Heritage Study Exposes Bloated Federal Spending
The war on terrorism and the creation of a new Homeland Security Department have provided a smokescreen for increased federal spending, which the Heritage Foundation analyzes in a new study that charts an $800-billion increase over the past four years.
Escalating federal expenditures have plunged last year’s federal budget surplus into a budget deficit, explains budget expert Brian Riedl, author of the report.
"This increase is a classic case of death by a thousand cuts. Rather than one large item, such as the war on terrorism, the spending increases come from dozens of smaller items across several departments," Riedl explains.
Among the spending increases that Riedl cites include:
Also, Riedl details the rise in entitlement spending, which has been increasing at record high levels over a four year period, the biggest hike since Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs. The growth in spending over the past four years is the equivalent of more than $5,000 per household.
For more information on the Heritage study, call (202) 546-4400 or visit their web site at www.heritage.org/library/backgrounder/bg1581es.html.
Middle East Forum Launches Campus Website
Launched just three weeks ago, an already popular, but controversial, website devoted to monitoring extremism within Middle Eastern studies departments on university campuses has changed its website format in the wake of what it calls a "furious response from academics" over the site’s "dossiers" section, which featured the work of specific instructors.
Much of the criticism of Campus-Watch.org, sponsored by the Middle East Forum, has diverted attention away from the initial purpose of the site, which is to provide balance in a field of study that the group believes is heavily influenced by Muslim fundamentalists and Islamic extremists.
"We launched the site to draw attention to the condition of Middle Eastern Studies," notes Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum, whose articles have appeared in HUMAN EVENTS. "But rather than address the problems we raise, Middle East specialists-joined by their colleagues in other fields-have talked about nothing but the format of the site. We have made this change to show our goodwill."
Campus-Watch.org says that "The new format eliminates the ‘dossiers’ and instead folds the analysis of instructors within the ‘Survey of Institutions.’ Campus-Watch monitors and critiques Middle East studies, with the goal of improving a failing field. It collects media reports and original information, then makes its work available to university administrators, trustees, alumni, students, prospective students and their parents, as well as government officials and legislators."
Since its launch on September 18, Campus-Watch.org has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and on a number of television programs, including MSNBC’s "Donahue."
For more information go to: www.campus-watch.org.
Study Finds TeacherUnions Impede Choice
A new report by the CATO Institute finds that teachers unions have become the subject of court battles started by dissatisfied teachers over aggrieved and abusive practices. The lack of choice in teacher representation, in which the National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) monopolize the interests of American educators, has created increasing dissatisfaction within the profession.
Myron Lieberman, author of Liberating Teachers: Toward Market Competition in Teacher Representation, documents a number of incidents that put the NEA and AFT at odds with the interests of teachers.
For more information on this Policy Analysis (no. 450), contact the CATO Institute (202-244-7535) or go to www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-450es.html.
New Book Celebrates Ronald Reagan’s Ranch
Former Reagan advisor Peter Hannaford, author and chronicler of the Reagan presidency, has now come out with a book about Rancho del Cielo-the Santa Barbara ranch that Reagan considered "his favorite place on earth."
Ronald Reagan and His Ranch: The Western White House, 1981-1989, published by Vermont-based Images from the Past ($24.95), describes the life the Reagans led at their ranch and features 32 pages of quality color photos.
The pictures show Reagan splitting logs, mending fences, riding horseback, canoeing with Nancy, driving his jeep, or entertaining dignitaries or staffers (such as Colin Powell) over the course of his presidency.
Author Hannaford believes the book captures Reagan enjoying what he considered some of his most cherished moments.
For more information contact the publisher: www.ImagesfromthePast.com.
