Uncontrolled spending spree

Washington Times ^ | 5-2-2004 | Brian Riedl

[Prince Charles]

Does America have a $477 billion budget deficit because Washington spends too much? Or because it taxes us too little?

Before you answer, consider the following two facts: First, federal spending recently topped $20,000 per household for the first time since World War II and will expand another $1,370 this year. Second, the federal government cannot account for $24.5 billion it spent last year.

[Skwidd]

"The problem is not a Congress that won't stop spending or a President who won't cut taxes, but rather an American public with a bottomless sense of entitlement to federal money."--PJ O'Rourke

[Prince Charles]

"There's too many pigs for the teats."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[cyborg]

errrr... not all the time. Congress taxes and taxes and taxes for all their little pet projects.

[leadpenny]

An "entitlement?"

Under the guise of FICA and Medicare the Feds have taken approximately $100,000 from me during my working life.

I'll make a deal with 'em, give it all back in lump sum, without interest, and we'll call it even.

[familyop]

Is there any website that shows how much is being spent on each federal program including all of the social programs designed to entice spouses to divorce and destroy families?

[Prince Charles]

FICA: Federal Income Confiscation Act

[Prince Charles]

Not that I'm aware of, but I'm sure the info is out there somewhere.

[leadpenny]

. . . including all of the social programs designed to entice spouses to divorce and destroy families?

Don't know either, but you might do a search using the name of the former Congresswitch Patricia "Squinty Eyed Hag" Schroeder (D-CO).

One of my wishes is that her husband divorces her and takes half her congressioal pension. Paybacks are tough, b!tch!

[leadpenny]

congressional

[jsraggmann]

Mine is over 150K! Due to underfunding by my employer, my retirement is history. I will certainly need the 1500/mo that I should get from socialist security. I had no choice in the matter, I was required to "contribute" to this federal Ponzi Scheme. The 1.8 TRILLION that the fed govt has stolen from SS would have insured the payment of this "benefit" for all of us. Instead we get to listen to the idiot Greenspan tell us how our "benefit" will have to be reduced or delayed until we get older. Also, families and states can't just print money like the feds can. These defecits will have to be paid back or written off. The republicans that we elected to be fiscally responsible are destroying our kid's and grandkid's future and I'm through with them.

[meenie]

Because the tendency is for the government to spend as much as possible, reduction in government is the solution. In reality, it is very obvious that spending will not be reduced until the economy is totally destroyed. After that, what form of government or the direction it takes is unpredictable.

[Thom Pain]

"...spending ... should be reined in before we talk about raising taxes."

May I point out that raising taxes (raising the tax rate) decreases the amount of revenue collected (confiscated) by the Gov't. Decreasing the tax rate increases the revenue (by stimulating the economy). Too much confusion on this topic.

[FITZ]

Or to never marry in the first place. In this part of the country, mothers actually don't want the father of their unwed pregnant daughter to marry her because it would get in the way of some of her government benefits. Mothers will actually advise their kids to just live together instead --- welfare money tops all else.

[Prince Charles]

Bump...

[Cobra64]

Under the guise of FICA and Medicare the Feds have taken approximately $100,000 from me during my working life.

I'll make a deal with 'em, give it all back in lump sum, without interest, and we'll call it even.

I'm with you brother.

[Mackey]

...it is very obvious that spending will not be reduced until the economy is totally destroyed.

This is also my opinion, and I'm afraid that the aftermath of the crash will make the Great Depression seem like a minor downturn.

[JimRed]

Second, the federal government cannot account for $24.5 billion it spent last year.

Each department head has to be give 90 days to explain all funds unnacounted for. Anything not sufficiently documented should bear the same penalty as personal embezzlement, from the bottom to the top.

Turn over the rocks and see what crawls out.

[Wolfie]

Congress taxes and taxes and taxes for all their little pet projects.

Yep. And the constituents who benefit from these little pet projects are sure to send their pork-hauling Congressman back into office time and time again.

[cyborg]

true