Time to cut entitlement spending

Now this could get me into some bad corners but.....let me just say that Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and Google ALL have had some strange relationships with.
When it comes to really big money, you're not going anywhere without getting 'blessed". Best to stop there......Alex Jones territory ahead.

Definitely.
And political campaigns for Congress and President should be PUBLICLY funded.....giving more people access to the election process rather than just the massively financed.

 

I'm kind of ok with military spending. But $5,000 hammers need to stop. China could build 10 jets for each one we build due to regulatory embellishments.

Social security is in trouble, right? The idea was to force people to save for their retirement by taking from them each pay period and wisely investing it.
Problem is, the bureaucrats charged with managing that money were more irresponsible than the people they were supposed to be protecting.

Never put a dollar you ever expect to see again in the hands of bureaucrats.

deductions....hmmmm......those are rewards of such for those who produce? I'd have to think about that one. Maybe some.

Health care - I once needed surgery and my surgeon (great guy) told me he'd do the surgery for $700.00......but the hospital wanted $15,000 for using their room, anesthesiologist and supplies.
I'm really of the opinion that hospitals (along with the costs of insurance) need a major overhaul. there are a TOn of hard working care providers who are making a fair wage for their hard work and training.
But hospitals and insurance companies have, with the help of legislators, fattened their own wallets putting the squeeze on providers. (my opinion)

 

Social security should be set up like numerous other nations have done, a private “savings” account that upon death is added into the estate. Nothing for congress to seize and no one is paying or using more than what they contribute with upper limits on distributions.

Yes, SSI and UI are both only (typically, there are a few exceptions like in disability) for people who ‘produce’.

Healthcare, we need a public option — personally I think we need to implement a medicare system that is available to everyone and people can buy into private insurance. Just have a basic system that can control the costs. Other nations have done this with great success, the main issue is limiting this base level of care while allowing private insurers. If you choose private insurance you can elect not to pay for or receive medicare like a paygo system similar to a voluntary SSI.

We will never be able to get a completely for profit healthcare system under control.

 

dems won't change that, but if they are tax exempt then no political activity allowed

faith based initiatives though, that should not be happening for any of the religions - taxing taxpayer money and pretending it's the church's money helping people when it's really the tax payers is wrong, give the tax payers credit

http://rationalrevolution.net/articles/history_of_the_separation_of_chu.htm

"When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one.
- Benjamin Franklin: in letter to Richard Price, October 9, 1780"

 

I don't know if my favorite part of this post is that some of the things you want don't actually even exist, like "Obama phones" or that you want to cut the IRS to alleviate a debt issue!!

When you mention "Obama phones," I assume you mean Lifeline Assistance and Lifeline Link-Up, two policies passed during in the 90s under Clinton, but since those programs aren't paid for out of the federal budget, I wonder how we could reduce the federal budget by cutting back on them...

Also, I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but a the debt is increased when expenditures exceed revenues. For the federal government, the IRS collects our revenues. So your solution to a problem with debt, is to get rid of the agency tasked with collecting revenues!! Hahahahahah!! I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

PS. The federal government doesn't have a debt problem. Deficit hawks have been thoroughly discredited over the last twelve years. As long as we can print our own money and we can issue debt at close to zero percent interest rates (We are currently issuing 10 year bonds at .73% interest), we basically have a near unlimited budgetary capacity.

 

What an opportune time to start thinking about cutting spending. I'd suggest to add cutting the CDC and the NIH to your list, as well as Medicare. Think about how much more can be saved.

In real life, deepening the recession by amplifying the lack of private spending with a reduction in government spending is only a thought that Trump fans could muster.

 

Except for that Hyde Act that prevents taxes from being used for abortions....have it repealed...and your wishes may come true...for both Republican women who have abortions and Democrat women who have abortions..

 

Just get rid of tax deductions and the US will get 100 billion more in revenue.

 

I paid into social security since 1973. Just pay me what I paid in plus compound interest at the going rate per year and we'll call it even.