Apparently The Repubicans Think They Are All Houdinis

New York Times commentator Robert Wright put it best in his column in his Tuesday OP-ED column, the Republicans are taking "Concrete Steps to Nowhere." The current House minority whip (and soon-to-be House majority leader), Eric Cantor, released a document last week titled "Delivering on Our Commitment." This document spelled out what concrete steps the Republican Party would take to meet its goals. Which to me are still VERY vague.

Cantor says that under his parties leadership, the House will begin to chip away the deficit and at the same time not raise taxes, or cut major programs. Now, I am happy that they don't want to cut major programs, but how do they expect to make any kind of a dent in a trillion dollar+ deficit, while not raising taxes and keeping spending relatively the same?

Also, keeping the deficit low is in HUGE conflict with one of their main policy goals - keeping the Bush Era Tax Cuts in place for those making above $250,000 a year. Estimates have shown that keeping these taxes in place will only add $700,000,000,000 to the deficit over the next ten years. How is that being fiscally responsible? Based on the marginal utility theory, and the ability-to-pay principle of economics, these people can afford to pay higher taxes, and deserve to pay higher taxes. The marginal utility theory says that every dollar made it less significant the the dollar made before it, and the ability-to-pay principle explains that those making more money can afford to pay more in proportion to their income. Our entire progressive tax system is based on these principles. Yet somehow, the new Republican majority thinks that they can throw out these long-standing principles, and somehow still rein in the deficit.

I don't know if the Republicans realize that their spell-caster Christine O'Donnell didn't get elected, so unless John Boehner knows how to pull a rabbit out of his hat (I mean tanning bed), then how do they expect to lower the deficit without making HUGE spending cuts, and at the same time adding to the deficit by keeping the Bush Tax Cuts in place (I mean paying back the highest bidders that bought them their House seats this year). It will be interesting to see how this one plays out!