And, of course, Gekko is a crook

Every Saturday morning at 7:30 I walk with three or four, sometimes five, other guys. We used to run but now we mostly just limp. This gives us plenty of opportunity to talk, which is what aging men probably are best at doing.

This morning the conversation centered on the phrase “starving the beast,” which I had to have explained to me. It is, simply stated, a political philosophy – conservative in its essence and application – that calls for massive spending (largely on defense) by the federal government, combined with huge tax cuts.

Since this can’t go on forever, it can lead only in one direction: a growing deficit that, ultimately, forces the federal government to cut its functions to the bone. Thus you have a “starving (of) the beast.”

Of course, what’s likely to be affected most are social programs, which is the part of the picture that typically isn’t addressed. Instead, what’s presented is a whole different scenario, one that is wrapped up in all things American, and therefore all things good.

Think of Gordon Gekko , the character from Oliver Stone’s 1987 film “Wall Street.” As written by Stone, whose own father had been a Wall Street broker, Gekko passes on his own philosophy (in a speech that no doubt was a factor in Michael Douglas’ winning a Best Actor Oscar ):

To introduce it: Gekko is at an annual shareholders’ meeting of a company, Teldar Paper, of which he is, as he says, the singly biggest shareholder. Teldar has been losing money, and the governing board is proposing a restructuring of the company.

Gekko, however, has his own proposal. And to fight for it, he asks to address the audience. The chairman of the board, Cromwell (Richard Dysart), after laying out the board’s plan, allows Gekko to speak. And in a few, carefully chosen words, Gekko lays waste to the men (and women) standing in his way.

If you can’t wait for the above link to load (it can take several minutes, even if you have a DSL line), here are the closing, and most pertinent, lines:

“The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed – for lack of a better word – is good. Greed is right. Greed works.

“Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms – greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge – has marked the upward surge of mankind.

“And greed – you mark my words – will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.”

And, of course, the audience responds with thunderous applause.