A Tale of Two Parties | Krugman OpEd- NYT

[BootinUp]

Another great piece by Prof. Krugman.

Do you remember what happened when the Berlin Wall fell? Until that moment, nobody realized just how decadent Communism had become. It had tanks, guns, and nukes, but nobody really believed in its ideology anymore; its officials and enforcers were mere careerists, who folded at the first shock.

It seems to me that you need to think about what happened to the G.O.P. this election cycle the same way.

The Republican establishment was easily overthrown because it was already hollow at the core. Donald Trump’s taunts about “low-energy” Jeb Bush and “little Marco” Rubio worked because they contained a large element of truth. When Mr. Bush and Mr. Rubio dutifully repeated the usual conservative clichés, you could see that there was no sense of conviction behind their recitations. All it took was the huffing and puffing of a loud-mouthed showman to blow their houses down.

But as Mr. Trump is finding out, the Democratic establishment is different.

As some political scientists are now acknowledging, America’s two major parties are not at all symmetric. The G.O.P. is, or was until Mr. Trump arrived, a top-down hierarchical structure enforcing a strict, ideologically pure party line. The Democrats, by contrast, are a “coalition of social groups,” from teachers’ unions to Planned Parenthood, seeking specific benefits from government action.


Continued: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/20/opinion/a-tale-of-two-parties.html?smid=tw-share

[Wounded Bear]

1. An interesting read from the good doctor...

He's always been a strong Hillary supporter, and that shows, but his demonstration of how and why the two parties are far from being "just the same" are spot on.

I stand by my pledge to support the Democratic nominee for president, and to vote down ticket in ways that support the progressive agenda as well. I'm on board. The alternative is too nasty to even imagine. Trump is without a doubt the worst candidate the GOP has put forward since Nixon. Perhaps in modern history.

[Stuart G]

2. I agree and I will also vote down the ticket for Democrats....nt

[Igel]

3. That first paragraph says something.

Until that moment, nobody realized just how decadent Communism had become. It had tanks, guns, and nukes, but nobody really believed in its ideology anymore; its officials and enforcers were mere careerists....

Lots of people knew this.

"Nobody" is a bit of an exaggeration. There were true believers. But a lot of pundits had vested interests in maintaining the fiction that the USSR was powerful, stable, and going to last decades longer at the very least. Some liked the USSR and its counterbalance to the US; others had no interest in badmouthing it since they relied upon the good will of the PTB for access. Some just refused to admit what they knew out loud because they didn't want to be branded as Reaganites when all they were was factual and clear-thinking.

However,

..who folded at the first shock.

was the surprise, and was the subject of more than a little speculation. Ultimately, it boiled down to no orders coming from the top to do anything. The military, the apparatus, was split. While they dithered, facts on the ground fell out from under their control. In any event, while it could have been bloody, it wouldn't have been quick.

[Yavin4]

6. Some had fat military govt contracts that would disappear along with Soviet Union

I went to business school in Southern CA in the mid-90s just after the Cold War. 50% of my class were refugees from defense contractors who were out of work due to the end of the Cold War.

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. The country has changed and the Republican Party failed to change with it.

Intellectual Conservatism died, leaving a hollow shell that could not adapt to the change. The once mostly white electorate has become diverse and multicultural. The power of the religious right has waned. Marriage equality is a reality. LGBTQ are demanding equal rights and a majority of the country support them in that.
I think it is likely they will go the way of the Federalists and Whigs. Another party will form over the next four years. Even if they survive, they will have to change beyond recognition.

[zipplewrath]

5. After the Shrub

There was some talk after the Bush II admin that conservatism was dead. Died of a complete failure to actually govern, much less achieve any of the things the conservatives claimed. It was becoming obvious that the GOP would never actually govern nearly as conservatively as they asserted. Deficits rise in GOP administrations. The size of government increases. They do a whole lot of "nation building" with our military. And on their social issues stands, they were losing on virtually every front. They continue to be successful on one issue only, guns. We'll see where that goes soon.

[edhopper]

7. Much like the USSR Communist Party

which claimed to act on behalf of the betterment of the people, but in reality operated for the purpose of those in power...
The modern GOP does not offer real solutions to problems, though the propose plans for healthcare, jobs etc... they are not intended to actually address the problems, they are really just ways to cut taxes for the rich and help corporations.