The Budget is a step forward - ish

Okay, first let me say the good stuff. I think the budghet is a step forward. Yes, it will hurt agri-business in California (and probably the mid-west), but the subsidies were to protect farmers - not agri-business. Capping them at $250,000 a year per farm makes a little sense to me. Maybe I am wrong - it wouldn't be the first time, but it makes sense.

Then there is the nincompoopery...

The Washington Post talked to the Budget Director. The asked him why the cost of reforming Social Security or the $80BILLION dollars for fighting in Iraq and Afganistan weren't in the budget. Answer

For example, Bolten granted that it is certain that more money will
be needed for Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006 and beyond. "But," he added, "it
wouldn't be responsible for us to take a guess at what those costs are."

So therefore you shouldn't add in savings that aren't approved either, right? Wrong.

Yet, moments later, Bolten explained why it was perfectly
responsible to guess about new revenue from drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge -- even though such a program has not been approved by Congress.
"Well," he said, "the budget is the right place to present the entirety of the
president's policies, so all of his proposals are reflected in there

."

Your tax dollars at work.