Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
Posted on 11/26/2007 5:20:37 PM PST by gpapa
The safest of all assumptions in Washington is that year after year federal spending will rise. Over the past 25 years, spending increased 84 percent in real, inflation-adjusted terms as the population of the United States rose 30 percent. Spending per capita grew 41 percent. And though President Bush is now trying to curb spending, the federal budget crossed the $2 trillion mark and is likely to exceed $3 trillion during his presidency. That's nothing to brag about.
The relentless rise in spending, unstopped even when Republicans controlled the White House and Congress, has thrown conservatives committed to limited government into despair. Their view, fashionable at the moment, is that nothing can be done to limit spending to any significant degree. It's hopeless. Even conservative voters "aren't that concerned about spending," Ramesh Ponnuru lamented in National Review.
A widely read essay by William Voegeli in the Claremont Review of Books noted that the economic boom of the past quarter-century created the perfect environment for restraining spending. "More people had more money to spend on their own health, education, and welfare, presumably enabling the government to spend less for such purposes," he wrote. But rather than recede, the public sector grew faster than the private. Conservatives blew their best chance.
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
The slogan here should be, “It is the entitlements, stupid!”
No one can cut them and survive in elected office.
I do like the idea of expanding child credits and the like as a way of raising incomes above the poverty line and simply do away with the entitlement bureucracy. That alone would save billions.
That would be a great bumper sticker...for any real conservative!
A bill drafted by the people, with the appropriate number of signatures, and delivered to congress that outlined a plan to stop the federal government from raiding the social security trust fund [through its accounting gimmickry allowing it spend the payroll-tax surplus and leave in place so-called special issue bonds] by requiring that all future surplus is used to purchase real assets. To sweeten the pot for politicians and to garner more signatures of other state elected officials, a requirement could be that the surplus money is used to purchase the bonds from domestic municipalities.
The result of passing the bill and making it "law" would be an instant proper accounting of the true spending and taxing nature of our federal government and a budget deficit that is true and accurate. Deficit hawk would have a tantrum and would be forced to find ways to raise revenue or cut spending or finance more debt. The great news is that states would be awash in money resources. They may even offer their own state-wide programs that SHOULD squeeze the federal government out of the social saftey-net business (it never should have been a federal matter to begin with but since federalism's death this could be a much needed resurrection) or they could reduce their tax rates instead.
One thing is for sure, once the payroll taxes no longer cover the current benefit payments to eligible beneficiaries, at least these real assets can be redeemed in the open-market or held 'til maturity and then be given back the principal payment.
“More people had more money to spend on their own health, education, and welfare, presumably enabling the government to spend less for such purposes,” he wrote.
Completely ignoring the growing welfare class that has become a very effective political tool. The sad fact is, some people will just about die before they do an honest day’s work. They will live in squalor without without even indoor plumbing before they do for themselves.
Watch the Documentary “This Black Soil: A story of Struggle and Change” The title is misleading, of course, as their “struggle” was to get the government to build them a community complete with a small farm, which they did. They were living like animals and all they were willing to do was demand money from the government.
It’s a catch 22. Demand they do for themselves and you are a heartless racist. “Help” them and they come to expect it at every turn.
Some want to liberalize the Republican Party. They post here too. When you mention constitutional rights or limited government, they get all worked up. They begin name calling and race baiting.
Don’t believe me? Go on a Ron Paul thread and state that you think that eliminating the IRS or Department of Education is a fiscally sound idea. See what happens.
Any article with a title like that is made for your ping list!
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
lol, very true, and it was a good article too!
The “grow Government” types re-named the War Department as the Defense Department.
What would happen if a sitting President re-named a few of those “Secretaries”?
Secreatary of Indoctrination
Secretary of War
Secretary of Socialized Medicine and Govenment Give Aways
Etc...
Would average folks pay more attention?
I have a 50 year old booklet from the Department of Civil Defense. It tells what to do in case of emergencies. Even has a detailed evacuation plan for the county. It puts to shame anything produced by the multi billion dollar Department of Homeland Security.
What would they rename FEMA? Department of crappy trailers?
I’ve said for YEARS the best way to bring spending under control is to get rid of payroll taxes. Make Americans send in a check every April 15th instead of hiding little pieces here and there each check. If the people actually had to write a check to the government, I truly believe spending tax payer money would be a LOT tougher for politicians to pull off!
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