My response to Andy

Opinion

Discussion

September 1, 2010

Anonymous The Moultrie Observer The Moultrie Observer Wed Sep 01, 2010, 11:14 PM EDT

| — Dear editor:

Andy Driver says that we cannot blame President George W. Bush or Governor Sarah Palin for anything, even if they are blameworthy, so I might be wasting my breath.

Mr. Driver claims that President Obama quadrupled the federal deficit and is responsible for two of the worst deficit spending months ever, including February 2009. Mr. Obama wasn’t sworn in until Jan 20th. His economic policies were not even enacted until the end of February.

The main Republican criticisms was that the stimulus was deployed too slowly; almost nothing was spent by the end of March. (You won’t remember that if you get your news from a certain “fair and balanced” network.) So basically, economic policy of the first three months of 2009 was a continuation of the previous administration’s fiscal policy.

The deficit in March 2009 was roughly 10.3% of GDP. Currently the deficit is about 11%. I’ll ask my math teacher father to make sure, but I don’t think 10.3 quadrupled is 11. Most of the deficit is Mr. Bush’s fault, but I can’t say that because, well, Mr. Driver says I can’t.

During the 2000 presidential race, Princeton’s Paul Krugman predicted Mr. Bush’s economic policies would cause federal government to move from having a substantial yearly surplus as a result of the Bill Clinton’s presidency to having at least a $1 trillion yearly deficit by the end of Mr. Bush’s two terms. (Does anyone remember the budget surpluses under Mr. Clinton? Republicans don’t.)

Mr. Obama inherited a yearly deficit of roughly $1.4 trillion. (Dr. Krugman has won a Nobel Price in economics).. The nation’s best economists warned us back in 2000 that Mr. Bush would wreak havoc on the federal budget. But I can’t blame Mr. Bush because, well, Mr. Driver said I can’t.

Finally, Americans were quite uninformed about what was actually in the health care bill. During the 90s, Republicans who opposed President Clinton’s overhaul of health care proposed what they considered a more responsible policy: guaranteed insurance regardless of previously existing conditions, a requirement for individuals to buy their own insurance, and subsidies to the poor. In short, they proposed Obamacare.

Republicans like Mr. Driver didn’t find this proposal “ridiculous” until, well, a Democrat was elected. Mr. Driver is correct that polling showed about 60% of the country opposed to the health care bill. But polls that actually included a description of the health care bill showed 60% in favor. In short, the reason Americans opposed Obamacare was because of a deliberate misinformation campaign by Republicans, including Ms. Palin (death panels, anyone?). But I can’t blame Ms. Palin because, well, Mr. Driver says I can’t. So I’d like to argue with Mr. Driver, but I don’t know what I’d say.

Michael Wayne Harris

Staresboro

Text Only

Opinion

More data on the Battle of the Bulge
May 9, 2012 1 Photo
Life is a matter of perspectives; think about it
My friend, a city boy, was yelling for help. We were fishing on a river, and he had ventured over to another spot.
“Someone help! I’m cornered!” he yelled.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
We better wake up
Dear editor:
Have our GOP representatives gone to sleep or are they refusing to act for the people they are supposed to represent? The Obama administration has contracted a Spanish company called SCYTAL, to tabulate the 2012 November presidential election.

May 25, 2012
Rant and Rave for 5/26/12
May 25, 2012
Rant and Rave for 5/25/12
May 24, 2012
May God bless my Uncle Henry
My uncle once noted on his return from a fishing trip that he caught so many fish he couldn’t put them all in one pile.
That’s how I feel trying to keep up with all the causes and organizations that either require support groups or else they comprise support groups.

May 23, 2012 1 Photo
A kind humanity
Dear editor:
Humanity. One word. That word can translate into many other words. Some would say humanity is dark, greedy and bent on world domination. Others may say humanity is sweet, kind and caring. I myself witnessed a small part of a loving, caring humanity the other day.

May 23, 2012
Rant and Rave for 5/24/12
May 23, 2012
Why it's a bad tax
Dear editor:
In regards to the Transportation TSplost Tax: The statement, “Economic development suffers if we don’t pass this tax” is not a valid statement, because Georgia has always been behind the 8 ball in regards to transportation, but yet look at the growth we have experienced; being behind in transportation didn't hinder economic growth. Georgia now ranks 11th in the country as of 2010 and this occurred mostly since 1995. The economic vitality of Georgia is alive and well considering the slump the country is in.

May 22, 2012
Rant and Rave for 5/23/12
May 22, 2012
More Opinion Headlines

If the vote were held today, would you support the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax?

Opinion

Search Results

Discussion

My response to Andy

If the vote were held today, would you support the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax?

Site Map

Contact Us