[GodBlessUSA]

I didn't mean to imply that Conservatives complained about the defense budget at all. I just meant it contributes to the percentage the budget will go up.

I agree, I’m concerned also with the medicare situation. However, I don't pretend to know the entire bill and until I research it thoroughly, I can't make a complete assessment. It was only a matter of time that something was done with medicare and drugs. I just wonder if it's better for a republican to have done something rather than have the liberals have their hand at it. Again, I have to read more on the topic.

[meenie]

The administration does prepare a proposed budget and submits it to Congress. The administration with the "me too" Congress is responsible for the excessive spending. There is no doubt that spending has increased greatly in the Bush years over the Clinton years.

The Clinton years saw a divided government that provided a check on any unreasonable increase in spending. The problem arises in our government system that has the three different branches of government. When two branches of the government unite, we lose our check and balance system.

The results can be seen in the first term of the Bush administration. During the first two years, when the Demos held the Senate under their thumb, we all griped about the obstruction. It held a certain amount of restraint on the Executive branch. Usually no legislation is better than legislation.

The setup of total control since the Democrats lost their majority has been a disaster. It is not that the Democrats have become more frugal, which they haven't, but that divided government has failed to function. This is the reason that I cannot get too excited about a decisive majority in the executive and legislative branches.