Buchanan on "big deals".

[CID1990]

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=45175" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think this is one of his better written articles.

Which brings up the question, is it possible that the ONLY way to solve our deficit and spending problems is to cause a lot of pain now, so as to avoid more pain in the future? Is that even politically possible?

Should you compromise, when you know that compromise will just create more problems than it solves?

I know we need to get our spending under control, but is it even possible to do without someone finally saying "enough", and refusing to budge on the budget bill? Maybe we really do need a balanced budget amendment. Our elected officials have proven time and again to not be able to do anything that might risk negative results at the polls, which means they are always going to want to borrow so that all the cheeping baby chicks get their worms.

I can think of a lot of things we can do without, but for each line item I would cut, there is someone who will claim the world will end without it.

[kalm]

How did NAFTA, GATT and the WTO work out?
   
Since 1992, the United States has run a total of $7 trillion in trade deficits. Six million manufacturing jobs disappeared in the last decade, along with 50,000 factories. This year's trade deficit just returned to an annual rate of $600 billion.

Spending is outta control, but damn that's a shit ton of wealth living our shores.


Fantastic article and an example of why Patrick is one of the most level headed conks ever.

Bipartisan big deals gave us Vietnam, Iraq, the Reagan and Bush 1 tax hikes, NAFTA, GATT, the WTO, No Child Left Behind and prescription drug benefits under Medicare. Bipartisan big deals led America to the brink of bankruptcy.

Of course it would require another "big deal" to get rid of this shit but we would be back on track.

[Ivytalk]

Just reads like a laundry list of Pat's usual fulminations against free trade agreements, federal boondoggles of various hues, and the political establishment in general. Human Events is his platform. Pat always approached the political world with a chip on his shoulder and seemed surprised when his opponents kept knocking it off. It's a shame, because he's a bright guy.

[houndawg]

Just reads like a laundry list of Pat's usual fulminations against free trade agreements, federal boondoggles of various hues, and the political establishment in general. Human Events is his platform. Pat always approached the political world with a chip on his shoulder and seemed surprised when his opponents kept knocking it off. It's a shame, because he's a bright guy.

His nickname in college was "Ol' Suckerpunch".

[mountain_man]

Just reads like a laundry list of Pat's usual fulminations against free trade agreements, federal boondoggles of various hues, and the political establishment in general. Human Events is his platform. Pat always approached the political world with a chip on his shoulder and seemed surprised when his opponents kept knocking it off. It's a shame, because he's a bright guy.

His nickname in college was "Ol' Donkeypunch".

Fixed it for you...