Wiseacre
Retired USAF Chief
How would YOU cut the deficit? .
With either a chain saw, or a back hoe....depending on the level of precision needed.
Obama's going to do it with a scalpel, or so I hear.
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How would YOU cut the deficit? .
With either a chain saw, or a back hoe....depending on the level of precision needed.
Paying off the national debt should certainly not be our goal. 14 trillion is a big number but so is our economy. What is important is not the amount of debt, but the amount of debt in relation to the country's GDP. Just as an individual's credit worthiness depends on their earning capacity, so does the country. Right now our ratio of debt to GDP ins 97%. There are 36 nations that have higher ratios, some as much as 4000%.That's $390B.I just read an interesting article on this. Here's a quick overview:
Cut Education subsidies - $40 billion
Cut Farm subsidies - $20 billion
Withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan - $100 billion
Cut Federal Worker pay by 10% - $30 billion
Cut energy subsidies - $20 billion
End drug war - $15 billion
Social Security made voluntary - $40 billion
Cut housing subsidies - $45 billion
Cut transportation programs - $80 billion
And the link:
Cato Puts Budget-cutting Debate in Perspective
Downsizing the Federal Government | Chris Edwards | Cato Institute
Only >$1000B to go.
Actually, the total in the article comes to about $500B. The national debt in 2000 was about $6000B and of course it's now around $14000B. It's going to take decades to pay it off.
I agree with most of your recommendation, however I disagree with cutting SSI. It is for most people, the only disability insurance they have. FICA payroll taxes are divide into SS retirement benefits and SSI. Cutting SSI would be unfair to workers since many have paid for this for a number of years. Also it will have little if any impact on the deficit.I am not in favor of corporate welfare and CEO getting rich on the back of our tax dollars nor on destruction of the value of the dollar.
1. I would bring down defense spending, probably by half over a 10 year period. I would defend the US shores, but not prosecute wars of aggression we have no business in. See England, Russia. No troops in Germany or Japan. I would support development of high tech weaponry, as this has proved its value the last two decades. Cruise missiles, drones, our satellite eye in the sky, have all proven their worth. Aircraft carriers, AWACS, all good stuff. We spend 10 times what China or Russia spend, to maintain a huge offensive capability. This costs us too much money and too many lives, and we should reduce it substantially.
2. I would attack Medicare part D (repub screw up). For each illness, I would offer 1 out of 4 drugs on the market, some generic and some brand name. Lets say there are 40 blood pressure pills out there, I'd give away 10 for free (if prescribed by physician, 6 generic and 4 brand name). You would have to bid, and I'll take the 10 low bids. If you want a different pill, go buy it yourself. That would pressure the manufacturers to compete on price.
3. I would require all recipients of social security SSI payments to be certified by the SS doctor, not just their doctor. Maybe end SS-SSI altogether. This is being gamed by many, ripping off the working class. We need to look at social security much harder. I am not sure the problem is with retirees, as it is with the govt. letting too many people claim Disability and get payments for life when they could be working. Below I will post a quote on SSI.
4. I would allow private investigators to be bounty hunters on medicare fraud clinics. You bust one leading to conviction, you get 50K plus 10% of their fraudulent billings.
5. I would have medical boards set treatment standards, particularly end of life care. After a certain point, you go on DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) and hospice care. That's what they do in Europe. If you have money and want to pay for more (or buy an additional insurance to pay for more), you can.
6. End most corporate welfare. Exxon does not need tax breaks, they make a fortune. Eliminate farm subsidies, the family farm is gone, just huge operators out there.
7. Bring back the clinton era tax rates, the rich can pay more, they used to pay more and the economy was doing fine.
There are only 5 areas that make up most of the fed. budget, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Defense, and Interest on the debt.
- You can't do anything about interest on the debt unless you balance the budget and run a surplus and use the surplus to pay down the debt. I'm not holding my breath. Actually, interest rates will rise from here and this must go up and nudge something else out.
- So, you have to deal with SS, Medicare, Medicaid and Defense to meaningly deal with the deficit.
QUOTE from Social Security website about SSI:
Social Security's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) ProgramWhat About The SSI Program?
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources.
SSI benefits are also payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits.
A friend in Houston tells me 10 families on his street, the husband, wife and daughter all are "disabled" and collect SSI; they all live in the same house. But, he sees them put the garbage can out on pick up day. The system is being gamed. The 10 families are not native americans, but migrated here.
Wait - you just agreed to "full spending ahead."I am not in favor of corporate welfare and CEO getting rich on the back of our tax dollars nor on destruction of the value of the dollar.
1. I would bring down defense spending, probably by half over a 10 year period. I would defend the US shores, but not prosecute wars of aggression we have no business in. See England, Russia. No troops in Germany or Japan. I would support development of high tech weaponry, as this has proved its value the last two decades. Cruise missiles, drones, our satellite eye in the sky, have all proven their worth. Aircraft carriers, AWACS, all good stuff. We spend 10 times what China or Russia spend, to maintain a huge offensive capability. This costs us too much money and too many lives, and we should reduce it substantially.
2. I would attack Medicare part D (repub screw up). For each illness, I would offer 1 out of 4 drugs on the market, some generic and some brand name. Lets say there are 40 blood pressure pills out there, I'd give away 10 for free (if prescribed by physician, 6 generic and 4 brand name). You would have to bid, and I'll take the 10 low bids. If you want a different pill, go buy it yourself. That would pressure the manufacturers to compete on price.
3. I would require all recipients of social security SSI payments to be certified by the SS doctor, not just their doctor. Maybe end SS-SSI altogether. This is being gamed by many, ripping off the working class. We need to look at social security much harder. I am not sure the problem is with retirees, as it is with the govt. letting too many people claim Disability and get payments for life when they could be working. Below I will post a quote on SSI.
4. I would allow private investigators to be bounty hunters on medicare fraud clinics. You bust one leading to conviction, you get 50K plus 10% of their fraudulent billings.
5. I would have medical boards set treatment standards, particularly end of life care. After a certain point, you go on DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) and hospice care. That's what they do in Europe. If you have money and want to pay for more (or buy an additional insurance to pay for more), you can.
6. End most corporate welfare. Exxon does not need tax breaks, they make a fortune. Eliminate farm subsidies, the family farm is gone, just huge operators out there.
7. Bring back the clinton era tax rates, the rich can pay more, they used to pay more and the economy was doing fine.
There are only 5 areas that make up most of the fed. budget, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Defense, and Interest on the debt.
- You can't do anything about interest on the debt unless you balance the budget and run a surplus and use the surplus to pay down the debt. I'm not holding my breath. Actually, interest rates will rise from here and this must go up and nudge something else out.
- So, you have to deal with SS, Medicare, Medicaid and Defense to meaningly deal with the deficit.
QUOTE from Social Security website about SSI:
Social Security's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) ProgramWhat About The SSI Program?
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources.
SSI benefits are also payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits.
A friend in Houston tells me 10 families on his street, the husband, wife and daughter all are "disabled" and collect SSI; they all live in the same house. But, he sees them put the garbage can out on pick up day. The system is being gamed. The 10 families are not native americans, but migrated here.
Some good ideas.
Banning federal government unions would do little to reduce the budget since these unions do not have collective bargaining rights.Privatize Education, Ban all Government Unions and instantly................all budgets are balanced with ease.......
Democrats create ghettos....nothing more.
Education and govt. unions may be 3% of the entire budget if that so that is nothing if we totally eliminate both.
You have to cut the big ticket items: Social Security needs to go to mandatory age 66 retirement now, Medicare a means test now for wealthy seniors 25% of which have income over 80K today, Medicaid needs to be block grants to the states and all obsolete military bases need to be closed yesterday.
Those items will be 90% of the budget in 8 1/2 years and are over 60 % now.
Enroll everyone on foodstamps thats the fastest way to stimulate the economy . Devalue the dollar the fastest way to pay down debt.
Banning federal government unions would do little to reduce the budget since these unions do not have collective bargaining rights.
No to privatizing education. This would be a step in wrong direction.
1. Increase taxes
2. Cut Spending
1. Increase taxes
2. Cut Spending
I challenge you to find a SINGLE instance of Congress passing a Tax increase AND cutting spending at the same time.
What do you think is an 'acceptable' deficit?
The FY2009 deficit was $1413B - what will you cut to get down to that 'acceptable' deficit?
Note that to asnwer the 2nd question, you must include dollar amounts and explain where those figures came from.
That is:
Specify what programs you'd cut/taxes you'd raise, how much they would save/generate, and how you know.
Why wouldn't privatizing education put a dent in the budget?1. Increase taxes
2. Cut Spending
I challenge you to find a SINGLE instance of Congress passing a Tax increase AND cutting spending at the same time.
Spending is the problem.
And privatizing education will not do much of anything to settle THE NATIONAL debt and deficit.
It social security and Medicare folks. Wake up.
Not even remotely close.I'd cut the military budget in half.
I'd defund HSA, too.
That would be the end of budget problems, folks.
"The U.S. spent an astounding $698 billion on the military last year, an 81% increase over the last decade."
Unlike public schools, private schools can choose their students thru entrance exams, and interviews with parents and students. They are looking for students that will do well without special attention and without special needs. Those that do not measure up to their standards are left to the public schools.Banning federal government unions would do little to reduce the budget since these unions do not have collective bargaining rights.
No to privatizing education. This would be a step in wrong direction.
Privatizing education is exactly the right direction to go.
So parents can spend their money on their kids' education rather than flat-screen televisions, iPhones, etc....Unlike public schools, private schools can choose their students thru entrance exams, and interviews with parents and students. They are looking for students that will do well without special attention and without special needs. Those that do not measure up to their standards are left to the public schools.
14% of the kids in school are special needs kids. This means special teachers working with the classroom teacher or special ed. classes. Private schools often will not take special ed. kids. Those that do will include the cost in tuition or rely on public education to provide for special ed. services.
Its not just special ed. kids, but any kids that are going to be costly to educate such as kids with discipline problems, emotion disturbed, and social disadvantage kids will likely be left to public schools or specialized private schools.
According to the Department of Education the average cost of tuition for one year of private school for K-12 is $6600. There are damn few families with 3 kids that can afford $20,000 a year for tuition. Also unlike public schools, most private schools charge for all additional services such as busing and many extracurricular activities.
To provide education for all kids, the government would need to provide vouchers for most families. This would mean government oversight and control similar to what we have in public education. I think replacing public education with private education would end up being more costly with questionable results.
Federal spending on education is miniscule.Banning federal government unions would do little to reduce the budget since these unions do not have collective bargaining rights.
No to privatizing education. This would be a step in wrong direction.
What do you think is an 'acceptable' deficit?
The FY2009 deficit was $1413B - what will you cut to get down to that 'acceptable' deficit?
Note that to asnwer the 2nd question, you must include dollar amounts and explain where those figures came from.
That is:
Specify what programs you'd cut/taxes you'd raise, how much they would save/generate, and how you know.
Not even remotely close.I'd cut the military budget in half.
I'd defund HSA, too.
That would be the end of budget problems, folks.
"The U.S. spent an astounding $698 billion on the military last year, an 81% increase over the last decade."
Not even remotely close.I'd cut the military budget in half.
I'd defund HSA, too.
That would be the end of budget problems, folks.
Irrelevant to what I said."The U.S. spent an astounding $698 billion on the military last year, an 81% increase over the last decade."
In fact, you have yet to respond with anything relevant to anything anyone has said.