Watermark's™ three step deficit reduction program

**FUCK THE POLICE** · 02-02-2010, 02:38 PM

1. 150 billion in spending cuts. Obama has identified 50 billion in medicare waste - let's cut that, and make that amount into a new "deficit reduction" component of the payroll tax. We can also easily cut about 100 billion from military budgets, especially with the wars winding down. I think that vague things like "eliminate waste" are more deficit peacocking than anything else, but if you can add anything to this that would be great.

2. 150 billion in tax raises. The least radical way would simply be to raise our current systems taxes by a certain percentage. We could also add a new tax onto the current system - a 3% VAT or an LVT that takes in this amount each year.

Then there are more radical approaches. SF's flat tax would probably represent a modest tax increase and could be tweaked to take in just 150 billion extra (if it doesn't already take in that amount is - it's never been put in front of an accountant to guestimate the revenue it would generate). The fair tax could also easily be raised to a 26% rate instead of a 23% and take in the necessary amount, or you could reduce some of the rebates inherent in the program.

3. This would probably get our deficit to sustainable levels - around 200 billion a year, which is a little over 1% of GDP. In case the economy just happens to go north and we get a surplus, the surplus should be returned to tax payers as an automatic tax rebate the next year.

Other issues like social security privatization are, IMHO, just shoving money around, and don't have much to do with deficit reduction.

**Minister of Truth** · 02-02-2010, 06:08 PM

You forgot kill conservatives.

**/MSG/** · 02-02-2010, 06:42 PM

Would your tax increase be even across the board?

And I'll throw in something. Since you've suggested cutting military budget (which I support, but want your specifics) how about selling off of certain surplus equipment?

**Timshel** · 02-02-2010, 07:13 PM

Step 1 - Kill Conservatives
Step 2 - ?
Step 3 - Profit

**Mott the Hoople** · 02-02-2010, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Threedee

You forgot kill conservatives.

Yea he must not be feeling well to forget that.

**/MSG/** · 02-02-2010, 07:21 PM

See what I mean about you being self defeating Watermark?

**Mott the Hoople** · 02-02-2010, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by RStringfield

Step 1 - Kill Conservatives
Step 2 - Make soap from their lard.
Step 3 - Profit

How bout that?

**PostmodernProphet** · 02-02-2010, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Threedee

You forgot kill conservatives.

then who would pay the taxes?.....

**FUCK THE POLICE** · 02-02-2010, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by PostmodernProphet

then who would pay the taxes?.....

The 52% of those making over 250k a year who voted for Obama? That would be one group.

**FUCK THE POLICE** · 02-02-2010, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by CaptBillyTheKid

See what I mean about you being self defeating Watermark?

**FUCK THE POLICE** · 02-02-2010, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by CaptBillyTheKid

Would your tax increase be even across the board?

None of the proposals I made specifically say to raise taxes on the rich. It would be impractical to place all the burden on the rich, in all honesty.

Originally Posted by CaptBillyTheKid

And I'll throw in something. Since you've suggested cutting military budget (which I support, but want your specifics) how about selling off of certain surplus equipment?

Guns? lololololol

**FUCK THE POLICE** · 02-02-2010, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by RStringfield

Step 1 - Kill Conservatives
Step 2 - ?
Step 3 - Profit

**/MSG/** · 02-02-2010, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Atheistmark

Guns? lololololol

Among other things. Old vehicles (humvees, load bearing trucks, etc.), used furniture and appliances, scrap metal, etc. And yes, old rifles and pistols. Currently the ATF has a rule, 'once a machine gun, always a machine gun' but you can still break them down into parts kits and sell those.