Big Government Is Not a Goal, It Is a Tactic -- And Now It Is a Republican Tactic

Human Events Online ^ | September 16, 2005 | Mac Johnson

[hinterlander]

I used to believe that the Democrats sought to expand government because of a philosophical affinity for socialism and social spending. Tonight, after watching the President’s Grand Central Plan for the Redevelopment of the Gulf Coast, I realized that the old collectivist philosophies were just excuses for justifying and celebrating what they wanted to do anyway: take credit through taking control. The real motivation to spend was simply that they were the party in power and could therefore take credit for the spending. Every dollar spent ingratiated voters and advertised the party.

Likewise, the party out of power is outflanked and out-bribed by government spending, since the opposing party will receive credit for it. So they have a natural affinity for fiscal restraint and “caution.”

One of the more remarkable and transparent events of the last few years has been watching Democrats caution America about Government spending. One of the more depressing events I have ever witnessed is the growth of spending under George W. Bush. Government has grown faster under Bush than it ever did under Clinton. Republicans write the budget and it is huge. There is no bridge too useless, no road too isolated, no constituency too self-interested not be funded at an increased rate in every budget.

Republicans once fought . . .

[don-o]

One of the more depressing events I have ever witnessed is the growth of spending under George W. Bush

I posted like that on the speech live thread, and got pretty beat up for my trouble.

[LearnsFromMistakes]

Originally I was going to give W a break on spending - having to rebuild the military after the Clinton years. Republicans always have some work to do after a dem admin. But the spending starting to worry me.

And why do people think more money will solve this issue? Government does few things well. There were break downs at every level, so we need to feed these monsters? I don't think so...

[raybbr]

One of the more depressing events I have ever witnessed is the growth of spending under George W. Bush. Government has grown faster under Bush than it ever did under Clinton. Republicans write the budget and it is huge.

Wait till the bots come out and tell us that "It's all about the war on terror" and Bush is no worse than Clinton on spending.

[raybbr]

I am totally disgusted with our President’s “plan” for the Gulf Coast. Here’s a different plan: quit planning. Let people live according to what is efficient and naturally rewarding. Quit subsidizing life in a hole by the sea. Quit deciding what zones will be enterprising. Quit deciding what color of entrepreneurs should be successful. Quit being the new party of Big Government.

Be a damn Conservative or watch your supporters leave you standing alone at the ballot box.

[hubbubhubbub]

Sadly, far too many Americans think that government is the answer and they vote. Bush and Rove have figured that out. We will never be a constitutional republic again.

[Ron in Acreage]

Boston has been plagued by the "Big Dig" debacle, which ran billions over budget. We are now going to be stuck with the "Big Drain". It will also be as corrupt and over budget as anything we've ever seen. I'm hoping Bushs speech was just that. A speech. Where are all the insurance dollars?

[tacticalogic]

Big government became a tactic, rather than a goal because we let "regulating commerce among the several states" and "providing for the general welfare" become tactics, rather than objectives.

[stopem]

You won't get beat up by me....I agree And so do the majority of FISCAL CONSERVATIVES! We are NOT alone.

Just Google overspending and Katrina, there are tons of good articles to confirm the entire Republican party have not yet lost their conservative minds.

Oh and these warm and fuzzy, feel good threads here about the evacuees screaming, thank you thank you, what did they expect? The evacuees to say oh no President Bush we don't want all those nice new FREE homes, all that money and never having to worry a day in our lives because we now have the "goose that laid the golden egg".

Spend, spend, spend, where is the money coming from? Bush is the most generous Republican President in all the years I have been alive. Generous with taxpayers money and the bill that will never end for generations to come. How many generations will have to pay for all this spending besides ours?

[cynicom]

Anyone with brains at the time of the Bush-Kennedy education bill would have seen the spending future by Bush.

There are pubs here by the score that will denounce anyone that calls Bush a big government, big spender president.

Their argument is that the national debt is totally manageable and means nothing to the financial well being of the country.

[tanknetter]

At the moment there are more important things, and greater evils, to worry about than the growth of government.

Ronald Reagan certainly understood this. He used "big government" as a tactic ... horsetrading social programs with Democrats to win the political support and military spending necessary to drive the Soviet Union into bankruptcy.

[pageonetoo]

I posted like that on the speech live thread, and got pretty beat up for my trouble.

There must be a lot of FReepers that don't have to pay taxes! W makes me think Hillary might be more fiscally conservative!

[verity]

"I posted like that on the speech live thread, and got pretty beat up for my trouble."

Why does that surprise you? The President's speech was not intended to mollify your concerns.

[G.Mason]

"I am totally disgusted with our President’s “plan” for the Gulf Coast. Here’s a different plan: quit planning. Let people live according to what is efficient and naturally rewarding. Quit subsidizing life in a hole by the sea. Quit deciding what zones will be enterprising. Quit deciding what color of entrepreneurs should be successful. Quit being the new party of Big Government."

I echo this sentiment.

"Responding to charges that help would have been sent more quickly if most victims had not been poor and black, Bush noted that the persistent poverty, rooted deep in the Gulf region, was broadcast for all Americans to see."

"That poverty has roots in a history of racial discrimination, which cut off generations from the opportunity of America," Bush said. "We have a duty to confront this poverty with bold action." ... President Bush, September 15, 2005.

Lyndon Johnson and the failed policies of the Demacratic Party are alive and well. His new identity is George W. Bush and the impotent Republican Party.

Welcome all ye rabble of the world. Our borders and coffers are open to you.

You see, everything is free in Amerika, unless, of course, you are taxpayer.

[kjam22]

Where are all the insurance dollars?

I'd say there aren't a lot of insurance dollars. You can't buy flood insurance in a flood zone. At the very least the government should in the future charge people who live there some sort of insurance premium. If they are going to play the part of an insurance company they should at least collect premiums.

[David Isaac]

"The Republican Party is on the verge of collapse at the moment of its greatest power. Conservatives, more than I have ever seen in my life, are considering just walking away out of disgust. Bush has sold out his faithful to try and buy the votes of his enemies. He will end up with the support of neither."


Why does the name Bush give me a feeling of deja vu (92)?

Our utter defeat comes about when there is feeling that we can do nothing, when we are screwed if we do and screwed if we don't.

There is no Republican-Democrat dichotomy. There is liberal vs. conservative and right now conservatives are taking a severe thrashing.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Just ask those people in those threads why they hate their children and grandchildren so much that they would allow Bush and the GOP to burden them with high income taxes.

[don-o]

The President's speech was not intended to mollify your concerns.

Silly me. Thanks for the reminder.

[pageonetoo]

At the moment there are more important things, and greater evils, to worry about than the growth of government.

You say that like you know little about history! The Soviets are bankrupt, and W is pushing us more toward it!

I feel sorry for the victims of the storm. I have donated to their care. It is not my fault they chose to live there. It is not my fault if they choose to rebuild there. But, for the Fedrool Gum't to just lay all the bills on me, and my grandchildren, is immoral, AND not a conservative thing to do.

Compassion is one thing the church is supposed to share. Gum't is supposed to build the roads, guard the borders, and tax imports to pay for it all. Boy, have they changed that idea!

[G.Mason]

"At the moment there are more important things, and greater evils, to worry about than the growth of government.

Ronald Reagan certainly understood this. He used "big government" as a tactic ... horsetrading social programs with Democrats to win the political support and military spending necessary to drive the Soviet Union into bankruptcy."

Oh ... I get it. And President Bush? Is he "horsetrading" with the Democrats to bankrupt the United States?