A Little Perspective

[TheMoody1]

* U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
* Fed budget: $3,820,000,000,000
* New debt: $1,650,000,000,000
* National debt: $15,891,000,000,000
* Recent budget cuts: $ 38,500,000,000

Let's now remove 9 zeros and pretend it's a household budget:

* Annual family income: $21,700
* Money the family spent: $38,200
* New debt on the credit card: $16,500
* Outstanding balance on the credit card: $158,910
* Total budget cuts so far: $3.85

[asumike83]

The best part is that when the mom and dad in the household finally decide to stop arguing about who gets to go shopping and make the minimum payment on their credit cards after decades of irresponsible spending, they take the next week to publicly pat each other on the back for coming together and not going into Chapter 7!

[appbio91]

It's a problem. If you don't touch military or entitlements you will never make a dent. So who ya gonna cut grandma, mom and dad or yourself? Miltary is off the table IMO.

[Watauga72]

Why is military spending off the table? Should it be? Our military budget in 2012 was roughly equivalent to the next 15 nations COMBINED spending! Seems there might be some room for cuts.

[moehler]

in 2 months the "battle of all congressional battles" will hit the wall over the debt ceiling. So far,nothing has really been accomplished, just kicking the can down the road, Obama and the democrats have taken the debt ceiling debate off the table, the Republicans, will not have dicussions unless the debt ceiling is on the table. Cant wait to see what happens to my investments the next few months... thanks Congress.

[HeffnerIV]

in 2 months the "battle of all congressional battles" will hit the wall over the debt ceiling. So far,nothing has really been accomplished, just kicking the can down the road, Obama and the democrats have taken the debt ceiling debate off the table, the Republicans, will not have dicussions unless the debt ceiling is on the table. Cant wait to see what happens to my investments the next few months... thanks Congress.

Have no fear, I'm sure the Republicans will cave again! Hell, they'll probably offer more tax increases for free!

[GlassOnion]

Why is military spending off the table? Should it be? Our military budget in 2012 was roughly equivalent to the next 15 nations COMBINED spending! Seems there might be some room for cuts.

When you ask 2% of the population to risk their lives in the interest of the 98%, for their safety, for freedom, to trade both at home and overseas, to protect Americans wherever they may be on this globe, they SHOULD be provided with THE VERY BEST, bar NONE. Whatever increases that 2%'s chances of coming home, is worth it. If I must spend $5,000 on body armor for every single one of our Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines to stop a $5 bullet from a $150 AK-47 POS, then so be it.

[Watauga72]

Why is military spending off the table? Should it be? Our military budget in 2012 was roughly equivalent to the next 15 nations COMBINED spending! Seems there might be some room for cuts.

When you ask 2% of the population to risk their lives in the interest of the 98%, for their safety, for freedom, to trade both at home and overseas, to protect Americans wherever they may be on this globe, they SHOULD be provided with THE VERY BEST, bar NONE. Whatever increases that 2%'s chances of coming home, is worth it. If I must spend $5,000 on body armor for every single one of our Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines to stop a $5 bullet from a $150 AK-47 POS, then so be it.

Absolutely agree that those who choose to serve should be provided the best weapons and protection to accomplish assigned missions....in interest of full disclosure, I am a veteral (US Navy).

The questions then become about missions....what we do, why we do it, and where. Also, unnecessary weapons systems that are driven by politicians seeking pork for their home districts. Lots of waste.

[asumike83]

When you ask 2% of the population to risk their lives in the interest of the 98%, for their safety, for freedom, to trade both at home and overseas, to protect Americans wherever they may be on this globe, they SHOULD be provided with THE VERY BEST, bar NONE. Whatever increases that 2%'s chances of coming home, is worth it. If I must spend $5,000 on body armor for every single one of our Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines to stop a $5 bullet from a $150 AK-47 POS, then so be it.

To be fair, I don't think anyone questions the fact that our military men and women deserve the very best protection and equipment available. They truly are heroes and we owe a great debt to all of them. Once our military personnel are overseas, their safety is definitely priority number one and we should spare no expense in getting them back home to their families.

The debate is about whether it is necessary for us to deploy as many members of our military in the first place and undergo all the costs associated with doing it, both in terms of money spent and lives lost. I certainly don't know enough about foreign policy to answer that question but it is worth discussing.

[GlassOnion]

Absolutely agree that those who choose to serve should be provided the best weapons and protection to accomplish assigned missions....in interest of full disclosure, I am a veteral (US Navy).

The questions then become about missions....what we do, why we do it, and where. Also, unnecessary weapons systems that are driven by politicians seeking pork for their home districts. Lots of waste.

Thank you for your service.

While I agree there is alot of waste, if the congress cuts the military 10% across the board, guess what doesnt get cut, the pork. Pork is literally politicians paying people to vote for them, same as alot of these socialist programs imo. It all comes down to people voting for the guy thats going to give them more.

Obama has already cut $100 Billion from the military over the next 10 years. F-22 was supposed to take over for the F-15, scrapped. Same with the missile defense, where the US pretty much screwed Poland.

BTW The Iraq and Afgan wars, are NOT included in the defense dept budget.

[appdaze]

While I agree there is alot of waste, if the congress cuts the military 10% across the board, guess what doesnt get cut, the pork. Pork is literally polititians paying people to vote for them, same as alot of these socialist programs imo. It all comes down to people voting for the guy thats going to give them more.

What socialist programs are you referring too?


I have many friends who have recently and currently serve in the military. They will all gladly tell you how under equipped they are. Military money is wasted by the millions. It doesn't trickle down to the people who actually need it...

[GlassOnion]

What socialist programs are you referring too?

http://www.aei-ideas.org/2012/07/julias ... -year-job/


That is the crap Im referring to.

[appdaze]

What socialist programs are you referring too?

http://www.aei-ideas.org/2012/07/julias ... -year-job/


That is the crap Im referring to.

Do you have any references or information that isn't from an extremely right wing blog from a very right wing conservative think thank whose board of trustees has included many filthy rich businessmen, insurance company heads, and Dick Chaney?


So what about the millions of people who need the money from these programs just to make ends meet while doing the best they can just to get by?

[GlassOnion]

Do you have any references or information that isn't from an extremely right wing blog from a very right wing conservative think thank whose board of trustees has included many filthy rich businessmen, insurance company heads, and Dick Chaney?


So what about the millions of people who need the money from these programs just to make ends meet while doing the best they can just to get by?

It was published first in a Philly newspaper, a liberal newspaper, and the information, as cited in the article I provided (which came up first on google,) came from the Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare, the guy in charge of distributing it.

And I think you and I BOTH know there is just as much waste in the welfare as anywhere else in the US government. Ever watched Judge Judy? At least half of her shows have somebody committing welfare fraud, or are recieving student aid, but not attending, or some other such example. Oh, especially the baby factories. They keep having babies, and they keep receiving checks. Living in rural NC, Ive run across many of those people. I've also run across some that actually deserved the help, and werent getting as much as compared to those abusing the aid.

[appbio91]

Why is military spending off the table? Should it be? Our military budget in 2012 was roughly equivalent to the next 15 nations COMBINED spending! Seems there might be some room for cuts.

I totally agree. But I don't think this congress has the political guts to make military cuts that would amount to anything useful.

[Saint3333]

Social security, Medicare, and defense cuts are necessary. Who has the guts to make it happen, no prediction is no one.

[JCline0429]

This is a very interesting thread, but I thought Glenn was discouraging political rhetoric.

[appst89]

This is a very interesting thread, but I thought Glenn was discouraging political rhetoric.

The whole point of this board is to allow people to discuss things of interest to them. It is primarily for ASU discussion, but this is a unique occurrence in most of our lifetimes. As long as it stays civil, there's no reason to remove it.

[CornCobPipes]

Here is my whole lotta perspective. Do not watch unless you have a lot of time. This movie is nearly hour and half long.

[Watauga72]

Obama has already cut $100 Billion from the military over the next 0 years. F-22 was supposed to take over for the F-15, scrapped. Same with the missile defense, where the US pretty much screwed Poland.

BTW The Iraq and Afgan wars, are NOT included in the defense dept budget.[/quote]

To say that the two Bush wars are not included in the defense budget is *******. Huge costs are buried there as well as in International Assistance and State Dept budget. Wherever it's hidden, it IS defense and war related. Wars we never paid for by congress.

Congress has ignored recommendations by DOD on weapons spending and made decisions based on selfish reasons. This cuts across party lines so don't throw just Pres Obama under the bus.