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Alan Keyes on Budget & Economy

Republican challenger for IL Senate; previously Candidate for President


Supports balanced budget amendment to the Constitution

We must also take away the government's credit card. With limits on both tax revenue and borrowing, the Federal government would finally be forced to get serious about spending cuts. That's why a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, with barriers to both borrowing and spending, is the best way to secure budget discipline.
Source: Campaign website www.Keyes2004.com, "Issues" Sep 9, 2004

Can’t address budget deficit until we address moral deficit

I have fought for fiscal issues, and we must continue to fight together to see them through. But there is not a single fiscal problem, not a single thing on which we are wasting our dollars in this country today that will be resolved if we let our character be destroyed. We will never balance the budget, and we will never capture the problem of the deficit if we do not balance our hearts, if we do not tackle the moral deficit that is destroying our families, corrupting our children.
Source: United We Stand America Conference, p.350 Aug 12, 1995

More $ for defense, NASA, parks; less for Ag, educ, arts

Source: Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT Jan 13, 2000

Enforce spending limits to balance the budget

Source: Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT Jan 13, 2000

Amend the Constitution to limit borrowing and spending.

We must take away the government’s credit card. With limits on both tax revenue and borrowing, the Federal government would finally be forced to get serious about spending cuts. That’s why a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, with barriers to both borrowing and spending, is the best way to secure budget discipline.
Source: www.keyes2000.org/issues/taxandspend.html 1/7/99 Jan 7, 1999

Seeing people merely as consumers is bad for moral fiber

People are beginning to trace the sources of America’s social and economic ills to the sad disrepair of our society’s moral infrastructure. Liberals are talking about welfare reform that encourages the work ethic instead of undermining it. Economic conservatives are acknowledging the role that moral discipline plays in wealth creation.

In both cases, the key insight comes from seeing people as producers, rather than passive consumers. When economic activity seduces people into seeing themselves primarily in the latter role, it’s just as bad for moral fiber as rampant welfare dependency.

Where consumption is the law and the prophets, self-discipline is heresy. The mass consumption economy needs full-fledged earners with desires untrammeled by any limiting sense of obligation to others. It thrives on people who acquire the skills to earn, but who remain emotionally single and self-centered.

Source: Our Character, Our Future, p. 24-5 May 2, 1996

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Other candidates on Budget & Economy: Alan Keyes on other issues:
IL Gubernatorial:
Rod Blagojevich
IL Senatorial:
Barack Obama
Carol Moseley-Braun
Jack Ryan
James Durkin
Paul Simon
Peter Fitzgerald
Richard Durbin

Presidential:
George W. Bush
(Republican for President)
V.P.Dick Cheney
(Republican for V.P.)
Sen.John Kerry
(Democratic nominee for Pres.)
Sen.John Edwards
(Democratic nominee for V.P.)
Ralph Nader
(Reform nominee for Pres.)
Peter Camejo
(Reform nominee for V.P.)
David Cobb
(Green nominee for Pres.)
Michael Badnarik
(Libertarian nominee for Pres.)
Michael Peroutka
(Constitution nominee for Pres.)
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