Hillary Clinton has made it clear. She is running as President Obama’s political and policy heir, notes Review & Outlook in the WSJ:
Mrs. Clinton’s project is even more progressive than Mr. Obama’s. Believe it or not, there are still subsidy gaps in the cradle-to-grave entitlement state, and this is a candidate who regularly talks about the programs she wants to create for “ages 0 to 5.”
A partial list includes another burst of spending allegedly earmarked for public works; wage controls for higher federal minimum, overtime, family leave and “equal” pay; a right to child care; “free” college; a Medicare-like public health insurance option and administrative prices for new drugs; and nearly doubling the top tax rate on long-term capital gains to 43.4% from 23.8%. Anyone who thinks these policies will get better results than 2007-2016 hasn’t paid attention.
The public is in a sour mood, and Mrs. Clinton’s private and political character are not helping her unfavorable rating (55.4%)—almost as high as Trump’s 56.9%. The platform Democrats are embracing is not a rising tide to lift all ships. Instead, it’s about doubling down on “redistribution economics, high taxation and heavy regulation.”
