The State Of The Union Or The State Of Big Government?

Toogood Reports ^ | January 28, 2003 | Chuck Baldwin

[Stand Watch Listen]

As we approach another State of the Union speech, we need to remind ourselves that before becoming President of the United States, G. W. Bush declared, "Big government is not the answer." However, since taking the oath of office, the growth of the federal government has exploded in ways never seen before.

A recent article in the Houston Chronicle stated:

"Now, just past the midway point of his first term in office, Bush is presiding over the largest, most expensive-and, some would say, most intrusive-federal government in history."

During last year alone, federal spending skyrocketed 14 percent. During the past five years, it jumped a whopping 45 percent! Shortly after delivering his State of The Union speech, Bush will submit an unprecedented $2.1 trillion budget to Congress.

Add to staggering budget numbers proliferating police powers and Bush's record becomes even more ominous. One would have to go back to Hitler's Nazi Germany to find a modern day parallel to such massive growth in federal police power.

The magnitude of the federal government is also seen in the never-ending waves of alphabet agencies that constantly crash upon the shores of the nation. APHIS, BIA, CIAO, CPSC, DOD, DOE, DOJ, EAO, EEOC, FEC, FLETC, GPO, GSA, HHS, IMP, NDPO, NEA, NHTSA, NIH, NIPC, NOAA, ODP, OEP, OPM, PBGC, SBA, NCS, NIPC, FBI, CIOS, DHS, INS, FEMA, ATF, DEA to name but a few. Furthermore, the Supreme Court and the White House have become governments unto themselves with virtually no accountability.

The one body of government designed by the Founding Fathers to possess the most power and influence is Congress. It is, after all, supposed to be the one branch of government that directly represents the people. However, for all practical purposes, Congress need not exist! A compelling argument could even be made that America is no longer governed by representative government at all but by presidential and judicial fiat.

If the State of the Union is judged by how big and intrusive the federal government has become, all is well. However, if the criteria of judgment is how much freedom remains, it is a bleak picture indeed.

Therefore, it would appear that the State of the Union speech would be more accurately called The State of Big Government Address, as the annual message has become little more than an outline of increased government expansion and cost.

[verity]

Stand Watch Listen and Upchuck :~)

[Huck]

A compelling argument could even be made that America is no longer governed by representative government at all but by presidential and judicial fiat.

Tell that to Charles Pickering. This article is a lot of exaggeration.

[11B3]

Typical leftist bull. Name, for instance any 'rights' that have been taken away by this administration. Have we seen any Wacos or Ruby Ridges from this administration? The author evidently liked the way things were under Clinton - when America was the enemy of the government. Remember the War on Drugs? Don't hear much about that anymore - that's where the gov't was INTRUSIVE. This author should STFU.

[A2J]

"Now, just past the midway point of his first term in office, Bush is presiding over the largest, most expensive-and, some would say, most intrusive-federal government in history."

Which proves that the difference between Republicans and Democrats has become little more than taxes.

[Huck]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/831007/posts

[freeper12]

>>Typical leftist bull.

Boy, some of you guys need to wakeup. This is a pretty factual article, and it is all being done by a republican congress and a republican president...whom ran on the platform of smaller government. I guess now that its a matter of "national security", none of that matters anymore.

Don't root for your "team" so much that you forget what your team is supposed to stand for.

[Austin Willard Wright]

War is the health of the state.

[freeper12]

>>Which proves that the difference between Republicans and Democrats has become little more than taxes.


Yea, as far as I can tell, democrats want bigger government, and they want the "rich" to pay for it...republicans want bigger government, and they say nobody has to pay for it....we will just borrow ourselves into prosperity.

[Moonman62]

As we approach another State of the Union speech, we need to remind ourselves that before becoming President of the United States, G. W. Bush declared, "Big government is not the answer." However, since taking the oath of office, the growth of the federal government has exploded in ways never seen before.

Didn't the government of Texas expand mightily while he was governor?

[panaxanax]

So, what did the article say that isn't true?

[Uncle Bill]

Great article. Thanks.

[Grut]

Name, for instance any 'rights' that have been taken away by this administration.

Habeus Corpus, the right to trial by jury, the right to legal counsel, the right to see a search warrant at the time it is executed....

This author should STFU.

The right of free speech....

[panaxanax]

The first and fourth ammendment. The right to keep medical records private etc. etc. etc.

Homeland Defense IS Waco and Ruby Ridge X 280,000,000.

Wake up America, your freedoms will be ALL gone once they have completely shredded the Constitution (to protect us from terrorist).

........and the borders remain open.

[Dead Corpse]

Things aren't bad now with at least somewhat "moral" people elected to government. Now imagine the bovine squeeling around FR if Hitlery should attain the White House and take the reigns of power Bush has forged for himself.

[roses of sharon]

Don't kill your team's coach, unless your able to replace him with someone better.

[TLBSHOW]

Look what lots of money buys....

Reports suggest the level of integrity within the nation's education system continues to plummet -- and the problem is not just students.

A new study of college freshman indicates high-school grade inflation is not subsiding. The High Education Research Institute at the University of California shows more than 45% of freshmen said they graduated with an "A" average, up 1% from last year.

Researcher Alexander Astin blames pressure on teachers to help students become more competitive for college. But the bottom line is those teachers are lying about the qualifications of their students.

As possible proof of that, the study also says college freshmen arrived at school this year with the worst study habits professors have seen in 15 years.


http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/afa/272003a.asp

[panaxanax]

I shudder at the thought.

[RonPaulLives]

Typical leftist bull.

Toogood Reports is anything BUT leftist. This website, at this moment, features books by G.Gordon Liddy, Michelle Malkin and Bill Gertz. Yeah, pretty leftist

[freeper12]

>>take the reigns of power Bush has forged for himself

Bingo...thats what we need to get thru a few more heads...this immense power grab by the federal government, all in the name of national security, is eventually, wether we like it or not, going to be power that is passed onto to another democrat administration.

Just because we like Bush, and believe he has decent morals, we are not given the powers to *him*. They powers are being given to the government and the government is not going to give them back easily.

Just wait until the democrats control the house/senate/president again and decide that in the interest of national security, abortion protestors will be prosecuted as terrorists, or that in the interest of national security we need you all to turn in your guns...in the interest of national security, we need you to start carrying your "papers" with you whenever you leave home....in the interest of national security we need 65% of your paycheck...in the interest of national security you must submit to random searches of your property...far fetched? Not really...its all in the interest of national security.