One has but to look at the history of the national debt to see where the real problem occurred. World War II had to be won, at great cost of lives and money, but for the 35 years after the improving economy helped bring down the debt. So what happened and why is it seemingly out of control?
George H.W. Bush put it best: Voodoo economics, yet ironically he double-downed on the very same policies which re-ignited the skyrocketing debt. Reagan propagated small government and slashing taxes, for the rich mostly. The facts are in and his policies didn’t work out so well for the whole country, and that trend continues today. (See wealth divide.) It didn’t just happen.
The letter writer who claims that tax cuts and spending cuts starve the beast parrots this mentality of supply-side economics. Those who influenced Reagan failed to mention that for some, there was a whole lot of money to be made by redirecting the money collected and spent by the government, regardless of the consequences. The net result of this attack started with the debt almost tripling in eight years under Reagan and more than doubling again under George W. Bush, both of whom promoted this rip-off deception of starving the government, read as we the people. For all you Obama haters, it should be noted that these same policies are pretty much in play today. (See tax debate.)
Most fascinating and head-scratching is that the writer believes there will be enough to care for the indigent and frail while those he may vote for are clamoring to defund as many support programs as they can get away with.
Dennis Doolittle
Arlington
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