random memes }

Tax and spend ... er, Republicans?

When I first started paying attention to politics the Democrats had control of Congress, and had the Presidency at least half the time. I heard Republicans blame the rising deficit and rising taxes on those nasty "tax and spend" Democrats. Now I somehow doubted that Republicans were entirely blameless, but given that control rested largely with the Democrats the notion seemed to fit. I was looking forward to the day when Republicans had greater control.

During the Reagan years we had a very strong Republican President dealing with a weaker Democratic Congress. The huge deficits were rather disturbing (still the Democrats??). Every time a tax cut was announced it seemed like my taxes went up. Ok - so my tax situation was not the same every year, but - did they have to go up every time?

Bush follows Reagan with ... more deficits and more taxes. Someone in the Bush campaign chants "Four More Years!" and helps me decide to vote for Clinton. I wasn't especially fond of Clinton, but I knew I did not want "four more years" of Bush.

Clinton proves not nearly as bad as I feared - possibly moderated by a Republican Congress. Aided by a healthy economy and (wishful thinking?) a Republican Congress living up to it's promise, the deficit starts shrinking. Watching an assortment of cheap and rather rabid attacks on Clinton from some over-the-top Republicans is dismaying. Reagan and Bush had some rather dubious episodes of far more serious character.

Dole comes up to compete against Clinton, starts to sound interesting, then promises a big tax cut. Since Congress just went through a series of huge battles trying to get closer to a balanced budget, this seems unrealistic. In fact it sounds like pushing the deficit off on my children. Voted for Clinton again - count this wanting Dole less rather than fondness for Clinton.

Want to piss me off as a father and a voter? Spend money now that children will have to pay off later.

I am not fond of taxes, but I would rather see the national debt paid off first, and taxes reduced later. I just do not buy the dubious economic theories that suggest small taxes and big spending is a good combination. Staying out of debt and investing in the future - seems this should be a good idea both for individuals and for the country.

Bush #2 comes along and to get elected raises a record amount of money in a record short time. Somehow I doubt the big money is coming from folks with interests similar to mine. The combination of Bush and a Republican Congress in action lives up to my worst expectations. Now this item comes along:

Capitol Hill Blue: Debt? What Debt? Oh, THAT Debt...

Somehow I was still clinging to the belief that this sort of nonsense is something to be expected of "tax and spend" Democrats ... not Republicans! Outside the mass media and party mainline, the moderate Republican voices are closest to my own point of view. I would like to believe in the party, but damn - would you please stop spending my kids money!!