The Democrats and the "Kudzu Economy"

Introduction

Thaddeus McCotter, in a piece for American Greatness, draws an interesting parallel between the invasive plant Kudzu (Pueraria montana) and the left's "Green Economy". This comparison was sparked by the cover of REM’s 1983 album Murmur, which features a photo of thick vegetation, later identified as Kudzu. This plant, native to Japan and southeast China, was introduced to the United States in 1876 and has since spread rapidly, outcompeting native plants and causing significant ecological damage.

Kudzu: An Invasive Species

According to a 2019 article in The Nature Conservancy, Kudzu is an invasive species that easily overtakes trees, abandoned homes, and telephone poles. Its rapid spread, up to "one foot per day," has earned it the nickname "mile-a-minute." The plant's introduction to the U.S. may be attributed to 19th-century Americans, but the extent of the devastation can be traced back to the 20th Century’s scientific community and the federal government. They promoted Kudzu as a tool for soil erosion control, leading to its abundant planting throughout the South.

Climate Change and Kudzu

The current scientific community suggests that climate change may be aiding the spread of Kudzu. The plant thrives in areas with mild winters and hot summers, conditions that are becoming more common due to climate change. However, these assertions are often hedged with words like "may" and "can," indicating a level of uncertainty. This rhetorical strategy is common in climate change discourse.

The Democrats' Kudzu Economy

McCotter likens the Democrats' Green Economy to the spread of Kudzu. He argues that this economic approach promotes scarcity in the name of collective virtue, reducing energy and product production, spurring inflation, and curtailing employment opportunities. The Democrats' Kudzu economy, he asserts, seeks to insulate its failures behind a veneer of collective "purpose." He criticizes the Democrats and their allies for seeking to impose their decisions and preferences on the American people, arguing that this amounts to the spread of a harmful, invasive socialist ideology.

Conclusion

McCotter concludes by suggesting that the proponents of the Democrats' Kudzu economy should know better, but have allowed ideology and greed to blind them to the consequences of their actions. He notes that the spread of Kudzu is not limited to the southeastern states, and that it has been increasingly found in northern states, including those traditionally considered "blue." He suggests that the Democrats might learn a lesson about the unforeseen and unfortunate consequences of blind faith in fallible science if Kudzu were to invade their own backyards.

Bottom Line

McCotter's comparison of the Democrats' Green Economy to the invasive Kudzu plant is certainly thought-provoking. It raises questions about the potential consequences of economic and environmental policies, and the role of ideology in shaping these policies. What are your thoughts on this comparison? Do you see the Democrats' Green Economy as an invasive force, or as a necessary response to the challenges of climate change? Share this article with your friends and join the conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.