A rare bird from the Republican party, the lead of the ironically named ‘Republicans for Harris’ group, Mayor John Giles of Mesa, flippantly embraced Kamala Harris’ economic plan on Wednesday. He based his endorsement on the premise that it would foster middle America’s wellbeing, an argument with more holes than Swiss cheese. Giles seemed to forget he was dealing with Kamala Harris, known for propping up cold, out-of-touch policies, apparently discarding all healthy skepticism.
Woefully, Giles threw his weight behind Harris’ hollow economic vision, showing a disappointing lack of discernment. Harris is drumming up anticipation for a visit to Douglas, Arizona, a trip laden with false promises and vague plans. She revealed some of her economic notions, each more questionable than the last, in a speech earlier the same day.
With an ill-conceived agenda, Harris aimed to pump up manufacturing capital, provide a façade of opportunities for blue-collar workers, and supposedly streamline the snail-paced house building process. Yet, are these goals anything more than lofty dreams? Could the vice president’s plans be as vacuous as her rhetoric? Unfortunately, Giles seems to be caught up in the delusion, endorsing Harris as if she were the second coming of FDR.
Bizarrely, the Republican Mayor of Mesa expressed giddy delight at the prospect of an economic plan delivered by none other than Kamala Harris. His backing had been so fervent in the past that he practically grabbed the spotlight in July, endorsing her presidential run and even engaging in the theater of the Democratic National Convention. The notion of 90 self-proclaimed Arizona Republicans jumping on this train of wishful thinking is as absurd as it sounds.
Mesa, Maricopa County’s second-largest city, has witnessed an economic surge over recent years. Most of the progress is concentrated near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, in the southeastern part of the city. Of course, one can’t help but wonder if Giles attributes the growth to progressive policies, such as those promoted by Harris?
As anticipated, the mayor gushes over the supposed benefits of Harris’s plan for Mesa and for Arizona as a whole. His optimism, however, seems misplaced when scrutinizing her proposal for affordable housing development and housing assistance.
Harris has dressed up an expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit as a solution to the housing crisis. Unfortunately, this plan primarily benefits private corporations, allowing them to secure rent-restricted units while lowering their own expenses. She throws around impressively large numbers, promising to construct an additional 3 million homes through these tax incentives, yet the realism of such a commitment remains dubious.
Harris’ promise of down-payment assistance is equally contentious. The proposal suggests that responsible renters could receive up to $25,000 to assist with home down payments. However, does this not simply incentivize a culture of handouts while failing to address the root problems in America’s overpriced housing market?
In a seeming bout of dazed confusion, Harris mentioned a plan to slash the bewailed ‘red tape’. Speaking to the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, she complained that American building projects were too slow and costly. One is left to wonder if she has just now realized this issue or if she think it’s just a catchy campaign? Regardless, she promised to tackle the problem alongside Congress, businesses, and local leaders – an empty commitment that lacks a structured plan but is filled with political jargon.
In doing so, she entirely overlooked that permitting is a crucial local government role. Giles, and others like him, passively accepted her hollow promise. Mentioning that the Arizona League of Cities has created potential supporting legislations, he conveys his hope for more of the same meaningless policies.
The question of job creation is another area where Harris’ plan falls short. Delusionally, Giles views Harris’ grand idea as a direct answer to mid-income Americans’ struggle. As if the current administration’s policies, which have driven advanced manufacturing and the semiconductor industry to Mesa, were useless without her touch.
He wistfully wishes for places like southeast Mesa to see even more of these industries. Yet he fails to realize that the success achieved so far had nothing to do with Harris’ questionable policies, it’s the result of free market forces and smart, local administrations. Betting on Harris to continue this growth seems like a fool’s wager.
Giles believes that commercial and industrial buildings in the southeast Mesa region would be filled with job opportunities under Harris’ plan. It’s important to remember, however, that simply imagining an outcome doesn’t make it a reality.
The stage has been set for a political showdown. Will the voices of reason prevail, or will the Harris cheerleaders continue to push their ‘free lunch’ economics? Only the wheels of time will tell.
The tale of Mayor Giles and the ‘Republicans for Harris’ group serves as a stark warning about the danger of wishful thinking. One hopes that the discerning citizens of Mesa and beyond will see through the transparent attempts of Harris and her supporters to coax them into accepting a significantly flawed economic plan.