tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post2649754466011584264..comments2024-03-28T03:00:07.229-04:00Comments on Rational Nation USA: The Looming Cliff and What To Do About It... One Individuals OpinionLes Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120280762698472496noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-62180466580173853192012-12-16T00:39:39.817-05:002012-12-16T00:39:39.817-05:00I was trying to be nonconfrontational but, yeah, I...I was trying to be nonconfrontational but, yeah, I would have zero problems doing away with farm welfare altogether (not to mention free healthcare to those who clearly don't need it).Will "take no prisoners" Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315659209094683602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-10582999012438499042012-12-14T13:34:26.807-05:002012-12-14T13:34:26.807-05:00"What we had, at least in part, led to our cu..."What we had, at least in part, led to our current situation."<br /><br />Please add up the debt contributions under Republican presidents and policies, and stop claiming both parties are equally responsible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-20917802711114095452012-12-14T08:12:38.328-05:002012-12-14T08:12:38.328-05:00Will: Also, repeal "Davis Bacon" and pre...Will: Also, repeal "Davis Bacon" and prevailing wage laws, which will result in government paying a fair rate for contracts. Most of what I have seen on savings for this start at $10 billion.dmarkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07269773990064736457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-61543381124378206952012-12-14T08:08:47.839-05:002012-12-14T08:08:47.839-05:00Will: Remind me why we need farm subsidies at all?...Will: Remind me why we need farm subsidies at all?<br /><br />Another change: it would save a few billion to fix back SCHIP, a health care program intended to aid needy children. Now it has been expanded, at the insistence of the Democrats, to cover well off, almost wealthy adults. <br /><br />I don't think it is unreasonable at all to demand that welfare programs only serve the needy, and to judge welfare to the wealthy as scandal/abuse to be eliminated.dmarkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07269773990064736457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549971354391868786.post-22215816658782530722012-12-13T19:48:19.135-05:002012-12-13T19:48:19.135-05:00Here's a few things that I would do, Les; a) C...Here's a few things that I would do, Les; a) Cap the deduction for mortgage interest at $500,000 and do away with it entirely for second homes. That would decrease the deficit by $30 billion. b) Have Medicare negotiate directly with the drug companies over cost. That would also save the treasury $30 billion. c) Close unnecessary foreign military bases. That would cut the deficit by $12 billion (Rumsfeld's numbers). d) Cut farm subsidies (most of which go to rich farmers anyway) by 20%. That would decrease the deficit by $4 billion. e) Reduce foreign aid by 20%. That would cut the deficit by $10 billion. f) Eliminate funding for PBS/NPR. That would decrease the deficit by $.5 billion. g) Keep the payroll tax holiday but pare it in half. That would net the treasury approximately $55 billion.......There, that's a robust $141.5 billion and I haven't even tackled entitlements yet. Will "take no prisoners" Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02315659209094683602noreply@blogger.com