You may be right about that, pdq. Still, I think Guthrie was pretty upset at the homegrown variety of fascist too, wasn't he? Most of his activist songs would seem to indicate that.

I find it odd that our entire society encourages the ordinary citizen to do deficit spending ALL the time (through the use of credit cards, borrowing, mortgages, buying on time, etc...)while unscrupulous politicians take the position that deficit spending by a government is sacrilege! They do it not out of a real sense of social responsibility, but for other reasons entirely...and those reasons are: the direct personal gain of more wealth faster by the already wealthy and the demolition of existing social services in favour of private industry for profit.

Deficit spending is a dangerous thing for anyone to do (private citizen or government) when it is accompanied by complete irresponsibility. It's a useful thing to do when it is accompanied by a long range plan that makes sense and is workable.

How can you take seriously a conservative philosophy that encourages everyone EXCEPT government to do massive deficit spending?

It's trickery, folks. The intention of conservative politicians is to move public funds into the pockets of their buddies and backers in the private corporate sector by any means possible, no matter what the damage is to society, ecology, or democracy.

I am a bit unusual in that I do not personally do deficit spending. I do use credit cards, but only for convenience and I always pay them off on time in full...even on so-called "payment holidays" (ha! ha! I'm a fish that won't take the bait.) I have no debts nor does my business. I guess I'm just careful by nature. Most of the people I know do deficit spending constantly. If their next paycheck doesn't come in, they are in deep trouble. Every credit card in the world is now panting to sign me up, cos I am so reliable... :-)

- LH