When Inconsistency Becomes a Virtue
Read this Media Matters story about conservative responses to the ongoing economic depression (which I got from Mike).
Everyone knows that conservatives are very often idiots. They aren’t always, though. Sometimes, as that link shows, they’re just outrageously dishonest.
Seriously, as much as I try to remind myself about cognitive dissonance and ideological blindspots, I simply cannot wrap my head around the mental gymnastics that people go through to defend these indefensible positions. Maybe they’re doing it consciously, maybe not. I’m not sure which is worse, really.
Anyway, to sum up the info at the link: According to conservative dogma, tax cuts are the solution to all economic problems, always. Obama’s stimulus plan includes a tax credit to middle and working class individuals and families, the income class who are most likely to spend that money (either on necessities or, as I believe is more often the case, on luxury items they can’t afford on their usual post-tax income — which will do a lot to help the flagging retail sector). Hence the “stimulus”, as that money flows back into the economy. Obviously, since tax cuts are the solution to all economic problems and tax credits are effectively a form of temporary tax cut, conservatives are against this plan.
Obviously.