December 22, 2004
WHO WOULDN'T TAKE A DO-OVER ON THE 20TH CENTURY?:
Liberals must refight battles of the past (Paul Sabin, December 22, 2004, Boston Globe)
PRESIDENT BUSH has inspired comparisons with his pre-World War II predecessors Warren Harding, William McKinley, and Herbert Hoover and shown that the great struggles in American history never end. As Bush's second term approaches, several pre-World War II domestic issues predominate.Bush's four signature domestic policy areas -- reforming the tax code, privatizing Social Security, rolling back congressional power, and developing energy resources -- take up political battles that seemed to be laid to rest for generations. Who thought that the progressive income tax, authorized by constitutional amendment in 1913, would be up for discussion or that the nation was prepared to revisit fundamental aspects of the New Deal's social compact for retirement security?
Everyone who's been paying attention since Ronald Reagan nearly unseated Gerald Ford in 1976? Posted by Orrin Judd at December 22, 2004 9:36 AM
Americans understand that the Federal government isn't the repository of all that is wise and good. It is too bad that liberals do not share that opinion. Leaving American economic policy unchanged since 1938 makes about as much sense as leaving American medical care or technology unchanged since the same period.
Liberals arguing to preserve America in amber? Isn't that what paleocons are supposed to do?
Posted by: Bart at December 22, 2004 9:55 AMTo put it another way, liberals (the Democrats in particular) are classic conservatives. George Bush is a radical.
Posted by: Uncle Bill at December 22, 2004 4:33 PM