Tyler Cowen has a fascinating and, in my opinion, largely correct set of suggestions for the economic agenda of a second Bush term. Without going into detail on his suggestions I have a series of questions for Professor Cowen:
- Examine the map of counties that went for Bush in 2000. How is it politically possible for the Bush Administration to eliminate farm subsidies?
- What would the short-term costs of closing our military bases in Germany be?
- Can you name some middle class transfer payment benefit programs that have been eliminated by the federal government? (I can only think of one)
- What would a free trade agreement with Japan look like? Cf. Keiretsu
- Does non-project federal spending on science e.g. something other than the original space program actually result in more science?
- Does federal spending on medical research result in more medical research?
- Since we’re unable or unwilling to control immigration into this country how do we increase the skill level of immigrants into this country?
- Why has no president ever eliminated the Department of Education? (even though several have included that in their platforms?)
- Is the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act corporate welfare?
- How many of your list of suggestions is Mr. Kerry likely to adopt?
I am in complete agreement with Mr. Cowen’s larger point. Neither candidate appears to have much of a vision for the future direction of the country. I guess it doesn’t fit into a ten or twenty second TV spot.
Regarding the Japan comment, I think you mean to write Keiretsu, not Keirutsu.
Thanks, Ben. I’ve changed the post accordingly.