The year before the year reality sets in (George Will)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 31 December 2003 | George Will

[Lando Lincoln]

It is the year before the year in which Democrats probably will have one of their agonizing reappraisals. And it is the year before the year in which Republicans, having come to terms with the fact that the welfare state is here to stay, will prove that they are, or are not, serious about governing it.

[Lando Lincoln]

Lando

[neverdem]

BTTT, Happy New Year

[Ronin]

OK. Someone please explain to me WHY Bush signed the Prescription Drug thing. I mean, let's be realistic here. Was it just to take an issue off the table that the Democrats would use against him?

I would really like to know what other FReepers think.

[Gunslingr3]

OK. Someone please explain to me WHY Bush signed the Prescription Drug thing. I mean, let's be realistic here. Was it just to take an issue off the table that the Democrats would use against him?

Because 'compassionate conservative' means you like to give away other people's money?

[arthurus]

Bush is not a conservative. He is a Practical Politician. He is also ignorant of economics which is illustrated by his hiring of the heretofore discredited Keynesians to be his economic advisors. The prescription drug showboat was at least partly a result of the Keynsian belief that government spending is the route to economic recovery.

[DefCon]

"...Every president seeking a second term wants to have at his back the wind from three things -- a strong foreign policy, a strong economy and a weak opponent. The new year dawns with Democrats apparently determined to complete the wish-list trifecta..."

[JimSEA]

There is so much that can and has been said on this subject. I am convinced that we are responsible for the government we get. However, a sense of entitlement lies deep within all of us.

1. Medical care in this country is execessively expensive. We demamd the best of care -- damn the cost. If we don't get the results we want, we (or our survivors) sue or demand the government do something about it. Doctors protect themselves, shielding themselves from personal responsibility as well as from outrageous lawsuits. The insurers demand that second opinions and CYA tests be done and on it goes.

Did it occure to anyone that we need adequate medical care and a code of ethics for both the providor and the patient. The cost of medicine is insane for many reasons. However, until these and other problems are addressed both by government and the people, we will continue in the welfare state rut.

2. It is about time that people and their employers provided for retirement. The savings rate and investment rate is so low as to be pathetic. It can be done. I am a hard rock miner who retired at age 58. I started an investment program with American Funds ICA in 1969 and diversified as the years went by. I paid things off and we have not felt it necessary to buy for sport. What it takes is self discipline not any great intelligence.

3. It is just too hard and expensive in this country to start any sort of business. Check out the expense and permitting jungle that it takes to open a "hole in the wall" restaurant. How many small clothing retailers do you see? How come there are not as many roadside procduce stands as there used to be? Can you say "regulatory nightmare". Overseas, these three retail ventures are the route for most of the poor who manage to pull themselves up. Here we have drug dealing.

We can't blame government for doing what we want them to do. Already, the politicos are mounting a charge in the name of "Mad Cow" which, I am sure based on experience, will result in excessive regulations and added cost.

[RWR8189]

I will agree with you that Bush is hardly a conservative in the model of Reagan, at least on many issues in the domestic front, and seeing so many neo-Keynesians in places of power is quite troubling.

But I don't think Bush signed the medicare bill as a means of enacting fiscal policy.

Most of the things in the bill don't even come into play for a few years. Not exactly an efficient way use to fiscal policy to stimulate the economy.

[neverdem]

I would really like to know what other FReepers think.

He committed issue theft and kept a promise, IIRC.

[Libertina]

"Signing the presecription drug thing?"
I'm still trying to figure out his signing of "Election Reform" taking away our first amendment rights...

[drhogan]

bush is to conservativism what clinton was to "new democrat"ism: an opportunist who places re-election above everything. whatever will get votes is the policy to follow with these guys. they wouldn't recognize a principle if it hit them on the head.
however, it still makes sense to vote for bush because the alternative would be far worse.

[Joe_October]

I replied this before:

Posted by Joe_October to Luis Gonzalez
On News/Activism ^ 12/31/2003 12:16:58 PM PST #232 of 261 ^

(1) Bush promised to put in a prescription drug benefit in his campaign. We voted him in and therefore for the change in policy.

(2) The bill included Medicare reform that would not have been possible without trade off to the party of traitors (sorry until we conservatives vote them out, we have to deal with them.)

(3) The bill requires Seniors to pay to participate. The amount they pay is about the amount of the average pay out. The Left has complained about the "donut" so in reality, the cost of the benefit will essentially be neutral. Until you have to pay for your benefit, you won't economize.

(4) The Traitorous Left (which we have to deal with) would propose a plan which costs nothing, gives you everything and makes you taller, hairier, wealthier, and trimmer. It would only require the most minor of sacrifices that we tax those awful rich people just the tiniest fraction more.

(5) 70% increase in the department of education. That can't be correct. What sort of tortured statistic is that?

(6) 7 Trillion, 700 trillion. No one knows and to throw out big numbers with no meaning is irrelevant. The cruel, heartless, ruthless efficient party (tm) did not win. Until they do, we are a kinder, gentler people who don't want your parents and grandparents to suffer and we are willing to spend some of our bounty on it. It's called reality. Why is that so difficult?

This bill is not the beginning or end of socialism in the US. Good people need this benefit because of bad policies in the past.

Until conservatives can control the government (and 51% is not control), no real change can occur. If you don't have the patience to make it happen, it will never happen.

[July 4th]

the use of private retirement accounts to give Americans of modest means access to serious accumulation over a lifetime.

As someone who is about to enter the workforce for the first time as a full-time professional, this is perhaps the most important policy change that needs to happen for me. I have at least 30-35 years of earning to get under my belt, and it would be nice to not piss away my paycheck to a system that will use my cash as toilet paper for the next 50 years.

[Libertina]

I respect and like President Bush on many things...but can't agree with him on all. That should come as no surprise, but some are pretty "big" issues. To be honest, he would do better (be held to the fire) if more of our Republican officials were conservatives, as well as Rs. They have a lot of culpability as well.

[DCPatriot]

Your opinion on Bush signing the prescription drug "thing" in reply #3 sounds valid to me. Cheers!

[rmmcdaniell]

The baby boom generation is twice as large as the generation it follows and 50 percent larger than the one that is following it. By 2030 the nation's population will be older than Florida's is today. Unless there are politically difficult changes, such as raising the retirement age, there will be twice as many retirees as there are today.

The odds are the only "difficult change" will be higher taxes.

[SierraWasp]

"Already, the politicos are mounting a charge in the name of "Mad Cow" which, I am sure based on experience, will result in excessive regulations and added cost."

You are absolutely correct and furthermore, wait till you see what Eliot Spitzer's madcap attack on Mutual Fund management will induce into your beloved American Funds ICA circa 1969 for the next hard rock miners that want to retire at 58!!!

The Great Society program called Medicare induced all the medical cost inflation in this nation by writing blank checks to Drs. and horsepitals. I've watched it up-close and personal for over 40 years of helping individuals and employers with health insurance both before and after Medicare.

[afuturegovernor]

Wow, this thread has been (so far) a rational dicussion of issues. Not excessive Bushbashing or Bushbotting.

[alrea]

Someone please explain to me WHY Bush signed the Prescription Drug thing

to make government compete in healthcare markets

[Luis Gonzalez]

"We can't blame government for doing what we want them to do."

Amen.