June 5, 2008
John McCain says if he becomes president he will eliminate government programs that don’t work. That’s easier said than done. Congress will have the final word on much of this and politicians know how to style every program they want to keep as essential. The media will focus on starving old people or children, no matter how wasteful or outmoded the program.
What McCain should promise is an independent, bi-partisan group to look at every government program and determine which can be eliminated and which kept. Then it could be presented to Congress as a way to save the taxpayers’ money and make government more efficient. Politicians would oppose such an effort at their peril.
Another thing: aren’t you tired of politicians telling you what they plan to do for you? Why don’t we ever hear them say what we should be doing for ourselves? This is a country built on individual initiative, not top-down government dictates.
Liberty for individuals, not dependency on government, ought to be the policy of both parties.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
