Dale Bumpers: “there were 11 Senators--11; I want it put on my epitaph that I was one of them--that voted against that crazy nonsense…”

“there were 11 Senators--11; I want it put on my epitaph that I was one of them--that voted against that crazy nonsense in 1981 that Ronald Reagan sent over here saying we are going to grow our way out of this mess by cutting taxes and raising spending. What a dynamite idea. We cut taxes and increased spending with the predictable result, red ink. There were 11 Senators who said this is palpable nonsense, and I was one of them. But 89 Senators voted ``yes,'' and that is the reason we stand here today doing our very best to deal with the problem. If my only concern was going to be to go home and tell the people I voted the popular vote, I would vote ``aye.'' I do not enjoy going home and telling the Chamber of Commerce that I voted against this when every single person sitting in the audience thinks I have taken leave of my senses? I do not enjoy it any more than you think I would enjoy it. Mr. President, why are we dealing with what everybody agrees is a colossal problem, in a political way?”