Over at Salon, Luke Brinker is astonished at the Kansas governor’s lack of remorse and refusal to chart a course correction.
Here’s what Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s supply side economic experiment has wrought: The Republican’s massive tax cuts for the wealthy and businesses will cost the state a projected $5 billion in revenue over seven years; by this summer, legislators must address a $278 million revenue shortfall, which Brownback is looking to fill in part by slashing vital infrastructure spending and reducing contributions to the state’s already underfunded pension plan. Meanwhile, the tax cuts haven’t delivered the economic “shot of adrenaline” Brownback promised. Kansas’ GDP growth lags behind that of other states in the region, its rate of job growth is slower than that of the nation as a whole, and the state’s per-capita income ranking hasn’t changed since the tax cuts were enacted in 2012. Kansas is ascending the national rankings on one measure, however: Last year, it ranked seventh in the nation among states residents left.
Surely this dismal state of affairs has Brownback considering a major course correction — right?
Fat chance. In his State of the State address last night, the newly reinaugurated governor was at once determined, defiant, and delusional, vowing that he would continue to move the state toward zero income tax, indicating that despite some post-election speculation, Brownback has no intention of reversing course on his signature economic policy.
I try to remind myself that plenty of people in Kansas voted against Sam Brownback, but part of me looks at these citizens’ looming regressive sales tax increases and thinks, “They’re going to get exactly what they deserve.”
Of course, it is no wonder why Kansas now ranks 7th in the nation in net population loss.
Definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
Fat chance. In his State of the State address last night, the newly reinaugurated governor was at once determined, defiant, and delusional, vowing that he would continue to move the state toward zero income tax, indicating that despite some post-election speculation, Brownback has no intention of reversing course on his signature economic policy.
Brownback takes a salary, right? And he expects the state to pay him and the legislature, how?
Good point. Kansans should demand that Brownback, his GOP legislative cohorts, and all their staffers work for $1/year.
Just wait. Once he gets rid of the income tax, he will go after any state pensions. Brownback will have to cut the pensions as there will be no revenue to sustain the benefits. The result will accelerate population loss, low wages, and work force destruction.
High comedy. Proving once again that political satire in America is impossible.
Since “conservatism” is much more a religion than a political philosophy, I’m puzzled why the Salon writer is astonished that something like reality would somehow cause a High Priest of Conservatism to change course. Conservatism cannot fail, it can only be betrayed. As everyone knows, tax cuts RAISE revenue!
One would think that at this point any sane Kansan would understand that their only hope of leading a satisfactory life means abandoning that “conservative” madhouse, especially after the last election demonstrated that democracy is dead there, and that facts and results simply don’t matter. Fewer Kansans means fewer Kansan Repubs in Congress, ultimately….
So you go, Sam Brownshirt! Zero taxes! ZERO!! A future stellar Repub prez nominee for sure!
He already ran for prez. He has as much charisma as a bowl of cold mush. Adding the horrendous record he has now built should increase his appeal in other states, but only very slightly. Not many voters outside of Kansas appreciate cold mush with their tea.
Brownback is a True Believer.
Eric Hoffer’s seminal work was actually on mass movements and the smaller coteries within them. It is not considered kosher to apply the analysis to individuals that you do to movements. However, it IS kosher to use the same definitions.
Brownback will never back down. He MUST continue on because otherwise HE will have failed the movement. It is this fear of HIS failure that prevents anything like rational thought on the subject of taxes.
He can’t. He is to be pitied.
The voters have been brainwashed by 25 years of constant rightwing radio/TV. They are to be pitied.
It is a terrible situation. There are no good answers, and no good rejoinders. It doesn’t help to scorn the majority of the voters in Kansas … it also doesn’t hurt.
From a “gotta get worse before it gets better” perspective … Kansas is certainly going in the right direction. It’s getting worse, quickly.
You hit the nail on the head.
As Digby said:
“Conservatism can not fail, it can only be failed.”
Maybe he’s trying to depopulate Kansas to promote a regional restoration of the great plains ecosystem, with maybe some experiments in re-introducting Pleistocene mega-fauna (elephants, lions).
woolly mammoth!!
Wooly Bully! Wooly Bully!
I have no sympathy for Kansas. Whomever hurts, too bad.
Yes, they deserve what they voted for.
I’d chime in on this, except that I do know a few Kansans who most emphatically did NOT vote for Brownback and his fellow assholes, and who in fact are being badly hurt by the things happening there.
Even in deepest Dumbfuckistan there are good people drowning in the red tide who don’t deserve to suffer for the sins of those in charge.
Now it appears that he is going to pay for the huge deficit with Taxs on liquor and cigarettes
Yea that should do it
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/sam-brownback-raise-taxes-cigarettes-liquor
Dem should refuse to field a candidate for governor. Let them stew in their juices, good. Choices have consequences. Soon those empty prairies can return to buffalo, a more intelligent species. Buffalo and robots tending GMO corn.
Some years ago we were told what’s the matter with Kansas. The problem is that these actions are taking place in other states where there is a Republican governor and legislature. I thought the insanity would be over by now, but sometimes it looks like there is no end.
As an actual resident of Kansas, I am disappointed that all this attention from liberals might end up raising the sales tax. I, of course, will hardly notice given my upper middle class salary, but why not just let the state collapse in heap of dysfunction and low taxes? The state of Kansas does nothing for me and we should be happy to drown it in Grover Norquist’s bathtub. Why did anyone want to throw Sammy a rescue rope?
Oh well… another good reason to keep all my purchases in Kansas to the bare minimum. I hope more move away… that will keep the rent in my apartment low.
Conservatives constantly talk about cutting taxes for the rich while cutting spending for everyone else, have crippled the state of Kansas.
Conservatives in charge of Kansas are going to continue doing so for the foreseeable future.
The writer does realize that this is what real, actual conservatism looks like, no?
The writer does realize that conservatives have long ago left the reality and evidence-based world behind, no?
Or is the Salon writer just another “both sides’ dumbfuck?
For anyone with a working cerebral cortex has known that this is what real, actual conservatism looks like, which is why it rarely ever happens.
Say what you want about Bush, but he didn’t actually cut budgets, he just gave out tax breaks while continuing to spend. Just like “deficits don’t matter” Reagan.
No one actually believes that conservative economic policies work, except the pig people who vote for Republicans.
Not even Sam Brownback.
After President Obama was reelected in 2012 Paul Krugman wrote that it was “the election that lets us ask, finally, ‘Who cares what’s the matter with Kansas?'” Like the abused party in a bad marriage who stays with it past the point of reason, at some point you have to conclude that Kansans enjoy the beatings, and look away.