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Cut the federal workforce by a third and consolidate all redudancy. Cut military spending in half. End military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan and send all of those troops to the US/Mexico border that they would patrol as strictly as a prison wall. Cut federal subsidies to billion dollar companies and invest that money into small businesses and vocational training.
Lastly, adopt strict a pay-as-you-go spending policy. No new bonds. Period.
Idealistic and unrealistic-I know. But that's what I would do.
and how much will unemployment rise???? What do you think will happen once all those federal workers are unemployed and are trying to get by.
Medicaid is a way of life for many people. They don't wake up in the morning and say "Gee, I should really reconsider my life and my lifestyle since the Government is in debt." They simply wake up, feel crappy, and go to the doctor and not think twice about it. I have witnessed this through various associations.
I don't believe that cutting funding is the answer. I believe that a total program overhaul, complete with individual lifetime limits, is needed in order to wean people off of the mentality that they can just rely on Medicaid as they've always done. I propose a 12-month lifetime maximum for benefits. One month's worth of benefits would be equal to 2 doctor visits and would be applicable to those who are deemed at or beneath the current poverty level. That's 24 visits to the doctor during that individual's adult lifetime, after which no taxpayer-funded medical benefits will be provided. Special provisions could be written for the terminally ill, but only after strict medical interpretation.
For children up to the age of 17, an additional 24 visits are taxpayer funded, afterwhich the adult benefits will kick in. From birth to death, low-income citizens will receive 48 total doctor visits. If insurance companies can regulate doctor visits, then the American taxpayer should be able to do the same.
While not perfect, I believe this system to be more than generous, and would provide an incentive for individuals to carefully analyze their own situation before "wasting" a doctor visit on an an aspirin or a band-aid. Entitlment mentality is usually entrenched, and we must do something to limit the taxpayer's exposure.
Last edited by AeroGuyDC; 04-21-2011 at 06:36 AM..
I'm not surprised that the majority of Americans want to sacrifice NOTHING and contribute NOTHING.
We can't only tax our way out of this. We can't only cut (spending) our way out of this. We can't tax only the wealthy and we can't cut only non-mandatory programs.
The budget resolution is going to contain some tax increases for all and some mandatory spending cuts and some discretionary spending cuts.
There is a HUGE difference between programs that tax people their whole lives in return for a small benefit later
Wait a minute... are you saying that those who paid into Medicare and are now using it, have paid enough that they don't need current payers into the system to keep it afloat?
A major problem being the general public is horribly uninformed about how serious our debt has become and how simply taxing the rich can't bail us out. Are we honestly surprised that most Americans don't want to give up their entitlements?
We used to fight to the death by the thousands to defend this country; today the majority isn't willing to take a cut in our benefits to save it.
SS is a retirement insurance program that is funded by participants. And with some small adjustments, can continue to be self sustaining.
Medicare is partially funded by participants, so it's mostly a welfare program.
Madicaid is a 100% welfare program.
Thank you, when are the some people going to understand this? They love to say, these are entitlement programs like other government program, they refuse to accept them as programs we paid or pay into just like any investment. Even medicare is an insurange program, it is not welfare. Madicaid is a totally different game.
NIta
A major problem being the general public is horribly uninformed about how serious our debt has become and how simply taxing the rich can't bail us out. Are we honestly surprised that most Americans don't want to give up their entitlements?
We used to fight to the death by the thousands to defend this country; today the majority isn't willing to take a cut in our benefits to save it.
A government is a reflection of it's people since it's the people that vote the officials.
Our government is also in denial that we truly have a financial problem.
They talk about it and that's where it ends.
Why would the people be any different.
"Sure..go ahead with the cuts..but not MY program"
A government is a reflection of it's people since it's the people that vote the officials.
Our government is also in denial that we truly have a financial problem.
They talk about it and that's where it ends.
Why would the people be any different.
"Sure..go ahead with the cuts..but not MY program"
True we vote them in, however, the parties also vote in the hack who is going to do their bidding and then thrust the hack onto the people. Another words Americans end up with Heckle and Jeckel each representing the corrupt interests of a two party state.
True we vote them in, however, the parties also vote in the hack who is going to do their bidding and then thrust the hack onto the people. Another words Americans end up with Heckle and Jeckel each representing the corrupt interests of a two party state.
We Americans get the two parties we deserve.
We had a chance in 2008 with Ron Paul.
But he got tossed under the bus pretty early in the game.
We had a chance in 2008 with Ron Paul.
But he got tossed under the bus pretty early in the game.
Which speaks loudly of the right wing in America. He is the ONLY republican I can trust even as I disagree a lot with him.
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