Trimming the Fat

Published on November 29, 2004 By iamheather In Politics

We all know that the government could spend our money better. Cries of fiscal responsibility from both parties can be heard throughout our country. Since it is your money being spent, I would like to know what programs you would cut and why.

Comments (Page 2)

Texas Wahine

on Nov 29, 2004

I like Genghis' suggestions. They make sense.

whoman69

on Nov 29, 2004

Do any of you know how different the world would be without NASA? No satellites for your TV, cell phones, weather prediction. Home computers and miniaturization came about because of the space age.

Cut the Smithsonian? Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

Research grants, as William Proxmire proved a couple of decades ago there are certainly some duds out there, but there also may be the cure to cancer. Much of industrial enterprise in this country comes about because of governmnent aided research. You don't just slash the whole thing. Put a concerted study into it.

Post office, there's some fat there, but the Post Office is one of the few areas of the government actually in the black. The advertising they do for their overnight service makes sure your postage is not what it is in Europe and other countries throughout the world.

I am surprised noone has mentioned the National Helium reserve, research on the impossible dream of Star Wars (not to mention any country would be suicidal to attack us with nuclear weapons), bunker busting nuclear weapons.

Texas Wahine

on Nov 29, 2004

whoman: If you've got the answers, then spill . . . elaborate. It's easy to judge others, but difficult to stick your neck out there with an idea.

iamheather

on Nov 29, 2004

Yes, woman...please elaborate. Unfortunately, I think you are making my point for me.

It's easy to judge others, but difficult to stick your neck out there with an idea.

Exactly, Tex. Thank you. Anyone can complain. Who can help be a problem-solver?

dabe

on Nov 29, 2004

Star Wars

Allowing mining and drilling on federal lands for free, or next to free

Abstenence Only education

Corporate welfare, including tax cuts for stadium construction, tax breaks to companies who outsource overseas and those who relocate their offices oversees or the islands to avoid taxes

Revoke the provision that makes it illegal for the government to negotiate for cheaper drugs under Medicaid, particularly while pharmaceutical companies are making money hand over fist

Repeal the massive corporate tax cuts until the debt is paid down

Faith based initiatives

Nuclear weapons and testing

Make congressman pay for their own health care, like the rest of us

Outsource and privatize Bush and Cheney

Texas Wahine

on Nov 29, 2004

Outsource and privatize Bush and Cheney

Grim Xiozan

on Nov 29, 2004

Okay, I can roll with the other punches but NASA...no way no how.

Budget cuts...can you say bad rockets, equipment failures, another Columbia disaster, plus Hubble...not say another Columbia might not happen, but NASA over the past decade has spent their money wisely even more so than the rest of the government. The only failure that has happened so far is the first Mars rover, but heck the Mars rover was designed on a very tight budget because they want something less expensive and more cost effective than a manned space shuttle.

Do you know how much the Mars rover cost compared to the rest of the equipment NASA buys?
You do know Houston (NASA) is the main contact point for the international space station or should we forget the people up there from OTHER countries?

Hubble telescope is aging, needs constant maintenance but because of Hubble we are able to look further into space and also predict if any meteor is headed at Earth.
Plus that is the tip of the iceberg for NASA, I suggest you read up on every little thing NASA does before just throwing a suggestion about cutting the budget for NASA more than it has already been cut. Until the civilian sector catches up NASA must be there to maintain it's studies, missions, etc. Raytheon and Boeing have just got around to launching their own satellites give them enough time and NASA can start to be phased out to Civilian Contractors but until that time comes, NASA must stay.

Cutting NASA would be like taking all funding away from the Red Cross and if you don't believe that than you underestimate how vital NASA is to our future that people seem to worry so much about.

Anyways, the rest of the budget cuts are sound but I would also add in Social Reform programs since they neither provide Social or Reform effectively enough to benefit their existence, along with phasing in privatization of Social Security. The biggest cut would be in the salaries and retirement packages of Congress, Supreme Court, and President salaries.
Do we really need multi-million dollar Senators earning an extra tax free $140,000 to $199,000? Also, they retire and get a nice juicy tax free retirement package that provides almost as much pay, do they really need it?

I know some will argue about that will allow them to be corrupted, but damn people already complain about them being corrupted so why pay extra for a corrupt official or uncorrupt official? It should be a service to the country not a service for a fat paycheck...damn I need to go into politics and make some big bucks (no whammies!!), so screw what I just said I am going to run for office, in fact increase it!!

- Grim

iamheather

on Nov 29, 2004

Dabe, this is not a Bush bashing thread. Stick to actual programs that need to be cut or abolished, please. I am looking for answers, not problems.

iamheather

on Nov 29, 2004

Social Reform programs since they neither provide Social or Reform effectively enough to benefit their existence, along with phasing in privatization of Social Security. The biggest cut would be in the salaries and retirement packages of Congress, Supreme Court, and President salaries.
Do we really need multi-million dollar Senators earning an extra tax free $140,000 to $199,000? Also, they retire and get a nice juicy tax free retirement package that provides almost as much pay, do they really need it?

Good ideas, Grim. Thank you.

I am going to run for office

I'll vote for you!

dabe

on Nov 29, 2004

Reply #23 By: iamheather - 11/29/2004 8:58:47 PM
Dabe, this is not a Bush bashing thread. Stick to actual programs that need to be cut or abolished, please. I am looking for answers, not problems.

Sorry

I guess I'd have to remove the "outsourcing and privatizing bush" line. The rest, I'd leave.

cactoblasta

on Nov 29, 2004

Within the Dept. Agriculture -- the US is providing a 50% increase in food and education assistance in developing countries. IMO, America first. This would be something I would scale back.
National Endowment for Democracy and Middle East Partnership Initiative -- $80 million plus $150 million. Cut, cut, cut!

Both of these programs are essential to US foreign policy. Without regular wheat and other grain shipments to 3rd world countries they may return to rice crops, which would drastically reduce the possibility of safe markets for American agriculture in the future.

The National Endowment for Democracy has propped up dictators for decades. WIthout its corrupting touch the world would be a lot more hostile to American interests. Do Americans really need to be any more despised?

I reckon there's probably some dead weight in the military. From what I've read most contracts go overtime and overbudget. So the best thing to do is to have massive penalties for overtime and overbudget projects - the execution of corporate executives for treachery would be appropriate and would force the ridiculously inefficient defence industry to improve itself or face the ultimate price.

Draginol

on Nov 29, 2004

I would simply institute a cross the board spending reduction on all programs. Right now, most programs grow annually by 3% automatically. I would just require that these same programs only increase at a rate of 2% annually until the debt was under $1 trillion.

Texas Wahine

on Nov 29, 2004

Something to remember when critiquing my ideas:

OK, now I am admitting up front that I am very ignorant when it comes to this, and what follows is me talking out of my ass about things that I know nothing about.

iamheather

on Nov 29, 2004

Excellent, but do you think our politicians could make this fly? Would constituents like whoman69 just vote them out of office because her pet programs were "cut"? Whoman69 and others are making my point. How can we expect our elected officials to be reduce the debt when these same officials are supposed to represent their constituents. If we are unwilling to agree on anything, no wonder the politicians do nothing!

I expected this article to swerve in this direction. If a few of us on JU cannot agree on sacrifices.....where does that leave us?

Tex, sorry about the criticism. I was trying to find solutions we could agree on and hopefully get people thinking.

Texas Wahine

on Nov 29, 2004

Tex, sorry about the criticism. I was trying to find solutions we could agree on and hopefully get people thinking.

He he he . . . it's no problem. I just want to make it clear to those who are making points against what I suggested that I am just putting things out there that seem like good choices to me based on my admittedly poor understanding of them. I'm not claiming to have the answers in any way, shape, or form.

I think you nailed it with this, btw:

If a few of us on JU cannot agree on sacrifices.....where does that leave us?

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!