Posted on 09/28/2010 6:43:11 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
Republicans show that they're serious about curbing runaway government.
How big has the government grown under the Obama administration? "The average level of U.S. government spending as a percentage of GDP from the end of World War II to the present is 19.6 percent," observes the Heritage Foundation. "In the past two years that level has exploded, reaching 24.7 percent in 2009 and an estimated 25.4 in 2010. . . . Without urgent action the U.S. is on course for national bankruptcy."
So as Heritage says, the first urgent action is to get government spending under control, something that the current administration has almost no interest in.
The next task is to offer concrete plans and proposals to lead our nation to surer economic footing and more job opportunities. As Douglas Schoen and Heather Higgins showed last week in The Wall Street Journal independents want Congress to "decrease the size and scope of government, cut spending and taxes, balance the budget, reduce the federal debt, reduce the power of special interests and unions, repeal and replace the health care legislation, and decrease partisanship." Those are not only good, substantive policies, but come January they will become the challenges for the new Congress, which is very likely to be led by the GOP, since independents in the Schoen-Higgins poll favor Republicans over Democrats by 22 points.
Last week the House Republicans put forward a set of concrete ideas in their "Pledge to America." Among their proposals: rolling back government spending to "pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels," which is projected to save $100 billion in the first year and presumably more in future years is one.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
If they win, that hope better be followed by change.
“Republicans show that they’re serious about curbing runaway government.”
Or just serious about keeping their remaining jobs. Either way works for me.
It needs to be 10%. CUT spending. No more BS. If the Republicans don’t cut spending, they are dead as a party.
Of course measuring spending vs. GDP is only the tip of the icebreg regarding how big government really is because that figure doesn’t include all the regulations and unfunded mandates D.C. likes to throw around. The cost to the economy of the drilling moratorium is a great example of things it does that doesn’t require a government expenditure... and that’s only one tiny drop in a vast ocean of tyranny.
As far as I’m concerned, there will be NO honeymoon period after Nov. 2. Whatever gains they make better be followed quickly by real action.
I had better see some serious obstructionism, and a lot less fear of the press.
It’s put up, or shut up and get the hell out of town.
I see no reason with limiting it to a 10% cut... After all Obama and the Congress increased discretionary spending by about 80%. How about a budget back to the 2006 time frame?
Not interested on a feel good decrease, cut it to the bone and then remove all of the bureaucracies (Education, Energy, Arts, Farm Subsidies, etc.). Now THAT would get the public behind you. It’s high time that the Federal Government felt the same depression as the rest of us. After all, they only survive with our taxes or China’s funds.
Dump the RINOs and I might believe you.
America -- a great idea, didn't last.
You are quoting what I was quoting.
“Republicans show that they’re serious about curbing runaway government” was NOT my statement.
Time to resurrect one of the old taglines.
BUMP!
I’m no expert, but I wonder if this suggestion would be easier to gain political support and confidence from the investment/business community:
Freeze aggregate spending at current levels for 10 yrs (2 yrs obama and the next 8 a non-Dem admin), cut taxes substantially on all producers in the economy, along with ridiculous regulations. The increased revenue from the soaring economy will balance the budget and turn it to a surplus (earmarked to pay down the debt)
If only.
Forgive me for wanting to take things slowly, but.. I've been hurt before...
Don’t know who Pete Dupont is at WSJ but this has to be one of the lamest pieces on current events coming from that source.
Voices from the TP have already weighed in about the GOP “Pledge” as falling way short of what is necessary, and I agree.
We are supposed to be fiscally conservative. We spent over 750 billion dollars on DOD and intelligence last year. There were 6.9 billion people on Earth. That means we spent over $100 for every human that is alive in 2009. Or, assuming 2 parents and 3 kids, $500 for every family on this planet.
This is WAY over the top. There is no arguing the numbers as it is simple math.
-Mental5
Yes I saw from his writing that he thinks himself as ruling class.
His approach is a rehash of bad worn out ideas and I expect his political positions are based on pure RINO philosophy.
Like I said before, until this is enacted:
all else is banal chattering and blowing smoke.
Pete DuPont is highly regarded by conservatives.
BTW, I’m for a flat tax.
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