That’s precisely because they are not interested in governing. They’re not interested in creating a robust economy. They’re only interested in doing favors for their donors.
In the late 1970’s, the idea of Trickle Down was seen sort of as a taboo. That’s why GHWB called it “voodoo.” The thing is, he was right to call it that.
The entire premise of it was built on that stupid Laffer curve, which postulates “when tax rates are low, revenues will be low because the government doesn’t generate enough money. When tax rates are high, revenues will be low because people are less motivated to work or invest.”
Totally ignoring the complete arbitrary nature of what it is for tax rates to be “high” or “low,” or how high they have to be to disincentivized to work/invest, or how tax rates are rarely if ever applied uniformly, does anyone not notice that the GOP always admits that this stuff is bullshit?
Oh sure they don’t say it’s bullshit literally, but they say it in their actions. They say it when they pass tax cuts to the wealthiest people and then sweeping budget cuts. Well yeah, because they’re not really interested in finding this so-called “sweet spot” on the curve because what that does is lower required revenues while also lowering taxes.
I’m sure 3-point percentages in the NBA would increase dramatically if they make the no-charge circle the new 3-point arch and if they lower the basket to 7’ instead of 10. That’s not gonna compel me to call those guys “great three point shooters,” though.
Anyways the whole nominal point of the Laffer curve was to assume expenditures as a given (relative at least) constant and finding the most effective way to raise revenues to pay for them. The curve was never meant to be a mechanism to shift the goalposts. So again, why do they shift the goalposts to make it look like trickle down works? Because they know it’s bullshit. And you’re never going to see them make economic progress while they worship bullshit.