Letter: Republicans are destroying U.S. economy

Monday, Dec. 24, 2001 | 8:23 a.m.

I suppose you could call the conservative Republicans in Congress good citizens -- if you are a millionaire. You might even think they are compassionate -- if you are an oil baron. If you have been laid off or are struggling to pay your bills they are Scrooges.

If they really think tax reductions will cause their rich supporters to expand corporations and hire more people, their IQs are questionable. Those pals are laying off employees because their sales of goods or services are declining. They need more customers before they expand again.

Where do they get these customers? Franklin D. Roosevelt launched every plausible government program his brain trust could think of to put people back to work. Dwight D. Eisenhower launched the huge Interstate Highway program that brought this country prosperity and the only balanced budget up until the Clinton administration, which helped promote the communications technology revolution.

Expecting tax rebates and extension of unemployment benefits to kick-start the economy is ludicrous. These efforts only prolong the misery. People need long-term jobs that ensure they can support themselves and their families before they buy more goods and services.

The conservative Republicans are using the unified spirit the terrorists caused to push through the rest of their tax scheme. Their first cuts wiped out the budget surplus, which we could sure use now to pay for the war on terrorism. Their continued drive to repay their sponsors before the public catches on is helping Osama bin Laden achieve his dream of destroying the Western World's economy.

PAUL GWIN