what programs do we cut?

[FallingPianos]

if we're going to reduce spending, which programs should be cut? the options given are in order of how much is spent on them.

 

[TurtleDude]

Unemployment is more an insurance policy rather than a pure entitlement program

we can be more efficient with defense spending but its a constitutionally authorized program. While education is important, its not a federal matter

 

[Morrow]

Foreign aide programs and some internal so called "economic development".

I don't thinking cutting programs i necessary a sound restructuring would do the job too. Fire everyone, start again new.

 

[Kandahar]

I assume this is at the federal level? If so, my answers are:

Social security
Medicare
Unemployment and welfare
Medicaid/health
Education/training

 

[akyron]

All foreign aid may be enough to last awhile.

 

[Morrow]

I assume this is at the federal level? If so, my answers are:

Social security
Medicare
Unemployment and welfare
Medicaid/health
Education/training

Getting rid of Education/training is the worst thing we could do. Technological advances are only going to be happening more quickly, to survive in a globalist economy we have to make sure we keep our population able to fill the newly created jobs, lest the industry move to other countries.

 

[Kandahar]

Getting rid of Education/training is the worst thing we could do. Technological advances are only going to be happening more quickly, to survive in a globalist economy we have to make sure we keep our population able to fill the newly created jobs, lest the industry move to other countries.

Agreed. Which is why the federal government needs to abolish the Department of Education and get out of the way so that the states can effectively manage their public education.

Getting rid of education at the federal level doesn't mean getting rid of education...

 

[FallingPianos]

I assume this is at the federal level?

yes, it is.

 

[FallingPianos]

Agreed. Which is why the federal government needs to abolish the Department of Education and get out of the way so that the states can effectively manage their public education.

Getting rid of education at the federal level doesn't mean getting rid of education...

or alternatively, start opening federally run schools, instead of messing with state run schools.

 

[Cammie]

Well, since foreign aid isn't on the list I guess I'd say social security...then welfare and unemployment (though I must admit I wish they were kept seperate). Then I'd take a really good look at some of the "environmental" programs that are in place right now.

 

[faithful_servant]

or alternatively, start opening federally run schools, instead of messing with state run schools.

The feds are the biggest bottlenecks in our education system, why on earth would you put them in charge of the schools? The best thing you could do is privatize our educational system. Privatization would allow for competition to drive improvements and allow for more specialized and effective schools. It would open the doors for corporations to actually teach the skills sets that will best fit the needs of the our nation. If there is a demand for programmers, a software co. could ramp up a schooling system focused on the skills needed to become programmers. If there was a need for welders... for nurses... for concrete finishers... There would need to be some level of oversight to assure that the graduates aren't so "mono-skilled" that they aren't good for anything else, but the concept of trade-based schools is a very sound one. Many nations essentially takes this kind of approach, either through their normal educational system or through private schools and/or after school education. It works and it works well.

 

[Andy]

I support a Federally run school system. If you look at the countries with the best education systems (Finland, South Korea, Japan, China, all the ones that are better than ours), you'll see that they're all run by the national government, which imposes strict national standards that keep schools in line.

 

[Kandahar]

I support a Federally run school system. If you look at the countries with the best education systems (Finland, South Korea, Japan, China, all the ones that are better than ours), you'll see that they're all run by the national government, which imposes strict national standards that keep schools in line.

China's schools are by no means better than ours.

As for the other nations you listed, you're forgetting that they're a lot smaller than the United States. So really, that analogy isn't valid. Finland and South Korea (and to a lesser extent Japan) are much more comparable to a US state than the United States as a whole.

The reason American schools are so bad compared to all others is because we assign students to a school in a Stalinist fashion. We're the only modern nation in the world that does that, and it's a total disaster. Nearly every other nation allows students to go to school wherever they want and gives them a voucher to do so.

This is best accomplished on the state level, because states can look at one another's education policies to see which ones are working best. If the entire nation has one single policy, there isn't much room for comparison and change.

 

[FallingPianos]

The feds are the biggest bottlenecks in our education system, why on earth would you put them in charge of the schools?

I wouldnt. this would be in addition to state run schools, not in substitution for state run schools. the idea is that if the feds have their own schools they can run, they wont mess with the state run schools. parents can choose which ones to send their kids to.

 

[Goobieman]

Getting rid of Education/training is the worst thing we could do. Technological advances are only going to be happening more quickly, to survive in a globalist economy we have to make sure we keep our population able to fill the newly created jobs, lest the industry move to other countries.

Education is a state, not federal matter.

 

[Andy]

China's schools are by no means better than ours.

I don't know whether China's schools are better than our own, but I do know that Chinese students perform at a higher level than America students on international tests. [/quote]

As for the other nations you listed, you're forgetting that they're a lot smaller than the United States. So really, that analogy isn't valid. Finland and South Korea (and to a lesser extent Japan) are much more comparable to a US state than the United States as a whole.

While geographically these countries are consistent with a state, population wise, they are much larger. South Korea's population is 60 million, twice that of California, the most populous US state, and Japan has a population well over 100 million. These countries all have large school systems, like ours, and they have all managed to produce students far superior to our own.

The reason American schools are so bad compared to all others is because we assign students to a school in a Stalinist fashion. We're the only modern nation in the world that does that, and it's a total disaster. Nearly every other nation allows students to go to school wherever they want and gives them a voucher to do so.

While I know that South Korea and Japan, both very modern countries, don't have school choice on any scale imagined here in the states, I do believe that vouchers do have potential; however, by no means is the mere ability to 'chose' one's school going to result in an across the board increase in student ability. We still need to ensure that schools are held to high standards and provide the best education possible. The states have clearly failed in this regard, and it is time for a new direction.

This is best accomplished on the state level, because states can look at one another's education policies to see which ones are working best. If the entire nation has one single policy, there isn't much room for comparison and change.

I agree that ultimately schools need to remain in state hands simply because the Federal government does not have the Constitutional power to maintain a national school system. On the other hand, I believe that at this point only the Federal government is able to ensure that state schools are actually teaching. A standards policy would allow for states to differeniate their practices, and allow states to copy one another (though this process would be easier under a centralized system) while still ensuring that schools are performing.

 

[RightinNYC]

I voted for Defense, SS, Medicare, and Transportation.

First, I ****ing hate Amtrak and wish anyone involved with its existance to burn in hell. Cancel that **** asap.

But the reason I voted to cut Defense is not because I don't think it's important, (I do), but because certain aspects of Defense are quite bloated. We could make cuts in the funding provided for outdated technology, things spurred by the MI-Complex, and the amount of $$ spent on fuel by using more efficient machinery. The amount of money saved would likely be enough to give all soldiers a 10% raise and still cut back on total spending. I would support increasing Defense spending if we were to direct it all to soldier's pay, as I think the professionalization of the military is what will keep our armed services the best in the world.

And I voted to cut SS and Medicare simply because that's a nobrainer. They WILL be cut, drastically, and it's just a matter of when. When you have an unfunded liability in the range of 70 Trillion dollars, something is going to get cut, drastically, and soon.

 

[Andy]

Wow, I totally second Amtrak. Amtrak sucks.

 

[RightinNYC]

Wow, I totally second Amtrak. Amtrak sucks.

If I want to go to my farm upstate from NY, I have 2 choices.

1) Take the train to Penn Station, wait half an hour, get on one of the 2 Amtrak trains per day which leave to head upstate (and are always at least 30 minutes late). Pay 7 bucks for a snack and a sodaSit in a crowded car for 5+ hours.

Cost? Between 59 and 109 depending on day
Time? 6-7 hours

2) Take the train to JFK, blur through JetBlue check in, get on one of the 5 awesome plane which go upstate and always leave on time. Watch DirectTV and eat free snacks for the 48 minutes the flight takes to Syracuse. Get off the plane, drive 45 minutes home.

Cost? Between 39 and 119 depending on day
Time? 4 hours

Its no freaking contest. I only take Amtrak when JetBlue is over 100 and Amtrak is at 59, and even then, its usually not worth the opportunity cost.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Amtrak should be privatized just like Conrail was. Funny thing Conrail only survived when it was subsidized by the government --- as soon as it went private (actually public --- traded on the stock market) it was bought out by Norfolk Southern & CSX. The railroad business has been thriving ever since. I think the same could & likely would work with Amtrak. I'm certain they'd become more efficient & even profitable.

As for what I'd cut at the federal level...
...too many to choose from...

...take a pick...

http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml