A 12% cut is “gutting” the Coast Guard. The private sector companies “gutted” themselves again and again.
If those are the folks against it, it sounds like it must be a pretty good idea.
We need term limits
There. Fixed it.
The CG is part of “the wall” and needs to be beefed up too.
I find the Pavlovian responses from Potomac swamp creatures to be so predictable.
Don’t we need the Coast Guard?
I have no knowledge of the Coast Guard.
But I have seen DoD waste staggering amounts of money. Certainly, if a budget cuts comes through, the idiots who allocate funds might decide to cut all of the important stuff and really cripple all the missions. That seems like the thing they might do.
But, on the other hand, it may be the case that 12% of their budget is currently spent on excessive amounts of parsley in the officers’ mess. They COULD cut that sort of thing and really not feel any pain.
The question is: will they be smart?
Private industry has to be smart. We need to teach the government to be smart like industry.
When the border wall finally goes up, illegal alien smugglers will take to the shores to bring in illegal aliens. We need a strong Coast Guard (as well as a sentry presence on the border wall) to secure our borders.
Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter calls Trump’s proposed cuts to Coast Guard budget ‘nonsensical’
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Ok Patty, offer President Trump something in return.
I spent most of my life, cruising around in sailboats and powerboats, up in Maine. I seldom or never had a good experience with the Coast Guard. If you saw one nearby, you had to be very careful, or they’d come over and fine you for not having the right kind of life preservers (although I always had more of them than people on board). Or they’d fine you for trailing tiny amounts of oil in the water. Or for “speeding” in the wrong place. Or they’d search your boat for drug smuggling, while the obvious smugglers chugged by untouched.
And if your boat broke down and you needed a tow or other help, you’d be crazy to call the Coast Guard. Better any day to get help from a lobsterman.
Sorry, we certainly need the Coast Guard, but frankly they seem more interested in drawing their generous taxpayer salaries and annoying as many people as possible to do anything very useful. No doubt there are exceptions.
I know that at one point the United States had only one working icebreaker. I believe protecting our northern border is important too.
I see none of them have read his book.
I like the coast guard and think it is a wonderful opportunity for young people.
Let’s see what the USCG can do with 12% less money. Cutting that amount has been routine for businesses under Obama.
It’s called “tightening the belt”, government ought to try it sometime.
Does the Coast Guard still fly border patrol? My moms uncle was stationed in El Paso Texas in the thirties. I’m sure things have changed since though.
Why doesn’t the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, and U.S. Customs merge into a United States Guard? Ditto for the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S Marshals, which should become the Federal Law Enforcement Agency (FLEA).
USCG is a vital element in the US National Defense posture, and should be considered for budget increases vice cuts.
USCG is kinda like the USMC in that they get a lot done with minimal assets. President Trump would be well advised to tread carefully and ensure that his administration does not reduce USCG funding without some VERY careful consideration.