1. Left Limit/Right Limit: An Approach to Understanding Political Issues Part V: Analysis of Republican Fund Raising Literature

I did three Ezines reporting on Republican fundraising literature. One on Republicans in general, one on John McCain and one on Karl Rove’s vision for Republicans (Ezines 20-22). Similarly, I expect to do at least two Ezines in analyzing those reports.

Republicans write of their fears of what Democrats will do if they return to power. Here, (again, for your convenience) are those fears.

     Tax Cuts will be repealed, Massive tax increases will be passed. 
     Welfare Reform will be overturned
     Government Spending will go through the roof
     Efforts to tighten border security and enforce laws against illegal immigration will be scrapped.
     The US will cut and run in Iraq, gutting military and intelligence services.
     The Federal Courts will be stacked with judges who will legislate from the bench, treating the Constitution like a doormat.
     Increase the size and intrusion of government, especially in health care.
     Undo progress in improving our schools.

By the way, I noted Republicans touted the following achievements because of them and their policies in their letters.

     Interest rates and unemployment were near all time lows, inflation is in check, and more families than ever own homes.
     Enacted pro-growth tax cuts and cut wasteful spending.
     Created 8.3 Million jobs since 2003.

Overall, Republicans state, “We represent the values of most Americans.” One letter notes Republicans believe in strong national defense and limited government. Republicans, continues the letter, “trust the people, rather than government, to make the decisions about what’s best for you and your family.”

Given these charges and claims, Democrats (if they want the votes of independent moderate voters) must definitively assure voters they have stakes in the ground from keeping Democratic policy from going too far to the left. Here are some examples.

     Tax Cuts will only be repealed on the upper income bracket earners
     Welfare Reform is here to stay with nonstop emphasis on personal responsibility.
     Government spending will be controlled.
     New programs will be limited unless funding can be found.
     Border security will be tightened and laws against illegal immigration enforced 
     Health Care initiatives will not result in government run health care

Strongest of all, Democrats need to adopt the robust National Defense objectives I articulated in the last Ezine. So, if Democrats are unable to articulate robust National Defense objectives or persuade you they will keep the pendulum from swinging too far to the left, should you vote for Republicans?

Only if you can get Republicans to acknowledge that (unfortunately) many of their claims are inaccurate and instead offer you revised policies and objectives beneficial to all Americans. Republicans claim, for example, “inflation is in check and more families than ever own homes.”

Ronald Reagan was fond of saying inflation is the cruelest tax of all. Yet consumer inflation, as noted by McClatchy newspapers, “is running at an annual rate of 5.6 percent, its highest level in 17 years.” http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/48211.html  The reasons behind this phenomenon are led by the rise in energy costs. The reasons for the rise in energy costs are many and include the national debt and the devaluation of the dollar. I don’t have the time or space to explore them in depth here. You’re welcome to comment by email or on my Blog. Oh, and let’s see, who was in charge 17 years ago? That would have been 1991, so Bush I would have been President.

What about “more families than ever own their homes”? Haven’t we also experienced a period where more American families than ever were threatened with losing their homes? And yes, some of that was caused by people too foolish to read the fine print. But can’t you also say that a lack of regulatory oversight failed to expose predatory lending in time to preclude excessive damage to the economy? (See the McClatchy article for this, as well). Didn’t our Federal Government just pass legislation to avert disaster in this area? (http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/07/bush_mortgage_bailout.html Bush Signs Housing Bailout into Law)

Given the above, you might want to consider casting your vote based on this dictum. If you’re in charge and things go well, then you should get the credit and keep doing what you’re doing. If things don’t go well, then you deserve to get the blame and (unless I can trust you to change) you should probably be replaced.

Next week I will continue to examine these fund raising letters and suggest some left limit corrections for Democrats and right limit corrections for Republicans.

2. I.O.U.S.A. I already have a Blog entry posted on this, but this is too important not to give you a reminder. On Thursday, August 21, 2008, 7:00 p.m. CDT, Warren Buffett, Pete Peterson ad Dave Walker will discuss the changing American economic landscape LIVE on-stage following the debut of the riveting new film I.O.U.S.A. You can see this in 400 theaters across the country. See my Blog entry for more details.