Specifically, what programs can we cut?

[ricksfolly]

There's a big difference between having a goal, and having a plan to get there!

And, there's a HUGE difference between having a plan, and actually putting that plan into practice! >>

Two of the fundamental truths... Here's another...

people can only react from new situations. They can't create them, So the situation has to be the trigger for the plan. Quite often the situation only has a minimum influence, but when it's combined with a similiar situation, it increases the need to act.

ricksfolly

 

[middleagedgamer]

Ricksfolly please, learn to use unquote commands.

You type them using [/quote]

 

[middleagedgamer]

Ricksfolly, please learn to use unquote commands.

You type them using [/quote]

 

[VanceMack]

I've heard a lot of talk about "cutting unnecessary government programs," but, specifically, what programs can we cut?

I can already think of a few, but these cannot possibly eliminate the deficit.

The programs I can think of are:

1. The EEOC and the OCR (Office for Civil Rights); why should a victim of discrimination have to wait a friggin' YEAR for the investigation to be completed, so that they can sue their employer or school? Honestly, can't I just cut straight to suing my employer? WTF?
2. Food stamps and Federal Housing Aid: If they reform social security so that the beneficiaries only get exactly the poverty level for their household, and not a cent more, per the terms of my "social security reform" thread, found here, then beneficiaries will already have enough money to provide for themselves, so we don't need other programs; this can save on administration costs while simultaneously encouraging Octomom to get off her butt (or back, whichever you prefer) and get a job!
3. Foreign aid: Don't get me wrong; I'm all for helping my fellow man when they're in need, but damn it, we just can't afford it anymore!
4. FEMA: After the abomination that was Hurricane Katrina, we should leave disaster relief in the hands of private charities, since they (obviously) are more competent than bureaucracy. This will knock our deficit down by a good $11 Billion! Honestly, let private charities do the work! They're obviously better at it than Uncle Sam!
5. Grants to local governments: Just like with #3, I don't disapprove of the core concept, but only when we can afford to!

However, even if we completely scrape these programs, that still won't eliminate the deficit, and we can't just lower the deficit: We need to annihilate it.

What other government programs should we cut?

Every redundant federal program like the Dept of Education, Dept of transportation, Dept of Parks and recreation, National Endowment For the Arts, etc.

Additionally we can ensure existing programs are actually run efficiently. The military has MASSIVE waste. Medicare/Medicaid does as well. CONGRESS...Oh my heck...want a first place to start? Give every congressman an annual budget of 300,000 and from that 300k they have to buy supplies and pay staff, including transportation, advertising, etc. Want to cut even deeper? tell them they can keep whatever they dont spend...

 

[middleagedgamer]

Every redundant federal program

Which programs?

Additionally we can ensure existing programs are actually run efficiently. The military has MASSIVE waste. Medicare/Medicaid does as well.[/quote]
How, exactly, are we supposed to streamline these programs as you suggest?

CONGRESS...Oh my heck...want a first place to start? Give every congressman an annual budget of 300,000 and from that 300k they have to buy supplies and pay staff, including transportation, advertising, etc. Want to cut even deeper? tell them they can keep whatever they dont spend...

That is no where near enough.

The staff members who answer their letters will, alone, cost more than that.

Congressmen already take weeks to respond, unless they use automated messages; why would you want those weeks to become months?

 

[VanceMack]

Which programs?

Additionally we can ensure existing programs are actually run efficiently. The military has MASSIVE waste. Medicare/Medicaid does as well.

How, exactly, are we supposed to streamline these programs as you suggest?


That is no where near enough.

The staff members who answer their letters will, alone, cost more than that.

Congressmen already take weeks to respond, unless they use automated messages; why would you want those weeks to become months?[/QUOTE]

I gave a nice quick list...programs? Federal education. Federal transportation. Federal arts. Federal parks and recreation. Kill them.

How do you streamline Medicare/Medicaid? For one target people fraudulently billing the govt. That alone according would be a nice 80 billion dollar a year start.

Oh...as for the staff members...let the congressmen actually DO THE JOB they are paid to do.

There LOTS of areas that can and should be cut...completely.

 

[ricksfolly]

Ricksfolly please, learn to use unquote commands.

You type them using [/quote] >>

Okay... Give me an example of what you mean.

ricksfolly

 

[Panache]

Okay... Give me an example of what you mean.

See how the text you wrote that I am responding to is in a blue box? I did that by clicking the "Quote" button in the lower right corner of your post.

Also, if you type something, like this...

Then highlight it and click the quote button (the one that looks like a speech bubble, next to the picture of the mountain about the box where you enter text) it will place the highlighted portion in a quote box.