Sequestration - good, bad, or indifferent?

[Alvin Walton]

Tons of money to be had for Blue Angel fuel right here.

Foreign Assistance Fast Facts

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Alvin Walton

Tons of money to be had for Blue Angel fuel right here.

Foreign Assistance Fast Facts

ok, but sure seems still like you are willing to take money out of the hands of others that could use a hand up, rather than make a small sacrifice of something that you yourself acknowledged was a pride issue, not defense of the country. (I could argue that many people find great national pride in the compassion and help the US is known for, ie after the Haiti earthquake).

[Alvin Walton]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

ok, but sure seems still like you are willing to take money out of the hands of others that could use a hand up, rather than make a small sacrifice of something that you yourself acknowledged was a pride issue, not defense of the country. (I could argue that many people find great national pride in the compassion and help the US is known for, ie after the Haiti earthquake).

Thats because I'm not a bleeding heart liberal.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

ok, but sure seems still like you are willing to take money out of the hands of others that could use a hand up, rather than make a small sacrifice of something that you yourself acknowledged was a pride issue, not defense of the country. (I could argue that many people find great national pride in the compassion and help the US is known for, ie after the Haiti earthquake).

At this point when we give foreign aid we are giving away money we have to borrow or easier said we don't have. Its time we stop this crap. I don't have a problem providing man power to places like Haiti for a period of time but it stops there.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by firstdown

At this point when we give foreign aid we are giving away money we have to borrow or easier said we don't have. Its time we stop this crap. I don't have a problem providing man power to places like Haiti for a period of time but it stops there.

And I can agree with this in principle, just like I agree in principle to the NFL paying for the SB security, and the suspension of BA/TB air shows. But, as That Guy pointed out by asking about the F-22, the list of Foreign aid/SB sec/BA-TB shows are piddling around the edges. You can cut all foreign aid 100% (reduce it to 0) and we would still be spending at a deficit. Defense (serious programs) and Welfare both need to be re-vamped and brought in line with what our intake affords, and if we need to increase our intake from the top 1%, then they need to put it in.

Question (i don't know the answer) has anyone ever thought of allowing tax dollars to be earmarked? ie you can designate %'s for major categories, defense, welfare, maybe 3 or 4 others top level line items? I imagine it would be book keeping hell but it would be interesting to see where people want their money to go, and then have a percentage off the top that is designated for SS, and Debt repayment. Even if we can't do it on the real taxes, it would be an interesting study if conducted properly. (I am pretty sure there is an internet equivalent, but I would want a solid firm conducting it if I were to trust the results)

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

And I can agree with this in principle, just like I agree in principle to the NFL paying for the SB security, and the suspension of BA/TB air shows. But, as That Guy pointed out by asking about the F-22, the list of Foreign aid/SB sec/BA-TB shows are piddling around the edges. You can cut all foreign aid 100% (reduce it to 0) and we would still be spending at a deficit. Defense (serious programs) and Welfare both need to be re-vamped and brought in line with what our intake affords, and if we need to increase our intake from the top 1%, then they need to put it in.

Question (i don't know the answer) has anyone ever thought of allowing tax dollars to be earmarked? ie you can designate %'s for major categories, defense, welfare, maybe 3 or 4 others top level line items? I imagine it would be book keeping hell but it would be interesting to see where people want their money to go, and then have a percentage off the top that is designated for SS, and Debt repayment. Even if we can't do it on the real taxes, it would be an interesting study if conducted properly. (I am pretty sure there is an internet equivalent, but I would want a solid firm conducting it if I were to trust the results)

I have always thought if person does not think we pay enough in taxes then they can just write a check and send it to the federal goverment. Just add an addtional line to tax returns to write in what you feel you should pay in addition to what you paid over the year. Also why would anyone put more money into SS because there is no guarantee anyone will ever see a penny of the money you contribute.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I have always thought if person does not think we pay enough in taxes then they can just write a check and send it to the federal goverment. Just add an addtional line to tax returns to write in what you feel you should pay in addition to what you paid over the year. Also why would anyone put more money into SS because there is no guarantee anyone will ever see a penny of the money you contribute.

how about this, base percentages are listed and you can add or subtract up to 5%. SS would for now be a set percentage. Ultimately all the percentages would add up to 100%. So:
samples

base tax return(italics not changeable):
Def:24% Hlthcare:22% Welfare:12% Education:4% Pensions:22% Interest:6% Other:10%
allowing +/- 5% for a person's discretion:
NC Skins
Def: 19 Hlth:24 Welfare 14 Ed: 5 Other:10 P&I 28
AW
Def 29 Hlth:20 Welfare 9 ed 4 other 10 P&I 28
FD
Def 29 Hlth:22 Welfare 7 Ed 4 other 10 P&I 28
Mine
Def 22 Hlth 22 Welfare 12 Ed 6 other 10 P&I 28

Obviously this is purely a simplistic example, but it wouldn't be any harder to implement then the rest of the boondoggle that is the US tax code

(enter slinging sammy with fair tax discussion)

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

allowing +/- 5% for a person's discretion:
NC Skins
Def: 19 Hlth:24 Welfare 14 Ed: 5 Other:10 P&I 28

Mine
Def: 22 Hlth: 22 Welfare: 12 Ed: 6 other 10 P&I" 28

Not sure why you think I want welfare raised. I don't. I'm just sick and tired of hearing how the welfare (aka..food stamps) is killing this country, when in fact, it plays very little in the grand scheme of things. I'm willing to bet you right now, if I were to do a poll with every single conservative friend I have, I bet you that the majority of them would list Welfare is the #1 issue. Also, when it comes down to it, I'd rather feed somebody than bomb them.

If anything, our citizens are too stupid and I'd rather spend that money on education.

Def 15 Hlth 25 Welfare 12 Ed 10 other: 10 P&I 28

Things I would increase:

NASA - increase by 3 billion


Things I would end:

Oil subsidies: (account for 4-5 billion each year)

Farm subsidies: (in most cases) save about 5 billion a year



I know slashing the military that much seems drastic, but I'm in favor of pulling all of our bases and bring back our men/women to defend our own country. We don't need to be world police, and should intervene if people ask us to. We don't need brand new air craft carriers at this point, we don't any new jets at this point. We can use these guys to fortify our borders. Even slashing it to 15% would still have us spending way more than anybody else in the world. Including China, who currently has the largest army in the world.