posted 02-11-2011 10:46 PM                  

Obviously that alone will not reduce the current and projected deficit enough. What else would you consider cutting?

Right now all the talk here in Washington centers on a very small portion of the federal budget called "discretionary spending." Most every economist agrees that alone will not be nearly enough to rein the budget and the blossoming deficit.

The recent Presidential Commission which included former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson and Erskine B. Bowles recommended cuts in everything from Social Security, medicare, medicaid and defense if the nation is serious about getting its financial house in order.

Rumors are that Obama's FY 2011 budget, due out next week, and the Republican budget reduction recommendations really only trim the very fringes of the budget without addressing the reality of how we get serious about reducing and make fundamental changes.

Until we get our budgetary house in order the Chinese own our asses. Ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will help immeasurably, but these alone are not going to be enough.

What would you consider for cutting or trimming back?

For me, EVERYTHING must be considered, if we're committed to doing what our country needs. I'm pretty sure there will be one hell of a fight as interest groups spend millions to protect their pet projects.

Weapons programs have to be curtailed or ended.
Social Security payout amounts and retirement age need to be on the table (I'm almost 62 so this impacts me)
Military and all federal employee retirement cost of living increases should be frozen for five years unless the deficit has been significantly reduced. (I'm retired military and I can accept this cap).
Close Fanne Mae and Freddie Mac and get the federal government out of the business of assuming all the risk in the mortgage industry . This will impact the housing market but the federal government cannot afford to be "Sugar Daddy" to the housing market any longer.
That's a start... Flame Away!

posted 02-11-2011 10:58 PM                  

At the present interest rates being paid by banks,,,my money is more productive in tin cans buried in the yard.

Many federal departments are over bloated with personnel, and wasteful spending.

posted 02-12-2011 07:20 AM                  

i may be too synical.....but i think the new "tea partier" representatives will fold into the old mantra of "how do I win the next election" and thereby subordinate the very reasons they were elected in favor of raising money for their next re-election..... absolute term limits would help this, but not eliminate it..

i hope i am wrong. but the current proposals of cutting the current budget by 100 billion...while impressive from historical perspectives...is still only a drop in the bucket in terms of what is actually needed.. a fundamental realignment of "what is the role of the federal government"? it needs to get out of the education business, the mortgage insurance business (all insurance busines) and out of all the entitlement programs....any of these proposal are likely political suicide...and for that reason...i dont think they will do it.

again, i hope i am wrong

posted 02-13-2011 06:53 AM                  

Watch how a 2nd year college student explains Obamanomics in 1 min. 30 sec.

http://www.wimp.com/budgetcuts/

posted 02-14-2011 11:59 AM                  

Let's eliminate the $485 million for an extra F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine that the Pentagon does not want.

For roughly a decade, the Air Force has considered the extra engine to be “not necessary and not affordable” yet Congress continues to fund it when no one wants it. Why becuase it keeps people employed in Georgia and other states.

Yet, Congress fails to end taxpayer support of the F136 under development by General Electric and Rolls Royce that the military does not want nor need. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has publicly said that “we think the current engine that GE is offering probably does not meet the performance standards that are required.”

So it the function of the Fedeal government to be a jobs center for expensive stuff no one wants?

posted 02-14-2011 12:32 PM                  

Privatize eductation by offering tax vouchers to parents to be used at private schools instead of collecting taxes to pay for horrible public school and it's bureaucracy.

Get rid of the Dept of Education and the Department of Energy.

TAX REFORM - not tinkering with the tax codes - we need real tax reform. I like the idea of a National Sales Tax in place of income tax but other ideas have merits also.

Change Social Security and Medicare now. Phase retirement age to 70 over a period of a 20 years. Eliminate the ceiling on wages being taxed for Social Security.

Military - consolidate redundant training betrween the various branches. This is alreasdy started in military medical training - expand it into other areas. Start charging other countries when we send our military to be the "world police". For expample - we should have charged South Korea for the cost to move our ships to their area when North Korea made threats last year.

posted 02-17-2011 01:17 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by heynow14:
What is this? Republican Utopia? http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/001404.html
Can't wait to live in that socialist world.

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Why wait you can buy a plane ticket today to any Socialist country of your choice.TODAY ! Hell we'll even chip in !

posted 02-17-2011 01:32 PM                  

And while the guy in the link you posted might be a little too extreme, he does raise some very good points. People who voluntarily (emphasis on voluntarily) accept financial assistance from the government and consume taxpayer money should be subject to certain testing, checking and additional regulation to ensure what they do receive isn't wasted.