On a reddit comment I saw some Republican apologia (they don’t think direct cash payment is the best way to stimulate the economy, it’s because of the deficit) so I got thinking and realised I don’t have concrete knowledge of why they oppose it. Is it because it will squeeze money out of handouts that corporations that lobby them are going to receive?

Also is it true that Republicans are against the stimulus while the Democrats are for it?

Thanks.

  • T34 [they/them]
    4•3 years ago

    it will squeeze money out of handouts that corporations that lobby them are going to receive?

    That’s part of it. The bigger picture IMO is that the declining rate of profit is making austerity necessary for the survival of capitalism. Republicans are the reliably pro-austerity party.

    There are also factions within the bourgeoisie. Many multinational corporations have figured out how to hide their profits outside US borders, so they might not mind more taxation on everyone else’s profits. They might have more to gain if US consumers had more spending money. I imagine there would also be a factional difference between tech capitalists (represented by Pelosi) and financial capitalists (Schumer).

    Then there’s the political angle. Some Democratic politicians actually want the $2000 stimulus, others just want to be known as the people who would totally give you a stimulus if only you gave us a Senate majority!! (And if they get one, then overriding the filibuster to pass a stimulus would suddenly become too uncivil for them.)