Divided We Fail

Paul Krugman never minces words, and today's column is no exception to his rule.

Barring a huge upset, Republicans will take control of at least one house of Congress next week. How worried should we be by that prospect?

Very, he opines. And he clears the historical record: the era of partial cooperation in the 1990s came only after Republicans had tried all-out confrontation, actually shutting down the federal government in an effort to force President Bill Clinton to give in to their demands for big cuts in Medicare.

People forget that, and Republicans do nothing to remind them. They harp on big government and cutting taxes, but never explain just how they plan to do so. Mitch McConnell did say that “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”

But what does that mean? If they have power, they can't keep blaming the Democrats and just saying no. They will be part of government and won't be able to just blame government for everything. Will that make them responsible and coöperative?


should any Republicans in Congress find themselves considering the possibility of acting in a statesmanlike, bipartisan manner, they’ll surely reconsider after looking over their shoulder at the Tea Party-types, who will jump on them if they show any signs of being reasonable. The role of the Tea Party is one reason smart observers expect another government shutdown, probably as early as next spring.

President Obama and his team will have to get real, get ready, and get tough. Because if the Republicans get power and get their way we’ll get the worst of both worlds: They’ll refuse to do anything to boost the economy now, claiming to be worried about the deficit, while simultaneously increasing long-run deficits with irresponsible tax cuts — cuts they have already announced won’t have to be offset with spending cuts. So if the elections go as expected next week, here’s my advice: Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Something to look forward to?