What a Joke

Paul Krugman writes a scathing piece about the black hearts of the GOP in Conservatives Are Such Jokers. "Compassionate Conservative" is the ultimate oxymoron for Republicans, says Krugman:

Ronald Reagan thought the issue of hunger in the world’s richest nation was nothing but a big joke. Here’s what Reagan said in his famous 1964 speech “A Time for Choosing,” which made him a national political figure: “We were told four years ago that 17 million people went to bed hungry each night. Well, that was probably true. They were all on a diet.”

Today’s leading conservatives are Reagan’s heirs. If you’re poor, if you don’t have health insurance, if you’re sick — well, they don’t think it’s a serious issue. In fact, they think it’s funny.

On Wednesday, President Bush vetoed legislation that would have expanded S-chip, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, providing health insurance to an estimated 3.8 million children who would otherwise lack coverage.

* * * *

Most conservatives . . . try to preserve the appearance that they really do care about those less fortunate than themselves. But the truth is that they aren’t bothered by the fact that almost nine million children in America lack health insurance. They don’t think it’s a problem.

“I mean, people have access to health care in America,” said Mr. Bush in July. “After all, you just go to an emergency room.”

* * * *

It’s not just the poor who find their travails belittled and mocked. The sick receive the same treatment.

* * * *

Of course, minimizing and mocking the suffering of others is a natural strategy for political figures who advocate lower taxes on the rich and less help for the poor and unlucky. But I believe that the lack of empathy shown by Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. Kristol, and, yes, Mr. Bush is genuine, not feigned.

* * * *

What’s happening, presumably, is that modern movement conservatism attracts a certain personality type. If you identify with the downtrodden, even a little, you don’t belong. If you think ridicule is an appropriate response to other peoples’ woes, you fit right in.

And Republican disillusionment with Mr. Bush does not appear to signal any change in that regard. On the contrary, the leading candidates for the Republican nomination have gone out of their way to condemn “socialism,” which is G.O.P.-speak for any attempt to help the less fortunate.

So once again, if you’re poor or you’re sick or you don’t have health insurance, remember this: these people think your problems are funny.

Duncan Black of Eschaton thinks Krugman is a bit harsh in his assessment, noting that Republicans do "care" when "people with problems are clearly people like "us" then they deserve all of our support. I think the problem is that the "us" category has shrunk so much that there aren't many people left in it."

I think it just proves the point. The "us" was always just them and theirs. The rest are just there to serve and follow their lead. Once you have no more value, you are on your own. From health care to welfare. When a CEO gets let go, he gets a severance package that could feed a small nation for a year. When the workers get laid off, they're lucky to get two weeks pay. Of course, forget about continued health insurance -- there's COBRA, but it's hard to pay for coverage when you no longer have an income.

Health care for kids? You gotta be kidding.

This is just more of the "values" party. The GOP/moralists promote family values, but don't believe that they have to practice them (think Rudy Giuliani, Larry Craig, etcetera, etcetera), welfare is no good for poor people, but a way of life for corporations in trouble, religion is the message for the masses, but they don't really have to follow the creed when it comes down to it.

Tags: Commentary, Politics, Krugman