CUT SPENDING!

on Mar 10, 2007

You can mechanically balance the budget by saying CUT anything. I could have said let's STOP paying the $500 billion in interest on the debt. We could disband our military and balance the budget. I have said you can not balance the budget with CUTS that are ACCEPTABLE to the majority of Americans. Your cuts will never achieve the objective because only some very wealthy people would support the cuts in programs that most people consider essential.

You have said you balanced the budget without touching SS and Medicare. At this time NO General Fund tax revenue is being spent on these two programs. In fact in 2006 SS and Medicare had a SURPLUS of $224 Billion. When the Boomers retire in large numbers, the first problem will be for the Treasury to redeem the over $3 trillion worth of IOU's that have issued SS and Medicare trust funds. Then when the Trust Funds have been exhausted the General Fund will need to make up the difference between the SS and Medicare taxes and the benefits to the Boomers.

Your suggestion is as much of a solution as saying let's have China give us the money to balance our budget. We can cut the pork and we can beef up collections, but to complete the job we MUST increase taxes. We must first end tax cuts that were justified to return a SURPLUS that never existed. The reason Bush made for the tax cuts DID NOT EXIST. Just like the WMD in Iraq. The $ 5.7 Trillion of Surplus that Bush used to justify his tax cuts was another LIE!

This is the last time I'm going to respond since you don't seem capable of carrying out an honest debate on this subject.

You challenged people to balance the budget by cutting spending.

I did so by eliminating primarily two programs - Medicaid (not Medicare) and the federal aid to poor families programs. Doing just those two things freed up nearly $500 billion.

Just because you favor the government stealing money from tax payers to hand out to "the poor" doesn't mean those programs are uncuttable.

You don't want to cut those programs. That is fine. I don't want my taxes raised. Result, we have deficit spending.

You really aren't against deficit spending. If getting rid of the debt was your highest priority, you would be willing to cut the socialist programs out of the budget.

77

COL Gene

on Mar 11, 2007

Dragional

I will respond One more time as well. The majority do not agree with what you want to cut. Your suggestions cut help to those that have very little and are in need of the help so people like you can pile up more millions. It is a simple choice-- help people who need help or allow people that have more then they can ever use or need to accumulate MORE.

I support helping our people that NEED help and make people like you claim you are pay a little more. I still say let the people choose by who they elect to Congress. You still do not dare answer my question of. WHY A TAX CUT TO RETURN THE SURPLUS THAT DOES NOT EXIST!

78

drmiler

on Mar 11, 2007

You still do not dare answer my question of. WHY A TAX CUT TO RETURN THE SURPLUS THAT DOES NOT EXIST!

That's because your question itself is idiotic.

79

bakerstreet

on Mar 11, 2007

I see the Col can't seem to answer the question. I'll ask it again, with reference this time.

"Aid is central to Washington's relationship with Cairo. The US has provided Egypt with $1.3 billion a year in military aid since 1979, and an average of $815 million a year in economic assistance. All told, Egypt has received over $50 billion in US largesse since 1975."

That's just one nation we buy off. For decades we've been sending billions to the other nations, like the Palestinians, Jordan, Columbia, Israel, etc. We send BILLIONS to Russia, who now sits and calls us a threat, and who is now most likely assassinating its critics in other nations.

Now, Col, if you are an expert on this, where DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM? Show me on your pie chart. You take your broad slices of the economy, and turn a blind eye so you don't have to see the misuse and graft. That way you can pretend there is no money to cut.

80

COL Gene

on Mar 11, 2007

Drmiler

You still do not dare answer my question of. WHY A TAX CUT TO RETURN THE SURPLUS THAT DOES NOT EXIST!

That's because your question itself is idiotic.

The question was because of what GWB said was the reason for his tax cuts. How can that be idiotic? Are you saying Bush is an Idiot?
Bakerstreet

I believe we give Israel about $4 billion each year. WHY?

The Foreign Aid is less then $20Billion - Let’s cut it!. Let’s end the Iraq war and save over $100 Billion per year!All these cuts plus the Pork will not come close to the $600 Billion we need to balance the budget and then another $100-150 Billion to begin repaying the debt we have amassed! We will need to increased taxes to balance the budget and NOTHING you have said will alter that fact. It is time for the wealthy to give up a tax cut that was not justified because there was no surplus as Bush claimed. When Bush does lie he tells some VERY TALL Tales-- WMD, DANGER FROM SADDAM AND A $5.7 TRILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS. None of these were true in ANY WAY!

81

drmiler

on Mar 11, 2007

Drmiler

You still do not dare answer my question of. WHY A TAX CUT TO RETURN THE SURPLUS THAT DOES NOT EXIST!

That's because your question itself is idiotic.

The question was because of what GWB said was the reason for his tax cuts. How can that be idiotic? Are you saying Bush is an Idiot?

No, I'm saying "you" are.

82

bakerstreet

on Mar 11, 2007

You didn't answer the question, Col. Where in your pie chart of government expense is that aid listed? You keep saying for us to look at those broad definitions, Defense, Social Services, Transportation, etc., as if there isn't anything in them that can be done away with.

According to you, if we cut social services, people starve or go without healthcare. If we cut defense the huns will come over the wall. It's idiotically simplistic and facetious, and you aren't changing anyone's mind by using such a tactic. For every dollar we spend on necessary services we waste two and lose another to thieves.

So... I'll ask again. Where does the "aid" for nations like Egypt, Israel, etc., fit into your untouchable budget? Your pie seems to be leaking money all over the world, and you don't even know where the hole is. You are making the assertion that there aren't cuts to make, and yet you don't even know what spending is there to cut.

83

COL Gene

on Mar 11, 2007

I am not sure what department contains the Foreign Aid (it could be spread in several departments) I but I did find it represents about 25 Billion. Iraq receives the largest amount followed by Israel. However, even if we eliminate ALL the Foreign Aid we only have a drop in the bucket of what is needed to balance the budget. I do not think we should be giving money to many countries but cutting ALL Foreign aid will not solve the problem. You continue to avoid the issue. We should STOP tax Cuts to the wealthy for two reasons. First there is NO Surplus to return to the wealthy (They were not over taxed as Bush Claimed) second we need the money to balance the budget!
Also they can pay a little more without causing them any hardship or impact on spending!

84

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 11, 2007

I am not sure what department contains the Foreign Aid (it could be spread in several departments) I but I did find it represents about 25 Billion. Iraq receives the largest amount followed by Israel. However, even if we eliminate ALL the Foreign Aid we only have a drop in the bucket of what is needed to balance the budget. I do not think we should be giving money to many countries but cutting ALL Foreign aid will not solve the problem. You continue to avoid the issue. We should STOP tax Cuts to the wealthy for two reasons. First there is NO Surplus to return to the wealthy (They were not over taxed as Bush Claimed) second we need the money to balance the budget!
Also they can pay a little more without causing them any hardship or impact on spending!

Oh, good holly horseshit, Col! You totally missed the point. The point is that EVERY federal agency has similar budgetary items that can be cut!

Man, get off the paint!

85

bakerstreet

on Mar 12, 2007

And the sub-point is why sit around claiming that there isn't enough stuff to cut from budgets when you don't even know what those budgets are made up of...

86

COL Gene

on Mar 12, 2007

Gideon

No you missed the point-- ALL those cuts do not come CLOSE to the $600 Billion needed to Balance the budget much less the added money to repay the debt. I have supported making cuts like Pork or programs that are not effective. What I oppose is cutting hundreds of Billions from the HELP that the Poor, Old, Young and Disabled need so we can protect the tax cuts for the wealthy! Increasing the tax rates on the top 10% will not harm them or their families. It may reduce their SURPLUS a little so that we can balance the budget and continue to help those with a real need just to LIVE!

I have a son with Type I diabetes and it has progressed over the past 30 years to the point where ha can not work, lost a leg, caused the amputation of 3 toes on his other leg and caused a need to replace his corneas. Without the help from the programs Dragional would cut, he could not live. I also know the amount of help is VERY small compared with what it takes to live. We provide his financial help but his medical needs go far beyond anything we could provide. I have first hand knowledge of the Medicaid, Section 8, food stamps and Social Security Disability. Anyone that would cut those programs so those with millions can pile up more and more should read what happened to the Rich man when he called to Lazarus for help from HELL!

87

drmiler

on Mar 12, 2007

Gideon

No you missed the point-- ALL those cuts do not come CLOSE to the $600 Billion needed to Balance the budget much less the added money to repay the debt. I have supported making cuts like Pork or programs that are not effective. What I oppose is cutting hundreds of Billions from the HELP that the Poor, Old, Young and Disabled need so we can protect the tax cuts for the wealthy! Increasing the tax rates on the top 10% will not harm them or their families. It may reduce their SURPLUS a little so that we can balance the budget and continue to help those with a real need just to LIVE!

Lately has anyone told you what a moron, you are?

88

COL Gene

on Mar 12, 2007

drmiler

Stop using words your limited intellect can not understand! If you could comprehend the term MORON, you would look in a mirror and see one!

89

drmiler

on Mar 12, 2007

drmiler

Stop using words your limited intellect can not understand! If you could comprehend the term MORON, you would look in a mirror and see one!

"My" limited intellect? I'd match wits with you, but that would be like me fighting a man with no arms at all.

90

COL Gene