Since I am not as concerned with the deficit as you are, I see plenty of evidence that there are politicians who care about the long term interests of the country, although their premises are not always sound. I have argued that a sounder way of accounting takes its model from business, where it is not unusual to borrow for capital improvements, rather than defer what may be crucial to the improvement of the business, or raise prices and lose market share, or lower dividends and erode stock value. In such a situation, the share of budget going to debt servicing is much more important than the deficit itself. In the federal budget, it runs about 20%, perhaps a little more, which is, by historical standards both for businesses and nations, not bad at all.
Anyway, even if people were wrong headed about deficits, many are honestly trying to improve things. For example, the welfare reform of the mid- '90s was a fairly successful effort to eliminate perverse incentives and encourage a move to work. The CDC is one of the most effective bureaus in the government. Although there are honest concerns about expedited review for certain classes of drugs, the FDA has not only made pharmaceuticals less hazard, but eliminated a lot of chicanery, and helped not only the consumer but the industry itself by establishing standards that eliminate guesswork and lawsuits in developing and marketing drugs. I am very pleased with the initiatives in education and faith based rehabilitation....... |
