I get frustrated as so many people on this board and in general seem to not understand the situation. I will attempt to explain it in away that everyone understands....
82% of federal spending is related to:
1) Defense (24%)
2) Medicare/Medicaid(22%)
3) Social Security/Fed Government retirement (21%)
4) Welfare (15%)
These four programs account for 82% of Federal spending. Items 2 and 3 are especially troubling as the commitments to these programs go through the roof over the next few years as the boomers start retiring.
I think most people understand that we need to get to a balanced budget quickly or the US will quickly deteriorate (if you disagree, save the argument for another time and ignore the rest).
With this set of facts, where do people think we should be focusing in order to reduce government spending???
The problem, that does not have a good solution, is that this problem was not addressed 10 years ago where reasonable measures could have been implemented in order to protect those currently qualified for these programs. Therefore, to get to a balanced budget, significant cuts need to be made to the programs which will impact people in these programs now.
This means:
1) Military spending needs to be significantly reduced.
2) Raise the retirement age now.
3) Cut current social security payments
-Means test is a reasonable place to start, but does not come close to getting the job done.
4) Reduce Medicare and Medicaid benefits
-As painful as it is, the spending to prolong and improve the quality life of the elderly needs to be reduced.
5) Welfare benefits need to be reduced.
There are certainly places for cuts in the ‘other’ 18% (this includes interest payments on debt) but it will not come close to balancing the budget. And for those who want to complain that this is too painful and we can’t do it, go ahead and wait another 5-10 years. Then you will know real pain!
Simply put, the longer we wait the more drastic the cuts need to be.
Lindsey is right, but he does not take it far enough. Painful choices need to be made and they need to be made now!
I concur completely. Unfortunately, ALL Americans have a vested interest in some Government goody and will scream if their "ox is gored." IMHO, there are an insufficient number of elected officials who have the intestinal fortitude to withstand the screams.
I was going to say the exact same thing. Compare traditional Army boot camp training to Navy SEALs "Hell Week" training. That is the difference of pain we're talking, yet you know how politicians love to kick the can down the road!
Look Mr. al-again2010,
Advocating any kind of “Means Testing” for Social Security Payments, is just flat out “Communism”
Any conservative on this board, is against any kind of Socialism/Cummunism and redistribution of wealth, which is what “Means Testing” is, for any program.
You say “As painful as it is, the spending to prolong and improve the quality life of the elderly needs to be reduced.”
So, you are for “Death Panels” You really don’t know anything about how to reduce healthcare costs. All that has to happen is for a system where people pay their own way for healcare treatments. They carry a cadastrophic insurance policy for large amounts. It needs to be run, just like your home insurance or car insurance. You only get coverage for emergencies and large $$ amounts.
That will bring down healthcare costs.
“Death Panels”, is exaclty what the liberals and socialists want, and you cannot see that.
Drop the means testing and I might agree; otherwise, everyone feels the pain, or noone.