THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Reagan lit the fire: Supply-side economics has been a conflagration. Increasing defense spending, cutting taxes and balancing the budget were mutually exclusive goals. In achieving the first two goals, Reagan tripled the deficit by adding $2 trillion in debt. The interest on that debt is now the second largest federal expenditure, after defense. If it were not for the debt added by Reagan, the federal budget would be balanced today.
Newt fiddles while Washington burns: Sounding the alarm, congressional Republicans proclaim themselves to be budget-balancing heroes. Their plan? More of the same. Trying to balance the budget with more supply-side economics is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. Meanwhile, they have been cutting holes in the social safety net, jeopardizing the lives of working people, the elderly and children.
Dole fans the flames: Now Republicans are eager to control both Congress and the presidency. Dole has been in Congress 35 years and carried the torch for Reagan in the 1980s as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Electing Dole president would be like electing an arsonist to be fire chief.
DAVID L. CAMPBELL
Virginia Beach, April 4, 1996 by CNB