The Economy: Another Casualty of War
This week, as the American economy continued to suffer
the effects of big government, the House attempted to pass two multibillion
dollar "emergency" spending bills, one for continued spending on the
war in Iraq ,
and one increasing spending on domestic and international welfare programs.
The plan was to pass these two bills and then send them to the president
as one package. Even though the House failed to pass the war spending
bill, opponents of the war should not be fooled into believing this vote
signals a long-term change in policy. At the end of the day, those
favoring continued military occupation of Iraq
will receive every penny they are requesting and more, as long as they agree to
dramatically increase domestic and international welfare spending as
well.
The continued War in Iraq
and the constant state of emergency has allowed Congress to use these so-called
"emergency" bills as a vehicle to dramatically increase spending
across the board--including spending that does not meet even the most generous
definition of emergency. For example, the spending proposals currently
being considered by Congress provide $210 million to the Census Bureau and $4
million for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. $4.6 billion is
requested for the closing of military bases, but not any of the more than 700
bases overseas – but bases here at home! Another $387 million would go to
various international organizations and $850 million more just in international
food aid - all this when food prices are skyrocketing here and American
families are having a hard time making ends meet. Because this spending
will be part of "emergency" measures, it will not count against debt
ceilings, or any spending limits set by Congressional budget resolutions, and
does not have to be offset in any way.
Explosive growth of government is just another tragedy
of this war. The "bipartisan" compromises made in Washington
are at the expense of the taxpayer, not in the interest of fiscal responsibility,
or peace. The taxpayer loses and government grows.
The bottom line is that our dollar is falling, the
economy is in rough shape, and government spending is wildly out of
control. Congress argues over relatively minor details, instead of dramatically
changing our flawed foreign policy. We need to bring our troops home, not
only from Iraq
and Afghanistan, but from South Korea, Germany, and
the other 138 countries where we have troops stationed. Our foreign
policy of interventionism is not only offensive to others, inviting further
terrorist attacks, but it is ruining our economy as we tax, borrow, and print
the money to pay the bills of our empire. The economy and ultimately the
American people suffer because Washington
is refusing to adopt more sensible and constitutional policies.
Squabbling between those who favor increased welfare and
those who favor increased warfare has giving the American people a temporary
reprieve from having to bear the burden of yet another dramatic increase in government
this week. However, as early as next week a compromise could be reached that
expands both government warfare and welfare. As congressional approval ratings
drop to 18% according to a recent Gallup
poll, the American people are telegraphing that Congress is taking the country
in the wrong direction. Our government must stop bankrupting the country
so that we can get back on track to a peaceful, prosperous future.
Congressman Ron
Paul of Texas enjoys a
national reputation as the premier advocate for liberty in politics
today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington for limited
constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to
sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He is known
among both his colleagues in Congress and his constituents for his
consistent voting record in the House of Representatives: Dr. Paul
never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly
authorized by the Constitution.
To learn more
about Congressman Ron Paul, visit his Congressional
Home Page.
See Ron Paul's official
website regarding his run for President in 2008.
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