Sir, – The influence of the Tea Party on the current budgetary impasse in the US has the potential to plunge the world economy into further chaos. For some on this fanatical wing of the Republican Party, the belief that small government would bring more prosperity to the US population is delusional and is motivated more by social conservatism than any altruistic notions.
The more than 40 million people in the US currently living on food stamps will not be helped by smaller government. What is needed there, and also in Ireland, is not smaller government but better government. A more efficient, transparent, accountable and less bureaucratic system is needed that protects social services and provides a safety net for the most vulnerable. This would provide the step-up people need to get back and start helping the economy as consumers.
The insistence of the Tea Party on no contribution by the wealthy to the deficit reduction, and their view that funding for the most vulnerable should be cut, is self-defeating as it will facilitate the continuing cycle of credit-fuelled boom and bust. – Yours, etc,