Lawrance G Lux, click
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Blogs by Lawrance G Lux
Playing with the Numbers 1/3/2004 10:14:16 AM
I have just finished reading a CBO report, and find misleading information. They are playing with the Numbers, in order to hide excessive spending for the benefits of Corporate Sponsors of Bush. They claim only a 0.9% of Defense spending since the Clinton administration, plus only a 0.1% increase in domestic spending. Examination of data shows the attempt at deception.
Seventy percent of the Defense contracts under the Clinton administration have ceased--due to completion or scheduled Sunset of the Contracts. About twenty percent of the expenditures were to be eliminated. Study of the Bush system of Defense contract awards highlights the corruption of the practice.
Thirty percent of the Bush defense contract awards were for research and production of Weapons system, which had already been sunseted or canceled by previous administrations. Thirty percent of these Contracts were for provision of Weapon systems usable only against an equivalent military force, totally unusable in contexts of fighting guerillas, Terrorists, or provision of military occupation. Actual provision for military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan functionally starves Our forces in both Countries. Reason: their provisional needs are not easily met by Corporate Sponsors of Bush.
American States and Communities have not received the funding for the mandated Security provisions passed by Federal law. Regular military forces cannot obtain, train, and supply the 100,000 Troop complement necessary to meet their commitments; National Guard and Reserves troops have been effectively drafted for Iraq and Afghanistan, often after already having served in Kosovo. All Troops are being grossly underpaid, and the loss of Income to their families is not being paid. Wounded Troops are finding pressure to sign low Lump-sum Quit claims, rather than be provided with the Medical care and services available to Wounded personnel of previous Wars.
The Report goes to great pains to say that Inflation-adjustment shows only a 0.1% increase in domestic discretionary spending; something which should not be bragged upon. States are being bankrupted by Federal refusal to co-fund Medicaid payments effectively, where adjusted for Inflation claim for Medicaid have increased by Twenty percent during the Bush administration. Even the Education law claimed to be such advance, throws a approximate 10-30% increase in Cost onto School Boards, without Federal compensation. This is the Compassionate Conservative approach of George W. Bush. lgl
