Inkwell Institute
Budget Deficit Series #1
We all know by now that the #1 buzzword is DEFICIT around the Hill….Repubs and some Dems are talking and talking and are saying nothing constructive….that is why we have to have a “commission” to find an answer to the problem….
The answer is just so simple….WE SPEND TOO MUCH…….but the solution will be the same as always…they will recommend cuts in social services and entitlements….do not they always have the same answers?
Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are the problem areas, according to the conservatives….the entitlements are spinning out of control……reform them and all will be fine……sound familiar?
Yep, the Repubs have been trying to kill entitlements since the day they became law…..they keep chipping away at them with the help of the Dems and soon we can kiss any entitlement programs good-bye…..
It amuses me that defense spending is NEVER considered when cuts or reform is talked about…..
Here is an idea…..with about a trillion dollars spent on war, that money could be spent sure up entitlements…but then that would be wrong because defense contracts are the life’s blood of America……I mean $60 toilet seats and $100 hammers are fine and needed, at least according to those people that keep scaring the public about national security…….
It is sad that ANY representative of the people would consider attacks on the citizens and services provided for them as in the best interest of the country……but then the middle class has NEVER been really important to the Repubs….only in slogans and campaigns once elected they are there just as an obstacle to be overcome…..or ignored……
Think I am mistaken? Then watch the recommendations that will come out of the newest presidential commission on the deficit…then tell me that I am wrong…..
I’ve never had any help or assitance from the “State” over unemployment or sickness benefits etc. during the whole of my lifetime… nor did I want any – even though I have always “paid my dues” in full (and, I suspect, more). I have never joined a union either. My family has NEVER gone short – even though I couldn’t always afford what I would like and occasionally needed personally.
I behaved that way because I have always believed that “me and mine” are MY responsibility and I didn’t want either to be “beholden” (to my way of thinking) in ANY WAY to the State and nor did I want to take up valuable resources, if I didn’t need them and could manage without.
I’ve ALWAYS changed my job if I didn’t like what I was doing, or my employer’s attitude. When I’ve done that, I’ve ALWAYS got a new one first, or otherwise made sure that my family was provided for BEFORE even giving notice at my old job and if that meant putting up with a job or employer I didn’t like for a time until I could do better, then that was just too bad and my tough luck!
If state assistance were regarded as “automatically available if and when absolutely necessary” and not as an “entitlement” which although accurate, is I think a vERY bad word to use for these back-up services, then I believe it would change a whole lot about the way the British people think and behave and probably Americans too – on BOTH sides of the argument. Get rid of the legislation, “red tape” and all the bureaucratic shit that goes with it and operate the system with common sense, compassion and integrity all round and everything would be fine and one HELL of a lot cheaper. On top of which people might start to take a bit more pride in themselves and their cowar, then you’d better win it and if you send the armed forces into battle, then they have the right to expect to be properly equipped with the best untries!
That all said, I do agree with all your criticisms of the defence budgets etc. I’m not sure that it’s often even profiteering since they tend to write the same specifications for toilet seats as for armoured personnel carriers with the obvious result that either one is far too good and expensive for the job than necessary, or the other isn’t up to the job and kills people. I leave you to guess which is which, but a clue is that I can’t see why you need a toilet to be bomb-proof – well, unless they’re serving curries every day.
Furthermore, I do believe that you can’t wage war “on the cheap”. If you start a war, then you’d better bloody well win it, however long that takes or how much it costs! Equally, if you send your armed forces into battle, then they have a right to expect to be properly equipped with the best available. BUT, you could avoid the expense by simply NOT going to goddamned war in the first place!
Sorry, that last but two para got a bit mixed somehow. It should end “pride in themselves and their countries.”
No problem….I suffer from mental pause from time to time….
Welcome I have used services when necessary…like you say….me and mine…I would NOT let my family go without….
War? The problem is that war is good business, especially for the defense contractors……they bill outrageous amounts for the smallest parts…..and few notice…..I agree with you about it…..