To Mark Cuban’s point, both Republicans and Democrats have been on a spending spree since Bush took office. Nothing better illustrates that than the recent water bill, which Congress last week passed over (the recently reformed) President’s veto. The bill included $298 million for Trinity River levee construction, thanks to Eddie Bernice Johnson (may the saints preserve her). I’m, of course, in favor of that appropriation. And there’s the rub. The original House bill, in which the Trinity was included, was $14 billion. The original Senate bill, which also had the Trinity, was $15 billion. The two houses went into conference and somehow came out with a bill that was $23 billion. How does that happen? It happens because all those conferees had their own pork to stuff into the bill. So my pork is good, and your pork is bad? That’s an argument that’s not easy to make. Should Congress forbid earmarks not requested by the federal departments? (The Trinity money was requested.) But, then, do we want to put budget appropriations solely in the hands of bureaucrats, not elected representatives? It’s a problem which explains why the national debt just hit a record $9 trillion.
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Ah, so the earmarks conundrum explains the $9 trillion deficit. Got it.
While earmarks are somewhat to blame, it’s the endless war spending that’s rolling the debt higher each week.
Yeah, earmarks got us up to 9 trillion–earmarks for Halliburton, and Blackwater, and all the rest of Cheney’s friends. It’s BUSH’S WAR that’s bleeding our economy.
Let’s remember that Bill Clinton and the GOP Congress balanced the budget in the 90s and put us on a road to fiscal sanity. Then Bush cut taxes on the wealthy and inexplicably started a unnecessary war against people who did not attack us on 9/11, all of which overturned the good work of the Clinton era. That’s what resulted in the resurgence of deficits, not nickel and dime earmarks. So I guess we need a GOP Congress and a Democratic president again, minus the nuttery of the Starr report variety. GOP presidents don’t seem to care about deficits.
^ That statement is every bit as intelligent as voting straight republican or democrat.
Every hear of Jimmy Carter? I bet he would have this economy back on track in no time. Or, maybe Reagan can take back over and never raise taxes.
I long for the day when people don’t get caught up in voting for the party of the minute and actually think about the people rather than their affiliations.
It’s a cheap shot to criticize someone like Buffett, who maintains that ALL of America’s most-wealthy have a greater responsibility to support their country financially that what they currently contribute. Buffett is a businessman who understands that bills should be paid. It’s a realization that many tax-cutting fanatics either can’t see or won’t admit.
Buffett has donated the majority of his fortune to charity for the betterment of the world. It’s a staggering amount. I’d like to know if the anklebiters have done anything comparable.
Jose, heed the words of Judge Learned Hand:
“There is nothing sinister in so arranging one’s affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible.”
It’s myopic to say people aren’t paying enough taxes, and then refuse to consider that government is perhaps spending waaaaaaay too much.
Well, low taxes are a nice catchphrase, but what are going to cut? And it is politically feasible to do so?
For all of you who voted for bushie TWICE, I guess you don’t mind that you’ve signed your kids and grandkids up for a 70% tax rate so this debt can be paid off. And oh yeah–they’ll be paying it back to the Chinese, ‘cuz that’s who we are borrowing from. How…
patriotic
Let’s not forget about the billions of bucks that the USA will be paying to care for the mental and physical well being of the wounded soilders. I read the cost could be around 650 billion.
Can a $ be put on the our lost integrity, or the fact the we had no reason going to this war in the first place?
Castlehills is right on with his/her statement about the double voting bushies. It is sad that all of have to pay for the mistakes of others.
Still waiting for the Dallas Morning News to apologize for supporting this war.
Jack Jett
I just love the beating of dead horses.
I think the point of this post was BOTH parties are spend happy right now. I don’t remember it supporting Bush or The War.