When does an explanation becomes an excuse?

Question

Conservatives believe cutting taxes and deregulating is better for the economy THEN shifting taxes to the rich and increasing social spending to help the American people. In fact, they believe social spending leads to recessions and deficits.

HOWEVER, when you look at historical economic data, the opposite happens. Keynesian economics is superior to supply side economics the vast majority of time.

This is what I think:

It is an EXPLANATION when you explain how Keynesian economic theory works most of the time. It is an EXCUSE when cons have to explain how their theories about economics don't work most of the time.
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REPUBLICANS ON CLINTON'S 1993 ECONOMIC PLAN (NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT)

"The tax increase will kill jobs and lead to a recession, and the recession will force people off of work and onto unemployment and will actually increase the deficit."
- Newt Gingrish

"I believe this will lead to a recession next year... Stay tuned for the next 60 days... I think we're frankly now living on borrowed time."
- Newt Gingrish

"A recipe for economic disaster..."
- Phil Crane of Illinois

"It is going to lead to a Clintastrophy, an economic Clintastrophy..."
- Indiana's Dan Burton.

"April Fool, America. This Clinton budget plan will not create jobs, will not grow the economy, and will not reduce the deficit."
- Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico

"This plan will not work... If it was to work, then I'd have to become a Democrat and believe that more taxes and bigger government is the answer."
- Kasich of Ohio

Answer 1

Any responsible economist will tell you a little of both are needed. There are times when lower taxes are needed to inspire growth. Once the economy has grown then we need to find ways to make sure the middle class share in that wealth.

I think the basic philosophical difference is in how much we tax and what we spend it on. If Bush had not passed his tax cuts our economy would be in bad shape today.

Question: When has the "cons economic theory not worked?"

I assume you have an economics degree, right? You have a basic understanding of macroeconomics, right? I hope your not just reading off a list of talking points.

Answer 2

an explanation may or may not "excuse" a behavior but it does provide a legitimate reason why.

But the word excuse as a noun has come to mean a feeble attempt to shift responsibility i.e. pass the buck via anything you can think up including lies. and "there is no excuse" for that.

Answer 3

When the explainer falls short of anything worthwhile to explain!

Answer 4

About the same time a question becomes a rant instead of a question.

Answer 5

when Republican says it

Answer 6

lol, what? no looooong drawn out posts about Jefferson and his PROGRESSIVE tax schemes??

lol

Answer 7

um....Clinton put us into a recession. You call it as you wish.