This Is Now; That Was Then
January 27, 2010,
during Obama's first State of the Union address:
Starting in 2011, we are prepared to freeze government spending for three years. Spending related to our national security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will not be affected. But all other discretionary government programs will. Like any cash-strapped family, we will work within a budget to invest in what we need and sacrifice what we don't. And if I have to enforce this discipline by veto, I will.
September 26, 2008,
during Obama's first Presidential debate:
MCCAIN: How about a spending freeze on everything but defense, veteran affairs and entitlement programs.
LEHRER: Spending freeze?
MCCAIN: I think we ought to seriously consider with the exceptions the caring of veterans national defense and several other vital issues.
LEHRER: Would you go for that?
OBAMA: The problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet where you need a scalpel. There are some programs that are very important that are under funded. I went to increase early childhood education and the notion that we should freeze that when there may be, for example, this Medicare subsidy doesn't make sense.
(via
Huffington Post,
RealClearPolitics)
6 comments:
"early childhood education"
As in Head Start? The one that has been shown to have no positive effects beyond a few months and has cost billions and billions of dollars?
That one needs to have increased funding?
Surely you're joking?
I wish they were joking.
> There are some programs that are very important that are under funded.
Of course -- this is obviously true. They were underfunded then.
Now they aren't.
That extra trillion or so didn't go into someone's pocket.... well, not directly, that is. It got laundered a bit in the process.
I'm still underfunded, OBH.
> Assistant Village Idiot said...
> I'm still underfunded, OBH.
Oh, well, Obama has a plan to raise your government deficit funding allotments in that case...
Not taxes... but very similar.
Well, the same, actually.
But the name is different, and that's all that REALLY matters, innit?
"Fees, Withholding,
Assessments, Charges, Duties, Tolls, Impositions..." that sort of thing...
Oh, and the "inflationary adjustments" on the money you DO have.
But no new taxes!!
Whew. I'm so glad Obama has a plan.
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