Dear Scumbria:
One should do what one says. You are not dealing with the present but still in the past. Clinton has shown his true colors. Even the Democrats in the House and Senate are saying he was either stupid (given the benefit of the doubt) or bribed (much more likely). Gore lost. Bush is now the President. You have yet to deal with these facts.
All your pontificating about the budget, environment, debt, etc. is a smoke screen to the facts above. All you are doing now is sounding like a little brat who did not get his way. Well, you forgot to vote, so you said. You failed in your duty. People like you have no business bitching about the results of the election you failed to participate in.
As to the debt. If I could be assured that any Congress could be trusted not to spend a penny of the surpluses that will be generated (and I do not trust either the Republicans or Democrats in this (the funds will be to tempting)), where spending is increased only at the rate of inflation (whether PPI, CPI, GDP deflator, or some other index tied to inflation), then and only then, would I prefer tax cuts to be delayed.
I would prefer tax simplification and the closing of all corporate and private loopholes over tax rate cuts. I do not want automated triggers for tax cut recisions. Let them pass a tax hike. This is to reduce spending first and foremost (and that means entitlements too, if you include other spending in this like defense). Raising taxes should be painful. It should be the last resort, not the first.
However, since I do not have any confidence in the safety in any large surplus to giveaways like what has happened in all past years (and Republicans are as guilty as the Democrats in these "emergency" (NOT!!!) pork barrel spending bills), I want tax cuts to be done first. If tax hikes are necessary later, they can pass them but, only after explaining why and the explanations better be good or it will be painful (big time) to them all. After all, its from my money, and yours, and every other taxpayer. What it is not, is theirs to do with as they please.
Pete |
