FY 2012 Budget... What would you cut?

[WRESTLINGFAN]

here are the proposals from the Pols on the hill. What would you consider ?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/federal-budget-2012/

I would love for some bureaucracies to be eliminated, however reality sets in and that will never happen so here are some of my choices for the chopping block

20% for the DoD Ag Dept, Dept of Education, Dept of Energy, FDA, Homeland security
End all corporate welfare IE ethanol subsidies.
Reform entitlements by requiring citizenship,legal residence.
Cut off foreign aid. Even though its only about 1% of the budget

[A.J.]

The Homeland Security Department.

[epo]

Subsidies for oil companies.

[Pitdoc]

Medicare for Viagra

[spoon]

Cut the bush tax cuts

[Dudeman]

Cut the bush tax cuts

x2

[Dudeman]

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to strip $450 million from funds slated for a controversial program to build an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter second engine, a next-generation aircraft development program that has been riddled with cost overruns and labeled unnecessary by critics.

President Barack Obama has urged Congress to eliminate funding for the Joint Strike Fighter program. House Speaker John Boehner, however, is a key supporter.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told members of the House Armed Services Committee earlier Wednesday that he considers the program "an unnecessary and extravagant expense, particularly during a period of fiscal contraction." (http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/16/fighter.jet.funding/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn)

[spoon]

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to strip $450 million from funds slated for a controversial program to build an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter second engine, a next-generation aircraft development program that has been riddled with cost overruns and labeled unnecessary by critics.

President Barack Obama has urged Congress to eliminate funding for the Joint Strike Fighter program. House Speaker John Boehner, however, is a key supporter.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told members of the House Armed Services Committee earlier Wednesday that he considers the program "an unnecessary and extravagant expense, particularly during a period of fiscal contraction." (http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/16/fighter.jet.funding/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn)

The mere fact that the DEFENSE SEC informed the House Armed Services Committee that the program is unnecessary should have been enough to axe this immediately. I don' t mean that literally, but how can JOHN FUCKING BOEHNER be a key supporter after that simple fact is insane. Cut everything to help people, just not the military contracts tied to my supporters/lobbyists/bank account. I find it encouraging that Gates is willing to make cuts in armed service contracts in this tough economic time. Have we learned nothing from the USSR?

[Syd]

but how can JOHN FUCKING BOEHNER be a key supporter after that simple fact is insane. Cut everything to help people, just not the military contracts tied to my supporters/lobbyists/bank account. I find it encouraging that Gates is willing to make cuts in armed service contracts in this tough economic time. Have we learned nothing from the USSR?

Government spending is bad, unless it is for the military.

[WRESTLINGFAN]

Government spending is bad, unless it is for the military.

Heed thy warning!!!!


http://www.bu.univ-paris8.fr/rda/chronologies/eisenhower_html_3f835aa4.jpg

[BustahMyTool]

I'd cut the fucking Department of Education. Who needs it?

[WRESTLINGFAN]

I'd cut the fucking Department of Education. Who needs it?

:clap::clap::clap::clap:

[spoon]

I'd cut the fucking Department of Education. Who needs it?

I already have two people in mind.

[Pitdoc]

The mere fact that the DEFENSE SEC informed the House Armed Services Committee that the program is unnecessary should have been enough to axe this immediately. I don' t mean that literally, but how can JOHN FUCKING BOEHNER be a key supporter after that simple fact is insane.

A good portion of that engine is made in Boner's district . While he's all for cutting government jobs, I guess he's for those in HIS district

[spoon]

A good portion of that engine is made in Boner's district . While he's all for cutting government jobs, I guess he's for those in HIS district

those that add up to half a billion too

fuck that noise

[WRESTLINGFAN]

Billions are pissed away on ethanol subsidies. End it now!!!!


<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j9QQcP_Y1II" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[spoon]

Billions are pissed away on ethanol subsidies. End it now!!!!


<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j9QQcP_Y1II" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I actually agree on this one.

[spoon]

However, I find it amusing Stossel makes it a huge point that subsidies go toward looking into an alternative fuel. Of course this will happen with any new fuel source for a number of reasons. Yet what about the subsidies to big oil? Ethanol is not the answer at this point barring some drastic development, we should know that by now. So explain to me why we need to continue subsidizing big oil to fleece us day in and day out?

[Syd]

Billions are pissed away on ethanol subsidies. End it now!!!!

Corn ethanol was important, but not now. It started up the ethanol industry but the only money that should be spent on it now should be for long-term options like cellulose ethanol.

Yet what about the subsidies to big oil? Ethanol is not the answer at this point barring some drastic development, we should know that by now.

Cellulose ethanol is an answer. Not a complete answer, but it gives us the ability to produce gas using waste product or product that requires very little investment such as sawgrass.

[spoon]

Corn ethanol was important, but not now. It started up the ethanol industry but the only money that should be spent on it now should be for long-term options like cellulose ethanol.



Cellulose ethanol is an answer. Not a complete answer, but it gives us the ability to produce gas using waste product or product that requires very little investment such as sawgrass.

And that's a good point, as research into these areas might not be the answer just yet, but we can't stop looking. I'd rather put money into that search versus Exxon's next multi-billion dollar quarter.

[hanso]

Boehner has investments and would stand to make a gain from the 2 engine jet project.

[hanso]

I would do something about the publishing of the FY 2012 Budget. I say this half joking. But there are lots of waste that could be cut.

[WRESTLINGFAN]

Get the government out of the college business. They managed to fuck that up too


http://wn.com/peter_schiff_on_why_government_intervention_causes _high_college_tuition_prices

[Syd]

high college tuition prices are a result of low taxes, the first thing they go to for a budget crunch is education funding

[Dude!]

high college tuition prices are a result of low taxes, the first thing they go to for a budget crunch is education funding

hey, look what the cat
dragged in

[Philly Franko]

here are the proposals from the Pols on the hill. What would you consider ?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/federal-budget-2012/

I would love for some bureaucracies to be eliminated, however reality sets in and that will never happen so here are some of my choices for the chopping block

20% for the DoD Ag Dept, Dept of Education, Dept of Energy, FDA, Homeland security
End all corporate welfare IE ethanol subsidies.
Reform entitlements by requiring citizenship,legal residence.
Cut off foreign aid. Even though its only about 1% of the budget

I agree Cut Dept of Education...let it be handled on the Local level...Cut Congess Pay and benefits put them on the same healthcare we all have and put them on Social Security///then maybe they will fix it....I paid over 60,000 into SS and at 49 I will probably never see any of it back the IRS and CIA are out of control we need a Flat Tax for everyone...Lower Corporate Income Tax (we have the highest Corp tax in the world) use Retirees like myself to help replace Govt Employees...give us Tax credits etc to help the Budget...make weed Legal Tax it Let Legal Gun Owners Carry Concealled to help cops out

[spoon]

wow, no

[Dudeman]

It is simple to determine what is ok for Republicans to spend money on and where they are willing to make cuts. If the funding aims to help or protect "the least among us", cut it; but if it could hurt corporations, then cut that.
http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/bills/112/hr1/amendments?ref=politics


Things the Republicans in Congress want:

1. Prohibits the E.P.A. From Regulating Greenhouse Gases
2. Eliminates $15 Million From the Presidio Trust (a former military base, now park, in one of the world greatest cities)
3. Reject $50 Million in Heating Subsidies for the Poor
4. Prohibit the financing that would fund the Environmental Protection Agency's enactment of a law limiting pollution from cement plants
5. Eliminates Financing for Planned Parenthood

Things the Republicans in Congress Reject:
1. Prohibits Government Sponsoring of Nascar Cars
2. Restore $131 Million for the S.E.C.


Some more about federal government funding for NASCAR.
$45 million special tax earmark for Nascar and race track owners included in the 2010 law (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/sports/autoracing/19rhoden.html)

-Fund monitoring of pollution from a factory- NO????
-Fund military sponsorship of a race car- YES????

[KnoxHarrington]

The Department of Education is always high on the right-wing hit list, but if it goes, the schools in this country really go down the shitter. With no federal standards being imposed, if you give local/state school boards unlimited control of their curricula, it won't be long until a lot of them throw out teaching real science for lessons on how Republican Jesus rode a dinosaur.

We're already fucked enough in this country as it is. We don't need to make things worse.

[WRESTLINGFAN]

The Department of Education is always high on the right-wing hit list, but if it goes, the schools in this country really go down the shitter. With no federal standards being imposed, if you give local/state school boards unlimited control of their curricula, it won't be long until a lot of them throw out teaching real science for lessons on how Republican Jesus rode a dinosaur.

We're already fucked enough in this country as it is. We don't need to make things worse.

Have you seen test scores since Jimmuh Carter started this useless bureaucracy? Hows that no child left behind policy? The dept of education has done so much harm its sickening. Every left wing politician wants more money pissed down a sewer for education and the result is kids who cant read or solve math equations. Schools have turned into glorified day care centers while the Asians run circles around the helmet heads in schools here.

[Barnaby Jones]

Have you seen test scores since Jimmuh Carter started this useless bureaucracy? Hows that no child left behind policy? The dept of education has done so much harm its sickening. Every left wing politician wants more money pissed down a sewer for education and the result is kids who cant read or solve math equations. Schools have turned into glorified day care centers while the Asians run circles around the helmet heads in schools here.

And you think making it local will IMPROVE things??? Are you high??? Just because you don't like something now you want to make it even worse just because it's different??? What a loon!!! Go back to cherrypicking Ron Paul quotes from his stinking pile of lunatic dung!!!!!

[WRESTLINGFAN]

And you think making it local will IMPROVE things??? Are you high??? Just because you don't like something now you want to make it even worse just because it's different??? What a loon!!! Go back to cherrypicking Ron Paul quotes from his stinking pile of lunatic dung!!!!!

Look who woke from his stupor.


Fuck it. Nationalize everything because the federal government's track record is stellar.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[KnoxHarrington]

And you think making it local will IMPROVE things??? Are you high??? Just because you don't like something now you want to make it even worse just because it's different??? What a loon!!! Go back to cherrypicking Ron Paul quotes from his stinking pile of lunatic dung!!!!!

And no one would say the Dept. of Education is doing a pefect job. "No Child Left Behind" has been, in particular, a disaster because it makes schools focus on these standardized tests they must give at the expense of overall education.

But getting rid of it, and giving local school districts unfettered control, is just a fucking disaster. It would doom generations of kids to shit educations based on curricula written up by Jesus freaks.

And funny you should mention Ron Paul: the hero of "libertarians" is fully on the side of the Jesus freaks. He doesn't think the federal government should have any say over what you do with your body, true. Local and state governments, on the other hand, he doesn't give a fuck about. They can push the Bible on you for all he cares.

[WRESTLINGFAN]

And no one would say the Dept. of Education is doing a pefect job. "No Child Left Behind" has been, in particular, a disaster because it makes schools focus on these standardized tests they must give at the expense of overall education.

But getting rid of it, and giving local school districts unfettered control, is just a fucking disaster. It would doom generations of kids to shit educations based on curricula written up by Jesus freaks.

And funny you should mention Ron Paul: the hero of "libertarians" is fully on the side of the Jesus freaks. He doesn't think the federal government should have any say over what you do with your body, true. Local and state governments, on the other hand, he doesn't give a fuck about. They can push the Bible on you for all he cares.

Ron Paul isnt a religious extremist at all if you would actually look at his policies. He does not want public education eliminated. Some of his policies are....

School prayer is not a federal issue
[Limits on Constitutional authority] holds true for issues like prayer in schools. Such issues were never meant to be decided by federal judges. The whole point of the American Revolution was to vindicate the principle of local self government.

Close Dept. of Education, but don’t dismantle public schools
Q: You said you want to abolish the public school system.
A: We elected conservatives to get rid of the Department of Education. We used to campaign on that. And what did we do? We doubled the size. I want to reverse that trend.

Q: What about public schools? Are you still for dismantling them?

A: No, I’m not. It’s not in my platform.

[Dudeman]

Ron Paul isnt a religious extremist at all if you would actually look at his policies. He does not want public education eliminated. Some of his policies are....

School prayer is not a federal issue
[Limits on Constitutional authority] holds true for issues like prayer in schools. Such issues were never meant to be decided by federal judges. The whole point of the American Revolution was to vindicate the principle of local self government.

Close Dept. of Education, but don’t dismantle public schools
Q: You said you want to abolish the public school system.
A: We elected conservatives to get rid of the Department of Education. We used to campaign on that. And what did we do? We doubled the size. I want to reverse that trend.

Q: What about public schools? Are you still for dismantling them?

A: No, I’m not. It’s not in my platform.

Who will prevent local publicly funded schools from teaching a religious-based faith belief in a science class on the same level as a scientific theory?

[A.J.]

Have you seen test scores since Jimmuh Carter started this useless bureaucracy? Hows that no child left behind policy? The dept of education has done so much harm its sickening. Every left wing politician wants more money pissed down a sewer for education and the result is kids who cant read or solve math equations. Schools have turned into glorified day care centers while the Asians run circles around the helmet heads in schools here.

I agree...TO A POINT. The Department of Education was made a stand-alone department by Carter simply to placate the teachers' unions. And as we see in DC public schools, and as we saw in the last mayoral election, any attempt at fixing the damage they've done comes with political repercussions.

I'm for getting rid of the Department mainly because I hope that it will get parents more involved in local school matters. Or, roll it back into HHS where it originally came from (Department of Health, Education and Welfare).

Hell, I'm for rolling Veterans' Affairs back into DoD or HHS.

[WRESTLINGFAN]

It is simple to determine what is ok for Republicans to spend money on and where they are willing to make cuts. If the funding aims to help or protect "the least among us", cut it; but if it could hurt corporations, then cut that.
http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/bills/112/hr1/amendments?ref=politics


Things the Republicans in Congress want:

1. Prohibits the E.P.A. From Regulating Greenhouse Gases
2. Eliminates $15 Million From the Presidio Trust (a former military base, now park, in one of the world greatest cities)
3. Reject $50 Million in Heating Subsidies for the Poor
4. Prohibit the financing that would fund the Environmental Protection Agency's enactment of a law limiting pollution from cement plants
5. Eliminates Financing for Planned Parenthood

Things the Republicans in Congress Reject:
1. Prohibits Government Sponsoring of Nascar Cars
2. Restore $131 Million for the S.E.C.


Some more about federal government funding for NASCAR.
$45 million special tax earmark for Nascar and race track owners included in the 2010 law (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/sports/autoracing/19rhoden.html)

-Fund monitoring of pollution from a factory- NO????
-Fund military sponsorship of a race car- YES????


The theory of greenhouse gases man made climate change has not been settled. Congress shouldnt be passing laws based on the weather.

Let the local government fund the park.

Im sure a huge majority of those poor people somehow have money for going out to eat, having a cell phone some families having multiple cars and cable/satellite TV. Whatever happened to priorities. Psst having an IPAD isn't a human right

Why can't the Kennedy's give from their own fortunes to the poor? Maybe if Caroline Kennedy can go down to Caracas and fuck Hugo Chavez he might give more oil.

I am pro choice, However if someone wants to get an abortion paid for by taxpayers they should be required to find out everything about the abortion, what the procedure is, any future complications etc. I want them to know about everything about the abortion. Even people who arent enlightened progressives like me know that an abortion is a medical procedure.

The race car funding I agree is a waste of money.


The same SEC who allowed everyone from ivan Boesky to Bernie Madoff to run wild for so many years?

[Dudeman]

Why can't the Kennedy's give from their own fortunes to the poor? Maybe if Caroline Kennedy can go down to Caracas and fuck Hugo Chavez he might give more oil.

Fucking shit. You have to be kidding. You always go back to that same playbook. One rich family or 6 rich families or 15 rich families can't support the need for social services in a civilized society.


The same SEC who allowed everyone from ivan Boesky to Bernie Madoff to run wild for so many years?

Seriously? The SEC failed because it had too much money? There were too many regulators of Enron? It wasn't the Republican/Libertarian hands--off the businesses mentality that allowed that shit to occur? It was from TOO MUCH REGULATION?

[WRESTLINGFAN]

Fucking shit. You have to be kidding. You always go back to that same playbook. One rich family or 6 rich families or 15 rich families can't support the need for social services in a civilized society.



Seriously? The SEC failed because it had too much money? There were too many regulators of Enron? It wasn't the Republican/Libertarian hands--off the businesses mentality that allowed that shit to occur? It was from TOO MUCH REGULATION?

Rich progressive families and Charities. I know you hate them. How about asking a family member for the money? Poor people arent exempt from personal responsibility. Cut the cable and cell phone and focus on heating your homes or go to a charity for help

Arthur Andersen accounting practices werent a factor?

[midwestjeff]

Arthur Andersen accounting practices werent a factor?

He was always a factor when he was with the Four Horsemen.

[A.J.]

Fucking shit. You have to be kidding. You always go back to that same playbook. One rich family or 6 rich families or 15 rich families can't support the need for social services in a civilized society.

They do in the Middle East.

[WRESTLINGFAN]

Fucking shit. You have to be kidding. You always go back to that same playbook. One rich family or 6 rich families or 15 rich families can't support the need for social services in a civilized society.



Seriously? The SEC failed because it had too much money? There were too many regulators of Enron? It wasn't the Republican/Libertarian hands--off the businesses mentality that allowed that shit to occur? It was from TOO MUCH REGULATION?

Ever hear of Springsteen Bon Jovi, Streisand, Spielberg? They are a few of the overwhelming majority of progressive celebrities. They could start a non profit or donate their own money

[hanso]

Tax payer subsidies to big oil.

This could swap over to a tax on gas (no change in price at the pump)
at times when oil makes record profits.