Those of us who sensibly looked to history to interpret weird statements from candidate Trump in 2016 were ridiculed as alarmists.
Here is a list of conservative policies that we predicted would be abandoned by Trump in favor of fascist-associated policies from throughout the twentieth century (not just the 30’s and 40’s):
1. Free trade, to
IN ITS PLACE
protectionist nationalism and autarchic rhetoric;
2. The Earned Income Tax Credit to encourage the poor to work, to
IN ITS PLACE
National industrial policy favoring corporate cronies of the Leader who ‘play ball’ and divisive tribal rhetoric aimed at the poor as a substitute for policy;
3. A stated goal of deficit reduction, to
IN ITS PLACE
Record deficit spending during a boom to further prime the pump prior to elections, disregarding future damage to the currency;
4. Supporting constitutional democracies and maintaining alliances with democracies as a top foreign policy priority, to
IN ITS PLACE
A foreign policy that favors individual deals with dictators over traditional alliances, constant attempts to undermine international organizations of democracies, and outright betrayal of formerly treasured allies like the Kurds;
5. Respect for the domestic rule of law and stated support for traditional ethics rules, to
IN ITS PLACE
A total abandonment of ethics rules to the point where family and favored cronies are blatantly and publicly granted contracts in order to ostentatiously show favor to those who ‘play ball’ with the Leader to set an example of who will be rewarded.
It is a sad day for the Republican Party when Republican senators utterly abandon long-held policies to cower before the Leader to preserve their own seats.
It is an even sadder day for our country when our government is turned over to people who impose the kinds of policies that have historically been imposed upon Argentina, Germany, and other nations in the twentieth century resulting in the destruction of their economies, among even more tragic events.
The Republican Party was a reform party founded by Abraham Lincoln and friends, who believed in good, honest democratic government.
The Banana Republican Party was founded this past two years, by people who threw away their principles of small government, low taxes, and supporting small business to instead enable a corrupt demogague with identifiably fascist policies.
SomervilleTom says
I enthusiastically agree with this entire piece and uprated it accordingly.
In fairness to the people you target in your last paragraph, it should be noted that the “principles” of small government, low taxes, and supporting small business HAD to be discarded because:
a: They don’t work as federal policy. Never have, never will.
b: Were never actually advocated. For at least the last three decades, the GOP has loudly promoted this dogma while it was out of power and done all in its power to work against it while in power.
c: Interfere with the actual agenda of those who have controlled the GOP at least since Reagan — absolute power, unrestrained greed, and no accountability.
The role of government has grown, rather than shrunk, while in GOP hands. Taxes on all but the very wealthy have increased, rather than decreased, while the GOP has been in control. Big business has always been the primary recipient of government handouts during periods of GOP control, at the expense of small business (working-class people have gotten nothing at all during these times).
The Banana Republican party advocates identifiably fascist policies because such policies are the only way to perpetuate what the GOP has actually believed in since the Reagan era (see item c above)..
terrymcginty says
And I agree with every word of this comment! In fact, I knew I was leaving that aspect out: i.e,, that for the most part these were stated aspirations only in recent decades, so thank you for pointing this essential point out.
SomervilleTom says
You’re quite welcome.
I would be remiss if I did not give due credit to the estimable Paul Krugman, who has been writing about this reality for years.
Christopher says
I propose that Dem messaging include always referring to the GOP as the “Banana Republican Party”.
fredrichlariccia says
Banana Republican Party is OK for ‘polite’ society and I thank my brilliant best friend, Terry McGinty, for coining the apt definition.
But just between us, I’ll continue to refer to them as the Puke Party or pukes, for short. đŸ™‚
Strength and Honor