i think a big problem for the republicans is that the trickledown effect (a core principal in the republican view on economics) is starting to break down. the problem is not really that it stopped. rather profits are being funneled into new industries in other countries and away from those that helped make the profits in the first place. youve seen this in the export of jobs, such as manufacturing and service industries. its much less risky for them to take jobs to places where there's little competition, regulation, and where less money goes a long way.