Government By Conservatives: What Went Wrong?
Gee, it only seems like a half century that we've been hearing about how great the government would work if Conservatives were in charge. Now, faced with their own disastrous results, the usual suspects are scrambling to invent an excuse. One Right Wing notion is that the Bush administration never really gave conservative ideals a chance. The rationale is that they couldn't have - otherwise things would have turned out great. But why would that happen? Why would they abandon their core beliefs when they had - at long last - seized all three branches of government? This was the golden opportunity when we were finally going to escape from the horrors of liberal rule, and yet, Conservatives have screwed things up like never before. Just ponder what happened to fiscal responsibility. Where's all the brilliant leadership after decades of criticizing everyone else for big spending? Clearly, the answer to what happened is more complex than that. In fact, it's time to ask a different question: Why can't Conservatives govern?
"Why Conservatives Can't Govern" by Alan Wolfe
posted by Bill McDonald @ 6:36 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
Right on. After all, EVERYONE remembers how much better our country was under Carter than under Reagan. I really miss those gas lines :)
How do you like what Reagan did for our national debt? The Reagan legacy is mostly spin. The Soviet Union was imploding economically before Reagan took office. I actually think the Right Wing is soft on Communism because they believe if Reagan hadn't come along the Soviet Union would still exist. Communism in the Soviet Union failed for the same reason the Preemptive Strike Doctrine failed: Because it was a bad idea.
We are now in the process of basing our super power status on weapons instead of economic greatness, while Bush and country rush to destroy our financial stability with outrageous spending - exactly what they harped on all these years.
Hey anonymous:
Please jump back on the turnip truck and head back south where you belong.
Sincerely,
gorok
"Communism in the Soviet Union failed for the same reason the Preemptive Strike Doctrine failed: Because it was a bad idea." Bwaaaaaaahaaaaa!!!
No, it failed because it was fundamentally a horrible idea - it kills incentive for innovation and stifles sustainability and profitability....kinda like 'Liberalism', don't ya think? There is a reason liberals can't win an election on the merits of their ideology. They have to paint themselves as 'mainstream moderates' because everyone (except you homeys) know their style of governing sucks and would be a disaster.
Say hello to President McCain/Giuliani.
I'm more interested in what went wrong with conservatives in charge. How do you explain the economic numbers here? Where's this vaunted fiscal responsibility I've heard so much about?
You mention John McCain. He's asking the same questions about spending. Why didn't conservative rule lead to fiscal responsibility and smaller government? And don't blame the War on Terror because that isn't enough to explain these incredible spending numbers.
I agree that the government spends too much. However, discretionary spending IS DOWN, and our debt is not alarming when compared to percentage GDP. Meanwhile, we are at full employment with almost no inflation, home ownership is at an all-time high, and the stock market is booming. And despite (or because of) Bush's tax cuts, Federal Revenue is at an all time high. Sorry, but reality kind of gets in the way of those that want to paint this as a poor economy.
The stock Republican lines about the state of the economy always wilt under any kind of close examination:
1. Full employment? No. The employment picture has improved, but unemployment figures come from State Employment Divisions that only count people collecting unemployment checks. If you've been out of work beyond your coverage, you no longer count in the unemployment statistics.
2. "Official" calculations of debt are misleading for two reasons. The cost of Iraq isn't part of the official budget, as it's an "emergency expense." And even though the GOP is pushing to extend tax cuts, budget projections are built on not having tax cuts, the better to hide their effects.
3. The stock market is flat; has been for six months or so. Check anyone's 401-K.
4. OF COURSE home ownership is up; the housing market wouldn't be booming without it. But the market has benefitted investors, not people who live in homes or are trying to start families.
5. MIddle class wages have stagnated; middle class costs -- health-care, energy -- have not. Cost-of-living figures now omit energy costs, which is handy for those selling this "Booming Economy" pap.
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