Under any circumstances, the new Bush budget would seem ideologically driven, lopsidedly tilted to the rich, and deeply flawed as a purported stimulus to growth. But the administration’s economic proposals are particularly peculiar and ominous in light of the administration’s drive toward war in Iraq. In times of war, governments typically call for national unity, shared sacrifice and gestures of egalitarianism… return to article
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Reader Comments (25)Page 1 of 1 pagesI think this sums up the Presidents agenda pretty well.
Posted by L.A.Bomer on Feb 24, 2003 at 9:29 PM What a load of crap… Moberg’s invective is just what you’d expect from a sorry assed leftist.
Posted by William Jefferson Clinton on Feb 24, 2003 at 10:32 PM The future looks kind of dark for the whole world. Is there no way to stop that madman we have in the Whitehouse?
Posted by george de Merle on Feb 24, 2003 at 10:51 PM what alternatives to US dominance would Mr Moberg like to see? What alternative ideology to free market, corporate fundamentalism does he prefer?
Posted by Arturo Ziegler on Feb 25, 2003 at 1:53 AM this story is very disturbing to me as Im recieving ssi for an illness, medicade and also a housing voucher. Won’t people hold rallies for these issues as well? Im assuming as things things go from bad to worse here, people will demostrate their displeasure. Im hoping we will. It might get Bush’s attention. It might not. Won’t Bush be out of office in 2004 so these changes won’t be permament?.
Posted by jean harvell on Feb 25, 2003 at 2:34 AM I agree that the “war on terror” and the supposed war against saddam husein are little more than covers to divert attention from domestic problems i.e a depression, civil liberties violations, unchecked corporate greed etc… I am fully aware that husein abuses iraquis, but george bush and cohorts in his cabinett, congress, and supreme court violate human rights everyday. Privatization of health care is doing a disservice to senior citizens, chlidren, and the poor. Why are conservatives so cruel?
Posted by ryan shelton on Feb 25, 2003 at 4:39 AM Very insightful comments on Bush’s war at home. I will have to agree with you. Now does anyone other than myself see the serious mistake made when we allowed the Supremes to select our president instead of counting the votes. I’m sorry that at this point, it appears unstoppable. Outraged
Posted by Sue McFadden on Feb 26, 2003 at 6:07 AM Ryan Shelton adds his ignorance that of Mr. Moberg when he writes: “I am fully aware that husein abuses iraquis, but george bush and cohorts in his cabinett, congress, and supreme court violate human rights everyday. Privatization of health care is doing a disservice to senior citizens, chlidren, and the poor. Why are conservatives so cruel?”
Mr Moberg and Mr. Shelton both need to go back and read the Declaration of Independence and consult with their own conscience which also attests to that which is self-evident: That there is a God given or natural right to PURSUE happiness (John Locke, the English philosopher used the word ‘property’).
Note that word PURSUE, it is NOT a God given right that you have happiness (or property). Thus health care is not a right, nor is housing, nor food, nor a job, nor transportation. Society owes you, Mr. Shelton, none of these things. You as others must pusue wealth to attain them. Those truely in need should be tended to by their neighbors as Christ commanded in the parable of the good samaritan, this means the church not the government. When government tries to meet these needs, as we have all witnessed, the result is corruption, sloth, waste, oppression, injustice, and a dampening of the entreprenurial drive.
Congregations or ministries that develop any of the above characteristics see a quick fall. Governments just grow bigger as they hold the ‘sword’.George Bush’s practices and Milton Friedman’s teachings of shrinking government by shrinking its ability to collect taxes is a self-evident way to motivate Americans both in their work and in their charitable giving, for when taxation falls Americans will get to keep more of what they gain through pursueing happiness or enjoy the pleasures of giving it away.
Posted by Carl Snodgrass on Feb 26, 2003 at 6:37 AM The name “William Jefferson Clinton” is just what I’d expect from a cock-obsessed freeper ditto-rightist who doesn’t like a clear look at the truth.
Posted by Muddro on Feb 26, 2003 at 4:07 PM “Thus health care is not a right, nor is housing, nor food, nor a job, nor transportation.”
First, the idea of “human rights” does not originate from the Declaration of Independence. Humans have a right to live in reasonable health. It doesn’t need to be handed to them on a plate, but when the government acts against this principle that is a violation of human rights.
“Those truely in need should be tended to by their neighbors as Christ commanded in the parable of the good samaritan, this means the church not the government.”
I’m sure the entire world would love to see the proof of anyone (preferably the buffoon making these statements) who speaks these actually living by them.
“George Bush’s practices and Milton Friedman’s teachings of shrinking government by shrinking its ability to collect taxes is a self-evident way to motivate Americans both in their work and in their charitable giving, for when taxation falls Americans will get to keep more of what they gain through pursueing happiness or enjoy the pleasures of giving it away.”
It doesn’t take a genius to listen to the SOTU address and hear “less taxes for the rich,” and at the same time “i want new money for x, y, z, yadda, yadda, yadda…” and realize there is a fundamental flaw in the way these people are planning our “future.”
you seem to think it will motivate people to give to charity, but how can we give to charity if we are all in need of it ourselves just to survive?
Did I miss a hard spike in hiring or something?
Posted by Muddro on Feb 26, 2003 at 4:14 PM Excellent article. Bullseye. Make sure Paul Krugman is notified.
Posted by Liam F. Shortall on Feb 26, 2003 at 6:43 PM Among many of his errors Muddro states the following.
“Humans have a right to live in reasonable health.”
No, humans have a God right to pursue good health. Acting foolishly, such as, not making for oneself or one’s family economic provision, or engaging in unhealthy lifestyle choices obviously will not help secure one’s health.
The US government nor any state government has moral authority to compel provision for a person’s health from society. That it does so with the threat of force is an affront to the natural law.
Posted by Carl Snodgrass on Feb 27, 2003 at 5:49 AM Upton Sinclair wrote: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary dependes upon him not understanding it.”
If Mr. Snodgrass can’t see the contradiction between the teachings of Milton Friedman and the right of people to pursue happiness then I can only presume that Upton saw this man coming.
Mr. Friedman’s policies, as has been shown in the U.S. and in Britain under Thatcher, don’t even give people a chance to pursue happiness. They are too busy trying to pursue food, clothes and shelter.
Any thought of actual happiness is secondary to survival.
Mr. Snodgrass is correct in highlighting the hallmarks of representative governments, but I think that only a very brief look at the history (ancient and modern) of organised religion, and the Church in particular will reveal the same traits, and in some cases much worse.
Posted by Phil McGonigle on Feb 28, 2003 at 2:06 PM I would encourage Carl Snodgrass not to procreate, as he is the stupidest sounding man I have ever heard. Seek therapy and education, you poor fool.
Posted by DJ on Feb 28, 2003 at 11:22 PM I would encourage Carl Snodgrass not to procreate, as he is the stupidest sounding man I have ever heard. Seek therapy and education, you poor fool. - Writes DJ from Toronto
Aah, the ad hominum atttacks, the left’s trademark, eeh DJ?
Posted by Carl Snodgrass on Mar 5, 2003 at 8:29 AM Phil from Glasgow responds that: ... Mr. Snodgrass can’t see the contradiction between the teachings of Milton Friedman and the right of people to pursue happiness… Mr. Friedman’s policies, as has been shown in the U.S. and in Britain under Thatcher, don’t even give people a chance to pursue happiness. They are too busy trying to pursue food, clothes and shelter.
Any thought of actual happiness is secondary to survival.Phil you may want to review the recent press given to the anger of the Ameircan left against its SUV drivers who drive 40-80k SUV’s. Such vehicles abound in American driveways and Americans are quite happy about it. A bit beyond food, shelter, and clothing wouldn’t you say old chap?
As for abuses within the community of believers, consider that human corruption is for what Christ paid with his life to correct. But what if there had been no Jesus, no cross no resurrection and no church, what then for fallen man?
Certainly no Magna Carte would have been written Phil starting the West on its journey of civil documentation of natural law.And realize, Phil, that deceiving wolves exist in any group of believers as you remember both Peter and Paul warned.
Posted by Carl Snodgrass on Mar 5, 2003 at 8:45 AM There was no Jesus, cross, or ressurection, I don’t see why I should accept the moral authority of a cult. You’re not going to try toconvince me that the Magna Carta originates from a myth are you? I can probably say whatever I wan’t because you, (believing in a supposedly divine being) are, Carl sir, BONKERS and I will not waste my time convincing a madman on issues of morality. Hey, guess what, when you die, theres no heaven, no feelings, NOTHING! ahahahah (I’ve always wanted to say that on one of these boards)
Posted by Tom on Mar 5, 2003 at 10:41 PM Well Carl, your first message was good, but this…Jesus H. Christ!
First of all, the poor in Puyallup are doing alright if they’re driving about in SUV’s. Over here they’re living in cardboard boxes, never mind arguing about what car should be in their driveway.And you ask what life would be like “if there had been no Jesus, no cross, no resurrection and no church, what then for fallen man?”
Well it would be much like life if there had been no Snow White, poisoned apple or seven amusing dwarfs. (Apart from the established church. I’ll give you that one. We would be much better off without that.)And the contradictions just keep on comin’. Your first message made the point that Society owes us nothing. But you’re quick to tell us we owe our lives to Christ. Saved by an execution that took place before we were born. Do you notice the totalitarian tendency there Carl? We’ve been saved whether we like it or not. I didn’t asked to be saved and if I had been, I would have declined.
And realise, Carl, that Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea as you remember Peter, Paul and Mary warned.
Posted by Phil McGonigle on Mar 6, 2003 at 6:53 PM Mr. Snotgrass’scomments are those of a self-righteous, moralizing, rightwing citizen, much like those in residence in D.C. right now. Yet it comes as no surprise to me that he reads and defends his right to his opinion. That it is wrong is a moot point.
Americans have been asleep for too long a time, watching their tvs, buying their suvs with little thought given to the consequences of not exercising their right to vote. If more had voted, we may not have had to depend on the supreme court to elect the non-president.
Indeed, the republicans have been planning this for many years, the opportunity presented itself on 9/11 (was that orchestrated by the powers that be as well?).
They began by demoralizing the democrats over Clinton’s escapades, and have for years (look at Nixon (watergate) and Reagan (the deal with Iran). They represent big business, have little use for the less fortunate, preferring to say they have a choice in the matter (tell that to a mentally ill person who can’t get medicaid), and are ruthless when anyone gets in the way of their profits. What is really ironic is that most of them align themselves with some kind of conservative religious faction, as if that alignment would seal their entrance to heaven or forgive their transgressions against their neighbors on their way to “success/wealth”. That, once again, is just a sly business move. It is a fallacy to believe anything that this administration does is for the good of the general populace. It serves only one master - corporate greed - that is their religion and their power.Now, every right is being taken away from us in the guise of protecting us. We must worry about what we say and to whom, lest we be labeled “anti-american”. Well I say that those in office are anti-American. They do not represent me nor do they represent most of my friends and acquaintences. But we put them there and are suffering the consequences.
It is unfortunate that most of Americans have not read David Moberg’s article. We need to have more dissenters in the public view so that we look like the majority we really are.
Posted by Liz Geiger on Mar 6, 2003 at 9:52 PM Having (barely) survived Bush’s tenure as gov, I can tell you what we have to look forward to…a huge defecit, and the burden of making up the shortfall being put on the states. Since (most) states must balance their budgets, they must cut services or increase taxes. Right now, with Republicans in control of the Texas legislature, we are in the cut mode made possible by Bush’s tax cuts, except we are not cutting taxes, we are cutting vital services. The burden will now fall back on counties and cities to pay for the schizophrenics released from the mental hospitals, the parolees who are not supervised because of cuts in TDCJ personnel, the emergency room bills for children cut from the Children’s Health Insurance Program, etc, etc. Plus, we have miles and miles of highway, and a few bridges and overpasses that need maintainance, and who is going to pay for that? What about the building upkeep at schools, not to mention textbooks, supplies, computer equipment and all the things needed to teach kids so they can get a job.
I’m just glad Bush has moved on, but I’m not real happy about where he ended up.
Posted by Robin on Mar 8, 2003 at 7:29 AM I enjoyed the article, but your use of the term ‘free markets’ I found a bit charitable. With American agricultural subsidies, a regulatory system staffed by industry insiders protecting established interests and a government willing to wage war to protect industrial interests, I personally would put the term in quotes.
Posted by L. Kopczak on Mar 8, 2003 at 5:27 PM Excellant article. By creating poverty The Bush policies endanger the future. We need to be reminded that poverty is the most expensive item on the agenda.
Posted by John Monaghan on Mar 11, 2003 at 12:54 AM Carl Snodgrass,
Are you of the belief that all homeless people are there by choice?
Posted by neil on Apr 6, 2003 at 7:52 AM I would hope this country does wake up and impeach this immoral
pResident.
Punishement for all of these ills he’s brought to this nation should be making him work two minimum-wage jobs, pay huge property taxes and a mortgage.
Posted by neil on Apr 6, 2003 at 7:55 AM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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