Over at Townhall.com Mark Tapscott has an excellent column about the sad contrasts between the ideas that brought Ronald Reagan to the White House and the Republicans who have squandered his legacy.
Their differences are nowhere more evident than on limiting government and reducing federal spending. Reagan said in his first inaugural speech that ?government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.? Today, Young crows about the $286.4 billion transportation bill to The New York Times, saying he ?stuffed it like a turkey.?
These differences didn?t start with Young, though. Republicans took over Congress in 1994 promising in the ?Contract with America? to cut taxes, reduce federal spending and eliminate unneeded bureaucracy. They?ve used the same message to retain majorities in both chambers for all but a couple of the succeeding years.
Despite the GOP majority and its promises, federal spending ? including wasteful pork barrel projects ? has skyrocketed to record levels, especially as President Bush won the White House in 2000, the GOP kept the House and regained the Senate in 2002 and Bush gained re-election in 2004.
And don’t look to the President to do anything about this…….
Bush has basically stepped aside, not once exercising his veto, compared to 78 vetoes by Reagan, who had to deal with powerful Democrat majorities in the House throughout his White House years.
I’ve said this many times myself lately. Since 2001, the Republican Party has seemingly proven the old adage that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Given the absolute power of control of the legislative and executive branches of government with the election of George W. Bush, the Republicans have chosen to use that power to enhance the size and scope of government rather than shrink it. Even before 2001, the 1994 “revolution” was corrupted as the GOP leadership in Congress found it more expedient to make deals with the Clinton Administration than to stand by its principles. Depressing doesn’t even begin to describe the situation.
One last quote:
Reagan expressed the GOP?s soul when he said ?it is my intention to curb the size and influence of the federal establishment and to demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the federal government and those reserved to the states or to the people.? Progress was slow and sometimes reversed, but Reagan kept up the pressure.
I’m just glad that the Gipper isn’t around anymore to see what’s become of his party.
Hat Tip: Professor Bainbridge
