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 4)

drmiler

on Nov 30, 2004

Reply #45 By: EdMcK515 - 11/30/2004 7:10:09 PM
Trim the Intelligence Budget. I don't think throwing more money at it makes it better. Our Intelligence is given a lot more funds then any other nation in the world, yet we feel the need to spend more.

Wrong place to trim. You want another 9/11?Don't trim it, restructure it.

Texas Wahine

on Nov 30, 2004

Tex, you're upset about 16.2 million dollars being spent in a program which has already revolutionized the world twice? When the national deficit measures in the hundreds of Billions? That seems a little silly.

I don't know if you read my disclaimer, but maybe you should do that before you get on my case.

DPS

on Nov 30, 2004

Foreign Aide is one thing I would like to see cut down. I think we should reporute a portion of Saddam's fortune into the American Government so as to contribute to the national debt. Also government supported Museums/Art Institutes should be limited in funding. I can't think of much at the current moment.

A big blanket spending bill might be the easiest approach.

whoman69

on Nov 30, 2004

Trim the Intelligence Budget. I don't think throwing more money at it makes it better. Our Intelligence is given a lot more funds then any other nation in the world, yet we feel the need to spend more. Also trimming the social programs and outdated progeams.

I would feel better if they took down the intelligence bureaucracy down. Too many agencies working on the same thing, with no communication between them. Why do we need 22 separate agencies to do the work that a few could do?

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.

I did point out some areas, national helium reserve, star wars, bunker busting nuclear bombs.

The biggest area for opportunity is bureaucracy itself. The government spend millions to be sure that its money is well wasted. My father worked for a major corporation that did work for the military. They would send a page and a half for specifications on a 3/8 inch phillips screw. These companies had to go down a checklist.

Another area of opportunity is military procurence. I would have hated to be in supply, the forms they had to go thru just to buy something. With all that, its easy to see why they pay $800 for toilet seats.

whoman69

on Nov 30, 2004

Clone William Proxmire.

iamheather

on Dec 01, 2004

jeblackstar

Hey, she stuck her neck out and clearly stated:

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.

cut here some slack jetblackstar,

Pam Johnson

Dade - do you really beleive that raising taxes on the wealthly and larger corps is really going to help. Sorry if you do.

Thank you so much for making this point.

jeblackstar

Further, the budget should not be based off what might be received in the future, but instead should be based off what was received in the last year.

Oh you mean like Clinton's "projected surplus" that "Bush squandered away?"

jeblackstar

on Dec 02, 2004

don't know if you read my disclaimer, but maybe you should do that before you get on my case.

"My Bad"

Cheers

jeblackstar

on Dec 02, 2004

Umm, yes, iamheather, exactly like that.

Bush took those numbers, assumed they would ultimately exist and gave a huge tax cut based off of them.

(Like how I turned your attempted jibe at Clinton into a jibe a Bush?)

Please iamheather, if you don't like me or my posts, try not to lecture me. I agree with most things Tex says, but I have a very dear place in my heart for NASA, if you decide not to like my saying that someone suggesting getting rid of my personal favorite government project is silly, than perhaps you should tell me why. Or perhaps this is just more of you being upset at our shouting matches in other articles?

Cheers

iamheather

on Dec 02, 2004

Please iamheather, if you don't like me or my posts, try not to lecture me.

I do like you and your posts, jetblackstar. I do have a right to disagree and voice that opinion. Try not to view my disagreement as a lecture.

Or perhaps this is just more of you being upset at our shouting matches in other articles?

Didn't realize we ever had a shouting match. I didn't even realize that we have ever conversed extensively.

Seriously, jetblackstar, I love debate. I do not ever take things personally, and I hope you will do the same.

citahellion

on Dec 02, 2004

Bush took those numbers, assumed they would ultimately exist and gave a huge tax cut based off of them

I have to disagree with your characterization of the tax cut. Bush looked at the economy, saw that it needed a big boost to get it back on track after (a) a recession and (

an act of terrorism, and gave a decent-size tax cut program, spread over 10 years, to get and keep things moving.

I think that Congress should have to rank budget items by priority, and the budget pays things in that order. Once the budget limit is reached, any item that is still unpaid remains unpaid, because it just wasn't important enough in the first place.

iamheather

on Dec 02, 2004

I have to disagree with your characterization of the tax cut. Bush looked at the economy, saw that it needed a big boost to get it back on track after (a) a recession and (

an act of terrorism, and gave a decent-size tax cut program, spread over 10 years, to get and keep things moving.

I agree with your assessment, citahellion, but refrained from posting it on the grounds I might be accused of lecturing.

Thank you for posting that.

I think that Congress should have to rank budget items by priority, and the budget pays things in that order. Once the budget limit is reached, any item that is still unpaid remains unpaid, because it just wasn't important enough in the first place.

Good idea, but unfortunately more time would be spent arguing on what priority # each thing gets instead of on the budget.

citahellion

on Dec 02, 2004

Well, if they can't agree on a new budget, then every program could continue at 99% of its previous level of funding. And if they're really reduced to "No, repopulating the Arkansas mongoose is more important than studying the effects of cosmic radiation on biodegradability in landfills!", let them bicker all they want.
If they can agree on the top 100 or so things, and pass that budget separately, and then argue til they're blue about all the random crappy programs, that's even better.

iamheather

on Dec 02, 2004

If they can agree on the top 100 or so things, and pass that budget separately, and then argue til they're blue about all the random crappy programs, that's even better.

Run for office with this as your platform. I'd vote for your logic.

jeblackstar

on Dec 02, 2004

My apologies iamheather, I am equating your opinions with those of your husband, he and I have had very heated arguments about social issues, this equation, in my mind, led to an unfair characterization of your post. I am more than willing for the federal government, in fact, I would love for the federal government, to call up a list of priorities and then, if we have enough to pay for every thing, great, more money to pay down the debt, if not, those items don't get paid for. I have a feeling the constituents would quickly help them realize where their priorities are.

Cheers

iamheather

on Dec 02, 2004

Thank you. I am a little less harsh in my disagreements and opinions than my husband. One of the reasons I married him is because he is firm and keeps me in line as I am very opinionated.

Glad we cleared that up

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