The budget compromise thread - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #31 02-16-2011, 10:01 AM

40 billion isn't enough to really make a difference.

Inheritance tax is easy to avoid with trusts. It really does punish small business's and farmers whose land is all of a sudden valuable, but lack the sophistication to plan for the inheritance of their assets after death. Those who know how to plan never pay it.

As a result it should probably be reformed.

Txjake · #32 02-16-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

"Foreign Aid" has been a demogogue target since I was a kid. IIRC, it is currently around 40 billion, chump change.

nice to know 40 billion is chump change...think what sort of social programs or infrastructure repair could be done with that "chump change"

Reform has to look at all aspects of cost cutting.

Hatterasguy · #33 02-16-2011, 10:08 AM

True but for relatively little money we gain a lot in return, foreign aid is a bribe, and we wouldn't bribe if it wasn't beneficial $$$$.

JollyRoger · #34 02-16-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

nice to know 40 billion is chump change...think what sort of social programs or infrastructure repair could be done with that "chump change"

Reform has to look at all aspects of cost cutting.

Most of that foreign aid goes to Israel. So you want to cut them off? Unlike the constant "foreign aid is bad" mantra that has been coming from the right since I was a child, much of this money serves a strategic purpose. Israel is essentially a giant air craft carrier right next to the Suez Canal and the Saudi oil fields. South Korea provides a buffer between Japan and China, and is essentially a giant aircraft carrier in the heart of Asia. Aid to South America and Africa is for the most part returned to the US in the form of food purchases, propping up US commodity prices on the one sector where we hold a balance of trade surplus. It's not going to be "40 billion", it will be the usual symbolic pittance it usually is so that hot air windbags can take a load of crap home to their constituents, because a lot of that money really needs to be spent.

JollyRoger · #35 02-16-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

True but for relatively little money we gain a lot in return, foreign aid is a bribe, and we wouldn't bribe if it wasn't beneficial $$$$.

Correct, IMO. The real meat is in three areas: SSI, Medicare, and Defense. Isn't all the money we spend in Europe to fight an imaginery Communist enemy really the "foreign aid" we need to cut?

Txjake · #36 02-16-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

Correct, IMO. The real meat is in three areas: SSI, Medicare, and Defense. Isn't all the money we spend in Europe to fight an imaginery Communist enemy really the "foreign aid" we need to cut?

I'd have no problem with removing most of the US military from Europe. The mission there is virtually finished. Actually, the force in Germany has been greatly reduced in the last 20 years, but it could come down some more.

The airborne BCT in Vinchenza Italy could stay, as it is basically a fast reaction force to the ME. Keep that, Ramstein AFB and the Landsthul Hospital there and send everybody else home.

Hatterasguy · #37 02-16-2011, 10:26 AM

I agree those three areas are where you are going to get the real savings.

Yeah that would actually be a really good cut, I may be off but I think we still have over a hundred thousand troops in Europe.

SSI just needs the age raised, defense spending with carefully study can probably be cut 25%-30% with no real lose in ability.

Medicare is the hard one.

Hatterasguy · #38 02-16-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

I'd have no problem with removing most of the US military from Europe. The mission there is virtually finished. Actually, the force in Germany has been greatly reduced in the last 20 years, but it could come down some more.

The airborne BCT in Vinchenza Italy could stay, as it is basically a fast reaction force to the ME. Keep that, Ramstein AFB and the Landsthul Hospital there and send everybody else home.

Consider that we are on friendly terms with most of Europe the bases could be quickly reestablished should a need ever arise.

JollyRoger · #39 02-16-2011, 10:28 AM

But why do we need those when we have the same resources in Iraq and Qatar? I say kill the Italian vacations for the service guys, because that is all that thing is all about, and move everything out of Germany, England and Holland. We just have too many alternate resources available.

JollyRoger · #40 02-16-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I agree those three areas are where you are going to get the real savings.

Yeah that would actually be a really good cut, I may be off but I think we still have over a hundred thousand troops in Europe.

SSI just needs the age raised, defense spending with carefully study can probably be cut 25%-30% with no real lose in ability.

Medicare is the hard one.

I agree. The solution to Medicare is two choices: expand it to everyone, or restrict to only those who need it. Neither choice has been politically possible in this country.

Hatterasguy · #41 02-16-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

But why do we need those when we have the same resources in Iraq and Qatar? I say kill the Italian vacations for the service guys, because that is all that thing is all about, and move everything out of Germany, England and Holland. We just have too many alternate resources available.

Good point, for quick reactions our bases in the Middle East are far closer. The hospital in Germany we should probably keep though.

Hatterasguy · #42 02-16-2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

I agree. The solution to Medicare is two choices: expand it to everyone, or restrict to only those who need it. Neither choice has been politically possible in this country.

I'd be in favor of expanding it to everyone, with a provision to have a private option.

People should have a choice, if they feel government health care is not sufficient they should be able to keep their private plans.

IMHO this is Obama's biggest failing, he probably had the political clout when he was first elected to push this through.

Honus · #43 02-16-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

Correct, IMO. The real meat is in three areas: SSI, Medicare, and Defense. Isn't all the money we spend in Europe to fight an imaginery Communist enemy really the "foreign aid" we need to cut?

Does SSI belong on the same list as Medicare? AFAIK, Medicare dwarfs SSI on the list of contributors to the deficit. SSI is also not expected to skyrocket in the way Medicare is expected to do. SSI and its cousin, Social Security, seem to work quite well. They are two things that the government does better and more efficiently than the free market could do.

Honus · #44 02-16-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

...SSI just needs the age raised...

I used to be in favor of raising the retirement age for Social Security and the eligibility age for SSI (which is a separate program), but have changed my mind. Raising the retirement and eligibility ages favors people with desk jobs and good health care. I think we should make adjustments in other areas.

Quote:

Medicare is the hard one.

Definitely.

Txjake · #45 02-16-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

But why do we need those when we have the same resources in Iraq and Qatar? I say kill the Italian vacations for the service guys, because that is all that thing is all about, and move everything out of Germany, England and Holland. We just have too many alternate resources available.

OK, lets do that. The Iraq invasion and deposement did have a strategic mission and that was to have a ME country where we could establish bases.