 - No congress.gov summary yet available. Summary in bill text says "To amend the FAST Act to add activities relating to the extraction, recovery, or processing of certain materials to the definition of a critical project, and for other purposes."

Barr apparently wants to see if we can extract rare earth elements, "microfine carbon", or other "critical minerals" (broadly defined) from coal and the many forms of waste left behind by coal mining. Smells like pseudoscientific claptrap to me - if there were any hope of that I would have thought industry or the researchers they fund would have discovered it by now.

HR 3265 - No congress.gov summary yet available. Summary in bill text says "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to apply current income tax bracket breakpoints to capital gains brackets."

Increases the amount of long-term capital gains on which zero tax is owed by $100 or $200 (depending on filing status). Increases the amount of long-term capital gains to which the 15% rate applies (and thus decreases the amount of long-term capital gains to which the 20% rate applies) by $47,600, $74,200, or $121,000 (depending on filing status).

Will no doubt be appreciated by all the poor folks in Kentucky's 6th district struggling to make ends meet on $500K in cap gains income...

H. Con. Res. 36 - "This concurrent resolution establishes the Joint Select Committee on the Events and Activities Surrounding China's Handling of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus to investigate and report to Congress and the executive branch specified information related to the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19) pandemic."

I rather expect we'll get this (whether from Barr's resolution or one of the many others no doubt filed by Congressfolk of every persuasion)...

Probably won't get anything else. Barr has been in Congress since 2013 and has sponsored (i.e., introduced) 92 bills. 3 have become law (the "1921 Silver Dollar Coin Anniversary Act", a bill "to amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the credit hour requirement for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program of the Department of Veterans Affairs", and a bill "to designate the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, as the "Lexington VA Health Care System" and to make certain other designations.")
 
but what about the unintended consequences of the unintended consequences that you may have thought were good? I mean, what if killing off Qarens actually leads to more conspiracies about why they died which then leads to more Qarens?
If conspiracies kill of conspiracy nuts, then more conspiracies will kill off more conspiracy nuts.
They talked themselves OUT of vaccines, they talked themselves INTO bleach and hydrochlorinine (or whatever), they'll talk themselves out of the next precautionary measure, they'll talk themselves into felonies and post them to YouTube for the Feds' benefit, and they'll talk themselves into, i dunno, moving to Texas for the freedom to melt/freeze to death? It's a feedback loop that'll eventually start taking them out in droves.
 
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