[bbenton]

We need to start cutting all government social programs. Not just restrict their growth but start a 10 year plan where the benefits shrink by 10% per year 'till they're gone. The government is not our parents and the sooner we learn not to depend on them the sooner we won't crash America.
Social security and other programs are a huge burden in their government forms. I am sure profit/performance based private industry could do more with less. We would just need insanely strict independent financial auditing and real penalties for abuse like long jail time.
This will probably not happen until after America goes bankrupt. I can't see a party winning office with a "save America-give up your free pork" slogan.

[Goodgirlinred]

Looks to me like they simply need some very honest people keeping track of monetary expenditures on the department levels. I am not talking Defense Department level or that sort of thing. I am talking unit department type level. The unit to which each person who has one of those credit cards belongs. Monthly reports and receipts should be submitted. They should be gone over thoroughly and submitted as a monthly report of total expenditure.

As for the 25 Billion dollars, the same type of thing should apply. They ought to have my mother up there. She keeps track of every penny she spends. That is how my parents accumulated their modest fortune over their 54 years of marriage. My dad has since passed away. My mother took care of the money in our family. She pinched every penny. They started with nothing and now her assets are a modest million plus.

[worldclass]

Each of you make valid points....I've seen the enemy and it is us....ie the voters.