[Disclaimer: Godwin's Law does not apply here; in defense of the title of this post (emblazoned on the gates of the Auschwitz concentration camp; it translates, loosely, as "work will set you free"), this is not a direct comparison of anyone to Hitler or Nazi Germany. It is, however, a warning against accepting doublethink (a.k.a. PC, or "cultural communism," thought and speech) and a powerful, aggressive government.]
Now here’s the problem – well, one of a great many problems – I have with our government and the current Chief Executive (as opposed to the often-misused “Commander-in-Chief,” which, neocon “invade the world”-ers’ incessant drum-beating notwithstanding, only applies if one is currently a member of the US Armed Forces; this means it doesn’t obtain for nearly all Americans [even we who are proud veterans]), as a Constitutionalist and small-government fiscal libertarian. What I’m talking about is, well, this:
[Graphic courtesy The Cato Institute, via McClatchydc.com]
George W. Bush… is the biggest spending President since Lyndon B. Johnson. In fact, he’s arguably an even bigger spender than LBJ.
“He’s a big government guy,” said Stephen Slivinski, the director of budget studies at Cato Institute, a libertarian research group.
The numbers are clear, credible, and conclusive, added David Keating, the executive director of the Club for Growth, a budget-watchdog group.
“He’s a big spender.” Keating said. “No question about it.”
Take almost any yardstick and Bush generally exceeds the spending of his predecessors.
[NOTE: I really think that some of what is deemed "mandatory" isn't; and, in fact, we could probably eliminate 80% of Cabinet-level departments without anyone really noticing, and then get rid of all the federal handouts – taking care of those in need is better done by private groups and individuals, anyway. Active-duty military members should be paid tax-free at all times, not just in war zones (But, of course, so should everyone else). The Federal government should really be involved in only two things: defending and enforcing our borders, and maintaining our roads and bridges – come to think of it, two things they really haven't been doing so well.]
According to Congressional (CBO) estimates, the Afghanistan and Iraq wars could cost as much as $2.4 trillion by 2017 – that’s about 10% of the entire budget requirements Bush estimated in his 10-year budget plan when he took office in 2001. And that 5.3% annual growth translates to more than a 50% increase in the size of the budget over his two terms. Other estimates show federal spending almost doubling in the same period. This is good to know, considering the fact that the GOP 2004 platform is very clear that big government = bad. (Scroll down to around page 46 for the discussion of “fiscal discipline” – and get ready to laugh) [I swear, this thing sometimes reads like a chapter from 1984: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength. But the DNC’s is no better.]
Now, a lot of people might scream that I’m a Bush-bashing liberal, or that I’m a “hate-America-first”-er; if that’s what you think, you’re wrong. On the contrary, I’m a Constitutional conservative with the obligatory heavily libertarian leanings who voted once for Bush (2000), once against Kerry (2004 – obviously), who loves these United States, probably to a fault, but who is sickened to my soul by the emerging Global Neocon Hegemony.
But, for the purposes of this article, I’m simply a small-government conservative who thinks it’s unethical and probably immoral to go into debt for any reason. And that goes double for a country.
So I can’t reconcile the GOP’s professed belief in small government with the fact that “Dubya” has grown the size of the federal government more than any President since FDR, and expanded the scope of executive powers more than any since Lincoln.
