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Opinion
Nov. 22, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SHERMAN FREDERICK: New full moon, same old wolf

Spending marks the beast

SHERMAN FREDERICK
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The sequel to the massively popular movie "Twilight" hit theaters this weekend, mixing werewolves with vampires to the thrill of teenagers everywhere.

I'm too old to be a Twilighter all atwitter about werewolves. But I'm young enough to remember when late-night, black-and-white television replayed Lon Chaney Jr. doing his thing in the classic movie "The Wolf Man."

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    • One of the most memorable scenes came when Larry Talbot (way overplayed by Chaney) pleaded with his friend to lock him in his room and to not open the door no matter what he may say or do.

    Of course, that plan never worked. Chaney always turned into the wolf man, escaped and terrorized the villagers.

    When it comes to deficit spending, we're living through a similar scene.

    On his recent trip to Asia, President Barack Obama told Fox News that if America doesn't get its deficit spending under control, we may see a double-dip recession.

    That's a remarkable statement, given the fact that the guy telling us to be careful is the leader of the pack that tripled our deficit in only 300 days. Essentially, he tells us that, as in "The Wolf Man," it's best to lock him and his buddies up in a room to stop them from terrorizing the countryside and spending us into a double-dip recession.

    Too late for that. Besides, where would we lock them up? Gitmo is closing and Democrats control all the rooms, locks and keys in Washington, D.C.

    Now comes Sen. Harry Reid's version of the health care "reform" bill, which he says will expand government services to 31 million people and reduce federal spending.

    Imagine that. Government doing more for less. Wolfsbane, anyone?

    The first tip that a monster is on the loose and the numbers may be cooked comes in understanding that both the Senate and the House bills are front-loaded, meaning the government will collect taxes for several years without offering services, thus giving the illusion that the bill is fiscally responsible.

    The second big "tell" that something's scary in the woods comes when Sen. Reid claims his bill will reduce the deficit by $127 billion over 10 years. Even if that were true, which I sincerely doubt, woo-frickity-hoo! $127 billion over 10 years is $50 billion less than the deficit ... last month.

    Truth is, all this shaking and baking of the numbers counts for little at this point. What does speak volumes about the financial fix we're in as a country is the simple fact that in the 11 months Democrats have been behind the wheel in Washington, D.C., the federal deficit has tripled.

    It is such a big number that our president now warns we must reduce the deficit or risk a double-dip recession.

    The idea that all we have to do to fix the financial carnage is restrain big-spending monsters until the full moon passes doesn't strike me as a particularly good plan.

    I've seen that movie. It didn't work. A silver-tipped cane, however ...

    Sherman Frederick (sfrederick@ reviewjournal.com) is publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and president of Stephens Media.

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    Miles Monroe wrote on November 23, 2009 12:28 PM: 10 years worth of taxes and fees to give us 5 years of benefits. So where in the scheme of things is that "deficit neutral?" This is a ticking time bomb that will be one of the final straws that brings down our country. I mean what part of scam and ripoff don't you understand?


    Response to chas wrote on November 23, 2009 03:11 AM: Oh, I get it now. You are waiting for your monthly disability check, welfare payment, or whatever you collect from hard working taxpayers, and THAT is why you have time to advocate a socialist take over of our country. thanks for clearing that up for me.

    As to the Bush bashing; we've been on this socialist slide for 40+ years, whether led by dem or repub. NOW with a marxist in the WH, namely Dr. Utopia, we have put the petal to the metal and are racing breakneck speed towards your precious Danish type society. If you folks are so in love with the European socialist society, why don't you move there, and let THEM take care of you?

    As for me and my children, "Let freedom ring!"


    Greg wrote on November 22, 2009 05:21 PM: Statement today from AP Wire Services article:

    "Congressional Budget Analysts put the legislation's cost at 979 billion over a decade, and said it would reduce deficits over the same period."


    Greg wrote on November 22, 2009 05:16 PM: Dear Sherman:

    It was some of the same financial expertise in power today making economic strategy for the country that provided an economy in the 90s for people like Wynn, Kirk, Shaeffer, Christiansen, Fertitta and Maloof families to be blessed and positioned to make a lot of money and borrow- leverage significant amounts to leverage land, labor and capital to service a robust California tourist demand.

    The Clinton Administration balanced the budget and ran a surplus, as well.

    Today, those same experts are playing chess with less than favorable pieces on the board. It's China, not Japan, holding our debt. The Japanese got burned once before.

    True, we do not today benefit from patent approvals the Clinton Administration greatly benefited from, including wireless and software technology. Reference Sheldon Adelson's Comdex Convention boom, sale, then bust.

    But, there will (should) be new opportunities by necessity for alternative energy and energy efficiencies.

    Assessing blame to President Obama and his staff for spending (on what?, bailing out Nevada's state and local government with stimulus?, Iraq?, Afghanistan?, money to the Palestinain-Israeli conflict?) is ridiculous.

    How about the LVRJ writing an editorial making a recommendation on an Afghanistan decision. Step out and speak on something BIG, and in the NOW.

    When a student fails a test, the test date is not when then student had a bad day. The student had a bad day all the other days there was no planning and preparation. THOSE were the bad days. So, speak out on Afghanistan, what to do there. As for spending and the economy, the days when you rightfully SHOULD HAVE spoken were the LAST THREE YEARS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.


    patrick wrote on November 22, 2009 05:16 PM: Chas:

    Thanks for clearing that up; for some reason people see the words right in front of their faces and read something completely different.

    All I said was that $127 billion dollars here and there can add up to real money.

    Sherm seems to dismiss this although I recall the guy using words to that effect to BASH the democrats when they wanted to spend that amount.


    Len wrote on November 22, 2009 04:25 PM: I note that Frederick won't even defend his budget numbers. Sad.


    Chas wrote on November 22, 2009 04:23 PM: I'd like to comment on what "To Paul, John F, Len Grant, patrick, Jerry S. et al" wrote. I don't read their postings as necessarily supporting and/or defending Obama or putting down conservative beliefs. What I do read is a sincere attempt to point out that not much has really changed since 2001 and NOW everything is out of whack according to the conservatives! You are concerned about the "tak[ing] from those that have and giv[ing] to those that need" w/o mentioning the $10 trillion of debt run up under the Bush administration; who got it, the communist funded it, who should pay for it?

    Where is it all heading? Read "The Fiscal Wake Up Tour" via the Concord Coalition website. Short answer? VAT to support our already established entitlement system...The Danes seem to be doing okay, as are much of Europe: it's all part of the economic parabolic flow of life.


    P.S. To "steve f". Who told your/where ever did you read that "People, like [you], who have very decent medical insurance now which we pay for, will be forced out of that plan"?! Someone is pulling you leg!

    Illegals are expressly excluded from the health plan. I'll assume you disagreed with Reagan granting amnesty, too.


    SteveF wrote on November 22, 2009 12:26 PM: Paul wrote on November 22, 2009 10:36 AM:

    Sandy, do you have insurance? Then you have nothing to worry about, you will stay on your insurance and will not have a new insurance "rammed down your throat."



    Typical liberal lies. People, like me, who have very decent medical insurance now which we pay for, will be forced out of that plan once our current socialist government takes over. Use your head instead of regurgitating the 100% untruths being fed to you by liars like Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Hussein Obama, et al.


    SteveF wrote on November 22, 2009 12:26 PM: Additionally, not one word has been mentioned about how many illegals will be covered by this "reform bill" nor the FACT that millions more will enter the country to be covered by "free" healthcare once amnesty is yet again granted to millions of illegal criminals by our socialist government.


    SteveF wrote on November 22, 2009 12:24 PM: Paul wrote on November 22, 2009 10:36 AM:
    Sandy, do you have insurance? Then you have nothing to worry about, you will stay on your insurance and will not have a new insurance "rammed down your throat."

    Typical liberal lies. People, like me, who have very decent medical insurance now which we pay for, will be forced out of that plan once our current socialist government takes over. Use your head instead of regurgitating the 100% untruths being fed to you by liars like Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Hussein Obama, et al.


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