The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 3 of 14)

I regret to inform my dear American friends that, au contraire, fiscal conservatism and balanced budgets are in fact alive and well -- at least here in the fair dominion of Australia. The conservative government lead by Prime Minister John Howard has just handed down its twelfth budget. Before it came to office the government had a deficient of $96 billion, resulting in annual debt servicing costs of $12 billion and average income earners were on a marginal tax rate of 47 cents in the dollar. The last ten budgets have all been in surplus, the existing deficient has been reduced to zero and the government saves $12 billion a year by no longer paying interest on debt. Further more, in the last four budgets, income taxes have been reduced and 85 percent of income earners now pay a single tax rate of 30 cents in the dollar -- some change from 47 cents! The next two years are all forecast to provide budget surpluses and I wouldn't be surprised if the tax rate is reduced further for most taxpayers. A flat tax rate of 25 per cent looks like a real possibility here. Arthur Laffer -- eat your heart out!

p>Compared to this record, the fiscal record of the Republican Party in government is not conservative at all -- it's incompetent and appalling. You guys don't have a clue about what fiscal conservatism is and that is a big reason why the polls for you stink like a blocked cellblock toilet. There is no reason at all why a disciplined, organized and competent conservative party can't have the same budget record as the John Howard government here in Australia. But since when has the Republican Party in general and the Bush administration in particular shown even faint signs of being disciplined, organized and competent? I don't know whether to laugh or cry over that one. Fiscal conservatism is not the problem for American conservatives and it sure isn't some dream of days gone by. The real problem is the complete lack of basic leadership qualities and simple guts. If Republicans ever find their missing backbone they might find that balanced budgets and tax cuts are not a dream and can be achieved. After all, we did it here and we don't have oil wells like they do in Texas. br> -- Christopher Holland br> Canberra, Australia /p> p> HIM AGAIN br> Re: Paul Beston's I'm Jimmy Carter, and I Can't Help Myself : /p> p>Bravo Mr. Beston, well thought, well perceived. br> -- Ramon

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