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Merry Christmas from Ike

Pretty small change for all of that build-up, you say. Yes, and that isn’t the worst of it. But before the states disparage the President’s Christmas gift, let them count their blessings. In a day when total political power resides in Washington—when states’ rights are a relic of the past, unrecognized by the federal bureaucracy and unenforceable in the federal courts—why should the states expect anything in their stockings? Every such concession depends on the federal bureaucracy having a generous heart, and not many bureaucrats have generous hearts. The Truman Administration didn’t display any; nor did Roosevelt’s. And if a hundred million or so of federal activities doesn’t represent much of a change by the Eisenhower Administration— well, more may be coming when the joint committee meets again. (Three— tenths of one per cent of federal domestic spending may grow, that is, to four-tenths, or maybe even five.)

LB

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L. Brent Bozell Jr.

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Merry Christmas from Ike

Pretty small change for all of that build-up, you say. Yes, and that isn’t the worst of it. But before the states disparage the President’s Christmas gift, let them count their blessings. In a day when total political power resides in Washington—when states’ rights are a relic of the past, unrecognized by the federal bureaucracy and unenforceable in the federal courts—why should the states expect anything in their stockings? Every such concession depends on the federal bureaucracy having a generous heart, and not many bureaucrats have generous hearts. The Truman Administration didn’t display any; nor did Roosevelt’s. And if a hundred million or so of federal activities doesn’t represent much of a change by the Eisenhower Administration— well, more may be coming when the joint committee meets again. (Three— tenths of one per cent of federal domestic spending may grow, that is, to four-tenths, or maybe even five.)