Quote:
Originally Posted by RichieLion
The examples you give are, debatably, overfunded or redundant government expenditures that I could make good arguments for substantial cuts in funding. I would say, except for vital defense spending, there would be good arguments, along with the great examples give by dk, to make cuts in these programs and maybe even the elimination of the DOE altogether at a federal level.
I still would not be suggesting that the first cut be from the American citizen who for his whole working life had his payroll deducted with the promise of his retirement being subsidized in his retirement years. He had no opt in or opt out and this promise must be kept.
I liken your position to the politicians who, whenever there is calls to cut taxes, rail about how they'll have to cut Police and Fire personal and lay off teachers. I can think of a hundred cuts before that.
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This thread proves there is only one way to BEGIN the process of reducing government.
1. FREEZE ALL SPENDING.. everything, including the military, social security, medicare, pork.. everything..
2. Next year roll back everything 1% next year and continue that until the deficit is cut to 5 trillion, then freeze the budget till the deficit is gone with program reductions and economic grown. Then NEVER have deficits again without a 2/3s vote of both houses of congress and the presidential signature, and limit that deficit to 1 year.
3. Eliminate all UNNECESSARY spending.. this is the tough problem because my road is necessary, yours is not. Here is how you do it.. WHEN the budge of transportation is frozen for example, then every project will rise or fall on its merit.. If no shenanigans like ear marks are used to get stuff buy, competition in the department will determine funding, and if the results are not popular, the next election will give the people a chance to speak with their votes.
4. DONT HIT ME. I am about to go on SS myself so I will feel this too.
No one should receive a dime from social security who has not paid into it. Lots of well meaning programs got slipped into SS.. they all need to be taken out.
No one should receive more from SS than they and their employer paid in PLUS a reasonable rate of interest on that money which can be determined by looking at the average interest rates paid during each year of contribution.
If we all want more from SS than we paid, it is generational theft, pure and simple.
For those who fall into real poverty after exhausting their assets, and IF their families do not take care of them (this is what we did when I was a kid. We supported grandma and grandpa and took them into our home when they could not afford or safely live alone), then a welfare program, not cash payments, keep our poor elderly from poverty.
BUT no one is entitled to cable tv etc if they are on welfare, and no one is entitled to perfect health care if they cant pay their own bills.
It is not a question of providing NO support to the poor, elderly or young, it is how much money we are will to take from some citizens by force (IRS) to give to others. The more you take, and the higher the benefit, the less likely people work and save, and the faster the decline of a capitalistic economy.
Amen
JJ