RASMUSSEN POLL-64% of americans prefer LESS SERVICES and LOWER TAXES..

[candycorn]

I agree let us cut some wasteful government services.

First thing we can cut is the endless argument over gay marriage. How much money and time have we blown trying to keep 2 adults from entering into a government contract? It costs money and it does not benefit anyone in society. Hey, we would also a huge burst in jobs and revenue as gays make weddings.

How about we cut congressional pay? Seriously, do they need this much money? Do they do their job in a timely efficient manner? No, so let us put that on the chopping block.

How about we cut the war budget? Let us get out of afganistan. How much money could we save by not trying to keep people in the middle east from killing each other?

I know it is small compared to some other things, but we could cut funding for abstinence only education. It doesn't work, and we could take that money and put it into actual education which would increase our education budget while not costing us more money.

Here is a good idea which will not only cut our prison and legal system budget while raising tax revenue. make pot legal and tax the hell out of it. No more spending tons of money imprisoning people for possession, making legitimate jobs, freeing up the present police force to deal with real crime, sales tax revenue, lower medical costs (pot is much cheaper, healthy, and more effective than many designer pharmaceuticals prescribed by doctors), and a reduction of criminal organization profits which reduces the amount of problems we have on the mexican border. Not to mention with more jobs we might get some of those people off of welfare.

Look, I am with the OP in that we could cut many things our government pisses money away on every year. If the republicans were really for cuts of wasteful spending i would be all over supporting them. They do not want to cut anything, they simply want to move money from one thing to another. Taking money from social programs that help americans and putting it into bombing the middle east is not saving money or saving america. Stupifying our children by cutting education while increasing biblical nonsense is not saving money. The republicans only want to cut certain services which play into their power structure. They piss money away much worse than the democrats want to. We have plenty of bullshit to cut long before we start looking at kid's education and giving poor people food. If you really want smaller government than shrink it's bloated parts like the war machine. You can cut the huge intrusive legal system which pokes it's heads into all of our lives and tries to limit who we have consentual sex with, or what substances we take. Poor people need food and housing, but no one needs a ban on same sex marriage.

You may buy the load of bullshit republicans shovel about cutting the size of government, but it does not make any sense when they clearly rally around expanding our government in some very expensive and pointless ways. Our drug wars got into high gear with regan and nixon poking their noses into our private lives. Bush pushed the war on gays and the intrusive patriot act. The last person who balanced a budget and lowered our defecit was a democrat. Why should I, or anyone, believe that republicans are going to move away from expensive and pointless bullshit in the government when they have been expanding it for as long as most of us have been alive.

Really, please explain to me how cutting welfare is going to increase revenue and business considering welfare is a lot of people can buy food which makes jobs for people. Welfare is one of the reasons some people can pay rent which benefits land owners in our failing housing market. Welfare lets people have utilities, which makes more jobs and helps our utility companies. It is not like these people can put welfare money into the bank and sit on it. It is money they have to spend that goes back into our economy. You cut welfare and you cut food sales, you cut jobs, you destroy farmers. On top of that what do you think happens to these people when they do not have a place to live and money to eat? They end up in jail. Believe me it is a savings to give people food, housing, and utility assistance rather than paying the large cost to imprison them. So you either save some money by giving them some help fending for themselves, or you pay a lot of money to guard and imprison them while increasing your crime rates.

Good stuff there.

I'm of the firm belief that every 10 years, we need to start with zero based budgeting for the next year. Get an empty 8.5 X 11" sheet of paper and simply list what we need; start their budget at zero and build from there.

The politicians who submit their budget to the OMB know how to play the game. They forecast higher than what is needed so when they don't get what they asked for, they still have enough to fund their Department.

As for Congress. I think they make enough money now. I wouldn't want that job. However, This Congress will be in session for about 100 days if memory serves. They will take the entire month of August off (as will the President by the way). This is bullshit. They should get vacations; yes. But a whole month? Two weeks for Easter if I recall? Five weeks for Christmas if memory serves?

We spend entirely too much money on Defense. Waaaaaaaaaaaay too much. If you're watching this from another planet, you're on your back laughing at us. We also have waaaaaaaaaay too many people in state prisons. The entire penal code should be re-written; take the savings to do two things; outsource the prisons to private industry and with a smaller census in Prison, hire more cops, teachers, firemen, etc....

Moreover, we also need to look at the way we've decided to grow the Country. Can Los Angeles absorb another 10-20 million people? At some point, the States need to either enforce or come up with an ordinance to divide up the mega cities so that services can be handled more efficiently.

 

[FA_Q2]

Most of what you wrote deserves to be givin a chance but:

outsource the prisons to private industry

No. Terrible idea. Companies should not be in power over your freedoms or in the business of harboring criminals. That is asinine and is actually one of the problems with our penal code today: many prisons ARE outsourced. That is asinine.

 

[rightwinger]

I would be willing to bet that by "less services" they mean services for other people, not ones that benefit themselves

Why not poll people on whether they would be willing to give up their own benefits for lower taxes?

I 100% agree... And if you polled people and asked if THEY would want to pay an unavoidable 90% tax and still have our Government run a Trillion + dollar deficit every year just to keep the services we have (not new ones), I have a feeling people wouldn't favor it very much...

The honest questions that none of you “liberals” will answer are:

How high do taxes have to be to balance the budget?

Who gets these tax increases?

How much of the revenue raised goes directly to paying down the deficit that is built by programs we currently can’t afford?

Do you still plan on adding new programs, how much will it cost, where will the money come from, how are they constitutional?

What happens to the economy when you raise these taxes on people, be realistic.

I believe you cannot balance the budget just by raising taxes. I also believe you cannot ballance the budget without returning to a sensible tax structure which involves increasing taxes on everyone, not just the rich. I believe money you made on capital gains shoould be taxed at the same rate as money you made through labor

I believe we need to evaluate how large a military we can afford. Do we need a military that is larger than the next ten militaries combined? Do we need to be the worlds policeman? Get out of Afghanistan now

I believe Social Security retirement needs to go to 70 and the cap needs to be increased. Healthcare costs are out of control and we need to increase competitive pricing on services and drugs. We pay more for our healtcare than anyone else and receive less.

Social Services need to be controlled. Pay for essential services.....housing, food, medical care and eduacation......the rest can be seriously evaluated

 

[Harry Dresden]

I would be willing to bet that by "less services" they mean services for other people, not ones that benefit themselves

Why not poll people on whether they would be willing to give up their own benefits for lower taxes?

is there not a difference between a SERVICE and a BENEFIT?......

 

[skookerasbil]

Rasmussen Reports™: The Most Comprehensive Public Opinion Data Anywhere

Whattya know?
most,if not almost the super majority of americans polled dont like excess services and taxes.
liberal thinking in the toilet.
"flush".
if it matters,nebraska is romney 51%,39%obama.
WISCONSIN DEAD HEAT!!!
46% both...
there is hope and change yet...

5 more months of this BS...........Im counting down the days.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Obama wants to spend billions to upgrade roads and bridges all over the USA,,but what the point of doing that when so many businesses are folding and/or leaving the country?,,,then we will have all these new and repaired roads lined with empty office and retail space,,,,yup,,,our tax dollars down the drain again.

as long as tax payers are riding on that road or going across that bridge....i want it maintained.....if you dont.....stay off them.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Obama wants to spend billions to upgrade roads and bridges all over the USA,,but what the point of doing that when so many businesses are folding and/or leaving the country?,,,then we will have all these new and repaired roads lined with empty office and retail space,,,,yup,,,our tax dollars down the drain again.

and as an example (but not regarding new roads) within a ten mile radius of my community/country club here in Naples, we have our share of 1/2 ass projects,one is a shell/aka/skeleton of a mall that has been sitting there since 2007ish. we have a Target Super Complex in the planning,land cleared but no construction,,200 homes were planned to have been built, and a few others. Whats the hold-up? OBAMA!! no one wants to build or finish building their new businesses here until Obama is shown the door in 2013.

are people still riding on the roads around there?.....or are they deserted too?....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Public services such as fire and police should be removed from state general funds and be put into into special funds. This way state legislators could not hold voters hostage to the threats of "protective services" during budget and election votes. Of course democrats would start losing reelections or be forced to slow the growth of government.

Have you ever seen Republicans reduce government?

have you ever seen Democrats?.....where i am at they both do a good job of either growing it or keeping it like it is.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Public services such as fire and police should be removed from state general funds and be put into into special funds. This way state legislators could not hold voters hostage to the threats of "protective services" during budget and election votes. Of course democrats would start losing reelections or be forced to slow the growth of government.

Have you ever seen Republicans reduce government?

No, but they discuss their desires to do so on a regular basis.

talk.....what a politician does best....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Explain SALT JONES on USMB here...
al sharpton,obama,etc...
BIGGEST HYPOCRITE RACISTS ON THE PLANET.

you forgot Dean.....how many times does he say his 90% white mantra?.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Cut OSHA and the EPA to start.

Then outlaw the NEA.

Watch the savings start to add up !

better define what you mean by "cutting"....when you talk about "cutting"....posters like Dean will say you want to end it.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Explain SALT JONES on USMB here...
al sharpton,obama,etc...
BIGGEST HYPOCRITE RACISTS ON THE PLANET.

Actually, they don't like racists, dittohead.

hey Frankie!.....Salt has stated he does not like white people......that makes him a racist you dumbass Dem Dupe....

 

[Artevelde]

Has anybody here actually read the Federal budget? Can anybody seriously claim that there aren't dozens of agencies and programs that can be done away with?

 

[Harry Dresden]

I agree let us cut some wasteful government services.
First thing we can cut is the endless argument over gay marriage. How much money and time have we blown trying to keep 2 adults from entering into a government contract? It costs money and it does not benefit anyone in society. Hey, we would also a huge burst in jobs and revenue as gays make weddings.

Hey fag, how does growing the government to get into the same-sex marriage business cut costs? Faggot behavior is very costly to society (AIDS, child molestation, etc.), without providing any benefits in return. The reason faggots want the government to come into their private relationships is so that the government will add indoctrination of faggotry to public school curriculum and to ban freedom of association/speech (e.g. anti-discrimination laws). The enforcement of that tyranny is costly.

Your Liberal idea to reduce government spending is for people to stop opposing increases in government size. You fucking moron.

what a disgusting Ugly 'Merican brainwashed moron...

ill agree with the Moron part Frankie.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Explain SALT JONES on USMB here...
al sharpton,obama,etc...
BIGGEST HYPOCRITE RACISTS ON THE PLANET.

Actually, they don't like racists, dittohead.

They told you that ? Wow ! And you believed them ????

You are stooooooopppppppppiiiiiiidddddddd.

he is in his own words....a Dem Dupe....

 

[Meister]

Has anybody here actually read the Federal budget? Can anybody seriously claim that there aren't dozens of agencies and programs that can be done away with?

Very good point, there are so many of them that they overlap one another.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Well, I guess the US could do without the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Delta Regional Authority, the Northern Border Regional Commission, etc. etc. The list in the budget is pretty long.

In all likelihood the congressmen from those 'regions', Democrat or Republican, would fight to keep those agencies alive, according to how many jobs they support in those districts.

 

[Artevelde]

Well, I guess the US could do without the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Delta Regional Authority, the Northern Border Regional Commission, etc. etc. The list in the budget is pretty long.

In all likelihood the congressmen from those 'regions', Democrat or Republican, would fight to keep those agencies alive, according to how many jobs they support in those districts.

Probably true, but very misguided. The US budget is riddled with government programs that once had meaning, but now just keep existing even though their original purpose is gone. They have become an end in themselves.

 

[J.E.D]

Public services such as fire and police should be removed from state general funds and be put into into special funds. This way state legislators could not hold voters hostage to the threats of "protective services" during budget and election votes. Of course democrats would start losing reelections or be forced to slow the growth of government.

Have you ever seen Republicans reduce government?

have you ever seen Democrats?.....where i am at they both do a good job of either growing it or keeping it like it is.....

Growth In Government Spending Under President Obama Slower Than During Bush, Reagan Administrations | ThinkProgress

Evidence of the cost-cutting measures employed by Obama can be found in the last several jobs reports. While the overall number of jobs created has steadily increased for the last several months, those advances have all come entirely in the private sector. Public sector jobs have actually been on the decline for much of the last year as government spending on some agencies and programs have been cut.

Economics Professor Mark Thoma provides a helpful chart on his blog that puts President Obama’s per capita spending into context, comparing it with the spending of every president in the last 40 years.

That’s likely a hard pill to swallow for Obama’s critics, who have spent years hammering his administration for record spending and fiscal irresponsibility. The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson put it best : “Going by federal expenditures…it would seem that if Obama’s a socialist, Ronald Reagan is Karl Marx with an ICBM.”

 

[Listening]

Have you ever seen Republicans reduce government?

have you ever seen Democrats?.....where i am at they both do a good job of either growing it or keeping it like it is.....

Growth In Government Spending Under President Obama Slower Than During Bush, Reagan Administrations | ThinkProgress

Evidence of the cost-cutting measures employed by Obama can be found in the last several jobs reports. While the overall number of jobs created has steadily increased for the last several months, those advances have all come entirely in the private sector. Public sector jobs have actually been on the decline for much of the last year as government spending on some agencies and programs have been cut.

Economics Professor Mark Thoma provides a helpful chart on his blog that puts President Obama’s per capita spending into context, comparing it with the spending of every president in the last 40 years.

That’s likely a hard pill to swallow for Obama’s critics, who have spent years hammering his administration for record spending and fiscal irresponsibility. The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson put it best : “Going by federal expenditures…it would seem that if Obama’s a socialist, Ronald Reagan is Karl Marx with an ICBM.”

So what ?

What are his actual numbers....the amount he spent....

This is a change in the rate of growth.

Another smoke screen by the left.