They Hold These Truths

“Capitalism equals democracy. Government is the problem, never the solution. Taxes are theft. Corporations are always more efficient than government. America has the finest health care system in the world. The Dow Jones is our common national scorecard. Lower taxes for the rich will lead to a better life for the poor. Gut instinct is more trustworthy than intellectual expertise. Regulation hurts average people. Globalism is good for most Americans. The American suburban lifestyle is sustainable and sacrosanct. Inequality is the inevitable price of liberty. Corporate power poses no threat to freedom. Americans are overtaxed. Muslims hate us for our freedoms, not our policies. Global warming is a hoax. God has a special relationship with the U.S.A.”

Of course, all of these statements are ridiculous, dumb almost beyond comprehension. American voters, however, continue to reward Republicans for their unwavering, seemingly heartfelt devotion to this worldview.

Unless the Democratic Party rediscovers its roots as a passionate defender of working people against what FDR called “the malefactors of great wealth,” it will quickly return to insignificance, standing on the sidelines, watching as America continues its steady descent into economic oblivion. — Peter Kornbluth