I'm not quite sure that is the intent.

Educational benefits as well as retirement benefits are, in the strictest sense, recruitment incentives. If you need to reduce the number of warm bodies in an organization, you limit or remove incentives to join.

If the pool of monies for benefits shrinks, one must strategically cut those things which are not mission essential.

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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium (Sparky)
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It's a car not a science experiment! Open the throttle!

You're far less cynical than I. I don't think there's a single word uttered out of a politician's mouth or action by their hand that isn't calculated to maximize their re-election efforts.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Mission-essential for the federal government means border protection, public safety, and law enforcement. Everything else is just gravy train spending that's gone out of control. And the only ones who care enough to stop it are you and me, the tax payers. I say put the beast on a crash diet!

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

The real issue with a "crash diet" approach, is that many of the required functions of a federated national government will not be done. System collapse ensues and a rebuild/repair of the system becomes untenable simply due to the collapse.

The situation becomes very much like heart surgery. You might need to replace a valve or major artery, but in order to accomplish this you need a provisional bypass. Something that can actually function, (though not efficiently or comfortably) in the interim, while repairs and redesign of the optimal solution are planned and executed.

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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium (Sparky)
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It's a car not a science experiment! Open the throttle!

I am finding that I get more done and get better results after the surgery I had to remove the 'chip' that I kept carrying on my shoulder.

You are justified in your cynicism though. Partisan interests, and unseasoned exuberance are making a mess of this process. When a governing body ceases to function due to differing political viewpoints, it's time to re-examine the players, their motives, and adjust accordingly.

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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium (Sparky)
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It's a car not a science experiment! Open the throttle!

Back in the mid-80's there were a lot of people that declared that God hated homosexuals since they had the highest rate of AIDS.

But the lowest rate of AIDS was among Lesbians, so the question was raised of did God like Lesbians best?

I don't know if anyone was able to turn that into a Federal Grant, so, to this day, the question remains unanswered.

I would take a crack at it myself, but I have been retired for some time now and have not lifted a finger to do any work.

I would hate to break my perfect record.

I'm finding that I'm much happier and more productive after choosing to become less politically active and interested. Both parties are responsible for this mess we're in and are both unwilling to concede an inch in the interest of getting anything done as that concession is construed as a sign of weakness that will displease their respective parties' faithful. And that is not good for their job security which is priority number one, if not for the individual then for the party to maintain control.

I used to be an active non-religious conservative through high school and college, which made me a Republican by default (my way of rebelling here). In the 20 years since, I've become much more libertarian (changed party affiliation to Independent) and now hold both parties, and the politicians, in equally low regard.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

If DC collapses, it would be the BEST thing to happen to rich states like yours and mine. We already pay much more in taxes than we get back from DC -- it will be the parasite states like Mississippi and Texas that get the most f**k'ed and good riddance to bad mouthbreather trash.

Using your surgery analogy, maybe the solution is to give the "patient" an OD of something so they don't wake up.

Perhaps, but I suspect that the ensueing economic disruption, along with a likely collapse in defense posture would mean a rapid end of many of the liberties which we are meant to value as citizens of the Republic of these United States of America.

__________________
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium (Sparky)
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/smallsig-us/193500.png

It's a car not a science experiment! Open the throttle!

I've been around when DC was shut down either due to extended ice storms or budget impasses. The world did not come to a crashing halt. Instead, there was an utterly delightful sense of peace and tranquility.

__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma