Yep, William F. Buckley, father of Modern Conservatism or something, writes today on the virtues of pork. Apparently at a recent Democratic Party debate, the Democratic candidates suggested that the latest Medicare increase was a boon to the phamacutical industry. Buckley commented that, "No one seems to cavil at the assumption that new laws are exactly that, obeisances to private interests. Targeted patronage can't be disguised when we are talking about a farm bill. Farmers are intended to benefit from farm bills. Steel tariffs are intended to help steel makers."
To be fair, Buckley isn't as comfortable with the Government buying off a section of the population as this quote makes him sound. He even sounds like he has some sense that the ever expanding deficit might have a downside. But it is interesting that he is comfortable with the Government handing money to drug companies. I wonder if he would feel the same sort of patriotic glow if the money were being handed to poor people.
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