Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Pat Buchanan claims Bush is NOT a true or tough conservative?

irateplatypus · 01-25-2005, 08:33 PM

i firmly disagree with the President on this as well.

it's a two-fold problem.

-on one hand, the public has no problem letting future generations take care of the debts they create today. it's an ethical shift in the electorate that could have grave consequences for our country and the world in the decades to come. we can't go on forever spending more than we have. we can't use more resources from our environment than are replenished. the honeymoon can't last forever, it will catch up to us.

-secondly, we have politicians who perceive the public's carefree attitude towards spending and use that to fill the budget with pork and their own pet projects to boost support with their voting constituency. this has the effect of making anyone who advocates fiscal restraint perceived as a vicious person who has no compassion for those who live off social programs or excessive defense spending.

the only times when i think it is acceptable to live within a deficit spending budget are times of war. the money should be spent to win the conflict as quickly as possible... restraining our forces in a committed battle by being thrifty will only prolong the conflict, raise casualties, and cause a larger long-term expense. that being said... i think its unreasonable for the public to expect that life at home should continue without change in times of war. the impact on the budget can be lessened if the non-essential items (and there are many) on the budget are trimmed during times of war.

also, blaming the current president for the systemic problems our country has with living within its means is a copout.

01-25-2005, 08:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
irateplatypus can't help but laugh Location: dar al-harb	i firmly disagree with the President on this as well. it's a two-fold problem. -on one hand, the public has no problem letting future generations take care of the debts they create today. it's an ethical shift in the electorate that could have grave consequences for our country and the world in the decades to come. we can't go on forever spending more than we have. we can't use more resources from our environment than are replenished. the honeymoon can't last forever, it will catch up to us. -secondly, we have politicians who perceive the public's carefree attitude towards spending and use that to fill the budget with pork and their own pet projects to boost support with their voting constituency. this has the effect of making anyone who advocates fiscal restraint perceived as a vicious person who has no compassion for those who live off social programs or excessive defense spending. the only times when i think it is acceptable to live within a deficit spending budget are times of war. the money should be spent to win the conflict as quickly as possible... restraining our forces in a committed battle by being thrifty will only prolong the conflict, raise casualties, and cause a larger long-term expense. that being said... i think its unreasonable for the public to expect that life at home should continue without change in times of war. the impact on the budget can be lessened if the non-essential items (and there are many) on the budget are trimmed during times of war. also, blaming the current president for the systemic problems our country has with living within its means is a copout. __________________ If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ~ Winston Churchill Last edited by irateplatypus; 01-25-2005 at 08:38 PM..