Paul Krugman: Too Cruel Too Soon

[applegrove]

Too Cruel Too Soon

October 31, 2025 at 7:04 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 92 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2025/10/31/too-cruel-too-soon/

Paul Krugman: “Why are these terrible things happening? At a basic level they’re happening because Republicans want them to happen. Drastic cuts in food stamps and health care programs were central planks in Project 2025, which is indeed the Trump administration’s policy platform, and were written into legislation in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that passed last summer.”

“But the consequences of these cruel intentions weren’t supposed to be this obvious, this early. The harshest provisions of the OBBBA were backloaded, set to kick in after the midterm elections…”

“Why the backloading? Presumably Republicans believed that by the time Americans woke up to what was happening, the GOP would have effectively consolidated one-party rule, making future elections irrelevant.”

“Instead, however, the mask is being ripped off right now, well ahead of schedule.”

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Republicans have tagged themselves with corruption and cruelty

It's almost to the point it need not be mentioned. It's obvious, felt deeply, and undeniable.

[markodochartaigh]

2. I've wondered about this ever since the Republicans

released the text of Project 2025 more than a year ago.
I thought then that because they were recruiting and vetting thousands of magas to take the jobs of government workers whom they were going to fire, they assumed that word would get out anyway.

Now it looks like the regime has certainly bitten off a mouthful, hopefully more than they can chew.

[calimary]

8. They didn't factor in public opinion,

OR the reaction to what they did to screw America.

The impact has been felt WAAAAAAAY sooner than they planned, or expected.

And that’s good news for all the rest of us. And it’s CERTAINLY, and DEFINITELY something WE can use to put big logs of shit into their “trick or treat” bags.

[LymphocyteLover]

3. we can only hope it's too soon!

[SSJVegeta]

4. 🤞

[PufPuf23]

5. GOP has been more aggressive and successful in enacting

Last edited Fri Oct 31, 2025, 10:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Project 2025 and longterm GOP wet dreams.

Tearing down the White House East Wing is the fuck you finger on top of the mess.

Had no idea that Trump would be so aggressive and successful.

Trump intends to take the USA to war while waging war within the USA on some people and their dependents.

The World has no reason to trust nor respect the present day USA

I find the decline unbelievable except for being here now.

[mwmisses4289]

6. This.

“Instead, however, the mask is being ripped off right now, well ahead of schedule.”

The mask is off. What are the rest of us going to do about it, besides wring our hands and say there is nothing we can do? We can do something, however small and insignificant it may seem.

[calimary]

10. Answer: EVERYTHING we CAN do.

[Amaryllis]

13. Find an Indivisible group and join! THat's what Jamie RAskin said: join a group and they will tell you what to do. And

my wonderful senator Jeff Merkley also said that.
Calimary and and I are both in Indivisible groups. Makes you feel a whole lot less disempowered to be in community and taking action.

[calimary]

16. It sure is!

And YES, DEFINITELY it is energizing AND RE-energizing if you’re one of many who’s feeling upset, worried, and weary that you’ve worked and written and rallied and joined peaceful protests and knocked on doors in your neighborhood and you fear “it doesn’t make any difference.”

WRONG!!! It DOES make a difference!

And it’s contagious!

And it’s a BIG dose of encouragement to anyone who fears they’re alone in how they feel.

If that’s you or someone you care about, show them THIS! Talk to them about this!
Take quotes from this!
Heck, use all of this and tons of other ideas you’ll see just here on DU! But I bet you’d also find kindred spirits at EVERY and ANY local Democratic group, club, or event who’d love to help encourage you and get you involved so you feel like you’re actually DOING something to make a difference and promote positive change!

There already are TONS of us out there! Millions of us, and growing! We’re all here to reassure you that how YOU feel is echoed by people from coast-to-coast, from ocean to ocean, from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. And all points in between! And EVERY day, we add to our numbers!

I know one thing. I’m NOT giving up. (Especially since I know that my giving up constitutes the opposition’s most deeply-cherished and hoped-for dream.) The opposition hopes and dreams that we’ll all just get frustrated and give up. Which is why we WON’T!!! Not EVER!!!

[littlemissmartypants]

19. I certainly won't be whining. Or gnashing my teeth.

[ancianita]

7. Mr. Krugman? Say his name -- Russell Vought. Just say it. So should everyone else.

[MLWR]

9. The republiSCUM party has turned itself into the Party of Corruption, Criminality and abject Cruelty.

They are in effect the reincarnation of the Nazi Party of 1930s' Germany. They even have their fucking Gestapo roaving our streets.

[calimary]

11. The republicccans. CCC. Corruption, Criminality, and Cruelty.

That’s how we should start spelling their party’s name. With not one, not two, but THREE C’s.
Corruption.
Criminality.
And Cruelty.

But I’d move the “Cruelty” part up to first-of-three.

[Buddyzbuddy]

12. Great point!

[Joinfortmill]

14. Disgusting vipers. Prison is too good for them.

[valleyrogue]

15. The only thing worse than their "libertarian" arrogance

is their unbelievable stupidity.

They don't ask themselves just why there is "so much" government. It is because the Gilded Age didn't work thanks to, you know, the Great Depression. Those "big bad government" regulations are what saved capitalism in the United States.. These fuckers are too stupid or sociopathic or both to realize or admit it.

It seems like every few generations we have to relearn this shit over and over and over again. Laissez faire does not work because people get hurt.

[Puppyjive]

17. Trump is a liar

You can never trust him.

[Wicked Blue]

18. Maybe they're afraid the Orange Thug won't last out his term

... if only ...