This Cheers Me Up a Bit

Bush Proposes Cuts to Scores of Programs

Particularly this:

One of the biggest battles is certain to occur in the area of payments and other assistance to farmers, which the administration wants to trim by $587 million in 2006 and by $5.7 billion over the next decade.

Farm subsidies are some of the most insidious programs the federal government participates in, creating problems on a whole host of levels, not the least of which is inhibiting the development of agriculture in third world nations where unsubsidized farmers must compete with subsidized crops from the first world.

I have to say that so far, Bush's priorities in his second term have been largely the economic points on which I agree with him, whereas the socially conservative issues where I have problems with his stated positions have been treated mainly with quick and empty rhetoric. There's a long way to go to get any of this stuff done, and he has plenty of opportunity to shift his focus, but so far I'd have to say I'm pleased.