Bush’s Budget Trickery

Re “Bush Team Prepares to Swing Budget Ax,” Dec. 26: To be honest, I don’t think much of the Bush presidency, but you’ve got to love the guy’s accounting system. President Bush plans to leave the costs of the Iraq war and Social Security privatization off the budget because the costs are unknowable. In fact, I like that so much, I might implement this system.

First, that adjustable rate mortgage. Interest rates in the future are unknowable, so I’m taking my mortgage payments off my budget. My car repair bills for next year? Also unknowable and therefore I’m ditching those too. Finally, those annoying federal income taxes. Well, I could estimate those, but that’s a lot of trouble so I won’t.

Presto. I’m running a huge surplus. I feel so good about myself. But what to do about those pesky bills? If I can’t find a Japanese sugar daddy to buy my worthless bonds (as Bush has), maybe I’ll just wrap them all up in a ribbon and present them to my kids on their 21st birthday. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

Pat Skipper

Eagle Rock

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Who does the Bush team think it is kidding? It may not include the costs of the war in Iraq in the federal budget because the costs are unknown. These costs are large, out of control and poorly managed. I would like to know how much more debt Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld plan to incur in this poorly planned, poorly conceived and mismanaged adventure.

Not a single government contractor would be allowed to submit a budget without at least an estimate of the large elements of cost. I have to estimate the costs of food and gasoline when doing my household budget, even though those costs vary greatly; otherwise I run the risk of running out of money and incurring debt

The costs for Bush’s other favorite program, privatizing Social Security, may also not be included. There is some weak logic there since there is no definite plan yet, just a lot of conjecture. I hope Congress considers costs very carefully before approving any such plan.

The end result of this protracted and costly process will be a budget that is absolutely meaningless. How much more debt are we going to pass on to our children and grandchildren?

Judith Fenton

Costa Mesa

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Re “Bush Champions Compassion in Christmas Day Message,” Dec. 26: What a great idea that President Bush championed in his Christmas Day message. Bush said that “by volunteering our time and talents where they are needed most, we help heal the sick, comfort those who suffer and bring hope to those who despair, one heart and one soul at a time.”

How profound. I will look for those who have had their Medicare and Medicaid cut and will help them first. Thanks to Bush for creating even more needy people so that we will have an even easier time in following his Christmas Day message.

Barbara Farren

Rancho Palos Verdes