What Happened To Republican Fiscal Consevatives? Now They Are All Grover Norquist Wackos

[Median Democrat]

Once upon a time, long ago, I actually was impressed with the message raised by some Republicans. I remember being very impressed with Ross Perot's message about the National Debt, as well as the message of some Republicans like Warren Rudman, who insisted that something should be done about this debt and the deficit. Even though Rudman retired in 1992, he continued to call out the Bush administration for creating a deficit and failing to address the deficit. Now, the Republicans offer no message that appeals to me on any level. The Grover Norquist types are idealogues who have no interest in a functioning government. Rather, they worship at the alter of tax and spending cuts with no concern for the repercussions of their extreme ideals.

I think we are seeing a battle in the Republican party between the complete wackos of the religious right and the Grover Norquist types, and Republicans who actually have a comprehensive vision of government. I think the Republican party has stagnated in recent years. There has been no new thought. Instead, they have become more and more extreme as they have pandered to their base, rather than trying to elevate and lookout for the interests of all Americans.

To put it simply, Obama and the Democrats have a vision. The Republicans do not, and are merely trying to hold onto power, which is why they are losing it. I would not mind the existence of a valid intellectual dialogue to keep the Democrats honest. Unfortunately, the anti-intellectualism and corruption of the Republican party has robbed Republicans of the ability to provide an intellectual counterpoint and check to Democratic proposals.

Now, tax cuts and spending cuts are recited like a mantra without expressing any vision of how the Federal government should operation. The McCain campaign is the best example of this lack of vision. Tax cuts, spending cuts, $300 billion bailouts, calls for regulation of the financial industry, calls for deregulation of the health industry, spending freezes combined with open ended military commitments, calls for a balanced budget in the midst of a fiscal crisis when deficit spending should actually be considered. The McCain campaign presents a series of mutally exclusive propositions that mascarade as policy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/27/AR2006082700557.html

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The economic and moral case for long-term reform of fiscal policy is clear. Yet politicians refuse to act. If this stalemate persists, it could end in catastrophe.

Over the next 30 years, spending on federal programs is on track to go up by 50 percent as a share of the economy. If revenue remain at their historical level, the resulting deficits will approach 20 percent of gross domestic product by 2036 -- almost 10 times the current size. The debt will surge to 200 percent of GDP -- twice what it was at the end of World War II.

Political realities explain why nothing has been done about this. Changing course would require substantial spending cuts from projected levels or equivalent tax increases. Neither party wants to be the first to propose these tough choices out of fear that the other side would attack it. Similarly, neither side wants to discuss possible compromises of its own priorities, out of fear that the other side will take the concessions and run. Unfortunately, these fears are justified.

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