Why I'm a Democrat

This week President Bush signed a bill into law that illustrates very well the values that make me a Democrat. The Republicans were fixin' to cut some spending, get back to the fiscal conservatism that hasn't existed in their party since Richard Nixon (or possibly Eisenhower). So what programs do they cut? Medicare, Medicaid and Student Loans. The entire bill will cut $40 billion in spending over 5 years, lets see how that adds up in the grand scheme of things.

-We're expected to run deficits of about $1.3 trillion through 2010.
-The Iraq War has cost us about $241 billion so far. And Bush recently asked for $72.4 billion more for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for 2006. (where are those WMD's? where's Osama?)
-The budget shortfall for this year is expected to be $400 billion
-Bush has proposed a $439 billion dollar defense budget for FY 2007.
-The cost of the Bush tax cuts is $1.7 trillion. And that is assuming they are not extended or made permanent.

So there is a lot of money at the federal level and the United States is in a lot of debt, but instead of really taking on the issue the Republicans choose to take away money from those that need it most, just so they can have a fancy bill signing ceremony with an insulting sign that reads "Controlling Federal Spending." Saying George Bush controls federal spending is like saying Cecil Fielder controlled his wieght. (Oh, and, the bill isn't actually law anyway because the house and Senate passed different versions and the GOP says they aren't going to bother fixing it, since when has the Constitution mattered to these guys anyway?)

So, this is why I'm a Democrat, because the Democratic party would NEVER cut $12 billion in student loans and call it a victory. Bill Clinton brought us into surpluses without screwing the poor and elderly, and he actually did control federal spending and practiced responsible governance. (with or without the fancy Kinko's sign on the signing desk) Those are the values that I appreciate and that is (one of the reasons) I'm a Democrat!