AWOL in the big government fight?

The Washington Times ^ | Sepember 30, 2003 | Steve Chapman

[TBP]

A long time ago, by which I mean the year 2000, conservatives didn't want to expand the size and reach of government. Today, it's plain their sentiments have changed. They still don't want Democrats to expand the size and reach of government. But when Republicans do it

[TBP]

I'm not a libertarian, as Chapman is, but I agree with the substance of this column. I have been very distressed by the preemptive surrender by so many of my fellow conservatives, as long as it's a Republican who is implementing whatever the policy is. When will we stand up for the principle of Constitutionally limited government?

[tahiti]

"Not only is the government getting bigger, it's doing more. According to an annual report from the Cato Institute, federal regulators are working like beavers to control what we do. In 2002, new regulations filled a record 75,606 pages — up 24 percent from the total in 1993."

Only when we citizens demand that our legislators honor the promise of Amendment V (...nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation) and tie a corresponding tax to regulations that will create the funds necessary to compensate private property owners for the cost of implementing those regulations, will the writing and attempt to implement new regulations diminish.

No legislator in their right mind will propose a law and subsequent implementation of the require regulations that also will need a corresponding tax.

For those statist Freepers, who will ask the question, "what property is being taken?" here is the response to that question:

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

No. 98—963

JEREMIAH W. (JAY) NIXON, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI, et al., PETITIONERS v. SHRINK MISSOURI GOVERNMENT PAC et al.

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT [January 24, 2000]

Justice Stevens, concurring,

"...I make one simple point. Money is property;"

[q_an_a]

The numbers are proof that figures don't lie but liars figure. Take the growth in fed employment for example. There are 600,000 more people in goverment than in 99. Subtract from that number 55,000 airport screeners and a number of homeland security jobs and that number is 2% growth a year.

Another statement was republicans in control of congress, but mr chapman forgets the two years at the beginning of the bush administration that was ruled by the jeffords move that cost republicans control.

When republicans tried to take 2% our of this budget by doing a waste survey the world went crazy. President Bush offered a 1.5% pay increase and congress bumped it to 4%.

Chapman leaves too many simple details on the floor and forgets to tell the whole truth.

[gcruse]

Chapman leaves too many simple details on the floor and forgets to tell the whole truth.

Denial.  It's what's for Republican breakfast.

[TBP]

Even a 2 percent increase is too much. We need to cut the size, scope, cost, and intrusiveness of government, not just increase it more slowly.

Big Government isn't excusable just because those implementing it have Rs after their names.