The Bush administration is readying its fiscal 2005 budget. The main elements are sure to be military spending, slated for a 7 percent increase to $420 billion, and homeland security, set to increase 10 percent to about $45 billion.
The president is asking Congress to keep spending for most other domestic spending programs at less than 1 percent of their current levels, when adjusted for inflation. This means many beneficial domestic programs could be in danger.
Mr. Bush has said that he wants to make permanent his tax cuts for the wealthy and privileged. In addition, while not noted in the budget, are supplemental amounts of $40 to $100 billion to fight the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
With the escalating military budget and the permanent extension of the tax cuts, it is likely that this will bankrupt the federal government in the years to come. With a lack of focus on domestic issues, it is clear that Mr. Bush is not the kind of leader that ordinary Americans need.
His handlers, like Karl Rove, have done an excellent job with their smoke and mirrors to hide the fact that our emperor has no clothes.
Americans should ask themselves if they want a country that is representative of the needs of all Americans, or do they want a country that takes from the poor and middle-class and gives it all to the wealthy in the form of tax breaks and military contracts?
Jim Baumer, Durham
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