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Back to the Future with the GOP

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(Dwight Eisenhower was last Republican President to preside over a balanced budget. He had a balanced budget in 1956 and 1957. Since then, there have been two presidents to preside over balanced budgets, LBJ in 1969 and Clinton in 1998 through 2001. During the last 40 years there have been five budget surpluses, all five were under Democratic Presidents: 1969, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.)

Then came a familiar meme: " We hold that the major world issue today is whether Government shall be the servant or the master of men. We hold that the Bill of Rights is the sacred foundation of personal liberty. That men are created equal needs no affirmation, but they must have equality of opportunity and protection of their civil rights under the law."

 

Sure, we're familiar with that clarion call for small government. Ike used it. Reagan patented it -- "government is the problem."   George W. mouthed the words and grew the government until it collapsed.

 

This year, both Republicans and Democrats are trying to frame their conventions and campaigns as "choices for the voter" -- government should get out of the way or government should provide a strong safety net for all Americans.

 

We're also all-too-familiar with other GOP mantras, which they apparently think never wear out and never need replacing. For example, the 1956 Platform pledges:

 

"Gradual reduction of the national debt; further reductions in taxes with particular consideration for low and middle income families;

initiation of a sound policy of tax reductions which will encourage small independent businesses to modernize and progress; continual study of additional ways to correct inequities in the effect of various taxes."

 

If only they could have repealed all the regulatory legislation of those years, unemployment would sure have fallen below 6%, which is where it was then, not 8.4%, which is where it is now.

 

The Platform recommends to Congress the submission of a constitutional amendment providing equal rights for men and women.

 

Well, that one didn't work out so well. It had to wait for the Obama Administration and the enactment of the Lilly LedbetterLaw.

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William Fisher has managed economic development programs in the Middle East and elsewhere for the US State Department and the US Agency for International Development. He served in the international affairs area in the Kennedy Administration and now (more...)
 
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