A realization
I’m conservative leaning on some things and liberal leaning on other things. But I’m rapidly coming to a point where I’ll vote for anyone who plans to eliminate the budget deficit. 1
I don’t want tax cuts. I don’t want more military spending. I don’t want stimulus of any kind. I want LESS SPENDING, and, eventually, MORE TAXES2 to get out of the hole we’re in. I mean, doesn’t anyone realize we have to pay this shit back!?
[1]: sadly probably not true, as I wouldn’t vote for a hard core social conservative. I have so many inconsistent3 litmus tests I put on candidates it’s a wonder my head doesn’t explode every time I enter the ballot box.
[2]: more taxes eventually because it’s a bad idea to raise taxes during an economic recession. Also, more taxes because even though I believe we were on the right side of the laffer curve at some point, as of now we need higher taxes to support our current level of spending. Its irresponsible of Republicans (or anyone) to call for more tax cuts without a plan in place to cut spending drastically at this point. We’re already running a massive structural deficit.
[3]: inconsistent from a two party standpoint, of course. Not inconsistent logically.
February 9th, 2010 at 5:21 am
Also: more footnotes than post!
February 9th, 2010 at 6:56 am
Sound sorta Keynesian to me, John.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:10 am
If what this guy says is true: http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/04/news/economy/meltzer_keynes.fortune/index.htm then hell yes, go Keynes!
The problem is we’re so burdened by debt we can’t maneuver.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:47 am
I agree with you John. Bring back a Repulican Party with real ideas and a real plan for fiscal responsibility that is not populated with batshitinsane ex-beauty queens.
Meanwhile, I refuse to vote for a party who’s only desire is for the majority party to fail.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Obama is what some refer to as a neo-Keynesian. I’m not sure that I’d listen to a monetarist on what Keynes would and wouldn’t have liked, though.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
So what you’re saying John (and the other Jon too) is you want Clinton back? Based on this chart he is the most recent fiscally responsible president after that you have to go back to Carter. The Nixon/Ford being the most recent fiscally responsible Republican administration.
http://zfacts.com/p/318.html
In recent history liberals are tax and spend, conservatives are tax cut and spend. Can we get rid of both parties now?
February 9th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Clinton was lucky to be president during the internet boom. Existing tax laws allowed the government to capture a huge amount of revenue during that time. A republican administration would have been just as present to capture those vast surpluses.
On the other hand, if bringing back Clinton means getting rid of every program, every structural spending increase, every government department and government job that has been added since then, well…. it’s tempting, if only to get rid of the TSA. :D
Doane: So you didn’t vote for the republicans or the democrats in ‘08, right? ;) If I had a dollar for every time I heard (with my ears, not just read on the internet) someone on the D side of the aisle fervently praying for Bush to fail during the Bush administration, I’d have enough money to get a fairly decent camera lens. Maybe two.
I’ve heard comparatively few of my republican friends saying the same thing about Obama. Now, I don’t know what those kids are up to on that fox news channel, doncha know. But in terms of real people I know who are republicans, they don’t want Obama to fail. They’re pretty sure that, for example, the stimulus *is* failing, but that’s not the same thing as wanting it.
It’s just good cop bad cop. Every now and then the republicans and the democrats switch uniforms. But the end result is the same: they want to control your life and will by any means necessary.
February 10th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
John, everybody knows Democrats don’t pray ;)
I don’t think Democrats were hoping Bush would fail, I think they were pissed off that he was failing and didn’t seem to care.
My most recent conversations with a Republican in real life involved them making jokes about Obama not being able to hide in the snow. It wasn’t a very productive discussion.
February 11th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
As a way the Hell to the left of the Democrats person, I would have to mostly agree with the previous post, but I’d say that what pissed me off is that the Bush administration was failing and not only did they not care, they were proud of it. I’m hoping this administration will be an improvement, but I’m a little dubious at this point.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:09 am
But John, would the republicans have captured that cash surplus? Historically the republican party is seeming against taxes of almost any kind on businesses. Thats really the main difference between the parties in fiscal terms. They both spend money ridiculously but the republicans seem to think there is a magic way to do that without bringing in money to cover it.