To solve the mystery, you have to look at history
DAVE SIMPSON & GREG BEAN Red State/Blue State

A political discussion between Red State conservative Dave Simpson - a former reporter, editor, publisher and columnist - and Greg Bean, Blue Stater and executive editor of GreaterMedia Newspapers. Let us know what you think.

Dear Greg:

Over the years, I've read your columns about the punishing taxes you folks pay in Blue State New Jersey.

At the same time, I've noticed your sky-high rankings in surveys of the highest taxed states, so I know you're fighting the good fight. That won't win the hearts of public employees or schoolteachers - who probably consider you a Certified Tax Nut by now - but I've been impressed by your conviction and indignation. As the kids say, "Rock on, Dude.''

That brings me, however, to the mystery of 2008.

For the life of me, Old Friend, I can't figure out why you're planning to vote for one of these Blue State candidates for president. It flies in the face of your eloquent columns about high taxes.

Let's remember, Greg, that your Democratic friends are the folks who see higher taxes as the answer to our problems. They're always blatting away about letting The Evil Bush's tax cuts expire, ignoring the fact that letting those cuts expire will mean higher taxes for all of us, not just The Evil Rich.

(As you know, I'm doing my best to saddle up with The Evil Rich, Greg. Lately, however, with your Democratic friends and the media talking down the economy, it's a tough row to hoe. But then, after the drubbing you gave me last week over my Exxon stock, I better keep my mouth shut about investing, and not even mention my Halliburton stock.)

I figure the reason you like Democrats, and see the pros of taxing spending as helping your situation in New Jersey (ha, ha, ha, that's a knee-slapper), is that you're suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome. Despite all that talk about taxes, you guys hate Bush so much that you're even willing to see your taxes go up to be rid of Evil Republicans.

I love listening to you guys. You figure Bush is so evil that he could "fix the economy'' in a second, but he just doesn't feel like it. You figure he's rooting for Global Al Gore Warming, just to be ornery.

And, you figure he started that war in Iraq, not because of mass graves, or Saddam's raping sons, or gassing the Kurds, or those 16 resolutions from your beloved United Nations - not because of any of that stuff, but simply because he woke up one morning with a wild hair.

You figure he's wrong about everything, including what he had for breakfast.

But, face it, Greg, you've got a fundamental flaw in your view of politics, sort of like Huck and Tom floating down theMississippi to escape slavery. If you like Hillary and Barack, you need to give up your low-tax screed and hop on board the New Jersey Tax and Spend Express.

Remember this, Greg:While Our Guys went back on their promise to cut spending, Your Guys never made the promise in the first place.

Long live Halliburton! Fat Cat Red State Dave

Dear Dave:

I'll agree the Democrats have truly fouled up the economy in New Jersey, and I beat themup on a regular basis over property taxes and their outright refusal to cut the size of state government. But because I'ma guy who likes to look at facts and history, I'mable to separate what the Democrats do on a state level and what they do on a national level.

You remember our editor when we both worked out West. And I'm sure you remember the editorials he wrote pointing out that in spite of Ronald Reagan'smythological reputation as a great fiscal leader, under his watch the deficit rose to a record high of $290 billion? Do you remember his point that, contrary to popular opinion, it was the national Republicans who tended to screw up our economy, raise the deficits and national debt by astronomical proportions? Well, I remember that, and the trend he bemoaned has certainly continued.

When was the last time this country had a balanced budget, Dave? When was the last time we made significant reductions in the national debt? That would be during Bill Clinton's administration, my friend. The year he took over as president, he was looking at a projected budget deficit of $290 billion, thanks to the administration of Shrub's father, Big Bush.

By 1997, Clinton's administration had reduced the number of people working for the federal government by 300,000 people, and was looking at a $7 billion surplus. Between 1993 and 2001, his administration was on duty when the national debt was reduced by $360 billion.

Clinton's administration proposed, and achieved, the first balanced budget in decades, and they consistently achieved budget surpluses. By 2000, they achieved an astonishing budget surplus of $236 billion.

That's what Shrub had in the bank the day he took office in 2001, and what has he done with it? He threw it away like bad yogurt, that's what he did.

Under his administration, the national debt has skyrocketed and the deficits have continued to grow. In 2004, for example, the budget deficit was $521 billion, which broke the previous record of $290 billion set under Ronald Reagan. In 2008, his administration predicts the deficit will be about $400 billion, which is admittedly less than the record he set in 2004.

So throwing themythology out the window, what does recent history tell us? It tells us that if we want a balanced budget, a budget surplus, and significant reductions in the size of government and the national debt, we have to elect Democrats to do it.

Republicans talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk. It's their big lie. Truth is, if Republicans get elected for another four years, guys like you and me will be eating stolen tomatoes and boiled antelope, because we can't afford groceries.

Of course, you could sell your Exxon and Halliburton stock and invite me over for fried eggs and Spam. I like fried eggs and Spam.

Let's keep on rockin',

Blue State Greg

You can reach Greg Bean via e-mail at

gbean @gmnews.com. Dave Simpson can be

reached at d_simpson@bresnan.net.