In his latest column for the New York Times, Pulitzer prize-winning economist and liberal champion Paul Krugman argues that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s recent claim that Republicans are to thank for the improving economy is just another example of the GOP’s “epistemic closure” and belief “that facts have a liberal bias.”…. After first noting how McConnell is taking credit for an economic boomlet that started well before last year’s midterm votes were cast, Krugman writes that while this latest example of the GOP’s signature embrace of “voodoo economics” is amusing, it’s also scary. “[I]t’s a symptom of his party’s epistemic closure,” Krugman writes, in reference to McConnell’s claim. “Republicans know many things that aren’t so, and no amount of contrary evidence will get them to change their minds.”
It’s almost no longer even newsworthy to chastise Republicans for their devotion to their too often fact-free narrative. The idea that facts can be made up on the fly to support whatever your talking points of the moment happen to be may or may not have originated with Republicans, but they’ve perfected the “art” of prevarication.
In McConnell’s case, he stated on Day One of the Obama Administration that Republicans would do everything in their power to thwart the President…and they’ve been true to his word. Despite six years of obstruction and crybaby politics, the economy has been decidedly on the upswing…and now Republicans have decided that’s something they can and should be taking credit for. The fact that they’ve played no part in the improvement is beside the point. They’d sooner slit their wrists than grant Barack Obama anything even faintly redolent of victory.
Perhaps the biggest reason that Republicans see no moral conflict in claiming credit for the improved economy is that they really do seem to believe that facts have a “Liberal bias.” Facts to them are useful only if they support their narrative. Should the facts prove “inconvenient,” they can and will massage, alter, or mangle them as needed in order to paint themselves in the best possible light.
Republicans aren’t stupid; they’re no doubt fully aware that many things aren’t as they claim. They also know that the American Sheeple in most cases can’t be bothered to pay attention. With Fox News Channel handling the propaganda end of things for the GOP, a large number of Americans will swallow whatever lies and disinformation they’re fed. The sad truth is that Republicans can get away with taking credit for things they’ve played no part in because they have no moral compass…and they hate The Black Guy in the White House © Just. That. Much.
Republicans lie because it serves their purpose…and because it’s a whole lot less work than doing the heavy lifting of governing. Krugman is spot on when he says that Congress is controlled by men who never acknowledge error, learn from their mistakes, or give credit where credit is due. Why would they when no one calls them on their perfidy?
Congratulations, America; this is the sort of mediocre, dishonest, and immoral leadership you get when you can’t be bothered to pay attention to what’s being done in your name by those you’ve elected. We have EXACTLY the quality of leadership we deserve…because y’all stopped listening after you swallowed the propaganda.
Nice work.
