Flashback Friday: Never Has So Little Been Promised For So Much

Does anyone remember Everett Dirksen?

Aside from Margaret Thatcher’s comment regarding socialism’s biggest flaw, Senator Dirksen is attributed with  the most famous quote with respect to government spending:

“A million here, a million there, pretty soon, you’re talking real money.” 

Subsequently the phrase was upgraded to “a billion here, a billion there” due to inflation. Now, in one grand gesture aimed at saying the planet, Bernie Sanders has managed to raise the expression to 21st century levels of profligate spending: Sanders releases $16 trillion ‘Green New Deal’ plan, promises it will ‘pay for itself’ – like all such programs do.

“Democratic 2020 hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday released his plan for a Green New Deal – promising that the multitrillion-dollar plan to radically overhaul the economy and combat climate change will “pay for itself” over the next 15 years.”

It kind of reminds me of the Democrats’ last great spending program to cure a societal ill: LBJ’s War on Poverty.** Hey California, how’s that “war on poverty” working out for you?

LA

Oakland

San Francisco

San Diego

Seattle? How you doing?

Not since the Democrat’s “War on Poverty” was launched over 50 years ago has a government program promised so little for so much.

**According to the Cato Institute, since the Johnson Administration almost $15 trillion has been spent on welfare, with poverty rates being about the same as during the Johnson Administration.