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The official blog of the Libertarian Party
June 25, 2006
George W. Bush Declared King of the Big Spenders
Here's Steve Chapman's take on federal spending:
Back in the 1960s, Alabama Gov. George Wallace insisted there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between the two parties. But when it comes to federal spending, that always rang false. Democrats talk in terms of expanding government efforts to help people, which invariably costs money, while Republicans preach the need to limit Washington's role in our lives, which ought to be cheaper.
These days, it's clear that Wallace was wrong. There is a dime's worth of difference between the two parties. But a dime is about all.
Since 1994, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) has added up every dollar that every member of Congress casts a vote to spend. Yesterday, it released its study of how Congress did in 2005. The results indicate that when it comes to federal outlays, there is only one party in Washington: the Spendthrifts.
He then provides some financial detail about how much our money the Republicans and Democrats waste. For those of you who aren't interested in accounting statistics, I've modified this Seabiscuit script as an overview to our national spending situation:
It's Squandering Pachyderm -- by a nose, now by a head.
He's leading Wasteful Donkey, pressing on him a neck behind.
They fly toward the clubhouse turn. Who will be into it first?
It's Squandering Pachyderm, and he was there first and driving for the backstretch!
Now, coming into the backstretch, it's Squandering Pachyderm.
Going down the backstretch.
Now on the backstretch, Squandering Pachyderm still with the lead.
It's now Wasteful Donkey! It's Wasteful Donkey!
It's Squandering Pachyderm and Wasteful Donkey, neck and neck as they go down the backstretch!
It's Squandering Pachyderm. Now Wasteful Donkey!
Now Squandering Pachyderm! Now Wasteful Donkey!
Here comes Squandering Pachyderm! They're neck and neck.
It's Squandering Pachyderm by a nose! And Squandering Pachyderm wins the 2006 Congressional Derby.
Chapman appropriately closed his article with, "Reversing this race to bankruptcy will require elected leaders to stop spending like there is no tomorrow. But when it comes to that sort of wisdom and courage, Washington is suffering another deficit."
Posted by Stephen Gordon at June 25, 2006 12:46 PM
Reader Comments:
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The spending and debt should be issue number 1 for the LP, along with Iraq.
It is time the IES got put back into circulation. Since some libertarians are more concerned with what a thing is called more than making political inroads for the party, just strike the "reconstruction/foreign aid" part totally out of it and let's see if they toss it for some other reason.
This "failed" strategy is our key to fighting Democrats in November. A public list of every Democrat who voted with President Bush to start the war and who voted to continue to fund it need to be on here. Call it the Democrats Wall of Shame. Then point out any Democratic Hypocrites who are now calling for some measure of exit, with the number of soldiers dead since thy voted to send them there.
I's time to tak the gloves off. It's also time to start having a focused nationwide strategy. Remembers, Republicans are gonna kill themselves. We have to go after the Democrats.
SHOW THEM NO MERCY. THEY ARE KILLING OUR COUNTRY.
My two cents:
Regarding our Spendocracy, I hate to sound like a broken record, but gradual erosion is preferable to immediate, sweeping cuts, simply to avoid large, angry groups of bureaucrats dispossessed of their plunder and flexing muscle through their "friends" (political connections), regardless of whether at local, state, or (someday) federal level.
George W. Bush is no doubt a bigger spender than Lyndon Baines Johnson or Richard M. Nixon. Many have called George W. Bush a "Big Government Conservative." The problem is the fact that George Bush is not a conservative at all. He is, in the words of Howard Dean, "a moderate." That is he is a liberal who does not like his taxes raised. Or, as William Buckley would say "George Bush is conservative but not a conservative."
Libertarians are the true conservatives. It is libertarians that call for limited government and it is libertarians that want government off the backs of people. Bruce Bartlett had it right George W. Bush is an imposter.
George W. Bush is no doubt a bigger spender than Lyndon Baines Johnson or Richard M. Nixon. Many have called George W. Bush a "Big Government Conservative." The problem is the fact that George Bush is not a conservative at all. He is, in the words of Howard Dean, "a moderate." That is he is a liberal who does not like his taxes raised. Or, as William Buckley would say "George Bush is conservative but not a conservative."
Libertarians are the true conservatives. It is libertarians that call for limited government and it is libertarians that want government off the backs of people. Bruce Bartlett had it right George W. Bush is an imposter.
On the RLC chart, President Bush could rank in the "Right Winger" classification, as his personal liberty index would be down under 20%. He is not exactly great on economic liberty either, so he probably ranks as a right leaning "statist", but very possibly just in the right leaning "authoritarian" area.
To be fair, Bush has been constantly rolling back our taxes, and the economy is growing exceptionally right now, due to those cuts. Republicans in the Beltway are indeed reckless spenders, but it's not as if Bush is completely anti-libertarian with his economic policy.
I'm not sure if making Iraq one of the two big issues for the LP would be a wise move. This is the party of principle, after all, but to make gains on a national level you have to play politics as well as have your own political philosophy. If questioned about Iraq no one should ever lie to gain votes, or even make cryptic comments that distract from the issue. But I think making Iraq one of the big issues will put the LP at great odds with the public, even though most people disapprove of Iraq.
The LP has some immunity from the Rove-runner, because it isn't the Democratic Party, but I think focusing on economic issues is what will be the best for the LP. After all, the most common phrase in politics has become, "I'm not conservative, I'm a libertarian." And I bet those libertarians, whether true or pseudo, vote Republican more often than for the LP.
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The spending and debt should be issue number 1 for the LP, along with Iraq.
It is time the IES got put back into circulation. Since some libertarians are more concerned with what a thing is called more than making political inroads for the party, just strike the "reconstruction/foreign aid" part totally out of it and let's see if they toss it for some other reason.
This "failed" strategy is our key to fighting Democrats in November. A public list of every Democrat who voted with President Bush to start the war and who voted to continue to fund it need to be on here. Call it the Democrats Wall of Shame. Then point out any Democratic Hypocrites who are now calling for some measure of exit, with the number of soldiers dead since thy voted to send them there.
I's time to tak the gloves off. It's also time to start having a focused nationwide strategy. Remembers, Republicans are gonna kill themselves. We have to go after the Democrats.
SHOW THEM NO MERCY. THEY ARE KILLING OUR COUNTRY.
Posted by: Tim_West at June 26, 2006 05:57 AM