Posted on 08/18/2002 12:49:12 PM PDT by BlessingInDisguise
August 14, 2002
Should Americans laugh or cry at Bush's 'fiscal restraint'?
WASHINGTON, DC -- President Bush's much-publicized refusal to spend $5.1 billion approved by Congress is such a weak-kneed attempt at fiscal responsibility that Libertarians don't know whether to laugh or cry.
The reason: That $5.1 billion amounts to just one-quarter of 1 percent of the federal budget.
"Was President Bush joking when he claimed he was practicing 'fiscal restraint' by preventing one more drop of water from falling into the ocean of federal spending?" asked Steve Dasbach, Libertarian Party executive director. "If so, America should laugh right along with him. But if not, it's time to start crying, because the economy may never recover from the big-spending Republicans and Democrats."
At the White House economic forum at Baylor University law school in Texas on Tuesday, Bush announced that he was sending a message to Congress that "a limited and focused government is essential to a growing economy." That message consisted of blocking a $5.1 billion amendment to a $28.9 billion anti-terrorism bill because much of the money had nothing to do with protecting homeland security, Bush said.
But the idea that the president performed a heroic feat by rejecting the microscopic amount of money is ridiculous, Libertarians say.
"If Bush is so concerned with frugal government, why did he sign the first $2 trillion federal budget in history?" Dasbach asked. "And why hasn't he vetoed a single appropriations bill since he took office?
"For example, the $200 billion farm bill that he signed so enthusiastically was 40 times as large as the amount he rejected on Tuesday; the education bill that he and Sen. Teddy Kennedy championed was five times as large; and the current budget for corporate welfare is 17 times as large.
“Vetoing any of those would have been a much more genuine example of fiscal responsibility than rejecting a paltry $5 billion.
"Mr. Bush is absolutely right that a limited government is essential to a growing economy," Dasbach said. "So it's time that he stops relentlessly expanding the government, while paying lip service to economic freedom."
Don't we work from January 1st to the end of May just to pay our taxes for the year? That's about 40%. The founding fathers must be spinning in their graves right now....
Of course it's much easier to sit on the sidelines and snipe. I think they would rather do that than have the burden of governing.
If the majority of Americans agreed with the Libertarians they would be in power and setting the agenda. The fact is, they don't, they aren't, and they won't.
I can respect some libertarian ideals, but sometimes you guys come off like massive whiners. I don't like expanding government, but I believe this President is doing a better job restraining the 'rats than Al The Liar Gore would ever do.
Libertarians should start winning a few big elections, then they'll be taken seriously. Maybe if they attacked the true enemies of the Constitution, the Democrat Party, they'd do better.
No. Bush's would-be staffers were required to read "The Dream and the Nightmare" by Myron Magnet, a book that reflects the President's philosophy for domestic spending policy--I suggest those who believe the President is a big spender go to amazon.com and buy it. Or, if you like, try to find it at your taxpayer funded public library.
The book is an amazing history and lesson in how not to set priorities for America. Read it.
As to the political realities, I suggest most of the whiners take to task the Democrats and their friends John McLame and Judas Jeffords. If these two erstwhile Republicans were on board with their Party's leader, much more would've been done in the name of conservatism. The President has to compromise to pass some bills, that's just the facts of life. Thanks to these two jackals, and some other RINOs, he's given more than I believe he wants to.
Perhaps, but it would be nice if he learned how to spell V-E-T-O.
Loses to whom? A liberal Democrat? That's what you would rather have in the White House? You're a frickin idiot at best. Try to remember the choices here (if you are indeed a conservative) - President Bush, or maybe you'd rather see Hitlery? Or Nader? Get a grip - you don't have to support him, but if you aren't with us....
"Comrades!" he cried. "You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privelege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. I dislike them myself. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes, Jones would come back! Surely, comrades," cried Squealer almost pleadingly, skipping from side to side and whisking his tail, "surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?"-- Animal Farm, George Orwell
On another thread somebody is predicting that the democrats will come to power and increase taxes in the next few years. But I will tell you that the democrats are not stupid, if they do get a majority position in the next few years, they will probably not raise taxes. Instead, they will get GW and his republican country clubbers to do the job for them. It's not called the stupid party for nothing you know Russ and you are a prime example of why it is called that.
George Washington said that 'the spirit of party is evil'. That people would be upset over the fact that somebody who is not a republican is criticizing the current trend of the republicans and still fail to address those legitimate criticisms is evidence that washington was right.
It's taken a while, but clear thinking people have avoided this...
What don't you git?
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