And this is the only play. It's actually the smart and winning play, because it creates a real intersection: it's clear that the American electorate (or a very big and important chunk of it) only responds to pain -- their own pain. And the Republicans are saying "give in or we hurt them!" Fuck yes, go ahead and hurt them. Do it. Because (1) that's the only way those voters will learn, and (2) you (Repubs) will be the ones doing it. Go ahead. Start shooting hostages, so the world knows in clear detail who the fucking murdering terrorist is here.
Along those lines, as I pondered SNAP benefits ending the other day, my first thought and instinct (a pretty predictable Dem-type thought, by the way) was "I should write a fat check to the food bank." But then I stopped. And remembered the lesson I just typed above. Nope. The only way we're going to learn anything is by touching the hot stove and actually feeling the pain. So....we need folks going hungry. Really hungry. Like, desperate hungry.
Is that fucking awful? Of course it is. Will plenty of people who didn't vote for this shit be caught up in that pain? Absolutely.
These are gruesome times. When you understand the reality that the only way we MIGHT get out of this is if enough Americans feel truly awful pain.....then you actually need to allow things to happen that will cause that pain. So, here we are. What a fucking horrible place to be. But hey, Republicans, you keep saying "I'll do it! I'll pull the trigger!" Well, at long last.....