Beware of RINOs

toogoodreports ^ | 5/30/03 | Bernard Chapin

[fhardesian]

George W. Bush has done a magnificent job in getting our country to consider tax cuts as being a legitimate governing option. I agree with Senator Zell Miller who famously said that he never saw a tax cut that he didn´t like. We need to err on the side of letting individuals keep what they´ve earned. This sentiment is not shared by everyone as I saw a headline Friday in The New York Times stating that the senate´s approval of the bill signified “a tax cut without end.” That is, unfortunately, false rhetoric. This tax cut will end but hopefully another 50 will have been passed by the time it is phased out.

What makes tax cuts so necessary is the federal government´s criminal negligence in cutting spending. The Republicans, even now that they control the presidency and congress, have been unable to trim the budget. The Democrats refuse to cut any program or spending outside of the military. This is pure folly and Republicans must highlight to the voters how irresponsible the Democrats have been.

We have over 1,499 government assistance programs and obviously not all of them are necessary or of benefit to the population. Therefore, we must try to discontinue them or at least conduct an analysis as to how effective they have been. When Christina Hoff Sommers, while at a government sponsored symposium, asked for studies to be conducted in order to determine how useful government drug prevention programs are, she was booed off the stage. Isn´t it intuitive that not every idea or program that the federal government dreams up will be successful? How many people have had 1,499 good ideas in a row? It´s time to discard the chaff and force the government to tighten its belt.

Even during the recent and short-lived recession, as our economy contracted, the federal government just kept growing and prospering even though the rest of country lost their jobs and their optimism. The best thing we can do is put money back into the pockets of working men and women by slashing the budget and rebating ill-gotten gains. It is working class Americans, as opposed to obese bureaucrats, who have made this nation the greatest place on earth.

President Bush´s forehand volley last week should be followed up with an overhead smash later this year. The next thing we should do is to eliminate the lowest federal tax bracket. Hopefully we could exempt the first 20,000 dollars of income from the IRS altogether. That would help everyone but more importantly it would eliminate any possibility of the Democrats continuing their outrageous class warfare accusations against us. We could phrase this issue as ‘saving the working poor´ which is exactly what we would be doing. Through policy positions such as this the Republican Party could take over the descriptor as being “for the little guy.” Let´s not let the momentum dissipate. We must try to build on last week´s successes.

The Democrats are beholden to the teacher unions, government unions, and the trial lawyers and with just a few blasts from a spotlight it will be readily visible that they are more interested in promulgating the idea of a bigger and more intrusive government than they are in bettering the lives of the average American. The Democrat Party cares no more for the working man than France cares about the Americans who died in operation Iraqi Freedom. . There´s no middle ground here. Somebody needs to come in and begin giving our government the type of haircut they´ve been dreading since the three letters “FDR” were first put together. I don´t want to be associated with reckless spenders who pose for photographs while ransacking Fort Knox. It time for a diet and I´m not talking “Atkins” or “the zone.” I talking about the kind you´d receive at Kolyma in the height of a Siberian winter.

There´s been enough talk about “the days of big government are over.” It was obviously a lie when Clinton said it and it remains a lie today. When you support statist big spenders you destroy this nation´s freedom with each vote. We must work and work to remove government´s hands from the neck of our economy (even if we have to do it one finger at a time over fifty years).

The important thing is that we are victorious in reducing the barriers to the flourishing of individual Americans. Until Mr. Bush came along, the last decade has seen the recurring scenario of Democrats asking for 180 billion dollars in spending and Republicans believing they represent fiscal austerity by asking for only 140 billion. Such a downsized request is no big improvement for conservatives. The solution is not to fund programs without knowing that first, the problem they supposedly combat actually exists, and, second, that the program being advocated has good odds of being effective in the reduction of that problem. Many current programs could not meet this test.

Republicans can no longer put forth a RINO (Republican In Name Only) face. We should not allow the taxpayers to continue to donate tribute and bounty for the federal government to endlessly perspire away in directionless ventures. When it comes to decreasing the size of government there can be no middle ground. Lesser government is more and this should be the presumption for all Republicans. Our president has done fine work but now it´s time for the citizens to finish the job.

To comment on this article or express your opinion directly to the author, you are invited to e-mail Bernard at bchapafl@hotmail.com .

[steve50]

I'm a little concerned that they are attempting to sneak an additional 5 cents or so a gallon gas tax with automatic increases on us so soon after cutting income tax. The goal should be to reduce tax liability, not redirect it.

[fhardesian]

Yeah, you're right. Gov. needs to stay out of the economy.

[poet]

"The Democrats refuse to cut any program or spending outside of the military. This is pure folly and Republicans must highlight to the voters how irresponsible the Democrats have been."

Aren't you forgetting that the republicrats have controlled both houses for awhile now? It's not just the dems, it's both parties. He has also spent over a TRILLION$ (or close to it)of New spending. The republicrats, by and large, are "democrat" light and that includes the President.

They gice themselves multiple raises,but, we get a mere pittance. I'd rather they stop thier obscene spending and use the $200/300 I might receive and use it to reduce OUR and OUR children's debt.

It's all smoke and mirrors. Let's just see if they don't increase the fed gas taxes and other "fees" to recover the tax "reduction".

[fhardesian]

Nah, I disagree. The debt is not a serious issue. It'll be gone with economic growth. We should give the money back to the people period.

[templar]

It's all smoke and mirrors.

The reason magicians use smoke and mirrors is that they work. They fool the audience. Almost no one sees past them.

A magician is a magician whether on stage or in congress. It's all fake, and people know it in their hearts, but they just keep coming back because they want to be fooled.

[steve50]

Nah, I disagree. The debt is not a serious issue. It'll be gone with economic growth. We should give the money back to the people period.

I think the debt is becoming a very serious issue, they just increased the limit by almost a trillion after last years increase. Makes a joke out the "cap" imposed a few years back.

The republican party I joined called for smaller government, states rights, and a balanced budget, I haven't seen much of them lately.

[Mr. Jeeves]

This is pure folly and Republicans must highlight to the voters how irresponsible the Democrats have been.

It's a little hard to make that argument right now because the analogies are all to irresponsible personal spending, i.e., buying a house or car you can't really afford. The problem is, to keep the economy looking healthy, the Republicans NEED to have people out spending irresponsibly. It's a nice Catch-22 that keeps the Democrats from having to pay the full price for their irresponsibility.

[fhardesian]

I agree with your argument about decreasing spending being a priority but so does the author. Big spending Rinocrats are what we should fight. Each budget should be cut by 5% each year. I still think the debt will cease with growth

[templar]

It'll be gone with economic growth.

05/28/2003 $6,547,151,634,901.82
09/30/2002 $6,228,235,965,597.16
09/28/2001 $5,807,463,412,200.06
09/30/2000 $5,674,178,209,886.86
09/30/1999 5,656,270,901,615.43
09/30/1998 5,526,193,008,897.62
09/30/1997 5,413,146,011,397.34
09/30/1996 5,224,810,939,135.73
09/29/1995 4,973,982,900,709.39
09/30/1994 4,692,749,910,013.32
09/30/1993 4,411,488,883,139.38
09/30/1992 4,064,620,655,521.66
09/30/1991 3,665,303,351,697.03
09/28/1990 3,233,313,451,777.25
09/29/1989 2,857,430,960,187.32
09/30/1988 2,602,337,712,041.16
09/30/1987 2,350,276,890,953.00
09/30/1986 2,125,302,616,658.42
12/31/1985 1,945,941,616,459.88
12/31/1984 1,662,966,000,000.00
12/31/1983 1,410,702,000,000.00
12/31/1982 1,197,073,000,000.00
12/31/1981 1,028,729,000,000.00
12/31/1980 930,210,000,000.00
12/31/1979 845,116,000,000.00
12/29/1978 789,207,000,000.00
12/30/1977 718,943,000,000.00
12/31/1976 653,544,000,000.00
12/31/1975 576,649,000,000.00
12/31/1974 492,665,000,000.00
12/31/1973 469,898,039,554.70
12/29/1972 449,298,066,119.00
12/31/1971 424,130,961,959.95
12/31/1970 389,158,403,690.26
12/31/1969 368,225,581,254.41
12/31/1968 358,028,625,002.91
12/29/1967 344,663,009,745.18
12/30/1966 329,319,249,366.68
12/31/1965 320,904,110,042.04
12/31/1964 317,940,472,718.38
12/31/1963 309,346,845,059.17
12/31/1962 303,470,080,489.27
12/29/1961 296,168,761,214.92
12/30/1960 290,216,815,241.68
12/31/1959 290,797,771,717.63
12/31/1958 282,922,423,583.87
12/31/1957 274,897,784,290.72
12/31/1956 276,627,527,996.11
12/30/1955 280,768,553,188.96
12/31/1954 278,749,814,391.33
12/31/1953 275,168,120,129.39
06/30/1953 266,071,061,638.57
06/30/1952 259,105,178,785.43
06/29/1951 255,221,976,814.93
06/30/1950 257,357,352,351.04

Seems to have been a while since we've had any growth.

[F16Fighter]

I can't wait for the Demonocrats to sponsor a 'Breathable Air Tax'.

Actually, it'll be a race between the Demonocrats and the UN as to who first proposes this doozy -- AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY BE PROPOSED...

This reminds me that I should slip in the Arnold Schwarzenegger DVD movie 'Total Recall' -- I loved his line, "Give da peeeple air, Cohagen..."

[Ahban]

The conservatives are the RINOs now. The "real Republicans" are homo-loving, gun banning, big spending globalists. Its time for conservative defenders of the GOP to take the red pill.

www.constitutionparty.com

[steve50]

I've been a republican since the 60's. I would have to agree that the party has either changed radically, or wasn't what I thought it was to start. If the RINO/CINO/NEO faction is all that is left, it might be time to move on.

[WOSG]

The Republican party has changed since the 1960s ... it has moved RIGHT.

And a good thing too, because the Democrats have moved radically LEFT.

[WOSG]

Let me be more exact: In 1976, Gerald Ford was not in favor of tax cuts, was pro-ERA, pro'choice' on abortion and was, under the Nixon/Ford era, responsible for *adding* alot of domestic programs and spending, including EPA, affirmative action, Federal gun laws, and (gasp) wage and price controls!

Reagan saved us from all of that "RINO-ism", thank God.

[fhardesian]

Reagan was the GREATEST ever!

[Cultural Canary]

If you want to find out more about redirecting taxes you should look at the Single Audit report which your state issues.

Every state is required to audit and report each year on the federal financial assistance they receive. This is called the Single Audit report. In my home state of Wisconsin the Legislative Audit Bureau is the agency which performs this audit and prepares the report.

In the FY 2001-02 Wisconsin Single Audit report it is noted that federal funds provided to the State increased from $5.4 billion in FY 1997-98 to $8.1 billion in FY 2001-02. This is a $2.7 billion increase (50%). The report also notes that Medical Assistance accounts for $2.5 billion of the federal assistance spent during FY 2001-02 (33.8% of federal cash assistance).

It seems very inefficient to me that we have to send our money to the Federal government so they can spend a whole bunch of it on administration and other costs related to sending it back to the states, along with rules and regulations on how it should be spent.

Most states use some equivalent of the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau to audit and prepare the report. The Single Audit report not only contains information on how much your state receives in federal funding but also reports on how well your state is administering these funds.I am including a link to the Wisconsin Summary Single Audit for FY 2001-02 if you are interested. http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lab/reports/03-5highlights.pdf

[Paleo Conservative]

Hell, he hasn't changed a bit. He never won election to any office outside his congressional district in Michigan. I took the liberty of improving your comments.

Let me be more exact: In 1976 2003, Gerald Ford was is not in favor of tax cuts, was is pro-ERA, pro'choice' on abortion and was is, under the Nixon/Ford era, responsible for *adding* alot of domestic programs and spending, including EPA, affirmative action, Federal gun laws, and (gasp) wage and price controls!

[Willie Green]

The Republican party has changed since the 1960s ... it has moved RIGHT.
Let me be more exact: In 1976, Gerald Ford was...

And just HOW is Gerald Ford supposed to be representative of the GOP of the '60s and '70s?

The man was an accident: a compromise replacement for Spiro Agnew.

[demkicker]

I agree with you. Republicans have been in control of congress for too long to play "its all the democrats fault". IMO, there is a voter ground swell in this country about to pop over taxation, illegal immigration and basic common sense reform. I admire Bush for his efforts on the war on terror and some tax reform, but the republican party as a whole has become "democrat lite". That needs to change BIG TIME.

P.S. Why all the spaces at the end of your post? It's rather annoying.