I was trying to decide if the phrase “fiscal conservative” had become an oxymoron. It is very hard to find a “fiscal conservative” in Washington right now. In the end, though, I’ve come to the decision that the phrase “fiscal conservative” is not an oxymoron. Republicans in Washington, however, should have their mouths smacked every time they claim to be “fiscally conservative.”
Determining if someone is fiscally liberal or conservative is not based on what people want to spend money. It’s determined by how people want to spend money.
Right now the Republican party represented by the people in power in Congress and the White House want to spend money like water.
Less than two months ago the GOP controlled Congress and Administration raised the debt ceiling for the 4th time to nearly $9 trillion dollars. At the time it was estimated that a vote to raise the new ceiling would be needed in about a year.
It might not be needed now, but House GOP leaders are hoping to raise the debt ceiling now.
The House $2.7 trillion dollar budget plan would raise the debt ceiling to nearly $10 trillion.
House Republicans were probably hoping that no one noticed the provision to raise the federal debt ceiling since they buried it on page 121 of their 151 page budget plan.
Back in March when they last raised the debt ceiling, I stated that maybe something would be done about this run-away spending being enacted by the Republican controlled Congress/Administration. I’m beginning to think that budget reform will never happen. At least not until truly “fiscally conservative” heads take over in Washington.
Peter Porcupine says:
Just curious – were you this upset about the even LARGER spending of Lyndon Johnson or Tip O’Neil? Or was that OK because they were Democrats?
5/10/2006, 10:01 pmmulligan says:
Let’s see, I was 3 when LBJ left office. At that time I didn’t even know what a budget was.
Tip O’Neil was never the president. Nor did he try to raise the debt ceiling multiple times in a few short years.
The plan to raise the debt ceiling, my oblivious friend, is what this post is about.
Besides, debt in the 60s was held within the US. US debt today is held by foreign companies. If you don’t think that is a huge problem (especially when it is more than 50%) than you need to think about what would happen if we had a problem with one of the countries that held our debt (say China).
Brad says:
“Fiscal conservatism” means not wanting to spend money on anything Democrats want, i.e. anything that helps the average American.
I didn’t realize that Tip O’Neil had the single-handed power to spend government money. Hmm, funny how conservatives can teach us so much great information about political history!
5/11/2006, 4:28 pm