It looks like things are going to heat up prior to this year's election. Both Congress and the President want to reduce the budget deficit, but look for their differences on just how best to do it to become a major battle. Last week, several Democrats criticized the Bush Administration on their "accounting" practices. Today, Bush announced that he wanted to reduce budget deficits by cutting the fat out of government programs, and reining in Congressional spending.

Look for Democrats, and perhaps even Republicans who are vulnerable this election cycle, to attack this suggestion with election year politics. Cutting spending is not what they had in mind, as they had wanted to raise taxes to pay for all that extra spending they've been doing lately. To cut spending during an election year, is political suicide for Congressmen, who depend on government give-aways to buy them votes back home. Just look at the massive farm subsidies and free drugs that have been a favorite among those up for re-election.

The major budget problem this year has been that rather than keeping Democrats in check, Republicans have been holding the door to the treasury open for them, and helping them load up the car with taxpayer booty. Democrats would like nothing more than to shift this budget burden to the "rich", while keeping the "less fortunate" sucking on the government teat. Republicans, on the other hand have been looking the other way in fear of losing big this off year election.

Either way, it is a rough time to be libertarian. Sigh.