imported post
Statesman wrote:
AWDStyles,
While I understand the point behind "parroting" GOP talking points versus putting some rational thought behind criticisms, it begs the question of GOP talking points being 100% worthless to begin with. I've wanted to ask this question to someone who is critical of the GOP, and so I picked you because I respect your opinions.
How can an entire party be completely wrong on everything, and every issue? Do they really just put out talking points to Republican voters so they can go around talking about stuff that isn't true?
It's not that they're entirely wrong, it's WHAT they choose to attack the other side with. Democrats are equally guilty. They push hot button (non)issues. I'll reference you back to this post:
Does anyone here care how he's handling the economy? No. They're too busy calling him a Muslim, saying he's raising taxes, taking away guns (all lies, the opposite is true), etc etc. Try hard to focus on the REAL issues, acknowledge where he's making improvements (foreign policy, American image,civil rights), and let the bull@#$% fall by the wayside. He's NOT the devil. He IS doing some (many?) things right. Admit where he's right and analyze where he's wrong. It's really very simple, but it requires that you take off the partisan blinders, and that's a difficult thing to do for many people.
And, yes, in some cases the stuff is just outright lies, but the average person doesn't know it because no one is educated on all subjects.
The GOP talking point of "socialized health care" is a good example. Research his plan for yourself, it's actually a GOOD plan. The GOP whines about giveaways, free rides, denial of care, etc,it's all a load of horse shit. Do some research on it. You'll understand that the stuff they're whining about is what we have NOW, and what he's trying to address and fix. But no one ever gets that far. They stop at the talking point and just repeat it, "he wants socialized health care and that's going to destroy our country!" Why? "Uh... um..." No one takes it that far for themselves and that's why I call it as I see it, just repetition of a talking point.
Increased taxes on the rich is another example. GOP talking point: Obama wants outrageous taxes on the rich and small business, it will kill the economy. Do the research for yourself. Fact: this country saw some of its largest growth during the period when the top tax bracket was MUCH higher than it is today. Cause or correlation? Doesn't matter, it disproves the economy killing point. Regardless, Obama only wants to return topre-Bush taxlevels. Fact: capitilism transfers wealth upwards, give the lower classes more to spend and the rich pocket more profit. Tax cuts for the lower classes stronglybenefit the rich, and must be offset by higher taxes on the rich. Tax cuts on the lower classes strongly hurt the rich, no demand = no profit. This is why you never hear the rich whining for tax cuts for themselves. Ask the GOP talking point reciter, what's Obama's tax policy? "He wants to tax the rich to death and kill the economy!" Do you know the tax bracket history of the US and can you explaining how taxing the rich kills the economy? "Uh.... um...." No one gets that far, and that's why it's just a talking point. This also correlates with the other famous GOP talking point: progressive taxes kill incentive. Totally untrue. Thishas never happened historically and never will. If I told you thatif youearned $100 more, I'd take an extra $3 from you,does that prevent you from wanting the extra $97?Absolutely not. Another off-shoot of this is: the rich create jobs. Totally untrue. The underlying statement is an argument for supply side economics, they're saying that jobs are created based on supply. Anyone with a 2nd grade education knows that all the supply in the world isn't going to create jobs. Demand creates jobs because demand creates the need for supply. I have a billion dollars. I take my billion and start the fecal matter sales company. You can purchase shit (literally) from me. I have lots of capital and plenty of supply. Did I create any jobs? Absolutely not. No one has the desire (desire + means = demand) to buy shit so I'll make no sales and create no jobs. Demand creates jobs andthe working class creates demand.
Those are just two examples. The second went all over the place because there's a lot of different aspects to explain, but hopefully you get the idea. The bottom line is that the major parties create talking points for people to repeat. Some are better than others, most are totally untrue, but the purpose is the same - keep people spewing rhetoric and bullshit at each other so they never see the real issues.
