I gotta admit this right up front: I am confused.

As an aging progressive socialist-leaning lefty, I am used to hearing my friends and family on the right screaming about those horrible “tax and spend liberals!”

I’ve grown up hearing the skeptical question, “How do you plan to pay for that?” when progressives ask for more support for the poor, better education, cleaner water, more affordable health care…….

“Oh, you crazy, bleeding heart fools! What about the DEFICIT?”

Remember?

Back in 2013, the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, published an article warning us of the many dangers of an increasing federal deficit. They wrote:

President Obama’s high-debt policies will not only bequeath enormous financial burdens to future generations of taxpayers in the form of high levels of interest expense—projected by the Congressional Budget Office to approach a trillion dollars annually by 2023—but these policies will also significantly reduce personal incomes with which to pay these bills.

We liberals took a deep breath, and tried to convince the conservatives that it is both morally and economically wise to invest in the lives and health of the people in our country.

We were laughed at. A lot.

And yet here we are, in the waning days of 2019. The Republican party has been in control of the Senate and the White House for three years.

During those three years, the federal deficit has grown exponentially, as the following graphic will show:

So.

What the hell?

Where are all those fiscal conservatives now? Where are the GOP voices screaming, “How are you gonna PAY for that tax cut?????”

Or even better, “How do you plan to pay for your huge boost in military spending?” Our defense budget has increased by $160 billion in two years under our current administration.

Where, oh, where, are all those outraged Republicans? Where are their memories?

While it is obvious to many that President Trump is suffering from some form of cognitive decline, I am now wondering if perhaps the condition is contagious.

I ask this because…..seriously…..where ARE all the fiscal conservatives? Why is the huge, and rapidly increasing federal deficit suddenly no big deal? Where are the Paul Ryan types who demanded a reduction in spending back in 2013?

Where is Lindsey Graham, who was so horrified about the deficit back in the Obama days? In October of 2015, Sen. Graham wrote:

The biggest domestic challenge facing our nation is our ballooning debt.

Uh, huh.

So. Where is Senator Graham NOW?

In fact, where are the Democrats?

Where are the progressive voices decrying our ever increasing deficit at a time when we are cutting taxes and rolling back supports for our poorest citizens?

Where the hell is everyone?

I believe the Heritage Foundation when it warns us about the dangers of an increasing federal budget deficit. I believe Lindsey Graham when he demands that the government stop spending more than it brings it.

Where is everyone else out there?

Is the entire GOP suddenly suffering from some form of memory loss? Some type of dementia?

What in the name of goodness is going on out there in the swamp?