Dennis C. Haggerty – 3/15/06

This page was last updated on March 19, 2006.

Doing Machiavelli proud; Dennis C. Haggerty; Beaver County Times; March 15, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“In regard to the Republicans moving away from President Bush’s positions at the Memphis summit, I offer an explanation of their true intentions.

“First, shrink the amount of revenue through tax cuts. This will allow the wanted tax cuts to be enacted without the pain of giving up pet projects of the populace.”

[RWC] The problem with Mr. Haggerty’s first point is the tax cuts stimulated the economy as designed and tax revenues are now higher than projected.

“Second, set up a scenario whereby the loyalist troops feel that the movement (conservatism) has been abandoned, and unrestrained spending has taken over as a political strategy. This permits the party to show that they are in tune with the voters’ worries of passing on this deficit to future generations. This act needs to happen in time for the mid-term election cycle.”

[RWC] The problem with Mr. Haggerty’s second point is that as a group, elected Republicans tend to favor big government and big spending. Don’t confuse elected Republicans with conservatives. Most of today’s elected Republicans are Rockefeller Republicans, barely to the right of JFK-era Democrats.

“Third, kill all the spending, thus returning to the roots of the movement and achieving the real goal of shrinking the government.”

[RWC] Mr. Haggerty is about 25 years late with his theory. There were two main reasons President Reagan pushed for tax cuts in the early 1980s.

First, Reagan knew cutting taxes would stimulate the economy and provide the foundation for getting us out of the “malaise” of President Carter’s stagflation (double-digit mortgage interest rates, inflation, and unemployment).

Second, Reagan assumed – incorrectly as it turned out – that starving the government of money would force the Democrat-majority Congress to cut spending or at least not increase spending.

“Fourth, pilgrimage to Machiavelli’s grave to pay due respects.”

[RWC] Let’s add Mr. Haggerty to the list of people who don’t understand the meaning of being “Machiavellian.” I did my own research and Colin McNickle’s presentation appears to be correct. Unwittingly, Mr. Haggerty complimented Republicans.