The BBC, which is as impartial a news source as any, is reporting that "US economic growth soars". The argument: the US had the biggest quarterly growth in consumer spending since 1984, when a certain Ronald Reagan was president.

Basically, the BBC is saying that the US economy soared because rich people spent more money. Why don't you tell the 69,000 people per month (on average) who are losing their jobs that the economy is improving?

It's the return of Reaganomics -- make sure the hoarders of the bulk of the economy have more to hoard so that economic indicators point upward. Then, that success will trickle down in the form of new jobs and investment in new business. There are some decent arguements out there that the Reagan years did pay off in the long run, though Bush Sr. was then stuck with an enormous deficit that he couldn't do anything with except to raise taxes. It took the Clinton administration to pay down that deficit and actually create a surplus which could have saved social security. Too bad that surplus is now gone.

Tax cuts cannot create jobs unless spending is also curtailed -- even a conservative economist will tell you that -- and $87 billion in Iraq is not exactly curtailed spending. One of the myths about Democrats that is forced upon them by conservative blowhards is the "tax-and-spend" mantra. Lest we forget that it was Al Gore who "oversaw the National Performance Review, an ambitious program that has saved the Federal Government over one billion dollars by streamlining expenditures".

Oh, and I, of course, have to bring up Howard Dean. This is from DeanforAmerica.com:

A common-sense moderate who firmly believes that social justice can only be accomplished through strong financial management, Governor Dean has cut the income tax twice, removed the sales tax on most clothing, and reduced the state's long-term debt. Not only did the governor pay off an inherited $70 million deficit, he worked with lawmakers to build "rainy day" reserves to help the state through any future economic downturn.

During the Dean tenure, more than 41,000 new jobs have been created, the state's minimum wage has climbed twice, incentive programs have expanded to help downtowns attract new businesses, and tax incentives were created to attract and keep new companies.

Some intense Google searching and combing of the other candidates web sites provided no statements to refute this.

Here's what it boils down to. The conservative way is to support big business so that there are more crumbs for the peasants to eat -- the "Let Them Eat Cake" version. The liberal way (and I mean the truly liberal way, not the Clinton 1997 tax plan that actually would have raised taxes for the poor) is to support everyone and to provide help to those who need it the most. When everyone is treated better, everything gets better. Ironically, that sounds more Christian than anything I've ever heard a conservative say.