Originally Posted by ratbastid

The conservative movement is committed to bankrupting America.

It's been talked about in many conservative publications. It's been mentioned many times by the Bush administration. It was first devised as a doctrine of the Reagan adminstration. It's referred to as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starve_the_beast">Starving</a> the <a href="http://www.wordspy.com/words/starvethebeast.asp">Beast</a>".

The notion is that conservatives can use trade deficit and federal debt, and the resulting lack of federal funds, to force the termiation of social spending. Once they've run the American economy well and truly into the ground, they'll finally have the small, unobstrusive government they've always wanted. In this, as in every other conservative plan, the ends absolutely justify the means.

Bush's legacy will be a black hole where our economy used to be. This is NOT an accident on his part or a result of mismanagement. It is a deliberate political move designed to further the conservative agenda.