The Era of Super-Sized Government

Cato Institute ^ | June 2, 2005 | Stephen Slivinski

[rob777]

Once upon a time, Republicans pledged to eliminate entire Cabinet-level agencies. For instance, the House budget passed in the wake of the historic electoral victory of 1994 zeroed-out the departments of Education, Energy, and Commerce. More than 200 federal programs were set to be terminated.

Those were the good old days.

[rattrap]

"Party of small government" is laughable at best when referring to the GOP.

[rob777]

"Party of small government" is laughable at best when referring to the GOP.




Sad but true.

[Pessimist]

"Yet, when you strip away spending on defense, homeland security and entitlement programs and adjust the rest for inflation Bush still ranks as the biggest spending president in 30 years "

Amen. Let's face it. Bush sucks.

[pfony1]

You said:

"Once upon a time, Republicans pledged to eliminate entire Cabinet-level agencies...Those were the good old days."

Really?

Those were also the days when Republicans were the MINORITY party.

Saaaayyy....

Are you a DUmmy troll?

[Pessimist]

What good is being the majority party if it means you have to spend like a bunch of socialists to do it?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Oh, goody. Another basher thread.

[FOG724]

After looking at the budget record of President Bush and the Republican Congress, it seems the only choice voters have anymore is between two political parties that have only slightly different preferences over how big government should be.

They should have included Arnold in this. Sheesh.

[rob777]

Those were the days when the GOP really stood for something. They did a MUCH better job reigning in federal spending, even as a minority, than the current GOP is doing as a majority.

[mysterio]

Can't refute his points, so you call him a troll. Point out where the article is inaccurate, please.

[mysterio]

As long as the GOP continues to stand for bigger, more intrusive government, they have lost my vote. Not that I'll vote for dems, either.

[HHFi]

I was already about to finish high school when the Department of Education was created. For all the billions wasted on it since, I don't notice that today's students are noticeably smarter than I am. Quite the contrary, in fact.

Likewise, I was around before the Department of Energy, and I seem to recall that before they made everything better, gasoline cost 29 cents a gallon.

Remind me again of why these bloated bureaucracies are so vital to the national interest?

[Undertow]

The "good old days" haven't been around since Calvin Coolidge.

Every president since Hoover has inflated the government.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Despite the rhetoric of the president and Republicans in Congress, the actions of the GOP on the budget reflect a political party that is not at all serious about making government smaller.

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan: I didn't leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me.

My party obligation these days consists entirely of throwing Ken Mehlman's fund-raising junk mail in the trash. ;)

[Wolfie]

It may be huge, it may be Super-Sized, but since we control it, we like it!

[rob777]

Pointing out where we went astray is not bashing. We need to correct this trend before the 2008 campaign. Those who worked hard on the 1994 "Contract With America" campaign were expecting the finishing of the Reagan Revolution. (Reagan revived the economy and defeated communism, but left the downsizing of the federal government to his successors) Newt and his gang got of to a really good start, but the revolution fizzled and many were left frustrated. In the 2000 campaign, Bush ran as a "compassionate conservative" on a platform of expanding the Dept. of Education, among other programs. Gone was even the pretense that the GOP intended to finish the Reagan Revolution. It was seen at the time of a repudiation of the approach taken by the "Contract With America" Republicans. The 2008 campaign gives us the chance to re-chart a course toward smaller government. That WILL NOT happen if we remain complacent and satisfied with the current trend.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Are you a DUmmy troll?

Ah yes...any valid criticism of Bush for not reining in gov't spending, the obligatory reference to DU is made by the 'bots.

That makes me a DUmmy troll too. Plus I'm voting for Hillary next election. Can't wait.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[rob777]

It may be huge, it may be Super-Sized, but since we control it, we like it!




I have NO interest in controlling it, I want to radically downsize it. (Besides, the "we" does not include "me" if the growth of government continues as if the Dems were in charge)

[pfony1]

I think the first problem is that our Congressmen are politicians, first and Republicans, second. If we want more resposible Republicans in Congress, then WE have to be more active during the nomination process.

I agree that there was no need for our Congress to "pork up" the Highway Bill as if they were all Democrats.

However, once that bill was on his desk, it WAS necessary that President Bush sign it.