The Bush Administration has paid for the war in Iraq with pure, unadulterated and unmitigated deficit spending. This is bad. One reason this is bad is evident in a series of programs that Obama is laying out. This is a broad series of economic giveaways. But he intends to fund this in two ways. Taxing the rich, and winding down the war in Iraq.
But wait! Ending the Iraq War today will not free up a single dime in revenue. As stated in the first line above, that war is funded with pure deficit spending. To say that ending that war will allow him to "fund" these other programs then, is farce at best and a bold-faced lie at worst.
And that's why Bush deserves just condemnation for things like funding the war with supplemental appopriaations bills (to try and fudge the headline deficit numbers in his "budgets" that he submits to Congress). Once that deficit is in place it requires cutting programs without replacing the spending elsewhere, or raising taxes without providing any additional services with that money. Neither of these is popular, which leads to deficits being built into the system.
Obama and McCain are proving to be just as irresponsible, though. Based on their campaign rhetoric thus far, neither one deserves a vote on their economic platforms. Bush got us here, but they will keep us here.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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2 comments:
Sigh.
I'm thinking of going Libertarian - at least they can do math. I'll jump if you jump.
There's a great Dilbert comic where Dilbert comes to Dogbert shortly after an election:
Dil: "Remember how before the election we decided that since we are opposed on every issue on the ballot, our votes would just cancel out, so we agreed to both stay home?"
Dog: "Yes."
Dil: "Dogs can't vote!!"
Dog: "Well, not directly..."
I have, however, been seriously tempted to actively vote for a third-party candidate... not because I expect them to win, but because the alternative would be just staying home - and I want to actively vote in dissent, not quietly dissent in a way that is not measured.
So many registered voters don't vote at all that if they all voted for a third-party candidate, that candidate would win by an overwhelming margin.
My single best reason to vote for McCain right now, though: A Democratic Congress and President Obama sets my fiscal spidey-sense ablaze. But if the race is looking overwhelming - I'll probably jump.
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