Posted on 11/08/2002 5:55:01 PM PST by 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.”
No thanks. We saw your shabby political product sitting on the shelf and decided to walk away from it.
They won no significant offices, managed to get some Democrats elected in their spoiler role, and got kicked off the Texas ballot for the 2004 elections.
Oh, and the three big drug legalization initiatives went down in flames.
The Democrats got their asses kicked. The Libertarians continue to sink into insignificance.
True enough. I think it is safe to say, though, that the government will get larger and cost more, regardless of the Republican victory.
Which is too bad, IMO. I would be very happy to be proven wrong about that.
"99 cent" store still have crystal balls for,yes,- 99 cents.
You can do better than that.
Bush managed to sign the first $2 trillion-plus federal budget, throw more money at Clinton-era programs...
Social welfare programs under Bush have grown by $96 billion in just two years, versus $51 billion under six years of Clinton...
Bush is now running a $106 billion deficit...
Is this what "conservatives" want?
Hank
No thanks. We saw your shabby political product sitting on the shelf and decided to walk away from it.
That was a foolish thing to do.
SOP
They'll miss that free and undeserved ballot access.
Painting with the broad brush, eh? The LP offer a solution to budget/government growth problem.
http://www.lp.org/issues/cut-taxes.html
The Libertarian Party: Working to slash your taxes! The Libertarian Party is working every day to cut your taxes. By contrast, professional politicians from the other parties just want more of your money, and are busy increasing the size of government.
In the last few decades, the federal government has exploded in size. No area of your life or business is free from the meddling of politicians -- especially your wallet.
It doesn't have to be that way. With less government and lower taxes, you could keep more of what you earn. It would be easier to start new businesses, build new homes, and fuel stronger economic growth.
Just Defend Our Rights
Libertarians believe that if government's role were limited to protecting our lives, rights and property, then America would prosper and thrive as never before. Then the federal government could concentrate on protecting our Constitutional rights and defending us from foreign attack. A federal government that did only those two things, could do them better and at a small fraction of the cost.
How Can We Cut Taxes?
Instead of tending to the basics, government has grown into a bloated conglomerate of political services that gets larger every year -- with no end in sight.
For example, politicians spend millions of dollars to urge people not to smoke -- while spending more millions to subsidize tobacco farmers. They send billions overseas for foreign aid -- while the federal deficit swells. They spend millions to subsidize public art -- while working families struggle to pay their taxes.
Politicians also run trains, bail out savings and loans, construct houses, sell insurance, print books, and build basketball courts -- you name it! But the fact is, every service supplied by the government can be provided better and cheaper by private business.
Privatize And Cut Taxes
All over the world, governments are busy selling airlines, power plants, housing, and factories to private owners. Where inefficient government bureaucrats lost money and squandered tax dollars, hard-working private owners now make profits and create new jobs. Why can't we do the same thing in America?
Defend America: Cut Taxes
Military expenses are over $250 billion a year! A large percentage of this is spent overseas to defend wealthy countries like Germany and Japan -- who then wallop us in international trade. Let's take them off military welfare. We can defend America better and save at least $100 billion a year in taxes.
Stop Bailing Out Industry
No one has the right to cover his losses at taxpayer expense -- and yet wealthy corporations demand exactly that. The federal government has bailed out railroads, banks, and other corporations with your tax dollars. This must stop!
Replace Welfare: Cut Taxes
The bulk of your welfare tax dollars goes to pay the handsome salaries of well-educated welfare workers. The poor get little from government welfare except meager handouts and a cycle of despair. Let's get government out of the charity business. Private charities and groups do a better and more efficient job of helping the truly needy get back on their feet.
Why An Income Tax?
Before 1913, federal income taxes were rare and short-lived. America became the most prosperous nation on earth. The U.S. Government did not try to police the world or play "nanny" to everyone from cradle to grave. People took responsibility for themselves, their families, and their communities. That is how the founders of America thought it should be. And it worked. It can again!
Wave their magic wand?
If the pubbies really do us right, then I'll rejoin them. Otherwise I'll work with the Libertarians.
Their pixie dust seems to have lost its magick. Calling Mr. Spittle Copeland, or the Blue Smurfman!
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