Repubs or Dems - Who is best for the Economy

The conventional wisdom, at least according to polling data, is that most voters give the edge to the Republicans on building the economy.

This is curious when one looks back in history.  The two biggest economic collapses in the last 100 years occurred after a decade long period of Republican control of Congress.  (Republicans controlled both houses of Congress from 1919 to 1932 and from 1995 to 2006).   Equally as curious, these were the only two long periods of Republican dominance of Congress in the last 100 years.   It's hard to swallow the notion it was just an accident of fate these periods of Republican control  correlate so exactly with the two worst economic collapses in the last 100 years. 

I believe voters mistakenly believe if folks are good at making themselves rich they must know how to make everyone else rich.  In fact history suggests the opposite is true.

Republican economic theory is all about getting government out of the way so the selfish can pursue their self interest on the assumption everyone will benefit.   But, as we saw in the great depression, and in the recent great recession, that's not what happens.  The rich get proportionately richer as they suck up more and more, but the people who actually buy things to drive the economy have less and less money.

There are many ways to become rich, but few that I am aware of involve dedicating yourself to the good of others.   The factory owner who pays his employees a generous salary is not going to get near as rich and may get put out of business by a competitor that pays his employees as little as possible and thereby drives his costs of doing business down.  In a business negotiation, the person most willing to take advantage of the other person in any possible way is probably going to be the most successful.   

Good government is absolutely essential to building a good economy.  A good economy is built on trust and stability, and that stability is rooted in everyone being along for the ride.  Good government allows those with drive and ambition the freedom to build businesses, but sets up rules that make sure they bring the rest of society along with them, rather than climbing over others to achieve their goals.