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Those Small Government Republicans

Arianna Huffington writes:

Ronald Reagan, in his first inaugural address, famously declared that "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."

Twenty-seven years later, in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and seven-plus years into the reign of Bush and Cheney, Reagan's anti-government battle cry should be on trial. But, stunningly, it is not.

Yet, when I bring up a chart of the federal budget, I have a hard time seeing even the hint of a downtrend.

The Federal budget under Reagan was around $0.5 trillion.....We're now over $3 Trillion!

It appears the Democrats are trying to re-live the New Deal years.

But will Americans buy it this time?

Will Americans believe that it is lack of government spending and regulating that is the problem?


Posted Sep 29 2008, 10:27 PM by ChrisR

Comments

J. Chris Folsom wrote re: Those Small Government Republicans
on Tue, Sep 30 2008 10:16 AM

>> Will Americans believe that it is lack of government spending and regulating that is the problem?

As long as they continue to believe what they are told in public schools and on television.

Damian wrote re: Those Small Government Republicans
on Tue, Sep 30 2008 5:19 PM

I agree with Folsom. Some of this blame on deregulation also comes from the fact that Republicans represent themselves as believers in the free market. They are clearly not if anyone cares to examine the facts but at first glance by someone with no background in economics it appears as if deregulation is what lead to the current situation. I am not even so sure that Reagan was that much a small government republican.

R W Ferris wrote re: Those Small Government Republicans
on Tue, Oct 21 2008 8:44 PM

small gov't Republicans????  do you mean Libertarians?