THE ECONOMICS OF JOHN FORBES KERRY --Santa Claus Is Coming To Town!

ICONOCLAST ^ | by R. Bastiat

[Apolitical]

With both major party platforms calling for expanded federal spending over the next decade, 2004 is clearly not a happy election year for advocates of limited government. In fact, the question has arisen whether there is any reasonable basis at all upon which to choose between the two presidential candidates on the spending issue. Superficial appearances to the contrary, the answer is most certainly "Yes."

To the casual observer, the choice might appear to be a tossup. Even among his most ardent supporters, George W. Bush has gained the unfortunate reputation as a major-league spendthrift during his years in the White House. Not only has he failed so far to veto even a single appropriations bill sent to his desk by a profligate Congress, but he has pushed hard for his own expensive programs in such areas as health care and education -- increasing discretionary federal spending by some 35% over the past three years.

Relative to John F. Kerry, however, President Bush is a minor-league piker. The Massachusetts senator's spending plans are so immense and far-reaching that even Bush's bloated programs appear quite modest in comparison.............

[Apolitical]

Not only would the election of John Kerry be a disaster for America in area of national security and the fight against terrorism, it would be an economic disaster too!

[hermgem]

National Debt.
While having a so called surplus, which included Social Security payments which should have been saved separately, numerous political interest groups lined up at the public trough.
One item in particular, for which we have recently been spared the drumbeat of media attention is:
Reparations for slavery.
The deficit squelched most of these requests.
Besides, such payments would have had to be made by one group to another group quite obviously without much of a qualifying justification. A serious splitting up of interest groups would have resulted.
The other reason besides the deficit:
With the U.S. paying nearly double as much on Aids help to various agencies the U.S. is the foremost helper to the underdeveloped world, primarily Africa.
This aid directly and immediately flows to the urgently needy to improve a otherwise hopeless lot.
U.S. taxpayer support thereby flows to the really unfortunates.

[WestTexasWend]

Under that Santa suit there's a Grinch.