The other side (Republicans) believes that people have a right to keep what they earn, and that taxing them to support others, no matter how needy, amounts to theft. That’s what lies behind the modern right’s fondness for violent rhetoric: many activists on the right really do see taxes and regulation as tyrannical impositions on their liberty. (Paul Krugman, NYT, 1/13/11)
The really really really smart Krugman (he has a PhD you know) has dug himself a pretty deep hole, but keeps digging nonetheless. Never mind the now thoroughly discredited economic policy he espouses (more stimulus!). It seems that he was early into the “Arizona shooting is Republicans fault” libel, now also thoroughly discredited. But instead of lying low, Princetonian Krugman comes back with this embarrassingly simplistic boilerplate: “Republicans are mean.” This qualifies as meaningful analysis? If the Times has any shred of journalistic integrity left, they would put Krugman on sabbatical.
For the record, no honest Republican would deny that we have a moral obligation to help the poorest, the neediest and the sickest among us. Republicans also believe in personal responsibility. Social policy must get the balance between the two right.
And now a word from another doctor:
The origins of Loughner's delusions are clear: mental illness. What are the origins of Krugman's? (Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post, 1/12/11)
So Krugman is saying that a proposed tax increase caused Loughner to snap. Well then I suggest that we lower the tone of vitriolic IRS agents.
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