This is hugely important. Second, without reopening the fiscal debate, the budget situation allows us to think more readily about solving social problems, be they the number of children without health coverage, the problems the elderly have with prescription-drug costs, or child care. And on this note, Chris, I'm not being cynical. National Review said flatly and honestly that the big tax cuts have the benefit, from a conservative point of view, of constraining government. Irving Kristol has made a similar argument.
Most conservatives are happy to embrace that logic.
As for Chris's point on Gore's spending, it seems to me that in the event of a downturn, it's far easier to adjust spending than to take back a tax cut. And here again, low unemployment has allowed welfare reform to work better than I expected it would. But I also think it's possible to build on programs that help the working poor in ways that will reduce both inequality and poverty. I think Chris, Harold, and Barbara get to the heart of the issue when they talk about the politics of globalization. Except for its nationalist wing, the center-right is very clear in embracing free trade and globalization as the keys to future prosperity.