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View Poll Results: What Is The Right Size Of The Federal Government
Same size or bigger, we are on the right track and just need the people with money to poney up additional taxes? 19 20.88%
Smaller or much smaller, we've gotten out of control and need to get back to limited government ideas of the constitution and founders? 72 79.12%
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Size Of Government - What Do We Really Want?
Old 07-04-2011, 05:50 AM   #1
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Size Of Government - What Do We Really Want?

Debt ceiling, deficit, health care, foreign wars, regulations, taxes and then all of the politicing and posturing..before we solve the problems; wouldn't it be smart to define what we are really trying to accomplish, which from my perspective has everything with the size and scope of what the federal government should be and do. So if we could cut through all of the rhetoric and it were put simply, which would you choose:
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Old 07-04-2011, 06:49 AM   #2
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I see you went out of your way to not polarize the questions.
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Old 07-04-2011, 07:08 AM   #3
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I see you went out of your way to not polarize the questions.
That's because it was framed in such an objective manner.
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Old 07-04-2011, 07:35 AM   #4
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I wish we would spend equal to revenues plus inflation/GDP growth on average (can't necessarily be done each year, but total debt would give the indicator). We don't have the collective will to do so, and I include the mainstream population with our politicians. People know more about American Idol than our spending, revenues, deficit/debt, just ask around...
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Old 07-04-2011, 07:55 AM   #5
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People know more about American Idol than our spending, revenues, deficit/debt, just ask around...
So true - how sad ...
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Old 07-04-2011, 08:21 AM   #6
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My solution: In order to send troops to fight anywhere in the world should require a majority vote in congress to raise taxes enough to cover the costs. With that requirement, we would only fight in the most urgent of circumstances where our interests are clearly threatened. Without that unfunded drain on the budget, balancing the budget should be a snap.
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Old 07-04-2011, 08:27 AM   #7
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My solution: In order to send troops to fight anywhere in the world should require a majority vote in congress to raise taxes enough to cover the costs. With that requirement, we would only fight in the most urgent of circumstances where our interests are clearly threatened. Without that unfunded drain on the budget, balancing the budget should be a snap.
"A snap?"

Certainly part of the reason for our larger recent deficits. But if we ended all wars (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.) and associated spending, that would have reduced our 2010 deficit by about 1/3rd. Even if we eliminated all defense spending and foreign aid (not even remotely possible IMO), we'd still only reduce the 2010 deficit by 2/3rds.

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Old 07-04-2011, 09:42 AM   #8
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My solution: In order to send troops to fight anywhere in the world should require a majority vote in congress to raise taxes enough to cover the costs. With that requirement, we would only fight in the most urgent of circumstances where our interests are clearly threatened. Without that unfunded drain on the budget, balancing the budget should be a snap.
Not sure it's even 1/3. Defense spending is not the majority of federal spending. That being said, the military is filled with waste and could probably do its job even after getting reduced down to 75% of its size. The place to look for cuts is in the entitlement programs. I personally don't expect to get anything from (dare I say it here) social security. The pyramid scheme is no longer viable. Or unemployment benefits for two years. Or food stamps that are typically bought and sold on the black market. _________________(insert federal entitlement program here).
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Old 07-04-2011, 10:20 AM   #9
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So much smaller. Giving more money and power to incompetent people, or even letting them keep what they have, seems counterproductive.
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Old 07-04-2011, 12:57 PM   #10
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I believe it will have to shrink. Spending a third more than revenues coming in will no doubt force a change. I find it interesting the confusion with the current budget deficit in relation to SS and Medicare. They are currently not contributing to the current deficit problem. Yes long term they are a problem that needs to be addressed, but short term they are not causing this problem. Seems like other programs should be under the knife prior to these 2 unless you are wanting to cover up other spending problems with the revenue coming in from these 2.
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Old 07-04-2011, 01:09 PM   #11
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Where's the choice to merge with Denmark and let their government take charge?

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Old 07-04-2011, 08:44 PM   #12
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Where's the choice to merge with Denmark and let their government take charge?

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We can always take them over.
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Old 07-04-2011, 09:28 PM   #13
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We can always take them over.
+1

I saw the most beautiful girl the other day while volunteering at the beach turns out she was from Denmark. My friend/coworker first wife was from Denmark so he spoke a bit of Danish, I could only listen and drool. No wonder the Danish men are so happy. . If socialism means redistributing all types of wealth, I could be a convert.
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Old 07-04-2011, 11:00 PM   #14
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Where's the choice to merge with Denmark and let their government take charge?

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I'm not trying to be argumentative but relative to their home countries' populations many Scandanavian expats reside in Thailand and one of the reasons is the cheaper cost of living-and tax avoidance.
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Old 07-05-2011, 05:56 AM   #15
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there is to much government intrusion on private lives, too much taxation, too much spending of tax on foreign wars and supporting foreign countries. in addition federal, state, and local government workers are getting wages and benefits way beyond what is available in the private sector that pays for them. government has to be put under control and made smaller, with less regulation if we are to make it through this crisis.
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Old 07-05-2011, 06:42 AM   #16
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I'm not trying to be argumentative but relative to their home countries' populations many Scandanavian expats reside in Thailand and one of the reasons is the cheaper cost of living-and tax avoidance.
OK then. Canada which is #2 on the list.
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Old 07-05-2011, 12:20 PM   #17
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My point was this, I am sick of turning on the tv and seeing arguments over minutia (EX: depreciation schedule of corporate jets..). And, except for the so-called extreme tea partiers, who are pretty much explicit about their desire for smaller government; I am simply not sure what the others guys (both Republicans and Democrates) are arguing toward, and thus, can only guess they are both just in it for power and don't really have an underlying philosophy they believe is best for the country.

So, the premise of my initial question was simply to understand what some other forum participants thought of the overall direction of our government relating to its size and scope. Hey, if we all think the government should be bigger, then we can at least acknowledge that as our underlying goal and start coming up with ideas to support it..
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Old 07-05-2011, 12:31 PM   #18
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Everyone wants smaller government and lower taxes, but no one is willing to give up anything that benefits them. But we're all willing to slash something that benefits someone else.

Can't remember the exact quote, but something like 'we all get on the merry go round, and get dizzy and sick, but no one ever gets off.'
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Old 07-05-2011, 01:40 PM   #19
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Could certainly do with a much smaller defense spend and wind down probably half of the military-industrial complex. Would have to be done over some period of time to deal with the job dislocation.
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Old 07-05-2011, 01:44 PM   #20
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Everyone wants smaller government and lower taxes, but no one is willing to give up anything that benefits them. But we're all willing to slash something that benefits someone else.
Yep -- cut MY taxes, cut THEIR programs.

Frankly I'm neither wedded to "big" government nor "small" government dogmatically. I want a government that works well and provides reasonable services and programs relative to the taxes I pay.
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