Now that GOP controls Congress, hold onto your wallet, Libertarians say

lp.org ^ | 11/7/2002 | lp.org staff

[winner45]

November 7, 2002

Now that GOP controls Congress, hold onto your wallet, Libertarians say

WASHINGTON, DC -- Now that Republicans control both houses of Congress and the presidency, Americans should brace themselves for an era of skyrocketing federal spending and ballooning budget deficits, Libertarians say.

“Our prediction is that with a GOP Congress egging him on, George Bush is going to make Bill Clinton look like a fiscal conservative,” said George Getz, Libertarian Party communications director.

“Even when Republicans controlled only one house of Congress, Bush managed to sign the first $2 trillion-plus federal budget, throw more money at Clinton-era programs and propel the deficit toward outer space. With complete congressional control, expect Bush to go on an absolute spending rampage.”

As GOP officials celebrate their resounding victory in Tuesday’s elections, in which Republicans expanded their House majority and reclaimed control of the Senate, the White House is reportedly planning to “roll out an ambitious legislative agenda.”

Unfortunately for taxpayers, Libertarians say, that agenda won’t include a reduction in government.

“Bush’s $2 trillion budget is already scheduled to expand by 6 percent this year,” Getz said. “Moreover, social welfare programs under Bush have grown by $96 billion in just two years, versus $51 billion under six years of Clinton, according to economist Stephen Moore of the Club for Growth.

“Bush’s budget also includes a number of Clinton-era programs, such as Americorps and the ‘Gore tax’ on telephone service – not to mention more money for socialized medicine, government-run schools and farm welfare.”

Now that Bush has more members of his own party in Congress, Americans should expect the spending binge to continue, Getz said.

“Since no newly elected Republicans have pledged to eliminate any Bush programs, it’s clear that two more years of George Bush equals two more years of bloated federal spending,” he said.

Another predictable result of a Republican-controlled Congress, Libertarians say: higher budget deficits.

According to figures from the Office of Management and Budget, Bush is now running a $106 billion deficit, Getz pointed out.

“Since every government program has to be paid for somehow, the president has simply chosen deficit spending over outright tax increases,” he said. “In either case, taxpayers get stuck with the bill.”

That’s why the only thing that happened on Tuesday is that a few tax-and-spend Democrats were replaced by borrow-and-spend Republicans.

“Now that Republicans have won control over the federal government,” Getz said, “it’s time for Americans to start scrambling to regain control over their own wallets.”

[sneakypete]

You throw your vote away every two years to your latest loser and then crow about how noble you are.

Not anymore I don't. The last time I threw my vote away for a loser was two years ago,and that loser was Jorge "Ah juz LOVE illegal aliens" Bush. You know,Bubba-2.

How's THAT for some truth,Buckwheat?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Of course this what Conservatives want. That's why they complain about Libertarians.

The 2001 Republican controlled Congress gave the Conservatives their highly desired Farm Subsidies and an expansion of the Department of Education.

[bray]

There are plenty of your loving Dems who wished you would have wisely used your vote for some Losertarian candidate in Floridah. Obviously most Liberaltars belong to Mensa and smoke pot. Admit it that Libs will NEVER be a serious Party.

Pray for GW and the Truth

[sneakypete]

Obviously most Liberaltars belong to Mensa and smoke pot.

You sound jealous. I'm wondering if it's safe to tell you they get laid a lot,too?

Admit it that Libs will NEVER be a serious Party.

You seem to think this is a big secret. Most of the "purist BIG L" Libertarians are anarchists at heart,and there is and never will be any such thing as a anarchist country.Somebody WILL step forward and take charge.

BTW,while it is not MY job to educate you,"Liberals/Libs" are what George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were. The word you are looking for is "statists". This includes the party people from both parties who want the gooberment to control our lives. This includes your boy,Jorge.

Hey,I think I'll tag him with another nickname. "Boy Jorge" sounds good! Thanks for the inspiration!

[ShayAllen]

Interesting...just took that little libertarian quiz. Question: Libertarians believe all foreign aid should be privately funded. To me, that seems like a recipe for suicide. If the government has no power to provide aid for strategic partners, while the communist and fascist governments certainly do (for obvious reasons, i.e., the people have no say whatsoever), coupled with an "I'm not going to meddle in world affairs" attitude, your country would be swiftly overrun by any axis that put you in it's sights. Any comments on this?

[antidisestablishment]

Good points. Bump for later reading...

[USA21]

GOP takes on trade dispute (Will the GOP vote for more higher taxes?)

[CaptIsaacDavis]

Thanks. The Federal Reserve's role in the economy and Congressional roles are one matter. My primary objective was to get folks to realize that when Buchanan and radical Left strategists on the Dem side, who talk openly (in print) of using immigration, abortion, etc. to marginalize American conservative populations in a democratic system -- they are thinking LONG-TERM (with the Left looking to win the war with a permanent electoral lock on the Federal government starting in 2008-2012). Republican leaders today seem deliberately to ignore their own party's future. The punch line is perhaps how little is spent by the RP organizing on campuses, while the broad Left concentrates huge resources on those audiences (foundation after left-wing foundation subsidies "Peace and Justice Studies Programs," for example). And yet the RP and conservative foundations out-scale DEM and other left-wing parties/foundations combined every year.

Effective Party strategy is about concentrating resources and picking the right battles (policy issues). While the Republicans were riding the post-1960s conservative wave through the 1994 Republican revolution (before the immigration tidal wave overwhelmed that secular trend), they could afford to be short-sighted. Today, we are at a historical turning point in our Republic -- the GOP is at its peak thanks to the Iraq war issue (after fumbling the ball in 1996-1998), and had better start thinking/acting longer-term or we are all going to suffer in the next 2 decades. The tumble from that summit could be steep and dangerous, if they are not careful. And yet it is precisely when they reach the summit that they SHOULD look out far into the future.

[dcwusmc]

I give it 6-8 months under the pubbies and you'll need your barfbag when you see what they do to you, to the budget and to the Constitution. No jealousy here. Why would I be jealous of a pubbie? You are no better than the RATS when it comes to growing gooberment. I WANT LESS gooberment, MUCH lower taxes and a new-found respect for the COnstitution and Bill of Rights. Neither half of the statist party is likely to do any of that. So let's see what YOUR tune will be in 6-8 months...

[Moby Grape]

Once again, a Libertarian makes over-the-top predictions and assumptions. (You sound just like liberals and the Hollywood left). I have a predictins too. In six months, the Libertarians will hold just as much power in Congress as they do now.

[dcwusmc]

Except for calling me a Libertarian, you're right for the first time in your life... and they won't be the ones who are opening up our wallets. Nor will they be wiping their a$$es with the Constitution. Your pubbie half of the ruling party will. You can just about bet the ranch on it.

[Dane]

Obviously most Liberaltars belong to Mensa and smoke pot.

LOL! They do have the same fondness for hubris that Hillary has, IMO.

[Moby Grape]

The "pubbie" stuff is evidence, that I have put forth here before, that the LP spend most of their ARROGANT time calling others names...there is a REASON that a phone booth is big enough for their conventions.....never mind, it is a reason thing, you won't understand. (I just read a great article about all the hysterical warnings from the left, Hollywood, NOW, Gore Vidal, and the like, predicting the end of life as we know it because REPBULICANS WON...(I thought I was reading an LP press release)..Oh MY GOD, they might pass TAX CUTS....(that's funny, I thought tax cuts PUT money in my wallet)....but the LP say it will TAKE money from my wallet....must be that LP math....

[Moby Grape]

"Statist"..."Pubbies"...there is ONLY one thing your LP folk are good at (it isn't getting elected)...CALLING NAMES....Do you guys ever sit in your phone booth conventions and YELL out "Statist!!!!" and "Pubbies", then listen for the echoes?

[adx]

Study after study has talked about the circumstances that Xers and Ys face, but it just hasn't dawned on elderly Republican leaders that they ARE THE FUTURE, AND ARE STRUGGLING TO SET THE STAGE FOR BATTLES IN 2020-2060

You're making an assumption that there will be a United States in that timeframe.

[bray]

Claiming to be allied with George Washington and the founding fathers is self serving pap. If LPs were really honest they would admit that they fit between Rinos and DemonRats. I have far more respect for non-voters than LPs. At least they are honest about throwing their votes away. You folks would have been against Ronald Reagan just as you are against GW. Name one LP that has done anything for this country's freedom??

Pray for GW and the Truth