George Will and Big Government

Why doesn’t someone put a lid on columnist George Will? His arrogant mouthing-off leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

It is obvious that this bespectacled invective-hurler is the greatest fan of Big Government since F.D.R., yet he calls himself a conservative. In his Jan. 16 column, Will whines that under Gramm-Rudman, “ . . . not much government will remain: No FBI , no Coast Guard.” He has the gall to say of the plan by which bureaucrats will automatically invoke budget cuts, “What in the name of Jefferson has to do with the due process of democracy?” He continues melodramatically, “For this capitulation to unelected technocrats, soldiers shivered at Valley Forge.”

How dare George Will liken his views to those of Thomas Jefferson and the soldiers at Valley Forge! Those great statesmen fought for freedom from the very likes of his repressive, patronizing ilk. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that he’s a direct descendant of King George III. Freedom from , not for , government was the Revolutionary War’s battle cry.

I’d wager that if Jefferson could see the socialist militarism our government has evolved into, he would turn in his grave. By The Times’ own statistics, social welfare spending hit $641 billion in fiscal 1983. Under Ronald Reagan, social welfare spending is up to an all-time high level of 19.4% of the gross national product, compared to 17.8% under Jimmy Carter. Add to this the wartime levels of a military spending and one can easily see where unprecedented deficits come from.

Well, I and many of my fellow Americans exclaim, “For this out-of-control government raid on the treasury soldiers shivered at Valley Forge?” If Congress is unable to control itself, by all means let the bureaucrats do it!

I’d certainly vote in former Budget Director David Stockman as President if I thought he could cut the budget! Most Americans want the budget cut, yet the congressmen who supposedly “represent” their viewpoints haven’t got the guts to eliminate ten cents. So along comes Gramm-Rudman to say, “Congress, if you can’t cut it, we (bureaucrats) will.” I say, Amen! As part of that special interest group called taxpayers, I think Gramm-Rudman represents my views 100%.

LAURA BROWN

Los Angeles