America First Caucus" would champion "Anglo-Saxon political traditions"

[TomC]

"Big Tech"
I have a hard time taking right-wingers' anti-capitalist arguments seriously, when right-wingers loudly defend the right of the capitalist elite to do whatever it wants, no matter how criminal and immoral it might be. They make arguments that if one doesn't like one's employer than one can always look for another job, that if one doesn't like some company's products then one does not have to buy those products, that the capitalist elite is a bunch of super hardworking Stakhanovites who have earned their elite positions, that that elite is a bunch of "job creators", etc. etc. etc.

Because according to their usual arguments about capitalism they are lazy whiners who want to steal from the most productive people, who want government jackboots on their throats, who want to turn their nation into Venezuela, etc. etc. etc.

Yeah I find their arguments about business to be completely contradiictory and incoherent. Praising the unrestrained exercise of a corporte right in one breath and then condemning the same actions with the next breath.

The only filter that reconciles the incoherence is the “Me ME ME” filter.

I read a recent article (Politico, IIRC) about the growing rift between corporate and the right wing. The Zoom call with 100 CEOs was mentioned, and the thrust is that while most of the CEOs are Republicans, they're also businessmen, and division is bad for business. The sports leagues like MLB and the NFL, along with companies like Nike and "big tech" realize that it's more profitable to appeal to a diverse, inclusive audience rather than the "us vs them" crowd. If the company is publicly traded, then all that Wall Street cares about is quarterly and year over year growth. Division doesn't help a company grow.

I think you hit the nail on the head.

TeaParty politicians think that they can bribe corporate elites with corporate welfare and tax cuts, like they've been doing for years. But that's not working as well as it did years ago. CEOs want a healthy economy, which the TeaParty cannot deliver. Because the TeaParty isn't interested in the broad welfare of the USA people, they're mostly interested in keeping power by whatever means necessary.

They've adopted the "borrow and spend" policies that got the GOP in trouble. The policies that created the Republican Recession of 2007. They want to keep spending to buy votes, but pretend that the grand kids will be so prosperous that they'll happily pay the bills.

But that's already not happening.

Tom

 

[Harry Bosch]

"Big Tech"
I have a hard time taking right-wingers' anti-capitalist arguments seriously, when right-wingers loudly defend the right of the capitalist elite to do whatever it wants, no matter how criminal and immoral it might be. They make arguments that if one doesn't like one's employer than one can always look for another job, that if one doesn't like some company's products then one does not have to buy those products, that the capitalist elite is a bunch of super hardworking Stakhanovites who have earned their elite positions, that that elite is a bunch of "job creators", etc. etc. etc.

Because according to their usual arguments about capitalism they are lazy whiners who want to steal from the most productive people, who want government jackboots on their throats, who want to turn their nation into Venezuela, etc. etc. etc.

Yeah I find their arguments about business to be completely contradiictory and incoherent. Praising the unrestrained exercise of a corporte right in one breath and then condemning the same actions with the next breath.

The only filter that reconciles the incoherence is the “Me ME ME” filter.

I read a recent article (Politico, IIRC) about the growing rift between corporate and the right wing. The Zoom call with 100 CEOs was mentioned, and the thrust is that while most of the CEOs are Republicans, they're also businessmen, and division is bad for business. The sports leagues like MLB and the NFL, along with companies like Nike and "big tech" realize that it's more profitable to appeal to a diverse, inclusive audience rather than the "us vs them" crowd. If the company is publicly traded, then all that Wall Street cares about is quarterly and year over year growth. Division doesn't help a company grow.

It's more simple than that. Republicans have a demographic problem. They tend to be dogmatic, white, and old (on average). Liberals tend to be open to change, mobile, diverse and young. Which groups do you think businesses would rather target?!! It's not a close call.

 

[lpetrich]

"Foreign Aid"

Right-wingers often oppose it, but much of US foreign aid goes to Israel, and right-wingers *love* that nation.

"National Security"

For far too long, a hawkish neoconservative foreign policy has been the default for the American Right. This has resulted in America being bogged-down in endless conflicts with trillion-dollar price tags in addition to having thousands of American heroes losing their lives as a result. Meanwhile, our nation’s infrastructure and our border security have been traitorously neglected.

Then about the troubles of Afghanistan and Libya.

The America First Caucus recognizes that America can no longer afford to be the world’s policeman. Instead of endless interventions, bold diplomatic endeavors must be undertaken with countries such as Russia and North Korea to ensure a more peaceful and stable world. America should not be sacrificing blood and treasure while our so-called allies refuse to pull their weight in contributing toward neutralizing threatening actors in the world. America must remain a free and independent Republic, not a globalist watchdog.

"Coronavirus"

Ever since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus originating from China and the first known case of coronavirus in the United States on Jan 21, 2020, the United States government and health organizations issued guidelines and policies that would hinder and destroy the American economy in many ways. These guidelines, which includes mask mandates and social distancing rules, are socially conditioning the culture and behavior of Americans.

What would they have wanted that would have kept people safe? It's not very clear.

"Social problems, including suicide and divorce, have escalated because state governors, which the encouragement of the CDC, have locked down families"

But according to many right-wingers, suicide and divorce are moral failings of those who do those actions. So which is it?

 

[lpetrich]

"Trade"

Free trade accomplishes many of the same nefarious economic goals that mass immigration does. Essentially, it allows capital to search for markets with the lowest capital-to-labor ratios that will allow it in, which in turn allows this capital to exact higher returns by exploiting the relative excess of labor that exist in the third world, transforming these countries into essentially industrial plantations run by semi-slaves. At the same time, workers in capital-exporting countries such as America have less bargaining power because of the decrease in capital, which puts massive downward pressure on their wages and benefits, assuming they even manage to hold on to their jobs. Not only is this devastating to their standard of living, but the lack of meaningful work in the production of tangible goods serves to eviscerate any sense of dignity and worth these workers and their families had, resulting in the myriad of social ills we see in rural America today, such as the opioid epidemic.

"Environment"

We oppose the globalist, vague, and irrelevant policies being pushed under the guise of combating climate change. If Americans want to conserve the environment, they should push for better waste management and other substantive remedies, not wasteful social justice programs like the Green New Deal.

...
We oppose the globalist, vague, and irrelevant policies being pushed under the guise of combating climate change. If Americans want to conserve the environment, they should push for better waste management and other substantive remedies, not wasteful social justice programs like the Green New Deal.

"Energy"

While it is vital to preserve our environment, we should not use it as an impetus to destroy the energy industry that hires millions of hard-working Americans. Our elected officials should stand proudly with America’s struggling coal country against job-killing regulations, and welcome the ongoing shift towards clean coal. In addition, the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines will promote North American energy independence and allow the United States to more easily extricate itself from the conflicts of the Middle East. Moreover, hydraulic fracking technology, when used appropriately, can provide more affordable oil and gas for Americans, and therefore any attempts to ban this practice on a national level should be resisted. The America First Caucus supports innovation in green energy, such as in the form of nuclear energy. However, it is important to closely scrutinize and reduce taxpayer subsidies for wasteful green energy projects that fail to deliver the required return on investment for the American people.

They like fossil fuels and nuclear energy, it seems.

 

[Harry Bosch]

"Foreign Aid"

Right-wingers often oppose it, but much of US foreign aid goes to Israel, and right-wingers *love* that nation.

"National Security"

Then about the troubles of Afghanistan and Libya.


"Coronavirus"

Ever since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus originating from China and the first known case of coronavirus in the United States on Jan 21, 2020, the United States government and health organizations issued guidelines and policies that would hinder and destroy the American economy in many ways. These guidelines, which includes mask mandates and social distancing rules, are socially conditioning the culture and behavior of Americans.

What would they have wanted that would have kept people safe? It's not very clear.

"Social problems, including suicide and divorce, have escalated because state governors, which the encouragement of the CDC, have locked down families"

But according to many right-wingers, suicide and divorce are moral failings of those who do those actions. So which is it?

That isn't even close to being true. Iraq and Afghanistan get the most US aid (5.3 and 5.1 billion annually). Israel is number 3. Israel gets about 6% of the total US aid. As an aside, the US is one of the lowest donners per capita in the developed world.

 

[lpetrich]

"Protecting the Value of American Savings"

We must protect the rights of Americans to best position themselves for a changing economy by promoting the development of cryptocurrency companies domestically, and defend the rights of Americans to hold private stores of wealth – including gold, silver, and other blockchain-based currencies like Bitcoin.

"America First Education"

"The increased consolidation of educational spending came with it the ability for powerful left-wing special interest groups to redirect the focus away from preparing future generations of national talent to progessive indoctrination and enrichment of an out-of-control elite oligarchy."

Like the capitalist elite?

"Even worse, our education has worked to actively undermine pride in America’s great history and is actively hostile to the civic and cultural assimilation necessary for a strong nation. The future of America’s position in the world depends on addressing the crisis in education, at both the primary and secondary level."

Belligerent nationalism. It figures.

There are things that the right wing might not like, it must be noted. Like President George Washington suppressing the Whiskey Rebellion. Given what right-wingers feel about taxes, I'm surprised that they don't consider it a terrible wrong.

 

[Elixir]

It's more simple than that. Republicans have a demographic problem. They tend to me dogmatic, white, and old (on average). Liberals tend to be open to change, mobile, diverse and young. Which groups do you think businesses would rather target?!! It's not a close call.

Yup.
Even so ... it's probably my Welsh heritage that leaves me still with an unsettled desire for those thatched-roof mud huts and wattle-and-daub pig pens.

I am watching with some bemusement as new owners (now 3 years into it) of my Company have been grappling ... cancelling mass purchase discounts for and severing relations with Oath Keepers and other real and suspected right wing extremist groups, while trying to maintain their support for (and business with) spec ops units that are infested with the same types. That kind of conundrum really didn't exist at all, prior to the Trumputin regime's "divide and conquer" campaign. We treated them all the same as we treated outdoor recreational accounts when we first started the Company, right up until 2017 when the true malevolence of the executive branch became apparent.

"America First Education"

Code for "keep 'em stupid; teach creationism instead of science".

 

[lpetrich]

Finally,

"The Chinese Communist Party"

Not since the fall of the Soviet Union has America faced a civilizational challenge from another state actor quite like the modern Chinese Communist Party (CCP). While the liberalization of the Chinese government in the 90’s and early 2000s gave hope that the CCP was moving in the direction of being a peaceful and beneficial actor on the world stage, the Xi-era has been one defined by the dangerous resurrection of Neo-Maoist thinking.

Neo-Maoist? By Maoist standards, China's present leaders are a bunch of capitalist roaders.

China's Communist Party combines quasi-statist capitalism with belligerent nationalism. Making it much like Mussolini's Fascist Party in early 20th cy. Italy. Is China's Political Economy Fascist?

 

[ZiprHead]

That isn't even close to being true. Iraq and Afghanistan get the most US aid (5.3 and 5.1 billion annually).

Do those aid numbers include spending on our own military operations in those countries?

 

[Harry Bosch]

That isn't even close to being true. Iraq and Afghanistan get the most US aid (5.3 and 5.1 billion annually).

Do those aid numbers include spending on our own military operations in those countries?

Yes it does. Although my link is a couple years old.

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us-spend-its-foreign-aid

 

[ZiprHead]

That isn't even close to being true. Iraq and Afghanistan get the most US aid (5.3 and 5.1 billion annually).

Do those aid numbers include spending on our own military operations in those countries?

Yes it does. Although my link is a couple years old.

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us-spend-its-foreign-aid

Thanks. I don't think most people would consider our military operations to be "aid".

 

[Harry Bosch]

Yes it does. Although my link is a couple years old.

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us-spend-its-foreign-aid

Thanks. I don't think most people would consider our military operations to be "aid".

Sorry, I read your question incorrectly. No, the list does not include our military operations to be aid. According to the link, 32% of the aid is used to purchase US weapons though.

 

[ZiprHead]

Yes it does. Although my link is a couple years old.

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us-spend-its-foreign-aid

Thanks. I don't think most people would consider our military operations to be "aid".

Sorry, I read your question incorrectly. No, the list does not include our military operations to be aid. According to the link, 32% of the aid is used to purchase US weapons though.

Oh, okay. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Politesse]

Yes it does. Although my link is a couple years old.

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us-spend-its-foreign-aid

Thanks. I don't think most people would consider our military operations to be "aid".

It's impossible to easily distinguish, though. A lot of money is indeed spent directly on traditional forms of aid, as such acts of feigned beneficence are critical to the success of our more lethal goals.

 

[Ford]

Finally,

"The Chinese Communist Party"

Not since the fall of the Soviet Union has America faced a civilizational challenge from another state actor quite like the modern Chinese Communist Party (CCP). While the liberalization of the Chinese government in the 90’s and early 2000s gave hope that the CCP was moving in the direction of being a peaceful and beneficial actor on the world stage, the Xi-era has been one defined by the dangerous resurrection of Neo-Maoist thinking.

Neo-Maoist? By Maoist standards, China's present leaders are a bunch of capitalist roaders.

This just happens to tie in with Harry's point about demographics above. The real dedicated Republican voter - meaning the one who shows up to the polls even for minor things - is likely to be older. As in, old enough to have lived through the most frightening times during the Cold War. They remember "duck and cover" drills and Reagan warning about the evils of communism on a record album. Or they remember the 1980s where Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris went over and finally defeated the communists in Vietnam, or when Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen fought the commies in Colorado. Just say the word "communist" and they're ready to fight "the red menace" every which way they can. Never mind that China is communist much in the same way that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a democratic republic where the people matter...no it riles them up to fight the commies once again.

Problem for the GOP is that it won't be long before grandma down in Palm Springs or grandpa out in Sun City goes to that great backyard bomb shelter in the sky, and they're left with an American electorate who only knows about the Soviet Union from history class. Instead of promoting policies that will appeal to this younger, more inclusive demo, they're out there focusing their ad buys around retirement communities. It is literally a dead end.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

America First Caucus" would champion "Anglo-Saxon political traditions"

Except the GOP has expanded their ‘working class’ message. Trying to protect America from the communists, the Jews, the media, the Jews, environmentalist, and the Jews. It is a fascist populist message and it has worked pretty well.

The GOP’s message is a dead end and Trump got over 70 million votes?

The propaganda used to be AM radio. Then Fox News. Now Fox News isn’t radical enough, and there is Newsmax and OANN. It is radicalizing on the right wing. So bad people died because of the nonsense.

 

[ZiprHead]

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger Calls on Party to Expel 'White Supremacy Caucus' Led By Marjorie Taylor Greene

 

[TomC]

Yes it does. Although my link is a couple years old.

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us-spend-its-foreign-aid

Thanks. I don't think most people would consider our military operations to be "aid".

It's impossible to easily distinguish, though. A lot of money is indeed spent directly on traditional forms of aid, as such acts of feigned beneficence are critical to the success of our more lethal goals.

This is a crucial point.

Calling expenditures "foreign aid" makes it sound like the government is spending on humanitarian endeavors. But when a third of the USA's foreign aid is paying American weapons manufacturers to send armaments to Israel, it's quite different from humanitarian aid.
Or when the government pledges billions of $ to AIDS victims in Africa, but then doesn't fund the effort, that isn't really humanitarian aid. It's a political ploy that doesn't much get reported about during the years the funding fails to materialize.

The USA has an abominable record concerning foreign aid. We are far more likely to spend taxpayer dollars on guns than clinics.

Cuba does better.
Tom

 

[SLD]

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger Calls on Party to Expel 'White Supremacy Caucus' Led By Marjorie Taylor Greene

What an idiot is Kinzinger. Or more likely he’s just trolling. The Republican Party is a white supremacy party. It’s built on this since 1968. And it has served the party well, too. Allowing it to elect Reagan, Bush and Trump. To be a Republican is to be a white supremacist. It can’t be denied. MTG is not an aberration. Nor is Trump. They are the future of the party. If you oppose the notions of white supremacy, you need to leave the party; form a different conservative party.

The problem is that with shifting demographics, it can no longer be sold. As more and more Americans become more secular, as whites, as a percentage of people, decline, the electorate shifts away from this mainstay of Republican Party politics. That’s why voter suppression is so important. So is gerrymandering.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

As an FYI, the President of the US metaphorically, but clearly, incited a riot at the Capitol, and the GOP allowed it to stand.

At times, the people in power have it because they sought to seize it. The GOP clearly has been shifting this direction since 2010.