Dear friends: I appreciate your faith in me over my brief 17 terms in Congress. Your support has buttressed my fight against the Washington insiders and helped me to champion the common-sense, hometown values we share. And while some in Washington use weasel words to shirk responsibility, I’ve always made a habit of honest talk—which is how I’ll address your question about federal spending.
If by “spending” you mean the ravenous bureaucracy that taxes hard-pressed workers to the breaking point, gorging on the fruit of others’ labor; if you mean the deficit-inducing profligacy that ransoms our children’s future and transforms the land of the free into a debtor’s prison; if you mean squandering your hard-earned money on aid to foreign tyrants; if by “spending” you mean a government that robs Peter to pay Paul—then I am dead against it. If, however, when you say “spending,” you speak of the Social Security check that soothes an aged widow’s brow; if you mean putting neighbors to work on vital community projects (like the new post office that humbly bears my name); if by spending you mean keeping our armed forces strong and our homeland defended; if you mean nutrition for poor children, comfort for the sick, and a helping hand to the innocent victims of misfortune, well, then, rest assured, I’m full in favor of it. I won’t apologize for my principles. I will not equivocate. That is my final position. (With apologies to the late Judge Noah Sweat, the original waffle master.)
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The growing US movement to end child marriagesUnder the Radar Practice is 'surprisingly widespread' but only 12 states have so far banned it
-
'New arrivals are more than paying for themselves'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
6 stylish homes in Portland, OregonFeature Featuring a wall of windows in Collins View and a historic ballroom in Portland Heights
-
Editor's letterfeature
-
Editor's letter: Are college athletes employees?
feature The National Labor Relations Board's decision deeming scholarship players “employees” of Northwestern University has many worrying that college sports itself will soon be history.
-
Editor's letter
feature
-
Editor's letter: When a bot takes your job
feature Now that computers can write news stories, drive cars, and play chess, we’re all in trouble.
-
Editor's letter: Electronic cocoons
feature Smartphones have their upside, but city streets are now full of people walking with their heads down.
-
Editor's letter: The real cause of income inequality
feature When management and stockholders pocket all the profits, the middle class falls further behind.
-
Editor's letter: The real reason you’re so forgetful
feature When you consider how much junk we’ve stored in our brains, it’s no surprise we can’t remember our PINs.
-
Editor's letter: Ostentatious politicians
feature The McDonnells’ indictment for corruption speaks volumes about the company elected officials now keep.