Rahm Emanuel, former Obama White House chief of staff, stated that senators must "never let a crisis go to waste" during the 2008 economic crisis, to which he echoed this famous statement last month concerning the current coronavirus crisis.


Democrats Focus on the Benefits of the Pandemic for Political Gain

Emanuel had this to say: "Start planning for the future. This has to be the last pandemic that creates an economic depression. We're going to have more pandemics, but this has to be the last economic depression."

During discussions over the $2 trillion stimulus program, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn stated that the package was "a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision," in the belief that the crisis would be an opportunity for fundamental, long-lasting reform.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, which reportedly stated: "Absolutely, we see this as an opportunity to reshape the way we do business and how we govern," shares the concept that perhaps the coronavirus pandemic could trigger a new, democratic revolt.

The statement came to the end of a lengthy response to the question of whether he had seen "potential" in national and state governments in the crisis for "a new progressive era."

Republicans have embraced the new movement as a fraction of a short-term solution to an unforeseen public health emergency, as proposals usually advocated only by leftists such as extended unemployment insurance as well as direct cash transfers to any American.  

The stimulus package, which has been implemented with over $2 trillion, contains all initiatives and much more that still needed to be discussed.

Democratic politicians are seeing the path as having now been unlocked to significant government expansion. However, the Republicans and Conservatives claim that these initiatives are only necessary under restricted situations. Moreover, it is an expansion that does not have a specific off-ramp as well.

Emanuel's comment sparked controversy from Republicans as Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., has this to say about Clyburn's remarks: "When we see a rising body count, they see a political opportunity. Shame on them."


Government Expansion

Even though the Republicans will support the expansion in the short term, the drive for more extensive, expanded government initiatives are something they are expected to be skeptical about. The free-market economist Milton Friedman had once mentioned that as a temporary government initiative, it is still somehow inevitable.

If the government expands on a short-term run, politicians may put themselves in a politically challenging situation when it comes to rolling back popular incentives, mainly if the economy will not bounce up as quickly as the optimists anticipate.

In addition to this, left-wing Democrats are expected to oppose every move to a tooth and nail pre-COVID condition as they have already demonstrated just as much.

"If there is any silver lining in the horrible pandemic and economic collapse we 're experiencing." In an op-ed by a news publication, Sen. Bernie Sanders goes as far as to have seen a "silver lining" in the pandemic. "It is that many in our country are now beginning to rethink the basic assumptions underlying the American value system," he stated.


Check these out!