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M

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While I may not agree with them -- I do have respect for those who truly want to reduce government spending. One of the big goals of the Tea Party has been to make sure the GOP finally keeps its word about reducing the size of government. I support them at least insofar that we need an honest discussion. But there are a lot of ways the GOP (and Dems) can trick people into thinking they're cutting spending.

1. We're repealing Obamacare!! -- the major trick here is that GOPs will use this goal to distract everyone from all the other spending. Anyone who asks GOPs in Congress about what programs they're cutting will simply say "Obamacare". Will the Tea Party just accept that answer?

2. We're going to have a 5% across-the-board cut to discretionary programs. Except for defense. And homeland security. And federal prisons. And scientific research. And...eventually there's nothing left on the board to cut. If anyone proposes an across-the-board cut -- it's important that absolutely EVERYTHING remains on board. Will the Tea Party insist on this?

3. We're going to eliminate the following programs - and here's a rather long and impressive list of programs. But it'll turn out the total amount of spending for these dozens of programs will be something like 0.001% of the budget. If anyone makes a list like this, force them to tell you what it adds up to as a percentage of total spending. Will the Tea Party insist on this?

4. We're going to eliminate an entire DEPARTMENT!!! -- but are they going to eliminate any of the programs in that department, or do they just plan to change the signs of a couple of bureacratic doors. It's important to insist that anyone promising to eliminate a department makes it clear what actual programs they are eliminating. Will the Tea Party be fooled by this?

5. We're going to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. Anyone that is still falling for this line should be required to immediately renounce their American citizenship.

6. Look at all these awesome tax cuts were offering!! Think of all the wonderful things those tax cuts will do!! Think of all the unpleasant spending cuts we're not having to discuss right now!!

7. If the GOP doesn't offer anything that makes significant cuts to at least one of the following: Defense, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid - then they're not serious about significantly reducing government spending. If the GOP offers a "big spending cut plan" and no one seems to be the least bit bothered by it, you can be sure than the plan doesn't make significant cuts to any of the aforementioned programs. The Tea Party needs to make sure the GOP doesn't get away with this.

AThousandYoung
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Good post.

w

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Originally posted by Melanerpes
[7. If the GOP doesn't offer anything that makes significant cuts to at least one of the following: Defense, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid - then they're not serious about significantly reducing government spending. If the GOP offers a "big spending cut plan" and no one seems to be the least bit bothered by it, you can be sure than the plan doesn't mak ...[text shortened]... rementioned programs. The Tea Party needs to make sure the GOP doesn't get away with this.[/b]
I could not have said it better myself.

As for defense, bring the troops home. There, what did I save? Perhaps around a trillion dollars a year of so?

As for medicare/medicaid. Focus on fraud and come up with a plan that does not require people to pay whatever insurance companies want us to pay. Of course, also avoid the single payer system. In other words, don't let the American people be dictated to by insurance companies or the government. This is why a flexible spending account is so vital to any future health care legislation which I posted earlier.

As for social security. Keep it simple stupid. The retirement age needs to be raised since people live longer. The system was not designed for people who live as long as they do now. Of course, to sell it, which will be a hard sell, the American people should be told that the federal government no longer can steal money from it and leave worthless IOU's behind. In other words, money that goes in STAYS in.

AThousandYoung
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Originally posted by whodey
As for defense, bring the troops home. There, what did I save? Perhaps around a trillion dollars a year of so?
What? Cut and run?!

w

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Originally posted by AThousandYoung
What? Cut and run?!
Run from what? What would the US be running from? What have they left to accomplish?

AThousandYoung
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Originally posted by whodey
Run from what? What would the US be running from? What have they left to accomplish?
The Taliban, bin Laden and Al Quaida. Nothing's changed over there.

w

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Originally posted by AThousandYoung
The Taliban, bin Laden and Al Quaida. Nothing's changed over there.
No kidding, and no matter how long they stay over their those people will remain.

t
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Originally posted by Melanerpes
While I may not agree with them -- I do have respect for those who truly want to reduce government spending. One of the big goals of the Tea Party has been to make sure the GOP finally keeps its word about reducing the size of government. I support them at least insofar that we need an honest discussion. But there are a lot of ways the GOP (and Dems) can ...[text shortened]... grams. The Tea Party needs to make sure the GOP doesn't get away with this.
Excellent.

Lundos
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Originally posted by Melanerpes
While I may not agree with them -- I do have respect for those who truly want to reduce government spending. One of the big goals of the Tea Party has been to make sure the GOP finally keeps its word about reducing the size of government. I support them at least insofar that we need an honest discussion. But there are a lot of ways the GOP (and Dems) can ...[text shortened]... grams. The Tea Party needs to make sure the GOP doesn't get away with this.
rec'd.

Wajoma
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How do you know a polly is lying?

Their lips are moving.

I believe the Tea Party has already had a huge influence on events coming to the point they have. So cutting X programs results in a .0001% saving, even if the result had just been to put the brakes on growing gummint that would have been a win but actual cuts, hoorah. A long battle ahead no doubt about it, but those that have driven the Tea Party movement to date should be taking a breath and giving themselves a little pat on the back.

Remember also that each buratcracy cut has a two fold effect, one less parasite means one more has to move onto the productive side of the line. Yep there's going to be some pain, the pay isn't going to be great, career bureaurats aren't worth much but better now than later and can't someone please stop Bernanke pumping any more monopoly money into the system.

w

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Originally posted by Wajoma
How do you know a polly is lying?

Their lips are moving.

I believe the Tea Party has already had a huge influence on events coming to the point they have. So cutting X programs results in a .0001% saving, even if the result had just been to put the brakes on growing gummint that would have been a win but actual cuts, hoorah. A long battle ahead no dou ater and can't someone please stop Bernanke pumping any more monopoly money into the system.
The funny part is that the other side thinks that the conservatives have just begun to fight. 😵

h

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I'm on board.... they better get to work...F Obama care...leave it move to other things then come back to it when the spending is slashed and the economy is on track. Then more fiscal conservatives get in because of the good job they have done we can then get health care put back in front and get it done right.

zeeblebot

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Originally posted by Melanerpes
While I may not agree with them -- I do have respect for those who truly want to reduce government spending. One of the big goals of the Tea Party has been to make sure the GOP finally keeps its word about reducing the size of government. I support them at least insofar that we need an honest discussion. But there are a lot of ways the GOP (and Dems) can ...[text shortened]... grams. The Tea Party needs to make sure the GOP doesn't get away with this.
why do we need a federal Dept of Education if most education is handled at state and local levels?

M

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Originally posted by zeeblebot
why do we need a federal Dept of Education if most education is handled at state and local levels?
in general, the US Dept of Education's programs do one of two things:

1. It provides money to state and local school districts to help them provide education where there are a lot people who are poor or have special education needs. (this includes what became called "No Child Left Behind" under Bush).

2. It provides loans and grants to help students pay for post-secondary education (college etc).

I'm sure a strong case can be made for making some level of cuts. I'm sure a certain amount of the spending is on stuff that states and local districts are capable of handling. But the GOP needs to be totally honest about this. Put all the programs on the table and let Congress and the people have an open debate about them.

in addition - this is one of those areas where the federal government is able to indirectly impose "national standards" by telling state and local governments that they need to comply with various things as a condition of receiving federal funding. Perhaps there could be a discussion about whether this is appropriate. Perhaps the anti-big-govt red states need to just refuse these funds. Will the Tea Parties in those states make this an issue?

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