Chuck Darwin‘Extremist’ Trump economist plots rightwing overhaul of US treasury
#Stephen #Moore, a conservative economist whose controversial remarks about women cost him a seat on the Federal Reserve board in 2019, is now co-author of a plan to radically reform the US treasury as part of #Project2025, a vast rightwing effort to advance radical policy proposals for Donald Trump’s possible White House return.
“Project 2025 is all about forcing a far-right agenda on to everyday Americans,” said Tony Carrk, the executive director of the progressive watchdog Accountable.US, which produced an extensive report on Moore’s views and positions.
“So it’s no wonder they tapped a notorious #social #security opponent like Stephen Moore to help write their policy schemes.”
Moore, Carrk said, had “dedicated his career to slashing social security benefits and taxes for billionaires”.
Like other welfare programmes such as Medicare, social security is a longstanding target of the US right but also something of a third rail for politicians of either party, given public support.
Recognising such support, Trump has pledged to “always protect social security” should he return to power.
Moore remains loyal to Trump but in the past has advocated for #privatising social security, which he has called a “Ponzi scheme”, and told students they should march on the Capitol and burn their social security cards.
Moore advocates #mandatory 401k accounts, in place of social security.
He added: “Yes, I am strongly in favor of #cutting tax rates to make [the] American economy No 1.”
By its own description, Project 2025 is the work of “a broad coalition of over 70 conservative organisations”, brought together by the #Heritage #Foundation and aiming to shape the presidential transition should a Republican win election this year.
In the words of #Paul #Dans, its director, Project 2025 aims to prepare “a new army, aligned, trained, and essentially #weaponised conservatives ready to do battle against the deep state”.