http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/economic.../id/390630

Oh I agree but its not just a spending issue its a revenue issue as well. Bernie Sanders and his flat surtax on all income over $1 million dollars would raise $50 billion a year alone. Congresswoman Schakowsky would like to go one step further adding tax brackets at the top starting at the $1 million a year level. Fortunately or unfortunately we do need to raise more revenue. We also need to focus more on streamlining bureaucracies and realize economies of scale.

I also agree that its just as much as a revenue issue as a debt issue. I don't mind a huge debt if we are using that money to create jobs. Americans working pays off that debt through tax revenue. Unfortunately we're spending the money in the wrong places. I'd rather not streamline bureaucracies though.

Animus, please explain what you mean when you state, "I'd rather not streamline bureaucracies though." I don't want to assume anything. I often agree with you but at first glance of this statement, I don't agree and it surprises me.

I'm just waiting for the corrupt to grab what they can, now that the economy is in the toilet, and give us the flush on their way out of DC...

Yea my idea was you have plenty of instances where 3 people are doing the job of 1 person or 5 smaller agencies regulating the same thing. The idea is start getting rid of that redundancy. Maybe slowly in the first year or two as the economy's clearly still shaky, but once we actually start picking up some steam really go at it.

I think we all can agree that things can be slashed, cut, and totally removed from the budget. Take Offense Spending for example; we have ships and airplanes 15-20-25 years out of date. So where exactly is the wasteful money going esp when our Offense Spending dwarfs the entire EU Nations for Offense spending? I'd like to see an amendment that totally bans "pork" from any bill. Another Amendment I'd like to see is the budget should never have debt or even a surplus. If there is a surplus that money needs to come back to the people and not the pockets of already wealthy CEO's.

As for bureaucracies, I hate them. Even though we're talking about consolidating them. I'd rather see 90% -if not more- removed from our Government. One thing about Obama that blew me away when he was running for President is he talked about banning Lobbyist. Well so much for that. Insurance Company Lobbyist wrote the freaking Health Care Bill.

(03-25-2011 11:42 AM)brista21 Wrote:  Yea my idea was you have plenty of instances where 3 people are doing the job of 1 person or 5 smaller agencies regulating the same thing. The idea is start getting rid of that redundancy. Maybe slowly in the first year or two as the economy's clearly still shaky, but once we actually start picking up some steam really go at it.

That's what I thought you meant, an I agree. Get rid of surplus and redundancy. I would add that the federal government should prosecute fraud more aggressively.

(03-25-2011 12:28 PM)animus Wrote:  I think we all can agree that things can be slashed, cut, and totally removed from the budget. Take Offense Spending for example; we have ships and airplanes 15-20-25 years out of date. So where exactly is the wasteful money going esp when our Offense Spending dwarfs the entire EU Nations for Offense spending? I'd like to see an amendment that totally bans "pork" from any bill. Another Amendment I'd like to see is the budget should never have debt or even a surplus. If there is a surplus that money needs to come back to the people and not the pockets of already wealthy CEO's.

As for bureaucracies, I hate them. Even though we're talking about consolidating them. I'd rather see 90% -if not more- removed from our Government. One thing about Obama that blew me away when he was running for President is he talked about banning Lobbyist. Well so much for that. Insurance Company Lobbyist wrote the freaking Health Care Bill.

I agree there is some waste in the Defense budget. I would also point out that we basically provide protection to the international shipping lanes, keep conflicts from arising or contain conflicts from spreading. These things we never hear about as our media is the laughingstock of the world, but a review of international sources will show what goes on outside the U.S. and it isn't very good.

I do wish other nations would step up, but they won't. I certainly don't want China to rule the waves unchecked. Not sure I would be happy with Russia doing so. As part of a general coalition, there are less problems, so I can agree to working with them, but I would not step out of the role entirely.

As to pork and lobbyists, good luck. I agree with you, get rid of them, but I don't see politicians doing the right thing on these two issues.