The Budget And Mad Cow

One opinion, one point:

Opinion:
When it comes to fiscal conservatism, the Republican Party simply fails under President Bush. Today, the federal government spends $2.47 trillion—that's 2,470 billions of dollars—each year. Adjusted for inflation, that's 50 percent larger than the big-government Clinton-era budgets of only a decade ago – remember those? – the ones conservatives complained about? Of that, only 21 cents of every taxpayer dollar goes to national defense and homeland security. By contrast, 54 cents goes to entitlements like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and 8 cents goes to servicing the federal debt.

As The Patriot Post indicates: Meanwhile, the federal deficit will grow another $423 billion this year, raising the national debt to $8.28 trillion! While we're not exactly "The sky is falling!" deficit hawks, it's worth noting that big budgets and big deficits tighten the money supply, increasing the costs of investment and slowing economic growth and prosperity.

This is not what Conservatism is about. I continue to be disappointed.

Point:
Just what you want in your beef: bovine spongiform encephalopathy. You know it as Mad Cow Disease. And were you aware that the USDA under President Bush has barred Kansas meatpacking company Creekstone Farms from following through on its plan to test 100% of its cattle for BSE?

In order to reassure its overseas customers, Creekstone wanted to test 100% of its cows – compared to the USDA – which tests 1% of slaughtered cattle. The USDA had the actual temerity to say that Creekstone’s proposed testing regime would “undermine confidence in government efforts to spot the disease,” which can cause fatal brain damage in people eating infected animals.

Here are some Truths according to BZ:

Yes, it would undermine confidence. And why is the USDA only testing 1%?
Moreover, the USDA is likely afraid that testing would reveal Mad Cow more common than anyone ever imagined.

That the Bush Administration’s USDA would actually oppose a positive move for the benefit of public health is beyond outrageous. It’s just plain stupid and dangerous.

And what of tree trade and open markets? What if Creekstone’s beef “takes off” because of vigorous testing? Wouldn’t that likely force others in the beef industry to test in a like fashion?

So, Bush USDA: competition isn’t good? Public health isn’t good? Saving peoples’ lives isn’t good?

This is reprehensible.

BZ