Letter: A different take on Bush’s runaway spending

Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005 | 7:15 a.m.

In her Nov. 18 letter, Patricia Ducharme states that "George W. Bush is the most fiscally irresponsible president this country has ever had the misfortune to put in office." I would submit that either LBJ or Jimmy Carter was more irresponsible fiscally, but I do agree that President Bush has never met a spending bill he did not like.

However, the two examples Ms. Ducharme cites -- tax cuts and defending America -- are examples of very responsible actions by the president of the United States. Defending America against external enemies whose avowed purpose in life is to kill Americans is a responsibility that is explicitly spelled out in the Constitution. The tax cuts for all taxpayers (not just the "rich") that President Bush encouraged Congress to pass have enhanced the wealth and well-being of America. In fact, 4 percent economic growth year over year is almost too good. Let us hope the tax cuts can be made permanent so we can continue onward and upward.

President Bush has, however, irresponsibly signed off on $200 billion in agriculture subsidies, $400 billion in useless spending on education, several billions in transportation pork, $800 billion for a prescription drug welfare subsidy, $250 billion to build a "new" New Orleans, etc.

Ms. Ducharme and I agree that President Bush spends irresponsibly, but we have different viewpoints. Fiscally, President Bush spends more like an irresponsible liberal Democrat than a responsible conservative Republican.

F. Jay Harrell

Las Vegas