There is nothing we can cut that won't effect someone. Many here are clamoring (as usual) for cuts in defense, because they view defense spending as something we can have less of, without dramatically effecting someone, but that is so very untrue. Cuts in defense budgets mean bases will close, and that has an enormous economic impact on entire communities. Does this mean we shouldn't cut defense? Not what I am saying... we just need to be aware of the ramifications. Generically saying we are going to cut 30% or 25%... is not the answer, that WILL result in base closings and economic disaster for many. That's not what we want! A much better approach, in my opinion, would be to select a bipartisan commission to find waste and redundancy in the system. Foreign installations that are no longer beneficial to us in terms of strategic logistics, should be the bases closed first, if we are going to close bases at all. I think there are BILLIONS that can be saved by eliminating obsolete programs, including most of our weapons programs, which are obsolete before we get them completed because of how slow the government works as opposed to how fast technology is advancing. Foreign aid can be cut, but again, we need to carefully consider the consequences, and not view all foreign aid the same.
Entitlements. Protect the starving children and sick old people, but look at the standards for claiming 'disability' under SS, and get rid of about half the parasites, who simply have the 'disability' of being lazy and not wanting to work. Any government assistance, with the exception of Social Security retirees and those with legitimate disability, should be subject to some time period... I'd say, two years at the most. If you haven't gotten back on your feet in two years, the government doesn't need to keep supporting/enabling you. UE benies, back to 26 weeks like it always has been.
Subsidies... again, we hit something that a lot of people can't relate to... most of us don't get subsidized, so we figure this is 'wasted money' because we don't see any of it... but we do see the results of it, a lot of the time, we just are unaware. We need to look at what we subsidize, and evaluate how well it is working to achieve whatever objective prompted it to begin with. If the objective is not being met, we need to eliminate the subsidy. If there is a cheaper way to meet the objective, we need to look at it. I would imagine there is a lot we could cut, but again, we need to be very careful with the scalpel here.
Get rid of Federal agencies we don't need. The Department of Education, to name one. State boards are fully capable of administration when it comes to education, we don't need a redundant Federal agency to do the same thing.
Finally, enact the Line Item Veto and start electing Conservative presidents who will use it. This alone, would eliminate billions in waste on pork over time.
