Obi wan liberali's blog

This part in the series will focus on the fiscal policy of the Reagan administration, his priorities and it’s impact upon deficits and the national debt. Ronald Reagan put a great deal of weight into the idea that a major tax cut was necessary. Successfully selling that idea upon a skeptical Democrat-controlled Congress was not easy, but it was passed never the less.

The other half of the equation that got lost was the need to decrease spending at the same time. Reagan’s budget director David Stockman slashed away at certain departmental budgets. However, at the same time that Stockman was proposing massive cuts to certain budgets, he was confronted with another reality. Reagan had been critical of his predecessor in allowing the U.S. military to become weakened and vulnerable during Carter’s administration. Notwithstanding Carter’s development of the Trident Sub program and his failed attempt at his original proposal for an MX Missile system (mobile missiles), conservative think-tanks, many funded by arms manufacturers, had worked on selling the public on the idea that the U.S. was militarily weak relative to the Soviet Union. The result was a massive increase in military spending during the Reagan years. Military spending grew during the 1980’s from $136 billion in 1980 to $282 billion in 1987.

As a Mormon missionary, I learned alot about Mormon doctrine and how it contrasted with mainstream or Nicene Christianity as well as other faiths. I also learned just how sensitive people could be when their beliefs were challenged. A tactic to reduce the tension during a hot theological discussion was to search for some common ground, and take on a common "enemy." When "born-againers" as we called them would challenge me, I'd find common ground tearing into the dogmas of the Jehovah's Witnesses. When dealing with a "jaydub" as we called them, I'd tear into "born-againer's" dogma.

This post is intended to be a first in a series of posts that deal with the economic viability of Reaganomics and it’s 21st century variant, Bushonomics. This first essay will talk a little about definitions and touch on the history behind these economic policies as they’ve been proposed and passed into law.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan assumed the presidency and proposed a dramatic shift in the role and size of the federal government. Assuming the presidency during a time of double digit inflation and interest rates, there were also deep-seeded economic rumblings that were occurring in major industries in the United States such as steel, automobiles, and other heavy industries that were capital intensive and burdened with large numbers of relatively well paid working class jobs.

The release of the newest National Intelligent Estimate (NIE) by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) articulates what most think tanks had already concluded, that U.S. invasions of Afganistan and Iraq have not had the desired effects of constraining and marginalizing Al Qaeda. The NIE indicates that Al Qaeda has grown both in numbers and in the proficiency of their tactics. Particularly, the invasion of Iraq has mobilized the muslim world and the radical elements within that broad community has grown significantly.

To a degree, I feel a certain level of guilt regarding Iraq. After 9/11, I saw the wisdom of going into Afghanistan and trying to get Osama bin Ladin. I thought it imperative to send a message to nations that if they harbor terrorists such as Osama bin Ladin, you risk being attacked by the United States military. Military force, if used correctly, can have the kind of results you want and I believed the war in Afghanistan was appropriate. I was concerned that we didn’t go in there with adequate force the cut off the borders and prevent Osama and his chief deputies from escaping into Pakistan. Even so, I wasn’t going to get too much heartburn over some apparent failings in this enterprise. Though Osama lived, I believe he was to a great degree, contained.

The news from the Tooele County Republican Convention was recently reported. Both incumbent County Commissioners didn't even get out of convention. The two term County Attorney got 15% and was knocked out as well. Republicans are anxious and they don't know why. Those who have watched the news (outside of Fox/Pravda) know why they are concerned.

Frankly, Republicans have done a poor job of governing. They can no longer blame dem dern liberal Democrats because the Republicans control all branches of the federal and state government. So who's the scapegoat now? Terrorists? Communists? Oh, let's blame the illegal immigrants.

The Tooele County Democratic Convention was well attended last night and there was a good group of strong candidates. It was interesting to see the large number of avowed Republicans in attendance. Initially, you might think Republican fatigue, disgruntlement with the Republican party, etc. However, the reality was, well-known people running for office just happened to have considerable numbers of Republican friends whom agreed to be delegates in their behalf.

We're still losing in the suburbs in Utah. That became apparent at the local precinct caucuses. There was no competition for delegate spots at our Democratic caucus. There were five available and five participants. Accross the way was the Republican caucus. 28 people competed for four spots.

In my precinct, the person who had hosted the Democratic Caucus for much of the time I lived here was attending the Republican caucus because she had decided to run for office as a Republican. The same person who sat in the table next to me at Democratic fundraisers was deciding that to increase her odds at winning, she was turning her back on 30+ years of party offiliation. If she is willing to react this strongly to political practicality, how can we as voters be assured that she will act in the interest of voters or in the interests of her political career.

As I read the Senate's vote yesterday regarding SB 96, "Public Education - Instruction and Policy Relating to the Origins of Life", I sadly acknowledged that august body gave into Gayle Ruzika and the Discovery Institute. Though the bill ended up being watered down much farther than the sponsor would have liked, the fact that this bill even saw the light of day shows how far to the right our legislature has turned. Traditionally, the Utah Senate represented the moderate wing of the legislative branch, where distinguished and learned men often through water on the tempestuous passions of the more mob-like House. No longer. Republican Senators in safe districts no longer worry about being perceived as too conservative. They fear that Gayle Ruzika and her radical minions might put up one of their own against them in convention and primary. Political imbalance in Utah allows the stuff of SB 96 to happen.

As I’ve watched Republicans since 1994, I’ve observed something that is both comical and alarming. Republicans love to package their ideas in terms that sound liberal or objective. Republicans take pride in their ability to sell ice machines to Eskimos by telling us of the heat they produce. Examples of this type of behavior are easy to find. A new buzzword for Republicans when they want to throw water on environmental concerns is to call upon “sound science” which when properly interpreted is “industry funded scientists with an already defined objective”. Not only do they couch the term “sound science” to market their own fringe science, they also created an organization and named it after a great American, hence the George C. Marshall Institute, to sell their anti-environmental wares. Funded to a great extent by Exxon/Mobil, the GMI has yet to uncover a new environmental concern, but has spent its time and resources trying to create uncertainty in the American public regarding global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, acid rain and anything else they can produce a study about. While Sen. Inhofe (the most outspoken Republican on scientific matters) quotes liberally (so to speak) from the GMI, scientists from the National Academy of Sciences don’t seem to weigh into Inhofe’s analysis on the important issues of the day.