Word: taxingly
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Beyond the posturing rivals and professional loudmouths, many conservative leaders secretly are not that concerned about what Bush said last week. They know he has a history of offering moderate rhetoric, then coming down solidly in their camp. Two weeks ago, he opposed a G.O.P. plan to delay tax-credit payments to low-income workers, saying his party's leaders shouldn't "balance their budget on the backs of the poor." But he supported the party's $800 billion tax-cut plan, which would require deep cuts in worthy programs aimed at the same people...
With an answer like that, how big a jerk can he be? But what about the vision thing? Every candidate needs one. He's for tax cuts, against affirmative action and pro-choice; he fears that if we outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns and thinks campaign finance is a complicated issue but simple enough for him. He can afford to think that. "I'm prepared to spend what it takes, $20 million to $40 million," he declares, "and then I won't be beholden to anyone." Does he really have the cash, having gone neck deep into debt...
...Paris. And yet--vive le paradoxe--France today boasts a healthy growth rate, low inflation and a muscular foreign-trade surplus. At the same time, Jospin has actually privatized more state-owned enterprises than did his conservative predecessors, has reined in state spending and is now preparing substantial tax cuts...
...fantasy debate over raiding Social Security for general government operations is especially weird because what is actually happening is the opposite. Both parties have agreed in principle that some part of the future government surplus should go to saving Social Security. In other words, general tax revenues will be poured into the Social Security trust fund and used to finance benefit checks...
...save Social Security is a mild pruning of benefits for the better-off half of the retired population, in order to keep the trust fund growing for future retirees. If a budget surplus actually does materialize, worthwhile goals like health care for the uninsured or--yes--even a tax cut ought to come before pouring more money into the trust fund. Where is the courageous politician who will say it's time to stop Social Security from raiding the government...