perfidy

From various sources today I see this report which notes that, over the last five years, Republican legislatures have spent more than Democratic legislatures.

State legislatures controlled by Republicans increased spending an average of 6.54% per year from 1997 to 2002, compared with 6.17% for legislatures run by Democrats. State spending rose slowest -- 6% annually -- when legislatures were split, and each party controlled one chamber. Inflation averaged 2.55% annually 1997-2002.

Let's see... the Republicans spend like drunken sailors, don't like "the gays", are the party of Trent Lott, and are as a group socially conservative. They're my exact opposites!

Until the Lott affair, and the Santorum follow-up, I actually registered very briefly as a Republican (I live in New England, and I'm a contrarian by nature). I justified this decision by arguing that Republican legislatures support smaller government and more judicious spending of fewer funds. I now see I could not have been more wrong. No tent is big enough to hold both Rick Santorum and me.