POLL: How You would slash the American Federal Budget

Feuer Frei! · 05-25-11, 06:06 AM

Put your hypothetical caps on and let's imagine we can put forward reason to Washington DC, reduce spending to a sustainable amount and secondly no longer borrow money.
What would you slash? Or eliminate?
There are ofc some variations, however and for the purpose of this poll, the 4 major Budget Issues are divided up equally, a half a Trillion each:

1) Interest on debt, approx 1/2 trillion
2) Military spending, approx 1/2 trillion
3) Social Security, approx 1/2 trillion
4) Medicare, approx 1/2 trillion

JSLTIGER · 05-25-11, 06:57 AM

None of the above. I would re-write the tax code in order to increase the amount of revenue that the government takes in. Eliminate loopholes, tax shelters and breaks (as all they do is allow you to put off paying taxes, not eliminate your debt anyway), and increase the corporate rates.

Additionally, I would eliminate all of the federal agencies that are doubles of each other. Best example: Why do we need the USDA to inspect food AND the FDA to inspect food? The USDA should handle all food safety and the FDA should be re-directed to handle only drugs. Let's eliminate a lot of the waste that the government has. Additionally, let's see if we can't find ways to squeeze the budget by reducing the number of federal departments.

Oberon · 05-25-11, 07:45 AM

Invade Canada.

Torplexed · 05-26-11, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Invade Canada.

We tried that in 1775 and 1812 and they beat us back with their hockey sticks.

Sailor Steve · 05-26-11, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

We tried that in 1775 and 1812 and they beat us back with their hockey sticks.

Kinda sorta almost. That's a bad idea today because we'd have to spend too much money for too little return.

Platapus · 05-25-11, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSLTIGER

None of the above. I would re-write the tax code in order to increase the amount of revenue that the government takes in. Eliminate loopholes, tax shelters and breaks (as all they do is allow you to put off paying taxes, not eliminate your debt anyway), and increase the corporate rates.

Additionally, I would eliminate all of the federal agencies that are doubles of each other. Best example: Why do we need the USDA to inspect food AND the FDA to inspect food? The USDA should handle all food safety and the FDA should be re-directed to handle only drugs. Let's eliminate a lot of the waste that the government has. Additionally, let's see if we can't find ways to squeeze the budget by reducing the number of federal departments.

Some good idea there.

I would keep the corporate rate at its present level but get rid of many of the deductions and all the loopholes and shelters.

I would also like to see a reduction in the military industrial complex. And yes, I am part of that complex, but I still think that is the logical area to make some of the cuts... even if it costs me my job.

Anthony W. · 05-25-11, 06:25 PM

I don't want to hijack a thread by writing a book

So - I'll just say - I hate social security

FIREWALL · 05-25-11, 06:43 PM

Raise internet taxs by 50%

Dan D · 05-25-11, 06:46 PM

The "Euro" will surpass the Dollar as Leading International Reserve Currency.
That is called "competition", despite "social security".
"Get used to it". Your thoughts?

magic452 · 05-25-11, 07:27 PM

Increasing tax revenues will do nothing towards reducing the federal budget but will do just the opposite. Give politicians more money, they will just spend more. The problem is spending not tax revenues.

I do however agree that the tax codes need to be tightened up, corporate and personal. Corporate rates could go down and eliminate shelters and other deductions which put work or funds overseas. Lower rate fewer deductions will increase revenue.
But we are talking about the federal budget here and increasing revenues will not address that issue only spending cuts will.

Eliminating overlapping and unnecessary agencies and reducing all other agencies' budgets would be a big help. Problem is the heads of all these agencies love power and the bigger their budget the more power they think they have. It's a game to them. Increased revenue will do nothing on this front but a reduction in revenue would if borrowing is restricted, balanced budget requirement.

Closing overseas bases will no doubt save some money but no where near enough. More accountability in military spending would also help by eliminating waste and mismanagement. But that ain't going to happen for much the same reasons as the above.

Here in Nevada we have been hard hit by the housing crash and recession
and state and local budgets have been heavily trimmed.
"The sky is falling, the sky is falling" everyone cried, but last I looked it was still there. Budgets can be tightened by quite a lot and things still get done. There isn't a agency in the country that couldn't do with a 10 or 15% cut if the department heads really wanted to. Balanced budget requirement.

Social Security and Medicare are the only paces where you can save enough money to begin to address the fiscal deficit and national debt.
Going to need something along the lines of what Bush purposed but a much better proposal than his, it sorta sucked in many ways.

Politicians won't do anything about these unless we hold a gun to their heads. Lately elections don't seem to be working all that well we put new people in and they just do the same darn thing, So maybe a balanced budget amendment would get some results. That some how was not in the poll.

$0.02

Magic

Platapus · 05-25-11, 07:32 PM

8 posts and no one caught the historical error?

Constitution of 1776????

Stealhead · 05-25-11, 07:32 PM

What happens to all the military members that get their job axed if you do a base downsizing?(if you reduce that stuff you also reduce the manpower needs) That happened in 92-93 and several thousand military members where forced to leave the military if you do that now you just add more people looking for a job that is a problem that would occur at least short term.You could save a lot by making the government more efficient though.The military industrial complex needs to get over the Cold War mentality really badly so there are things that could be done even though they will have a shorter term negative effect.

Platapus · 05-25-11, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealhead

What happens to all the military members that get their job axed if you do a base downsizing?

That is also one of the reasons Bush and Obama could not simply "end the wars". Consider how many reservists and guard are deployed as a full time job.

Consider the unemployment and the economy back at home.

Consider how "firing" (ending the war) these full time employees (reserve and guard) and the effects of dumping them on the local economy.

No jobs now, no jobs when they demob.

Kinda F-ed up when keeping reservists and guards in harms way is an economic stimulus program.

Everything is interlaced.

View Poll Results: How You would slash the American Federal Budget
Repudiate the debt and end the Federal Reserve.	3	23.08%
Eliminate many of the military bases worldwide, reduce military spending by 1/2.	7	53.85%
Repudiate FDR's New Deal Act of 1935, end Social Security.	4	30.77%
Repudiate LBJ's Great Society Civil Rights of 1964, end Medicare.	1	7.69%
Abolish the Constitution of 1776 and return to the Article of Confederation.	2	15.38%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll

05-25-11, 06:06 AM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	POLL: How You would slash the American Federal Budget Put your hypothetical caps on and let's imagine we can put forward reason to Washington DC, reduce spending to a sustainable amount and secondly no longer borrow money. What would you slash? Or eliminate? There are ofc some variations, however and for the purpose of this poll, the 4 major Budget Issues are divided up equally, a half a Trillion each: 1) Interest on debt, approx 1/2 trillion 2) Military spending, approx 1/2 trillion 3) Social Security, approx 1/2 trillion 4) Medicare, approx 1/2 trillion __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

05-25-11, 06:57 AM	#2
JSLTIGER The Old Man Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Parkland, FL, USA Posts: 1,437 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	None of the above. I would re-write the tax code in order to increase the amount of revenue that the government takes in. Eliminate loopholes, tax shelters and breaks (as all they do is allow you to put off paying taxes, not eliminate your debt anyway), and increase the corporate rates. Additionally, I would eliminate all of the federal agencies that are doubles of each other. Best example: Why do we need the USDA to inspect food AND the FDA to inspect food? The USDA should handle all food safety and the FDA should be re-directed to handle only drugs. Let's eliminate a lot of the waste that the government has. Additionally, let's see if we can't find ways to squeeze the budget by reducing the number of federal departments. __________________ Thor: Intel Core i7 4770K\|ASUS Z87Pro\|32GB DDR3 RAM\|11GB EVGA GeForce RTX 2080Ti Black\|256GB Crucial M4 SSD+2TB WD HDD\|4X LG BD-RE\|32" Acer Predator Z321QU 165Hz G-Sync (2540x1440)\|Logitech Z-323 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Pro Explorer (MSI GL63 8RE-629 Laptop): Intel Core i7 8750H\|16GB DDR4 RAM\|6GB GeForce GTX 1060\|128GB SSD+1TB HDD\|15.6" Widescreen (1920x1080)\|Logitech R-20 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Home

05-25-11, 06:25 PM	#7
Anthony W. Grey Wolf Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 850 Downloads: 130 Uploads: 0	I don't want to hijack a thread by writing a book So - I'll just say - I hate social security __________________ Sunken Mustangs Proud Ford Mustang owner "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" - Admiral David Farragut Run silent - run deep - keep the baffles clear - targets front and center. Private pilot and history buff

05-25-11, 06:43 PM	#8
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Raise internet taxs by 50% __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

05-25-11, 07:45 AM	#3
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Invade Canada.

05-25-11, 06:46 PM	#9
Dan D Grey Wolf Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: 9th Flotilla Posts: 839 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The "Euro" will surpass the Dollar as Leading International Reserve Currency. That is called "competition", despite "social security". "Get used to it". Your thoughts? __________________

05-25-11, 07:27 PM	#10
magic452 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Reno Nevada USA Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Increasing tax revenues will do nothing towards reducing the federal budget but will do just the opposite. Give politicians more money, they will just spend more. The problem is spending not tax revenues. I do however agree that the tax codes need to be tightened up, corporate and personal. Corporate rates could go down and eliminate shelters and other deductions which put work or funds overseas. Lower rate fewer deductions will increase revenue. But we are talking about the federal budget here and increasing revenues will not address that issue only spending cuts will. Eliminating overlapping and unnecessary agencies and reducing all other agencies' budgets would be a big help. Problem is the heads of all these agencies love power and the bigger their budget the more power they think they have. It's a game to them. Increased revenue will do nothing on this front but a reduction in revenue would if borrowing is restricted, balanced budget requirement. Closing overseas bases will no doubt save some money but no where near enough. More accountability in military spending would also help by eliminating waste and mismanagement. But that ain't going to happen for much the same reasons as the above. Here in Nevada we have been hard hit by the housing crash and recession and state and local budgets have been heavily trimmed. "The sky is falling, the sky is falling" everyone cried, but last I looked it was still there. Budgets can be tightened by quite a lot and things still get done. There isn't a agency in the country that couldn't do with a 10 or 15% cut if the department heads really wanted to. Balanced budget requirement. Social Security and Medicare are the only paces where you can save enough money to begin to address the fiscal deficit and national debt. Going to need something along the lines of what Bush purposed but a much better proposal than his, it sorta sucked in many ways. Politicians won't do anything about these unless we hold a gun to their heads. Lately elections don't seem to be working all that well we put new people in and they just do the same darn thing, So maybe a balanced budget amendment would get some results. That some how was not in the poll. $0.02 Magic __________________ Reported lost 11 Feb. 1942 Signature by depthtok33l

05-25-11, 07:32 PM	#11
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,373 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	8 posts and no one caught the historical error? Constitution of 1776???? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

05-25-11, 07:32 PM	#12
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	What happens to all the military members that get their job axed if you do a base downsizing?(if you reduce that stuff you also reduce the manpower needs) That happened in 92-93 and several thousand military members where forced to leave the military if you do that now you just add more people looking for a job that is a problem that would occur at least short term.You could save a lot by making the government more efficient though.The military industrial complex needs to get over the Cold War mentality really badly so there are things that could be done even though they will have a shorter term negative effect.