Budget follies

[Mark McEahern]

> They didn't forecast the exact timing of a recession. The average
> growth rates they predicted over the full period were low enough to
> allow for the requisite number of recessions within that timespan.

Is it merely cynical (or rhetorical) to suggest that everything is going as
planned for Bush & Co. with respect to the budget.  There's some quote in
the nyt today something to the effect that the deficits and shrinking
surplus will have place an inevitable squeeze on all federal programs.
Isn't that precisely what they wanted?  To starve the federal government to
death?  Except for Defense spending, of course, wink, wink.  In other words,
why are we so surprised?

A fool who can't watch tv and chew pretzels at the same time--or a masterful
politician?

And the American public wonders, "What's on tv tonight?"

// mark