What is the point of 1-9 if they are going to be ineffective? We have to solve this issue, and soon. We can bicker over program cuts or we can address the issues that make the budget outlook daunting. My prediction is Congress will fight over paltry cuts to discretionary spending, get burnt out, and never touch entitlements. End result amounts to driving off the cliff.
The republicans tried to discuss entitlement spending. The democrats didn't propose anything and waited for the reps to start off this issue. After the reps put forth a plan the democrats blasted them. They decided that it's better to scare the old people and those on Medicare and Medicaid than really discuss the problem. The democrats don't believe there is a problem. You can't say they do when they voted in a new trillion dollar entitlement. That's the problem. They think if they tax the rich and give away entitlements that they can remain in power. When inflation hits double digits and the economy completely melts down they will blame republicans. Something has to be done. A compromise must be reached.
Foreign aid buys us a lot of influence around the world. A huge amount of influence. Why do you think we have military establishments in almost every country? We need bases around the world. We need even more communications stations, radar stations, weather stations, ports, airfields, etc. They don't agree to this because the love us, they do it because we give them aid. It ain't a lot of money for us but it buys us a ton of international logistics, permissions, passage rights, trade agreements, and such that allow not only our military and intelligence service to operate internationally but also our private commerce to have access to markets. We cannot be an international superpower with a footprint like ours without foreign aid. Our enemies are increasing their foreign aid to work against us. The Chinese and Russians especially, but also Saudi Arabia, Brunei and other rich muslim countries. We cannot fail to compete with them in this area. Without foreign aid we would have no influence over Israel or Egypt at all. Because of it there has been no war since 1973, the Suez Canal is re-opened and oil flows from the middle east. The pittance of foreign aid it has taken to make that work would be dwarfed by the cost of us invading and occupying the canal for the last three decades. The French and the Brits tried that in the 50's and it was a disaster. Some of you people listen to too many talk radio DJ's who think with their balls instead of their brains.
The point is that they are predisposed to fighting over paltry cuts. They need a whole new mindset, i.e., pork and wasteful discretionary spending is out. Period. End of discussion. Now, let's tackle the entitlements.
I agree but you need to take a trip back over here to reality. They need a primer, some time to think about it, and then they still won't do anything most likely. But if they don't tackle the little stuff first, they'll never get to the big stuff. Some idiot will be yelling "why are we doing this when there's so much pork going on" and everyone will focus on that because they don't want to make hard cuts. It's not a business, it's politics. Unfortunately.
correct and paul ryan at least had the brains to formulate a workable solution and put his balls on the line by proposing it. which takes 1000 times more effort than the other do-nothings who want to cherry-pick. stupid newt but couldnt even garner a coherent response except to say well, nothing really. foreign aid is largely a waste but as red said, its needed. the bad part is we have no way of judging how much is effective and how much can be cut. its like marketing. companies never know what to cut or how much or where. they just know if business is doing good to leave it alone for the most part. although with so many americans suffering in this downtrodden economy, they view any gesture of foreign aid as a slap in the face. and rightfully so. but its a necessary evil of sorts and cutting it out completely isnt smart.
But what is wasteful spending? Paul Ryan and Barney Frank are going to have different views on that. That will bring forth a lot of political fighting and associated fatigue. The fights are going to happen no matter what, so let them happen over something which addresses the issue.
this sums up this administrations ideology: Let's chop off the last shaky leg small business is barely standing on. they cant be this blind to whats happening. Obama is just obviously led by his faulty ideology. no way hes this stupid. Geithner: Taxes on ‘Small Business’
That's easy. Just go with Ryan. What I'm saying is that the entire system is broke. One guy has a workable plan and the other guy opposes it for Party reasons. It cannot be fixed. That requires maturity and a country over politics attitude. This of course will never happen.
If you do what I am talking about you have a basis to justify why you are going after entitlements. Basis being it will solve the freaking problem. Pork contributes about 0% to the deficit. Don't waste political capital fighting about it.
