Scene and heard

In January 2001, George W. Bush inherited the largest ever US budget surplus. It took him a little more than 2 years to break the record deficit, set by his Father in 1991. He did this largely by instituting large-scale tax cuts for his sponsors – wealthy individuals and corporations. All evidence that Social Security was going bankrupt, while not being ignored, was treated rather like vehicle emissions: ‘we know it needs fixing, but it’s too expensive. We hope that the problem goes away by itself, but if it doesn’t, someone else can deal with it later.’

Well it seems that later has just arrived. On the very day that the Republicans have ceded control of Congress for the first time in his Presidency, 'W' has announced that the budget should be balanced by 2012 – 3 years after his term ends. Taxes will need to be raised for this to happen. I can just hear the comments from the red states and other people who talk without thinking or referencing facts: ‘Damned Democrats! As soon as they take control, up go the taxes!’