Letter: Bush’s tenure tied to economy

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002 | 8:27 a.m.

President Bush once used the "s" word, as in squander, implying President Clinton squandered many opportunities to do good for the country. Now there's an "s" word that's relevant to the Bush administration. It's "s" for surplus, as in where did it go? It took years to build and months to disappear under GWB, who gave out tax cuts without consideration for the inevitable economic rainy day. Talk about squandering.

Then there's the "d" word, as in deficit. Republicans now say deficits are good for the economy and surpluses are bad. The next Bush budget will not be balanced and will be in the red. Where is Ross Perot when deficit-hawks need him?

And how about the "r" word, as in recession. No one discussed recession until Bush/Cheney began talking down the economy. Their doom-and-gloom rhetoric seems to have become a self-fulfilling prophecy and, as of last March, under their watch, a recession began. GWB is blaming his economic problems partly on the terrorist attack of 9-11. But that brings to mind the "f" word, as in fuzzy math, since the recession began 6 months before 9-11 happened.

The president, who believes tax cuts are a cure-all for everything but the common cold, said the cuts would help prevent the recession. Instead, according to Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., they worsened it. Daschle also said we're experiencing a dramatic fiscal deterioration -- a stark contrast to the best economy in the history of the country under Clinton.

If the economy doesn't improve, we'll start using the "o" word, as in one term.

JOYCE SEGAL