Then write in a clause saying that the surplus can go only to either debt relief or it must be given back. Or even better: half to debt relief and half back to the taxpayer. Of course I see what you mean about the "spenders." But I think I just answered that.
And while economic growth will lower the debt percentage, why not boost economic confidence (and thereby increase GDP growth even more) by taking a chunk from the debt while were at it?? Can't everyone see that the stock market (and therefore the economy) has been going through a kind of malaise since the elections. 10200-10850 back and forth and back and forth. S&P sitting squatly at 1200 and NASDAQ back and forth around 2000. Nothing going anywhere. Can't everyone see that this time coincides with the new budgetary proposals? I don't care how much Cavuto says BULLS BULLS BULLS - I think that this malaise, this semi-nervousness that I sense, would be cleared up by a move towards a -gasp- balanced budget.
Yes I know about the War and all. And W has the 150 cuts this year so that's a START. But it must continue until some year - NOT NOW because of the War - until say in 2 or 3 years it can finally be in the green.
Actually most of all the mandatory spending needs to be reduced in rate and actual dollar value.
The market crashed from the clinton bubble. It has increased in a controlled way and recovered after the initial win in the iraq war.
Remeber, the market hit 7300 or so. I had people on the street tell me that it would never see 10k.
The dow is down mostly because of spitzer going after the insurance and drug companies (pfizer and AIG)
http://www.behaviouralfinance.net/
(see prospect theory and compartmentalization)
You have to stay ahead of the game. Any whiff of 'surplus' and the money is $pent.
Here are some examples:
Billy and his wife are plum broke. Billy's wife wants a new dinett set, but Billy shows her their bank balance which is zero. Billy forgoes the purchase of the dinett set. Suddenly, Billy gets back a refund check for 3K he didnt anticipate from his taxes. Billy will:
1) Invest the money in the Vanguard S&P 500 fund-it has low expenses.
2) Buy a new boat, three cases of beer and go fishing with his buddies.