What spending cuts should the gov't make?

[HemlockGrey]

What spending cuts should Congress make in the Federal budget? Let this be a pipedream-thread.

I say cut all funding to 'the War on Drugs' for one.

[Hamel]

WoD
Spending 2k on Pentagon toilets and other baloney

I'm arguing with diablo2 players right now, so I can't think much beyond this

[phongn]

WoD
Spending 2k on Pentagon toilets and other baloney

I'm arguing with diablo2 players right now, so I can't think much beyond this

If you're referring to the toilet-seat fairing on the P-3, I challenge you to build a limited-production molded fibreglass fairing (which happened to include the toilet seat) for cheap.

It's not as if they're spending loads of money on something that goes on your home toilet!

(The hammer in question also was made out of a beryllium alloy because it didn't spark. Furthermore, you have to be careful about cutting these things because that money is being used elsewhere (a'la ID4, if not for alien research))

[Coyote]

Pork barrel spending....

Really, it's not that I would cut so much but be more attentive and mindful of how the money is spent. I think that the money we have going to Education, for example, is sufficient but it gets eaten up by feel-good "cultural tolerance" programs that do nothing to educate kids about reading, writing, and math.

[Joe]

*gets his chainsaw*

- Drug War over, no questions asked.

- Commerce, Education (and before you jump me, realize that the states pay for the bulk of education), Agriculture, Energy, HUD, NEA, NEH, Interior, most of Transporation, all go bye-bye. And whatever else I've forgotten, don't think you'll escape my chainsaw.

- Should be able to trim several billion from the defense budget (like all others, its full of pork)

- Get the hell off of Social Security. Sell off government assets to buy annuities for those forced into dependence on it.

- Pass on Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare to the states, and let them decide how to run them.

- Cut the pay of elected officials drastically, cut the budget of Congress and the Senate (their offices are fucking palaces), cut Shrubby's budget also.

[Coyote]

Also, not just "cuts" but "revenue-generation".

Cut the Drug War, also legalize some drugs and tax them. That also undercuts criminals and puts poor farmers in S. America to work on legit jobs. Instead of costly prison sentences, put non-violent offenders to work in some sort of rehab or monitored work program. Not a chain gang, but some real work in a moderately decent environment rather than warehousing them, in expensive jails.

[Sea Skimmer]

If you're referring to the toilet-seat fairing on the P-3, I challenge you to build a limited-production molded fibreglass fairing (which happened to include the toilet seat) for cheap.

It's not as if they're spending loads of money on something that goes on your home toilet!

(The hammer in question also was made out of a beryllium alloy because it didn't spark. Furthermore, you have to be careful about cutting these things because that money is being used elsewhere (a'la ID4, if not for alien research))

Most of the prices for tools are the result of adding together the cost of all maintenance equipment, then dividing by the number of items. Thus for every 500 dollar hammer you also get an advanced diagnostics computer for the same price that works in sub zero temperatures outside and in the desert heat. Not to mention rain and other weather.

[Queeb Salaron]

*gets his chainsaw*

- Drug War over, no questions asked.

- Commerce, Education (and before you jump me, realize that the states pay for the bulk of education), Agriculture, Energy, HUD, NEA, NEH, Interior, most of Transporation, all go bye-bye. And whatever else I've forgotten, don't think you'll escape my chainsaw.

- Should be able to trim several billion from the defense budget (like all others, its full of pork)

- Get the hell off of Social Security. Sell off government assets to buy annuities for those forced into dependence on it.

- Pass on Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare to the states, and let them decide how to run them.

- Cut the pay of elected officials drastically, cut the budget of Congress and the Senate (their offices are fucking palaces), cut Shrubby's budget also.

So... we're left with a country without federally sponsored social programs, short of benefits for war vets, and financial aid to college students who registered for the draft.

That looks a lot like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. And the name fits, too.

[Joe]

*gets his chainsaw*

- Drug War over, no questions asked.

- Commerce, Education (and before you jump me, realize that the states pay for the bulk of education), Agriculture, Energy, HUD, NEA, NEH, Interior, most of Transporation, all go bye-bye. And whatever else I've forgotten, don't think you'll escape my chainsaw.

- Should be able to trim several billion from the defense budget (like all others, its full of pork)

- Get the hell off of Social Security. Sell off government assets to buy annuities for those forced into dependence on it.

- Pass on Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare to the states, and let them decide how to run them.

- Cut the pay of elected officials drastically, cut the budget of Congress and the Senate (their offices are fucking palaces), cut Shrubby's budget also.

So... we're left with a country without federally sponsored social programs, short of benefits for war vets, and financial aid to college students who registered for the draft.

That looks a lot like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. And the name fits, too.

Nope, I didn't list Vet's Affairs. I specifically made sure not to.

Student aid does not need to be provided by the federal government (with the exception of military), the states do a fine job at it. Hell, my tuition is funded entirely by the Georgia lottery.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

I say tone down the "War on Drugs" and decriminalize marijuana posession. The government might make a profit as well and put a government tax on it.

The wages of Congressmen should be cut. Did you notice how they vote themselves a wage increase during recession?

End "bilingual education" programs, and save some money.

I'm sure all of this would save a few billion dollars which could go toward something useful.

[Joe]

I say tone down the "War on Drugs" and decriminalize marijuana posession. The government might make a profit as well and put a government tax on it.

The wages of Congressmen should be cut. Did you notice how they vote themselves a wage increase during recession?

End "bilingual education" programs, and save some money.

I'm sure all of this would save a few billion dollars which could go toward something useful.

Just a pointless nitpick, Congressmen get a salary, not a wage.

[Queeb Salaron]

Student aid does not need to be provided by the federal government (with the exception of military), the states do a fine job at it. Hell, my tuition is funded entirely by the Georgia lottery.

HERESY! In another 4 years, I'm gonna be up to my ears in Federal loans! But it's the only reason I'm in school in the first place.

[Queeb Salaron]

Definitely stop the war on drugs, though. Drug laws are antiquated, and even if that weren't true, they're based on corporation-friendly logic. Marijuana and Dupont, for example. They are the reflection of classism and inequality among Americans. And they ruin all my fun.

[TrailerParkJawa]

-Cut lavish medical benefits and pensions for Congress.
-End all tobacoo price supports/subsidies
-Kill the V-22
-No spending of excess Soc Sec receits on anything. It goes into a bank until we find a replacement
-No more allowing Cubans a free ride if they make it to the Florida shore.
-Legalize Marjijauna
-Eliminate as much pork as possible.

[Sea Skimmer]

- Should be able to trim several billion from the defense budget (like all others, its full of pork)

Alot of defence pork is acutally over for black programs. In any case the US military need about twenty billion more a year just to maintain and train what they already have.

[Sea Skimmer]

-Kill the V-22

I dare you to find a workable replacement without designing an all-new aircraft. And with the CH-46s years beyond there designed life and extremely unsafe we don't have time for that.

[Joe]

That reminds me, we could also knock out the missile defense budget of 7.8 billion.

[TrailerParkJawa]

-Kill the V-22

I dare you to find a workable replacement without designing an all-new aircraft. And with the CH-46s years beyond there designed life and extremely unsafe we don't have time for that.

I dont have one, but that does not mean the V-22 is going to be a viable aircraft. Im not opposed to military spending I just think the V-22 is a debacle.

The Marines could make due with Blackhawks, even if they dont meet the operational requirements they are looking for in the Osprey.

I truely hope the V-22 turns out to be a good bird, but if not, then we sent a lot of money down the hole, and killed some young Marines on the way.

[Glocksman]

WoD, and apply the savings to the Border Patrol to keep out illegal immigrants.

NEA and NEH.
All ag subsidies. I don't buy the 'sanctity of the family farm' bullshit. John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson are full of crap.

As for the rest, I'd need a couple of months and a bunch of highlighters to go through the budget and line item specific things out.

[RedImperator]

Durran Korr stole my chainsaw.

[Queeb Salaron]

We could always cut Project Bioshield. It wouldn't make but a dent, but it's certainly better than leaving it there.

[Illuminatus Primus]

(adding to other good ideas)

Cut NMD except for defense against single accidental launches.

Minimal Strategic missile defense around places like Pakistan/India or DPRK, etc. Invest in theater missile defense instead.