Draconian...

In 2009, the Federal Government dumped $787,000,000,000 in stimulus money to avert an economic meltdown. Or, to push us closer to one, depending on which side you are on. This was money above and beyond the budget.

$224,000,000,000 was marked for 'entitlements.' So far, $181,400,000,000 has been paid out.

This year, the Republicans in the House, pushed for a $100,000,000,000 cut in spending.  Since we are in late February already with no budget passed, and the budget calendar started in October 2010, they kept on target by submitting a budget with $60,000,000,000 in cuts - spread out all over the Government.

This was labeled as "Draconian" by the main stream media...

The Stimulus bill spent $184 Billion - OVER AND ABOVE THE BUDGET - on 'entitlements' alone.

Obama's budget for 2011 projects spending at $3,800,000,000. No, sorry, forgot 000. Obama's budget for 2011 projects spending at $3,800,000,000,000.

$60 billion is 1.58% of $3.8 trillion.

I'm just sayin'...

Confused? Does 1.58% sound...Draconian?

Well...

Draconian comes not from Dracula (which I heard a politician say), it comes from the ancient Greek legislator Draco (names were so much cooler back then). Draco replaced the system of oral laws by a codified written law.  He also required the laws to be enforced by a court. This was the first written constitution of Athens. He did this so that Justice would be available to all - not just the ruling class who was privy to the oral code.

Draco was on to something. He sounds like an ancient conservative.

However, Draco was no "compassionate conservative."

Like a conservative, he believed in punishing bad behavior, to put a stop to it. However, most offenses were punishable by death. How about some Draconian measures for some politicians...