---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 14:36:02 -0800 (PST)
From: GaryC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [infowars] Bush's State of the Union speech was a historic 'missed
opportunity'
Bush's State of the Union speech was a historic 'missed opportunity'
WASHINGTON, DC -- George W. Bush missed a historic opportunity in his
State of the Union address last night by not refocusing the federal
government on its primary function: Defending the lives and rights of
American citizens.
Instead, he outlined a laundry list of 39 new government proposals, new
expenditures, and expanded programs -- as well as a potentially endless,
worldwide "War on Terrorism," said Libertarian Party Executive Director
Steve Dasbach.
"George Bush's compassionate conservatism is sounding a lot like
compulsive Clintonism," he said. "Instead of using September 11 as an
opportunity to limit the federal government to its core role of defending
America, President Bush is using the tragic terrorist attacks as an excuse
to further expand the federal government."
In fact, during his 48-minute speech, Bush proposed 39 new or expanded
government initiatives, according to the Cato Institute -- which is almost
as many on a per-minute basis as Bill Clinton proposed in his last State
of the Union address.
Such a strategy not only flies in the face of what conservatives profess
to believe -- it also makes Americans less secure, said Dasbach.
"A sprawling, trying-to-do-everything federal government cannot
effectively focus on protecting Americans against foreign threats," he
said. "A government that tries to do too much will end up doing too little
where it really matters -- keeping us safe from foreign threats."
In his State of the Union speech:
* Bush proposed the "largest increase in defense spending in two decades."
He also said the U.S. will take action against an "axis of evil" --
nations like North Korea, Iraq, and Iran which have the potential to
develop weapons of mass destruction.
Missed opportunity: America doesn't need to spend more money to protect
itself -- it needs to spend less money smarter, said Dasbach.
"September 11 could have been used as an opportunity to bring American
troops home from the 144 nations and territories where they are stationed;
to stop subsidizing the defense of wealthy European nations; and to stop
intervening in foreign conflicts that do not affect our security," he
said. "Instead, September 11 is being used as an excuse to rid the entire
world of 'evil-doers,' while spending more money than we did during the
Cold War.
"What President Bush should have done is announce clear, measurable, and
finite goals for this War on Terrorism. Our nation's best interests will
be served by decisive action that targets the guilty, spares the innocent,
and ends as quickly as possible."
* In a clear reference to Enron, Bush said corporations should be "held to
the highest standard of conduct."
Missed opportunity: Bush should have used the Enron debacle to vow to end
wasteful corporate welfare, said Dasbach.
"While there is clear evidence of irresponsibility by Enron executives,
many Americans don't realize that politicians used tax dollars to
irresponsibly enrich those same executives," he said. "Over the past few
years, Enron has received at least $1.6 billion from the federal
government in Import-Export Bank subsidies and from the federal Overseas
Private Investment Corporation.
"What Bush should have done is promise to immediately end all Aid to
Dependent Corporations -- especially ones with corrupt executives and
shoddy accounting practices."
* Bush unveiled the USA Freedom Corps, which will expand the AmeriCorps
program and the Peace Corps, and promote "service" to the nation.
Missed opportunity: Bush should have abolished Bill Clinton's tax-funded
AmeriCorps program, said Dasbach -- and publicly rejected the notion that
compassion comes with a government paycheck attached to it.
"President Bush should have realized that you don't display your love for
country by becoming a tax-funded volunteer," he said. "And Bush should
have promised to take the money that has been squandered on the AmeriCorps
program and return it to individual citizens -- who can best decide how to
spend it to help their nation."
* Finally, Bush promised to extend unemployment benefits, expand the Head
Start program, upgrade teacher colleges, enact a Patients' Bill of Rights,
and expand Medicare to give seniors coverage for prescription drugs.
Missed opportunity: Bush should have used the current economic downturn to
start trimming government programs and spending, said Dasbach.
"Bush's modest tax cuts, which passed last year, were a nice start to help
revitalize the economy," he said. "But that effort will now be undercut by
more government spending, more bureaucracy, and higher deficits.
Regretfully, each of Bush's 39 new and expanded programs will further slow
the effort to create economic growth."
In his State of the Union speech, Bush said he supported "limits on state
power," noted Dasbach.
"Whether in the area of national defense, corporate welfare, volunteerism,
or federal programs, Bush should start to put that limited-government
principle into practice," he said. "The fact that he did not do so was his
greatest missed opportunity."
Blessed Be!
Gary Castaldo
