On the Right

New York, June 14-Senator Kennedy has written most provocatively to a number of newspapers challenging an analysis in “On the Right” of his report to the Joint Economic Committee. His reply is given in several seductive paragraphs, and ends with a paternal suggestion. “The next time Mr. Buck-ley feels the urge to shoot from the hip on economic issues and tax reform, I hope he’ll lie down until it passes, or at least check with a responsible economist.”

Now Senator Kennedy had written that the notion of the “mushrooming Federal Government” was a “myth.” He handles my demonstration to the contrary by holding itupasan example of “how to distort a set of figures.” “The big jump in the ratio of federal spending to GNP came between 1951 and 1952, during the Korean War, when it climbed from 13 per cent to 20 per cent. In 1953 the ratio moved up a notch to 21 per cent. Then it settled back, and for the next twenty years it hovered around 20 per cent. So much for Mr. Buckley’s progression.”

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William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr. founded National Review magazine in 1955.

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William F. Buckley Jr.

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New York, June 14-Senator Kennedy has written most provocatively to a number of newspapers challenging an analysis in “On the Right” of his report to the Joint Economic Committee. His reply is given in several seductive paragraphs, and ends with a paternal suggestion. “The next time Mr. Buck-ley feels the urge to shoot from the hip on economic issues and tax reform, I hope he’ll lie down until it passes, or at least check with a responsible economist.”

Now Senator Kennedy had written that the notion of the “mushrooming Federal Government” was a “myth.” He handles my demonstration to the contrary by holding itupasan example of “how to distort a set of figures.” “The big jump in the ratio of federal spending to GNP came between 1951 and 1952, during the Korean War, when it climbed from 13 per cent to 20 per cent. In 1953 the ratio moved up a notch to 21 per cent. Then it settled back, and for the next twenty years it hovered around 20 per cent. So much for Mr. Buckley’s progression.”