Posted on 10/05/2010 11:31:42 PM PDT by neverdem
Like sequels to Saw, the government just keeps coming, growing larger, more expensive, and more appalling each year. In times of economic distress, even at the increasing risk of default, the size, scope, and cost of federal, state, and local governments continue to balloon, swallowing everything in their path. For 10 solid years, and especially since September 2008, spending has boomed, the Federal Register has exploded, and Congress altered American life at an accelerating pace.
Yet loud critics of big government—especially but not only Republican politicians—are often reduced to an awkward stammer when put on the spot by the all-important question, “So what would you cut?” Well, stammer no more.
Consider the following a Halloween-themed cheat sheet for explaining who, what, where, when, and why whole swaths of government need to be cut or euthanized outright, so that taxpayer money is spent more productively, the remaining government services perform better, and the United States can finally begin its long slow climb toward solvency.
We’ve asked analysts from the nation’s capital and around the world to offer tips and tricks for fighting off the cold, cold monster that is the state. The suggestions below are intended not as a last word but as a starting point: As in any good slasher movie, the savvy viewer will soon see potential victims everywhere.
Overhaul Medicaid
Imagine a government-run health care program that limits medical access for millions of patients, is racked by uncontrollably rising costs, and in many instances produces health outcomes demonstrably worse than having no insurance at all. The program exists, and it’s called Medicaid.
Created to provide aid to the country’s poorest and sickest individuals, the joint federal-state program was initially intended as a low-cost bulwark against further government intervention in the health care system. In 1965, its first...
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Hmm? Wasn’t Reason wishy-washy at best during the last election? These “cosmotarians” over at Reason are constantly making fun of the Tea Party, and have been since the start. They see the handwriting on the wall as of late and have lost a lot of credibility. After all, it’s gets harder to ask rich oil company owners for money all the time when profits are drying up.
I've never stammered on this issue. I have always responded to liberals asking what I'd cut...this list includes a number of my cuts. I would make some changes to this list, but as a ball park starting place it isn't too bad. but instead of gifting federal land to the states I'd use it to offset the unfunded liabilities the federal government has. The federal government owns roughly 30% of all the land in the US...that is insane! But the value is also insane and could offset the massive hole in social security funding that the thieves in DC have taken.
also, they put off getting rid of the department of education and just gut it some...no, get rid of it. Education is a state province, not a federal one. And, while it's not the big ticket other things are, but get rid if the federal arts stuff...they can gift the museums to the states, but again, it's not constitutional for the federal government to spend tax money on art, rather it is questionable quality or not. And the federal government doesn't need to own radio stations either...sell NPR. Regarding the military, let Europe defend themselves, same with Japan and South Korea...move most if not all of those troops to bases along the US boarder. We'll see how excited illegals are to sneak in through a live fire range...and let the army deal with mexican gangs trying to cross the boarder with their drugs. Close the bases in Europe...huge savings there. Mothball bases elsewhere in case they are needed in the future, but again, big savings.
Better ideas:
Eliminate all Federal departments and agencies that came into effect after 1960.
With the exception of the military, all remaining departments and agencies budgets would be cut to 1980 levels.
Keep Bush tax cuts.
Eliminate all corporate income taxes and capital gains taxes.
Eliminate all drilling bans, and red tape for coal and nuke fired plants.
Re-fund Social Security Trust Fund to where it should be prior to it being raided over the last 70 years.
I will see your 1960 and raise you by eliminating all departments established after 1870 (considering the Department of Defense in 1947 as a reconsolidation of the Department of War and the Department of the Navy into a single department as existed until 1798 with the creation of the newly independent Department of the Navy).
Too timid: what SHOULD be cut is far greater than what MIGHT be politically easy to cut. Big difference there.
ALL arts and science funding by the feds is a Constitutional stretch, and any check to somebody not employed by the feds is specific welfare, NOT general welfare.
Justice, Treasury, Defense, State, and Interior should be the ONLY departments of the federal government. Heck, even including State and Interior is being generous.
And, while it’s not the big ticket other things are,
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More is spent on K-12 education than on the military. This includes local, state, and federal funding.
Our government K-12 schools are sucking the life blood out of our economy. Really they are! Every effort should be made to move to vouchers, tax credits, and charters. We should work toward complete separation of school and state with parents paying for their own kids education with charity schooling for the poorest.
As it is now, citizens are groaning under heavy property taxes. If they rent, the property tax is passed on in the form of higher rents. In my county more than 60% of our property taxes go to fund government K-12 schools. Citizens literally no longer their homes and businesses. The government does. The government is the landlord and we a mere renters.
High property taxes paid by businesses is reflected in the cost of the products made. Everyone in the U.S. pays property taxes. Some pay directly. Others pay though higher rents and in the higher than necessary costs of the goods and services they buy. U.S. made goods are at a disadvantage on the world market. This encourages businesses to relocate outside of the U.S.
One more thing:
Government school accounting practices would make an Enron accountant blush! Double or triple the amount your state claims it spends on K-12 schooling. For instance, in my state, retired school employees are not considered a school expense. They are instead in the “retired government employee” accounting column.
as you can tell from my tagline, I'm all for getting government out of the education business. I'd advocate vouchers...then let the parents decide which school to send their kids to. If they wish to pay more for a high cost school, that is their choice, but with competition, even the basic schools would provide a much better education than the schools do now. And with parents paying direct attention to cost/benefits they would keep the schools honest. If liberals want to indoctrinate their children they can send them to stupid liberals school...but I'd rather pick a quality school that focuses on real education.
In my county more than 60% of our property taxes go to fund government K-12 schools. Citizens literally no longer their homes and businesses. The government does. The government is the landlord and we a mere renters.
I don't know the statistics in the US, but it's getting that way. Even if you were to buy a piece of property, you can't do whatever you want with it...the government zones some land for agriculture, some for business, some for residential, and you don't normally have rights to any minerals found in your land...and if you fail to pay your property taxes they take the land...so really, you're just renting it...except you're responsible for it.
Before we declare defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan, bring the troops home from Germany, Korea and Japan. Some can be repositioned to places closer to problem areas.
Here’s a start:
* Seal the border and cut off all aid to illegals and their children.
* Get rid of the Dept. of Education.
* Get rid of the “Piss Christ” National Endowment of the Arts.
* Stop aiding foreign nations and leave that to private charities.
* Shut down National Public Radio.
* Stop giving taxpayer money to groups like Planned Parenthood.
* Abolish the IRS.
There’s so much more that needs to be done.
Bookmark. I don’t agree with pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan, but the rest I like.
Bookmark. I don’t agree with pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan, but the rest I like.
Bump!
Bump!
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