But let it be known - this is the end game. This is it. This is what the Republicans intend to do at the state and federal level. You are seeing it in motion right now. Everything that benefits regular people of America - schools, health care, public safety, worker's rights, the environment, you name it, everything that makes this country a great place to live - is slated for destruction, so they can give the uber-rich all the money.
The NY Times, April 17:
Six months after voters sent Republicans in large numbers to Congress and many statehouses, it is possible to see the full landscape of destruction that their policies would cause — much of which has already begun. If it was not clear before, it is obvious now that the party is fully engaged in a project to dismantle the foundations of the New Deal and the Great Society, and to liberate business and the rich from the inconveniences of oversight and taxes.
Me:
That the kind of country you want to live in?
Krugman:
So let’s not be civil. Instead, let’s have a frank discussion of our differences. In particular, if Democrats believe that Republicans are talking cruel nonsense, they should say so — and take their case to the voters.
That's the mighty big "if". It seems that, one more time, we may have a case where Democrats are content to sit back and let the Republicans push the envelope too far to the right, feign shock and outrage when they do, and then just stand there and reap the reward when a public begging for relief from the nonsense turns to them again. A cynical outlook, to be sure, but when you have seen this movie before...
It's not about what Democrats claim they believe anymore. It's about what they are willing to stand up and fight for as a team. It's easy to simply complain about the cruelty of the Republicans; it's a lot harder to be willing to put your beliefs on the bottom line and risk your position in life - especially when your team tends to dissipate at the first sight of difficulty.
Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them - because there is a lot more at stake here than just the next election.