As I write this column, Hurricane Rita is approaching the Gulf Coast. Rita may influence national events as has Katrina.

Certainly, we have reason to be concerned given the ferocity of Rita. I think we all hope that people evacuate the region and move to safety. Let's all hope that somehow Rita spares us much of what Katrina brought to America.

Let's examine how Compassionate Conservatives will handle the costs we now face with Katrina, Iraq and the budget deficits already facing us.

Let's see just how easily the death of Compassionate Conservatism comes about.

We have a deficit of approximately $350 billion this year alone, with the Iraq war costs of $120 billion still off the books. OK, we are $479 billion in the hole, and we estimate Katrina will cost all of us another $200 billion. Fine.

Now the deficit is $679 billion. The Republicans want to eliminate the estate tax - a tax that 1 percent of Americans pay that generates $24 billion annually. So now you can add $24 billion to the deficit, making it $713 billion. Then the Republicans want to make the tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans permanent. Add another $70 billion for that, making the deficit $787 billion.

Then, of course, there is the new prescription drug program that actually pays the drug manufacturers billions of dollars. Let's peg that at a mere $20 billion next year, taking the deficit to a mere $807 billion.

Now, we have to make some modest cuts in our expenses to make this all work out. Some Republicans have suggested cutting back about $20 billion on the recently passed highway bill, all in "pork" products.

Rep. Tom DeLay, whose Texas district gets a huge cut of pork pie, says all of his pork is needed. No cuts are possible. OK, let's give up on that cut. Can we at least save the $70 billion in making the recession recovery tax cuts permanent?

This way Americans could all help pay for Katrina. Republicans say absolutely not, these cuts for the wealthy have to be made permanent. OK, forget that one.

So what can be cut? Republicans say that's easy, we can cut entitlements. We can reduce help to the poorest Americans, because after all, they have no voice, no campaign contributions and they probably don't even vote Republican.

And we can cut the prescription drug program because retirees can pay for their own drugs or do without.

Compassionate Conservatism will cut programs people need to survive and think we aren't watching. But we are watching now. Democrats, get this right, find your voice. No entitlement cuts. None.

Poverty is increasing in America. We need to stop asking the poor to pay for re-construction. On Social Security, just say, "no," to any changes other than eliminating the cap of $90,000 in income ceiling. On making the tax cuts permanent, fight so hard America sees the blatant intent to shift the tax burden to Americans who can't afford it.

As for the estate tax, not a penny of reduction, not one cent. The 1 percent of Americans who pay this can afford it and we need their help.

Trim the fat, absolutely, but look beyond the highway bill. Rein in "Star Wars," it doesn't work.

Review waste in spending. Start with Halliburton. The defense budget might be worth a look.

Fix the Homeland Security budget so it works and gives us security. Spending billions in small towns while ignoring our ports can't be right, fix this.

Iraq, it is time to come home. We can no longer afford this war and we can't solve the complex problems we face there.

Compassionate Conservatives? I think not. It is an oxymoronic phrase.

Just follow the money.

Dr. Jim Crawford is an administrator at Ohio University Southern. He can be reached at drjim893@msn.com.