Posted on 02/09/2005 2:16:00 PM PST by CHARLITE
The Washington elite are at it again. The partisan jockeying for political positions has begun and no matter which political party wins the debate on Capital Hill, the American people will lose again!
Where I come from, a budget is a tool of fiscal discipline. If it isnt balanced, somebody is losing something somewhere, or everyone is filing bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is defined as A debtor that is judged legally insolvent. Insolvent is defined as unable to meet debts or discharge liabilities, resources insufficient to meet all debts.
America has qualified under these definitions for many years, except to date no one has stamped the proper legal title on our nations financial statement. The current administration and congress are not responsible for our current condition. But they are responsible for not doing anything about it
In the good old days, we talked about tax and spend budgetary policies, but that was then. Now, and for more than 60 years, Washington has practiced a spend first and tax later fiscal policy and neither side of the aisle is living in reality
Washington is known for its ability to play word games using terms like budget cut to describe a lower than expected increase in the budget. They have the benefit of using base line accounting methods whereby an anticipated 10% budget increase that comes in at only an 8% increase is reported to the public as a decrease in spending (Dont try this at home you will most certainly get hurt )
The President just submitted his $2.57 TRILLION 2006 [annual] budget proposal to congress. In it he prioritizes spending to suit his agenda. Meanwhile, his partisan opponents waste no time taking aim at his priorities with a set of their own priorities.
The President has described his budget proposal as the leanest yet, and that well may be, though it isnt lean enough, it too projects continued deficit spending at record levels. His opponents across the aisle see it as too lean, cutting programs of interest to their constituents and the debate goes on
The debate can be summed up as pro-national security and military, anti-social program republicans verses pro-social program anti-national security and military democrats. They will both find prettier words to make their cases, but at the end of the day, this is what they will have said
When the name calling and finger pointing is over, a budget will be passed, neither will get everything they want, but both will get some of what they want. Meanwhile, the American people can look forward to getting what we always get, deeper in debt.
Neither side of the aisle seems interested in facing the reality that both intend to keep on spending money we simply dont have. Both talk about paying down the debt, as both continue spending us further into bankruptcy
$2.57 TRILLION . Not including supplemental spending for such things as our missions in Iraq or Afghanistan, which will easily add a few hundred billion. $2.57 TRILLION . There are only three countries in the entire world with a GDP that large, the US, Japan and Germany
Heres the kicker it aint enough! Many claim that even though $2.57 TRILLION is more than we can afford to spend already, we need to be spending more According to some, the federal government is not doing everything it should be doing, which means we need more programs, more federal initiatives, and more spending.
This has been going on since the 40s when FDR started long term deficit spending in America.
Democrats claim Bill Clinton balanced the budget in his second term, (a feat not possible since Presidents dont have control of Americas purse strings). Republicans claim they balanced it as a result of the Gingrich contract with America, (closer to true, but still not quite true).
It was balanced alright on paper. Of course if it was balanced at the bank, the national debt would not have continued to grow, and it did So both were mistaken or misleading, you decide (A valiant effort by congress though, one worthy of honorable mention).
Since we keep spending, some believe the solution is to simply keep taxing. However, with a 60 year track record of deficit spending during steadily increasing tax revenue, it would appear that Washington is well capable of outspending any revenue stream.
Remember the term lock box concerning the Social Security Trust Fund? Well, that didnt work out Turns out we should not have had so much trust in that fund even less trust in those who promised to lock it up.
After Democrats spent years warning us about troubled waters ahead for Social Security, now they claim there is no crisis? Again, you have to be able to understand Washington speak. Republicans say the fund will begin running red ink by 2018, running out of funds by 2042 or so, and they are right if you go by cash on hand (like the rest of us do).
Democrats say there is no crisis because on paper the fund will not begin running red ink until 2040 something, forgetting that the paper wont actually buy groceries when that time comes. On paper they are right, just like they are right that on paper, the federal budget was balanced during Clintons second term. Of course the debt grew anyway, despite what it looked like on paper and the Social Security problem is just as real, in terms of real cash that is.
The American people feel concerned about both deficits, but completely out of control. This isnt quite true either however
As long as the American people elect public officials on the basis of what our federal government can do to improve our personal lives, politicians will continue buying votes with expensive promises to improve our lives. For a while, they will be able to deliver, as they have for more than 60 years now, until we are officially bankrupt that is
Remember as you watch the budget debates over Social Security and the national debt, that in the end, we the people get the bill; there is nobody else to hand it to. Remember that Social Security is headed to insolvency, the debate is only over when.
Remember that no matter who wins the turf battle in Washington, the American people will be deeper in debt.
Then, remember that the rich are not going to pick up our tab. They have options, highly paid accountants and tax lawyers who see to it that their money is protected from a greedy federal government with a voracious appetite for private resources. No tax code can get to their money so dont buy into this garbage that only the rich will pay. We will pay, we always do!
When the American people realize that there will be no escaping reality for them, they will stop looking to politicians to solve the problem and begin solving it themselves at the polls by electing people for reasons other than what the federal government can do for them
Until then, watch the problem grow!
About the Writer: J. B. Williams notes that he is a business man, husband, father, and a writer. His website is at
http://www.jb-williams.com. J. B. receives e-mail at
JBW@JB-Williams.com.
I have to admit,,,, I am a bit nervous about this budget- more specifically about the budget cuts. Dows anyone have a link to the actual proposal the Potus sent to Congress? Just curious...
TERMINATED:
Agriculture Department
AMS Biotechnology Program
Forest Service Economic Action Program
High Cost Energy Grants
NRCS Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations
Research and Extension Grant Earmarks and Low Priority Programs
Commerce Department
Advanced Technology Program
Emergency Steel Guarantee Loan Program
Public Telecommunications Facilities, Planning and Construction Program
Education Department
Comprehensive School Reform
Educational Technology State Grants
Even Start
(High School Program Terminations:)
Vocational Education State Grants
Vocational Education National Activities
Tech Prep State Grants
Upward Bound
Talent Search
GEAR UP
Smaller Learning Communities
Perkins Loans: Capital Contributions and Loan Cancellations
Regional Education Laboratories
Safe and Drug Free Schools State Grants
(Small Elementary and Secondary Education Programs:)
Javits Gifted and Talented Education
National Writing Project
School Leadership
Dropout Prevention Program
Close Up Fellowships
Ready to Teach
Parental Information and Resource Centers
Alcohol Abuse Reduction
Foundations for Learning
Mental Health Integration in Schools
Community Technology Centers
Exchanges with Historic Whaling and Trading Partners
Foreign Language Assistance
Excellence in Economic Education
Arts in Education
Women's Educational Equity
Elementary and Secondary School Counseling
Civic Education
Star Schools
(Smaller Higher Education Programs:)
Higher Education Demos for Students w/Disabilities
Underground Railroad Program
Interest Subsidy Grants
(Small Job Training and Adult Education Programs:)
Occupational and Employment Information
Tech-prep Demonstration
Literacy Programs for Prisoners
State Grants for Incarcerated Youth
(Small Postsecondary Student Financial Assistance Programs:)
LEAP
Byrd Scholarships
B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarships
Thurgood Marshall Legal Opportunity
(Small Vocational Rehabilitation Programs:)
Vocational Rehabilitation Recreational Programs
Vocational Rehab (VR) Migrant and Seasonal Workers
Projects with Industry
Supported Employment
Teacher Quality Enhancement Program
Energy Department
Hydropower Program
Nuclear Energy Plant Optimization
Nuclear Energy Research Initiative
Oil and Gas Programs
Health and Human Services Department
ACF Community Service Programs
ACF Early Learning Opportunities Fund
CDC Congressional Earmarks
CDC Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant
CDC Youth Media Campaign
Direct Service Worker Delivery Grants
HRSA Emergency Medical Services for Children
HRSA Health Facilities Construction Congressional Earmarks
HRSA Healthy Community Access Program
HRSA State Planning Grant Program
HRSA Trauma Care
HRSA Traumatic Brain Injury
HRSA Universal Newborn Hearing Screening
Real Choice Systems Change Grants
Housing and Urban Development Department
HOPE VI
Interior Department
BLM Jobs-in-the-Woods Program
LWCF State Recreation Grants (NPS)
National Park Service Statutory Aid
Rural Fire Assistance (BLM, NPS, FWS, BIA)
Justice Department
Byrne Discretionary Grants
Byrne Justice Assistance Grants
COPS Hiring Grants
COPS Interoperable Communications Technology Grants
COPS Law Enforcement Technology Grants
Juvenile Accountability Block Grants
National Drug Intelligence Center
Other State/Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program Terminations
State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP)
Labor Department
Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Training Program
Reintegration of Youthful Offenders
Transportation Department
National Defense Tank Vessel Construction Program
Railroad Rehabilitation Infrastructure Financing Loan Program
Enviromental Protection Agency
Unrequested Projects
Water Quality Cooperative Agreements
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Hubble Space Telescope Robotic Servicing Mission
Other Agencies
National Veterans Business Development Corporation
Postal Service: Revenue Forgone Appropriation
SBA: Microloan Program
SBA: Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Participating Securities Program
MAJOR REDUCTIONS:
Agriculture Department
Federal (In-House) Research
Forest Service Capital Improve and Maintenance
Forest Service Wildland Fire Management (incl. supp. and emergency funding)
Biomass Research and Development
Broadband
CCC Bioenergy
CCC Market Access Program
Farm Bill Programs (EQIP)
Farm Bill Programs (CSP)
Farm Bill Programs (WHIP)
Farm Bill Program (Farm and Ranchland Protection)
Farm Bill Programs (Ag. Management Assistance)
IFAS
Renewable Energy
Rural Firefighter Grants
Rural Strategic Investment Program
Rural Business Investment Program
Value-added Grants
Watershed Rehabilitation
NRCS Conservation Operations
NRCS Resource Conservation and Development Program
Water and Wastewater Grants and Loans
Commerce Department
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Education Department
Adult Education State Grants
State Grants for Innovation
Energy Department
Environmental Management
Health and Human Services Department
HRSA Children's Hospitals GME Payment Program
HRSA Health Professions
HRSA Rural Health
SAMHSA Programs of Regional and National Significance
State, Local & Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Grants
Housing and Urban Development Department
Housing for Persons with Disabilities
Native American Housing Block Grant
Public Housing Capital Fund
-Interior Department
Bureau of Indian Affairs School Construction
National Heritage Area Grants
Payments in Lieu of Taxes
USGS, Mineral Resources Program
Justice Department
Federal Bureau of Prisons Construction Program
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program
Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Assistance Programs
Labor Department
International Labor Affairs Bureau
Office of Disability Employment Policy
Workforce Investment Act Pilots and Demonstrations
State Department
Assistance for the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union
Transportation Department
FAA Facilities and Equipment
FAA Airport Improvement Program (Oblim)
FRA Next Generation High Speed Rail
Treasury Department
Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer Service
Environmental Protection Agency
Alaska Native Villages
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
-National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Aeronautics: Vehicle Systems Program
Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter
Other Agencies
Archives: National Historical Publications & Records Commission
U.S. Institute of Peace, Construction of New Building
MAJOR REFORMS
Agriculture: Rural Telephone Bank
Commerce: Economic and Community Development Programs
Homeland Security: State and Local Homeland Security Grants
Homeland Security: Transportation Security Administration, Recover Aviation Security Screening Costs Through Fees
Labor: Job Training Reform, Consolidate Grants Program
Transportation: Amtrak
Army Corps of Engineers (Civil Works): Performance Guidelines for Funding Construction Projects
U.S. Agency for International Development and Department of Agriculture: International Food Aid
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.