Deep discussion with a wingnut - need program info help please

[Sydnie]

My roomie is having an on going back and forth with a wing nut that started with Katrina and has now spilled over into "program funding cuts" by the blivet** admin. The actual quote from this dude is "Please point to one government program that has been cut since bush came into office. Reduction in the rate of increase does not count".

I am sure the sharp researchers here at DU can point us in the right direction for the proof this moran needs to shut him up once and for all.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[rfranklin]

1. Why bother?

It's not worth he effort. Republicanism is a faith-based cult not a fact-based science.

[Sydnie]

4. Why not? Why should they think they got the last word when we

KNOW they are wrong?

I have never posted a "HELP ME" thread for facts before. I try to do my own research. I just thought someone might have some facts and figures at their finger tips that would help.

I still do.

[Rebellious Republican]

7. Bingo, well stated! N/T

[Mich Otter]

17. Sometimes...

Sometimes, when you are explaining something to a wing nut, other people are listening in and you can educate them. Don't take it for granted that you cannot influence people. It can make a difference to be knowledgeable about the facts whenever you have an opportunity to speak the truth to people who might otherwise not hear much of it.

[maine_raptor]

2. Army Corps of Engineers

Building of New Orleans Levee system to withstand Cat 5 storm CUT

[ret5hd]

3. cut 80%...right?

[maine_raptor]

5. Yea something like that

if you google it I'm sure you can find the actual $ numbers.

[babylonsister]

Here's a thread to help:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2059085

and another:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4660874

[marbuc]

6. Reduction in the rate of increase DOES count

especially of that rate of increase is less than inflation. By the way, if a reduction in rate of increase does not equal a program cut, then repealing tax cuts does not count as a tax increase.

[Dora]

8. SBA: Small Business Administration

I believe the SBA experienced some cuts.

[TomInTib]

9. Better still...make the dude evaluate all of the programs and

departments that are responsible for preventing the disaster and following up before and after the disaster, and then follow the funds alloted and withheld, efforts made and not made...all the while, make sure that he puts his dear grandma right in the path of the storm...he'll educate himself.

[Arkana]

10. All righty then--I do love a good smackdown

There's this blog entry:
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/009607.html

There's this article, detailing his slashing of funds for emergency preparedness, local law enforcement, etc....
http://www.komotv.com/news/story.asp?ID=10240

And there's even one that finds Dubya's cuts hurt blue states most! Surprise surprise!
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/02/12/bush_cuts_hit_democratic_states_analysis_finds/

Hope that helps. If not, I'm currently searching for the FEMA budget cuts.

[mcscajun]

11. Here's a start...

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2004-09-28/cover_story.html

http://www.indyweek.com/durham/2004-09-22/cover.html

[CTD]

12. "Deep discussion with a wingnut"?

Not possible.

To have a deep discussion, both sides need to be intellectually curious. They have to have an interest in facts and be reasonably well informed about the topic being discussed.

But if these criteria were met, they would (by definition) no longer be a wingnut.

Republican viewpoints are, at their core, ignorant.

[Amonester]

13. Tell him his incompetent failure is a "Disaster pResident"

CHRONOLOGY....Here's a timeline that outlines the fate of both FEMA and flood control projects in New Orleans under the Bush administration.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_09/007023.php

[Zen Democrat]

14. It the Right-Wing M.O. that was started under Reagan ...

Argue against everything to do with the "guvment" and then ratchet up the spending for war, while cutting the rich man's taxes. Go right into huge deficit spending with gusto -- go for big new national security state moneypits like "Star Wars" or "Homeland Security".

Eventually the economy with collapse. Everyone except billionaires will be broke. ALL government programs will be cut -- all welfare, social security, pensions, medicare, medicaid, aid to schools, funding for the arts, science, subsidies for farmers ... all of it.

Then the billionaires will go right on without all those nasty encumberances.

That's the plan, man.

[Fleshdancer]

15. A list of cuts

This link contains a ton of info on programs that have been cut or have had severe reductions in funding. I posted some of the education stuff:

http://www.house.gov/budget_democrats/pres_budgets/fy2004/fy04update/harmful_cuts.htm

Cuts Major Education Programs — The budget cuts many programs below the 2003 enacted level and even farther below the amount needed to maintain purchasing power at the 2003 level, including the following:

— 21st Century Community Learning Centers after-school program receives $600 million, a cut of $392 million from the 2003 enacted level and of $411 million (40.7 percent) from the amount needed to maintain purchasing power at the 2003 level. It is $1.2 billion below the level Congress authorized for 2004 in NCLB;

— Teacher Quality Programs receive $3.1 billion, a cut of $268 million (7.9 percent) from the 2003 enacted level;

— Education Technology programs receive $722 million, a cut of $53 million from the 2003 enacted level;

— Impact Aid receives $1.0 billion, a cut of $173 million from the 2003 enacted level and of $192 million (15.9 percent) from the amount needed to maintain purchasing power at the 2003 level;

— Vocational Education receives $1.0 billion for 2004, a cut of $336 million (25.1 percent) from the 2003 enacted level;

— Fund for the Improvement of Education receives $35 million for 2004, a cut of $284 million (89.0 percent) below the 2003 enacted level;

— Safe and Drug-Free Schools receives $694 million, a cut of $22 million (3.0 percent) below the 2003 enacted level and of $28 million below the amount needed to maintain purchasing power at the 2003 level; and

— Perkins Loans receives $68 million, a cut of $99 million below the 2003 enacted level and of $102 million (60.3 percent) from the amount needed to maintain purchasing power at the 2003 level.

Eliminates 46 Education Programs — The President's 2004 budget eliminates 46 programs that receive a total of $1.6 billion for 2003.

[yewberry]

16. Totally defunded the UN population fund

Granted, that's not a domestic program (but that isn't really specified, I guess.)

It's cost thousands of lives and caused hundreds of thousands of abortions. "Culture of life," they say.

http://www.americansforunfpa.org/site/c.enKMIRNpEkG/b.933339/k.627E/US_Defunding_of_UNFPA.htm