One of the great puzzles of politics is why so many are against President Trump’s idea of cutting payroll taxes. The puzzle starts from the fact that this is simply the standard Keynesian thing to do to boost demand in a recession, and as President Richard Nixon said more than a generation ago, “We are all Keynesians now.”

The vehement reaction that has greeted this executive order to defer certain payroll tax obligations (though Trump wants to forgive them permanently if he wins the election) is over the top. Maybe an executive order isn’t quite the way to do it, and maybe too many don’t want Trump to do anything useful this close before the election. But as a piece of economic policy, it seems fine, even admirable.