Plenty of left-leaning commentators are wondering why the GOP would be so determined to pass a tax bill that is both bad policy and self-defeating politics. The answers are fairly simple:
- The PBP wing of the Republican Party is very transactional; it demands tax cuts and deregulation for business in exchange for donations and votes. The GOP has now delivered, and can expect the rewards.
- While the Reactionary wing is generally suspicious of wealthy businessmen, it has always been willing to swallow large regressive tax cuts which primarily benefit plutocrats, not them, on the basis that “it’s their money.” They also see tax cuts as the necessary tradeoff for limits on immigration and support for the Reactionary social agenda and hope that, by “starving the beast,” they can force benefit cuts for the undeserving poor.
- Most GOP members of Congress think that, as long as they say the right things about God, guns, NASCAR, country music, and immigration, and they don’t pick up teenage girls at the mall, they can’t be beaten by a Democrat no matter what happens with the economy. The sad thing is, they’re probably right.
- Peer pressure and cover from dishonest right-wing economists took care of the waverers.
And so, we will have a piece of atrocious legislation for our Christmas present. Enjoy!