Run Government like our households? Really?

[flamin lib]

I keep hearing Republicans say that government should do what us citizens do and spend only what we take in and that we must have a Constitutional Amendment to enforce a balanced budget. I call bullshit on that.

First, when things get tight in the American home we not only reduce spending we find more income. Anybody reading this ever held more than one job? Yet Republicans absolutely refuse to increase revenue; not just tax increases but closing loop holes that give away tax income. Our government should look very seriously at increasing taxes and other revenues.

Second, we Americans do not operate on a balanced budget; we use deficit spending all the time. When we buy homes, cars or get an education we borrow money to do so. If there is an emergency we borrow to cover it. We do what we have to do and figure out how to pay for it later. Our government must be able to do the same. If government is restricted by law to spending only what it takes in how will it respond to another Katrina, wildfires in Texas or a drought that has every county in Texas declared a Federal disaster area? How will it respond to foreign attacks on our soil like 9/11? There are very good reasons that a Balanced budget amendment has not been enacted in the 233 years our country has existed.

A few facts for you to consider as Congress debates cuts and revenues:

Since 1980 taxes from businesses have fallen from 2.5% of GDP to 1.4%. That’s roughly a $400 B a year loss even as profits and bonuses have soared to record highs.

Overall revenues have fallen from 18% of GDP to 14%, a 27% decrease and the lowest % GDP since 1950. Four % of GDP is $750 B a year.

$400 B in the form of plastic wrapped pallets of one hundred dollar bills has disappeared in Iraq.

The Defense department spends more on air conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan than the entire 2010 NASA budget.

Pentagon spending has risen to $680 B a year, more than the total of all other military spending in the world, yet we can’t win a war in a country that has no army.

Social Security has a $2.7 T surplus. It has not added and, by law, cannot add to the deficit. By law the revenues supporting it must increase or payments from the fund decrease when the surplus is depleted.

Medicare taxes have not increased from the 1.5% of wages set in 1965. Health insurance costs have increased by 10-30% annually.

*Sources: CBO, GAO and SSA.gov reports.

[elocs]

1. How much of the average household's budget goes for defense?

None of mine does other than the locks on the door that have been here for all of the 20 years I have lived here. Somehow I managed to live over 50 years in my city without ever having to spend a cent for any weapons or systems for defense.

[Lifelong Protester]

exactly.

why are so many Americans not getting this? I find THAT more scary than anything.

[Lifelong Protester]

exactly.

why are so many Americans not getting this? I find THAT more scary than anything.

[Lifelong Protester]

2. exactly.

why are so many Americans not getting this? I find THAT more scary than anything.

[Supersedeas]

3. Dogs, Fences, Security Systems, Body Guards, Neighborhood spies, Diplomats to monitor

legislation that might impact neighborhood zoning, Agricultural subsidies for garders and the driveway construction, maintenance, and safety fund....not to mention research and technology.

But shouldn't the government be run like a BUSINESS, not a household--where employees and customers matter just as much as mere stockholders, where research and development really does matter, and infrastructure is always a concern.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. If we ran our households like the politicians run government we'd all be in prison.

"Right here in this heart and home and fountain-head of law, this great factory where are forged those rules that create good order and compel virtue and honesty in the other communities of the land, rascality achieves its highest perfection."

"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."

Mark Twain

[Bozita]

5. My neighbor's dog is planning to shit on my lawn.

I can see it in that dog's eyes when he's being walked.

So I'm gonna blow up his garden shed and take his crop of ripening tomatoes.