History has a habit of repeating itself—and when it comes to Republican control of government, that repetition is downright destructive. Time and again, when Republicans hold power—especially when they control both Congress and the White House—they unleash a wave of policies that benefit the wealthy, starve public investment, and leave working Americans worse off. Then, as the consequences come crashing down, it falls to Democrats to pick up the pieces.
We’ve seen this cycle before. The 2008 financial crisis followed years of reckless deregulation, unfunded wars, and tax cuts for the rich under President George W. Bush. Democrats under Barack Obama inherited an economy in freefall. Before that, it was the Great Depression after Republican laissez-faire policies in the 1920s. And now, in 2025, we’re watching Donald Trump and the GOP run the same destructive playbook—only this time, it’s on steroids.
Trump’s second term has brought with it a wave of extreme policies: most notably, the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs—a sweeping 10% minimum tax on all imports, with even higher rates targeting specific countries. These tariffs have already sparked market volatility and triggered concerns of a looming recession. While the White House absurdly “guarantees” no recession, financial analysts and working families alike are bracing for impact.
But the economic sabotage doesn’t stop there. The administration’s alignment with Project 2025, a blueprint developed by the far-right Heritage Foundation, reveals something deeper and even more dangerous: a coordinated plan to dismantle the administrative state, eliminate civil service protections, and place loyalists in charge of everything from education to public health. This isn’t just bad governance—it’s authoritarianism in the making.
Meanwhile, essential investments in healthcare, infrastructure, education, and climate resilience are once again being sidelined. Why? Because the GOP’s priority isn’t building a stronger, more equitable America—it’s protecting the wealth of the donor class, gutting regulations, and defunding the very institutions that serve ordinary people. Universal healthcare? Too expensive, they say—right after handing billions in tax breaks to corporations. Modern infrastructure? We can’t afford it—right after ballooning the deficit with giveaways for the rich.
The truth is, Republicans are the reason we can’t have nice things. Their policies are designed to enrich the few and impoverish the many. And now, with Trump back in office, they’re creating another Republican Recession—on purpose. Because if government is broken, if people are suffering, it becomes easier to sell fear, division, and authoritarian control.
We don’t have to accept this. But it starts with calling it what it is—and fighting back with a vision of government that serves all of us, not just the powerful few.
