Republicans Should Be Wary Of ‘Infrastructure Trap’ | Eastern NC Now

David Harsanyi explains at National Review Online why Republican policymakers should use caution when approaching infrastructure proposals.

ENCNow
Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the John Locke Foundation. The author of this post is Mitch Kokai.

    David Harsanyi explains at National Review Online why Republican policymakers should use caution when approaching infrastructure proposals.

  • The Washington Post informs us ... that Democrats are open to concessions on their infrastructure bill. And isn't that generous? Joe Biden, the Post says, is even willing to break up his $2.3 trillion boondoggle-to-be into smaller, more palatable bills for the moderates - even if it only attracts "a handful of Republicans."
  • Democrats, explains the Post, "are hunting for a framework to sell the infrastructure proposals that doesn't sound too liberal," hoping to entice centrists by framing the bill as "bold moderation."
  • Well, as long as it doesn't sound too liberal, that's what's important.
  • Why would any sentient conservative participate in this deception? Biden's bill has as little to do with genuine infrastructure as his COVID-relief bill had to do with the pandemic. Approximately 7 percent of spending in the bill is aimed at boosting roads and bridges, or projects traditionally viewed as infrastructure by the public. Besides, are conservatives interested in further nationalizing green policy, or building more useless choo-choo-train tracks, or bailing out unions again? Are they interested in continuing to participate in the creation of bloated spending baselines? As it is, the United States already spends somewhere around $440 billion each year on infrastructure.
  • Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell now says "zero" Republicans back the plan in its current form but has opened the door to a smaller plan. However, Republicans have no civic duty to negotiate or pass leftist indulgences - or anything - incrementally or otherwise. These partisan debates are usually unfurled in the same dishonest way: Democrats stake out a position and offer some colossal "reform" to tackle the alleged emergency. The establishment media, circumventing the debate over whether such interventions are necessary, frame the issue in liberal terms and infuse it with liberal assumptions. ...
  • ... When conservatives balk, they're cast as recalcitrant nihilists or professional obstructionists.

Go Back

HbAD0

Latest Op-Ed & Politics

says foreign ties of Democrat Socialists of America need to be investigated
massive data collection by license plate readers on highways and streets threaten freedom

HbAD1

“I’m from America, 250 years ago we were way bigger than 6/1 dogs, and look at us thriving now.” Justin Gaethje pulls off an all time sports upset.
There are many people who overlook the brilliance of the US Constitution. They argue that it is outdated and unfit to adequately govern such a modern nation as ours in the 21st century.

HbAD2

"I plan to keep his counsel close until our paths cross again," JD Vance said on Thursday.
On Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein signed an executive order creating the bipartisan Health Care Affordability Commission that he said will look at ways to make healthcare more affordable for North Carolinians.
"Margo’s Got Money Troubles" explores how financial desperation drives women to OnlyFans. That’s not empowering. It’s exploitative.

HbAD3

 
 
Back to Top