Mr. Paul. duck and cover, sir, incoming!
Sen.-elect Paul: GOP must consider military cuts
- Thread starter Rationalist
- Start date
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what government programs are you willing to streamline?
Rationalist
Hail Voltaire
This isn't compromise, it's being realistic. The GOP will push for a measly $100 billion in cuts while keeping the tax structure as-is. While better than our current situation, it's not sustainable.
That is not entirely true. While in many cases lowering taxes does boost tax revenue (as during the Reagan years), raising taxes does not inevitably result in less revenue. The threshold is somewhere around 50%. I'm not saying higher taxes are a positive thing, but it will be necessary to pull ourselves out of this mess. Unless you have a better idea to close a $1.4 trillion budget deficit?
We're at the end of the line, imo. Liberals have to realize that growing deficits & poor fiscal health will end up hurting programs they hold dear. Conservatives have to realize that you can't have a meaningful discussion about getting the fiscal house in order without talking about significant (if not drastic) cuts to the military budget, and that poor fiscal health is more endangering to our national security than anything those cuts would do to our military strength (see: Soviet Union).
Put a compromise bill together that privatizes Social Security & cuts 30% off the military budget. That would be a good start.
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i don't understand the republican position when it comes to preserving tax cuts for those who make over 250K....i work with people who make over 250K and they all support the tax cuts expiring....if i made over 250K i am not sure the additional taxes would inhibit my spending or desire to earn more income by any marginal amount....
i've read up on the issue and the arguments for letting the tax cuts expire seem to have more merit
Rationalist
Hail Voltaire
IMO, we should preserve the Bush tax cuts for everyone and simply create an additional bracket, something like 45% on > $1 million. However, this would be much more difficult to accomplish than simply allowing the tax cuts for high earners to expire.
Here's an interesting article sent to me by a friend of mine in Canada, he is a member of the Conservative Party and keeps up with American politics. While we both agreed the article has a definite liberal slant, it has a few good points.
http://curiouscapitalist.blogs.time.com/2010/08/10/time-for-super-taxes-for-the-super-rich/
It doesn't really matter. Everyone can come up with some stuff they'd be willing to cut. The hard part is getting enough members of Congress to agree on cutting the same stuff to actually make it happen.
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lmao nigel....first you call out someone for possibly whining about future cuts....yet...you can't actually say what should be cut
listen, if you don't know or don't have an opinion on the matter...don't call others out....
the only thing i want cut from the military budget is waste, other than that, this is not the time to cut the military budget, we are winding down in iraq and ramping up in afghanistan...when both actions are over, then we can look at cutting the budget....
i also am not sure about cutting our overseas bases....maybe i'm wrong, but imo....those bases are a stabilizing force in the world
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lmao nigel....first you call out someone for possibly whining about future cuts....yet...you can't actually say what should be cut
listen, if you don't know or don't have an opinion on the matter...don't call others out....
the only thing i want cut from the military budget is waste, other than that, this is not the time to cut the military budget, we are winding down in iraq and ramping up in afghanistan...when both actions are over, then we can look at cutting the budget....
i also am not sure about cutting our overseas bases....maybe i'm wrong, but imo....those bases are a stabilizing force in the world
Defense, farm subsidies, fossil fuel subsidies for starters.
We've had this discussion before. You can cut the DoD budget while fully funding the wars.
Some of them could easily be shuttered, but the biggest and most expensive ones aren't going anywhere.
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much easier to call for cuts...lets see how you react when its actually implemented....
what are defense subsidies? farm subsidies....honestly....i'm on the fence on this one....and its socialism pure and simple....i haven't made up my mind on that issue.,...fossil fuel? - what are you referring to?
yes we have and again, i will say, cut the waste and keep the actions funded....amazing how easily we use wars when no war has been declared
which ones and why?
Dixie - In Memoriam
New member
What you are doing, is exactly what Republicans did when Democrats whined about the cost of prescription drugs for the elderly. The next thing you knew, a Republican was signing his bill into law, providing prescription drugs for the elderly! Now Democrats want to gut the military to avoid making cuts in their precious social programs, and here you are, agreeing to "go along to get along" like John McCain. Flash ahead to the republican president signing his massive military cuts into effect for 2014! With Republicans like you, who needs Democrats? Do you not understand that these people loathe the military, and would want to cut military spending even if we weren't in bad economic times?
Yes, this is entirely true, and it is backed up by facts you can go look up for yourself. The decrease in revenues following a top marginal tax hike, doesn't always occur the following year, sometimes it takes a few years, but it inevitably comes. It has happened ever time in the past 150 years of US history, where we increased the top marginal rate.
Yeah, I have a much better idea, let's cut the waste in every program across the board, let's defund programs that are ineffective and haven't worked, let's get rid of the bloat and redundancy. And how about this... How about CUTTING the top marginal rates, and eliminating the capital gains tax completely, so as to stimulate spending, investment, and growth, which will increase revenues?
the problem when it comes to spending cuts, the voters want to have their cake and eat it too
it is always ok to cut spending in someone else's district but not in mine
oh well
the f-15, aircraft carriers and their support, the b-2 just to name a few - why do we need any stealth aircraft
we are set up to fight wars on a global level with no global enemies
we need to get all of the way out of iraq and afghanistan - while this will not stop terrorists from saying they need to stop the great satan (there is always our support for israel for them to rail about) it will help cut 'defense' spending and allow us to sent troops and equipment home (thereby increasing unemployment - how many troops do we actually need)
apple0154
MEOW
How to save money on entitlement programs? Combine a lot of them by having a guaranteed minimum income.
For example, food stamps. The processes involved in determining who is entitled, printing the stamps, having the merchant check which items are covered, the handling of the stamps by the cashier, the submitting them for reimbursement.....just give the person the equivalent money!
Maybe someone wants to buy unprepared food, thereby saving a few dollars, then using that money to buy a needed clothing item.
Government pensions. Have a partial claw-back on those who have high income from other resources.
Then the military. When the troops come home from Iraq the job is over. Give them severance pay, retraining and whatever is necessary and cut the personnel by that amount.
As Rahm Emanuel suggested have young people do a stint in the services and then let them get on with life. (For those opposed they can do community projects.) The ones who choose the military will have basic training and should they be needed they can be called up. Otherwise, they're off the military payroll. Use a part of the savings to advance drone technology. Just as computers and robotic equipment have replaced workers it's time technology started to replace armed personnel. (Hasn't anyone watched Terminator movies?)
Those two things would be a good start to savings.
For example, food stamps. The processes involved in determining who is entitled, printing the stamps, having the merchant check which items are covered, the handling of the stamps by the cashier, the submitting them for reimbursement.....just give the person the equivalent money!
Maybe someone wants to buy unprepared food, thereby saving a few dollars, then using that money to buy a needed clothing item.
Government pensions. Have a partial claw-back on those who have high income from other resources.
Then the military. When the troops come home from Iraq the job is over. Give them severance pay, retraining and whatever is necessary and cut the personnel by that amount.
As Rahm Emanuel suggested have young people do a stint in the services and then let them get on with life. (For those opposed they can do community projects.) The ones who choose the military will have basic training and should they be needed they can be called up. Otherwise, they're off the military payroll. Use a part of the savings to advance drone technology. Just as computers and robotic equipment have replaced workers it's time technology started to replace armed personnel. (Hasn't anyone watched Terminator movies?)
Those two things would be a good start to savings.
unfortunately, giving cash to the needy too often it is used for non-essential items like recreational drugs
already cards with magstrips are being used to distinguish between eligible and non-eligible items - using them for clothing, rent and utilities has not been figured out yet
maybe some day
Dixie - In Memoriam
New member
How about you crawl back in your asshole and die? That way, we wouldn't have to endure the agony of listening to your stupidity, and the environment would be spared your repulsively putrid breath and hot air.
Food Stamps-- stop funding the program and eliminate it. Take the people who are currently receiving a free handout from government, and put their asses to work in a Soup Kitchen, and if you're hungry, you can go there and eat some soup. If someone needs clothes, go to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. ...Let the military use Rahm Emanuel for target practice.... it's time technology replace liberal pinheads, we can really do without YOU!
apple0154
MEOW
But the idea is to provide a basic standard of living. This is the difference between the government helping and the government interfering. When it is ascertained a certain amount of money is required the government helps by ensuring each individual receives that amount. How the people budget that money should not be the government's business. It doesn't cost the government any more regardless of how a person spends the money.
I feel the interference results in not only higher costs but we have to consider one person may feel despondent having to wear second hand clothes while another person couldn't care less.
The idea of government help should be to interfere as little as possible in an individual's lifestyle. For example, some people prefer to eat well and live in a modest dwelling while others prefer the image of a better dwelling and cut back on the food they eat as others do not see that.
Being on government assistance is a major adjustment for an individual. It just seems to make sense each individual should be able to budget as they see fit. Assistance without interference.
apple0154
MEOW
Gee, Dix. I didn't know the extent to which you cared. I'm flattered.
I do have a few questions. Why do you think people are lazy? Is it because you feel you work harder than everyone else? Do you really believe people are lazy or do you just not want to help them, regardless? Is it because you struggled and no one helped you so you're bitter?
Let's see if we can get to the real reason Dixie thinks the way he does.
Gut the military, hardly, what I want is to cut the unnecessary and there is a lot of that in the DoD.
First thing I would do is remove troops from Germany and Japan. These are our allies now and I am sure we can use their countries to launch our attacks if necessary.
These issues are never talked about by any Congress. Overseas bases are an issue that need to be addressed! We are not Big Brother and we can no longer sustain our empirical policies.