What Government Services Would You Do Without?

[ronpaulvoter]

I think most people will agree that many government services, programs, and agencies are unnecessary--or worse, undesirable. Just think of all the tax money that could be saved and either given back to the people or used to pay the debts or reductions in taxes.

So what specific items would you be willing to do without--or at least reduce by more than 50%?

This is a multiple choice poll, so choose all that apply.

 

[DarkWizard12]

The ones I voted for are the ones I think need to be cut in all areas. the rest I didn't vote for just needed to be reformed. Pork projects was the only thing I kind of waried on. Some of the projects aren't truly pork and do help districts/states, but most of it is so, I voted yea.

 

[Panther]

Is this meant to be federal programs? IOW, I certainly wouldn't get rid of our public schools, but I'd gladly eliminate any federal government involvement.

 

[new coup for you]

the military wasn't an option

 

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Other - the IRS. Go to a flat tax and collect it as the money is earned.

 

[Panther]

I prefer the national sales tax - get it on everything purchased. That has the benefit of equally taxing foreign and domestic goods.

 

[ronpaulvoter]

Other - the IRS. Go to a flat tax and collect it as the money is earned.

The IRS, along with the EPA, OSHA, ATF, DEA, EEOC, ICC, and numerous others would be included in the choice of "Regulatory Agencies."

You bet. I would put the IRS at, or at least close, to the top of my elimination list.


I did miss one item -- Social Security. However, the poll only allowed 10 choices.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

There's no answer for "none".

Not only do I not want my tax burden cut in half (I'm actually quite able to bear it, thank you), but there isn't a single one of those categories that I think our society would be better off eliminating entirely.

Closest I am willing to come is those agencies regulating "consensual" crimes pertaining to drugs-- because I would like to see the DEA's responsibilities transferred to the FDA, where they belong-- but you're certainly not going to catch me arguing for the legalization of prostitution any time soon.

Everything else on that list is a beneficial function of government that should be preserved-- even in those cases where reform and restructuring is necessary.

 

[Summerwind]

Prison and related for non-violent offenders. All levels of government.

 

[Kandahar]

I voted to keep the first four, and reduce or eliminate the rest.

Public education and public housing are vital for a good society. However, the programs need to be completely restructured. As it stands now, the public education system encourages incompetence and public housing encourages dependence and crime.

Foreign aid and health care are absolutely essential, and should be expanded.

Certain regulatory agencies should be reduced or eliminated (namely the FDA), but this should be on a case-by-case basis. Some of the agencies provide important oversight.

Victimless crime enforcement, and enforcement of minor traffic violations should be reduced or eliminated. It undermines the entire concept of the rule of law, when a significant fraction of the public willfully disregards laws because they're stupid.

Pork projects should obviously be eliminated. That one is a no-brainer.

Economic development aid should be reduced, but on a case-by-case basis. I generally dislike corporate welfare, but I do support the occasional conditional bailout of large companies, or subsidies for a company that is working on a project of national interest.

 

[American]

I picked ones that are provided by the federal govt to eliminate.

 

[tlmorg02]

I think most people will agree that many government services, programs, and agencies are unnecessary--or worse, undesirable. Just think of all the tax money that could be saved and either given back to the people or used to pay the debts or reductions in taxes.

So what specific items would you be willing to do without--or at least reduce by more than 50%?

This is a multiple choice poll, so choose all that apply.

The biggest by far is the consentual crimes. The laws are stupid and if people kill themselves with their behavior, hey it's their life.

Public Housing is a joke and only propogates more abuse of the system.

The rest all need reform and fat trimming. I believe in progressive programs, but not wasteful spending.

 

[Scucca]

or at least reduce by more than 50%?

There's only one government expenditure that can be guaranteed to cause economic harm: military expenditure. A military burden that does not exceed 1% of GDP should be a basic aim

 

[Ethereal]

It depends. Done at the local level most of these things can be beneficial and Constitutional, but done at the Federal level they become monstrously inefficient and corrupt.

There's no answer for "none".

Not only do I not want my tax burden cut in half (I'm actually quite able to bear it, thank you), but there isn't a single one of those categories that I think our society would be better off eliminating entirely.

Closest I am willing to come is those agencies regulating "consensual" crimes pertaining to drugs-- because I would like to see the DEA's responsibilities transferred to the FDA, where they belong-- but you're certainly not going to catch me arguing for the legalization of prostitution any time soon.

Everything else on that list is a beneficial function of government that should be preserved-- even in those cases where reform and restructuring is necessary.

You're certainly no quibbler about your authoritarianism.

 

[Saboteur]

Is this meant to be federal programs? IOW, I certainly wouldn't get rid of our public schools, but I'd gladly eliminate any federal government involvement.

You mean like Bush's no child left behind curriculum?

 

[Saboteur]

There's only one government expenditure that can be guaranteed to cause economic harm: military expenditure. A military burden that does not exceed 1% of GDP should be a basic aim

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you ,thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thanks

 

[Saboteur]

I chose Foreign Aid because that's the real way to win the war on terror...

 

[jamesrage]

I think most people will agree that many government services, programs, and agencies are unnecessary--or worse, undesirable. Just think of all the tax money that could be saved and either given back to the people or used to pay the debts or reductions in taxes.

So what specific items would you be willing to do without--or at least reduce by more than 50%?

This is a multiple choice poll, so choose all that apply.

I am against Foreign Aid,Pork Projects in My State or District and Economic Development (Grants to corporations to build new industry, etc.). I would also like to add tax breaks to the no economic aid. Tax payers should not be handing out money to other countries,wasting money on pork projects and giving money to companies when we have basic needs to take care of first.

Public Education

I believe public education is something that will pay for itself in the long run.

Public Housing

I have no problem with tax payer funded assistance programs as long as they are a helping hand and not a hand out and there are some strings attached to receiving that aid.

Health Care

I have mixed feelings about this issue. I do not think this is something that should be used for small minor stuff nor should it be used for things like abortion and other frivolous things.

Regulatory Agencies (EPA, OSHA, ATF, etc.)

I believe these agencies are a good thing(except for the atf,an angency should not exist to counter things that are constitutionally protected or legal),there is a reason why they were created and without them companies would be doing all kinds of things that endanger the environment and public health.

Consentual Crime Enforcement

I support this because I do not want a bunch junkies sucking up tax payer money because they need treatment for their addiction or public assistance because no one wants to hire a junkie. I kind of do not care if a woman wants to be a prostitute.

Traffic Law Enforcement (Speed traps, roadblocks, etc.)

I think this is a good thing because people would be speeding,driving drunk and all kinds of other **** that endanger the public.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

You're certainly no quibbler about your authoritarianism.

I am not much of a quibbler about anything. It stands that certain social standards are necessary for a cohesive, unified society-- and that certain governmental services are beneficial either for upholding those standards or for assisting the citizens in upholding them themselves.

 

[Ethereal]

I am not much of a quibbler about anything. It stands that certain social standards are necessary for a cohesive, unified society-- and that certain governmental services are beneficial either for upholding those standards or for assisting the citizens in upholding them themselves.

I agree, but to what extent certain welfare programs actually contribute to a cohesive, unified society is debatable. I'm of the opinion they detract from such a vision.

 

[Slippery Slope]

I think most people will agree that many government services, programs, and agencies are unnecessary--or worse, undesirable. Just think of all the tax money that could be saved and either given back to the people or used to pay the debts or reductions in taxes.

So what specific items would you be willing to do without--or at least reduce by more than 50%?

This is a multiple choice poll, so choose all that apply.

I think you should tell us which ones YOU could do without.

 

[Slippery Slope]

I prefer the national sales tax - get it on everything purchased. That has the benefit of equally taxing foreign and domestic goods.

Unfortunately that is a hard tax on the poor and meaningless to the rich. You must be a republican. :roll:

 

[Slippery Slope]

...but you're certainly not going to catch me arguing for the legalization of prostitution any time soon.

Seems to be working out pretty good in Nevada... what's your beef?

 

[Slippery Slope]

Public Education: Can't do without. We need a standardized system so that every school is teaching the same things. Otherwise each state could be at the whim of whatever the current government happens to approve of.

Public Housing: Needed. My mother got divorced some years back. She has PAD and Diabetes and a whole host of medical issues which sapped all of her savings because she couldn't find a job that provided her health care. Now she is living off of her meager SS which she had to accept at age 62 which decreased her benefits. She gets about $900 per month and her rent is $550. which leaves her with $350.00 a month to buy food and medication and copays.

Foreign Aid: Cut this down to humanitarian assistance due to natural disasters.

Health Care: NEEDED! fewer jobs provide health care (thanks to republicans who busted up Unions and gave unlimited power to insurance companies to rape us all). More Americans are without health insurance than ever and medical bills cause more bankruptcy than any other cause.

Regulatory Agencies (EPA, OSHA, ATF, etc.): Some are needed like OSHA, EPA, FDA, but others are money pit bureaucracies like the ATF and DEA.

Consentual Crime Enforcement (recreational drugs, prostitution, gambling, etc.) Instead of dumping BILLIONS into getting people into jail we could spend considerably less in recovery programs.

Pork Projects in My State or District: Obviously "pork" projects are unnecessary.

Economic Development (Grants to corporations to build new industry, etc.): are sometimes needed to stimulate growth in certain industries or areas. These should have strings attached like, limits on hiring outside of the community, as well as repayment obligations.


Traffic Law Enforcement (Speed traps, roadblocks, etc.) All monies generated from traffic enforcement should only be used for road infrastructure maintenance, NOT for buy new radar guns or cops salary or court costs or other monetary needs. When traffic enforcement stops being a cash cow for local government budgets we'll see better and more meaningful enforcement.

Other (Specify) The IRS definitely needs to go!

 

[Gibberish]

Social Security.