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Out of the Blue

[Nov 06, 2012, 10:48 am ET] - Share - Viewing Comments

Well today is Election Day here in the U.S., our annual opportunity to practice democracy (insert joke here about continuing to practice until we get it right). Here's hoping all those who are registered get out and vote, and that the process proceeds smoothly.

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136.

Re: Out of the Blue

Nov 7, 2012, 10:30

Prez

PHJF wrote on Nov 7, 2012, 10:13:
US Federal Spending 2010

"around 70%"??? And note this does NOT include funding for stuff like Homeland Security or the VA.

Medicare and SS serve a practical purpose, for all their flaws. I'm at far greater risk of dying of cancer than of a bullet from a Chinaman (as are you).

I agree that the defense budget would be less painful to cut - the point I was inelegantly trying to make is that the defense budget isn't the key to fixing America's financial woes. We probably don't need to be spending near as much as we are in defense, true, but what worries me is how far people seem willing to slash it without considering the potential risks involved. The pie chart on the link you posted (which has different breakdowns from the one I read from this year, but because it was in a magazine let's go with yours) shows that defense is still smaller than both the Medicare/ Medicaid budget and Social Security, if only slightly.

Social Security is a huge drain on our budget that at least bears looking at. There are options that can be explored that could save a whole lot of money while still allowing us to keep our promises to our 'seasoned citizens' that were made long ago. But touching Social Security in DC is tantamount to political suicide - it is practically sacrosanct so no one is even willing to approach the subject because it would be career death. The main point is that with the country's finances in such a state of disarray I believe EVERYTHING needs to be on the table (including higher taxes) - With the understanding that we aren't just going to turn our backs on our elderly and sick, of course. But let's look where we can save some or make sure what we spend is spent more efficiently everywhere.

This comment was edited on Nov 7, 2012, 10:38.




Prez on Soundclick http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=604888

Subject

Comment [quote="Prez"Nov 7, 2012, 10:30][quote="PHJF"Nov 7, 2012, 10:13][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_States#Military_budget_and_total_US_federal_spending]US Federal Spending 2010[/url] "around 70%"??? And note this does NOT include funding for stuff like Homeland Security or the VA. Medicare and SS serve a practical purpose, for all their flaws. I'm at far greater risk of dying of cancer than of a bullet from a Chinaman (as are you). [/quote] I agree that the defense budget would be less painful to cut - the point I was inelegantly trying to make is that the defense budget isn't the key to fixing America's financial woes. We probably don't need to be spending near as much as we are in defense, true, but what worries me is how far people seem willing to slash it without considering the potential risks involved. The pie chart on the link you posted (which has different breakdowns from the one I read from this year, but because it was in a magazine let's go with yours) shows that defense is still smaller than both the Medicare/ Medicaid budget and Social Security, if only slightly. Social Security is a huge drain on our budget that at least bears looking at. There are options that can be explored that could save a whole lot of money while still allowing us to keep our promises to our 'seasoned citizens' that were made long ago. But touching Social Security in DC is tantamount to political suicide - it is practically sacrosanct so no one is even willing to approach the subject because it would be career death. The main point is that with the country's finances in such a state of disarray I believe EVERYTHING needs to be on the table (including higher taxes) - With the understanding that we aren't just going to turn our backs on our elderly and sick, of course. But let's look where we can save some or make sure what we spend is spent more efficiently everywhere. [/quote]

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