Why is Pres Obama's favorite economist Paul Krugman calling for middle class tax increases & death panels?

[Andy F]

Krugman is "NOT" Obama's favorite economist, AFAIK. Krugman bitterly criticized Obama & Co. for not stimulting the economy vigorously enough in 2009, and Obama didn't rely on his advice then.

He relied on more "moderate" if probably less honest economists like Larry Summers and Robert Rubin & Tim Geither, instead.

Aside from that, you offer what would be a crushing critique of Krugman's economic liberalism - IF the Republican Party had any kind of a reasonable and humane alternative.

It doesn't.

A few years ago Paul Ryan, poster child for the conservative Republican right, proposed a hugely costly system to "save" Social Security by privatizing it.

Remember that, friends?

Romney in 2012 proposed to make an economic miracle through unspecified "tax reforms" that were supposed to cure the budget problems magically, and ultimately create 12 million new jobs.

It turned out that some smart journalist caught Romney admitting that the 12 million new jobs would be created over the extreme long term -- years and years into the future.

Meaning that while he wasn't technically lying to the voters, Romney was flagrantly misrepresenting what his tax reform would do & how long it would take to do it -- effectively telling the voters that he had an almost instant fix for the economy's woes, when he had little more than his own version of "death panels."

The same Republican voices who are now promising a tasty & nutritious & logical way to fix Social Security and "trim" or "reform" entitlement programs are the same BLESSED politicians who collaborated in raising the US national debt to ungodly levels -- first under Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, then under George W. "What, me worry?" Bush between 2001 and 2009.

These same fine Republican leaders are also now loudly complaining -- surprise! surprise! -- about the large size of the debt. The same debt they did their best to increase.

I'll believe that the Republican Party has a "far better place" to lead us when Donald Trump suddenly becomes a born again, takes up his cross for Jesus & gives all of his money away to the poor - while in the meantime showing "good family values."

Until then, you guys have all the credibility of a Las Vegas card sharp. ONe thing that does distinguish you from Paul Krugman: nobody has ever given you credit for "at least being honest" about anything.