So it seems we are approaching the fiscal cliff. I hear all the time about raising the taxes on the wealthy. Okay, but that isn't going to generate enough revenue to help pay down the deficit. We could tax the rich at 100% and still it won't be enough. So we need to make cuts in the budget. We are going to have to make deep cuts. So where do we make the cuts? What I am hearing is raise taxes on the rich, promise to make unknown cuts in the future and ignore the deficit. To me, that is NOT a plan. Cuts are going to hit everyone but it needs to be done. Where would you start?
Christmas shopping will change the view of the fiscal cliff.
Just hold on and wait. It's a term being used to freak out society as a whole and to manipulate the stock market.
These types of things happen every year.
1. Stop paying "public servants" - those in Congress, etc. and stop paying their "retirement". They don't contribute to SS and they get full pay after "serving" for only 1 term. Sorry, they can make what our military privates make - THEN they'll be public servants.
2. Stop all foreign aid - ESPECIALLY to the countries who HATE US!!
3. Cut any duplicate service. At last count there were over 500 duplicate Federal Government "offices". If they're doing something even remotely like another office - shut 'er down!!!!
4. NO federal employee should be allowed to be part of a union - they work for the PEOPLE - WE pay their salaries. We shouldn't be bullied. Reagan had the right idea when he fired all the air traffic controllers when they went out on strike.
5. STOP entitlements - welfare, food stamps, disability. Before the government started handing out our tax dollars for this, the community and families took care of the downtrodden. They knew who actually needed it and who was just being lazy. Allot more people would get off their duffs if we didn't hand them a check every month.
6. Social Security should ONLY be paid out to those who paid in. Illegial Aliens should NEVER recieve these benefits. They ARE benefits - people who work have paid into them all their lives. Same with Medicare - we've been paying for it since our very first pay check. But if you didn't pay in - you shouldn't get to take out.
That's just where I'd start.......
If you took all the taxes we have paid since the 60s it still would not pay the debt. Stop Obama care would be a start. Entitlement reform will have to take place. Take the EPA down several notches. Worried about our enviroment? Worried about the entitlements?
Deep cuts in spending or the Chinese will own us. They don't care about human rights or the environment.
Balance the budget, get rid of the massive red tape for businesses, flat/fair tax.
1. Balance the budget. As Margaret Thatcher once said, "Look, I think you're tackling public expenditure from the wrong end, if I might say so. Why don't you look at it as any housewife has to look at it? She has to look at her expenditure every week or every month, according to what she can afford to spend, and if she overspends one week or month, she's got to economise the next. Now governments really ought to look at it from the viewpoint of "What can we afford to spend?" They've already put up taxes, and yet the taxes they collect are not enough for the tremendous amount they're spending. They're having to borrow to a greater extent than ever before, and future generations will have to repay. " When we have a balanced budget, we spend wisely. It shouldn't be spend, then tax to pay off our debtors (which costs us all more), it should be tax and then budget the money we get in taxes.
2. Massive red tape. How do we keep businesses here in the USA when it's so much easier and cheaper to run them elsewhere?
3. Flat/fair tax: When EVERYONE pays taxes on what they buy, we generate more tax revenue. And the whole "it's no fair that illegal immigrants are using our schools and roads and hospitals because they don't contribute!" argument goes right out the window. Because they're paying taxes too.
That's where I'd start.
Hmmm ... that's not what I'm hearing at all. I'm hearing that the end deal will involve entitlement reform and increased tax rates for high-income earners. I expect that will be the final outcome.
Hmmm? My personal opinion is Tax the wealthier individuals the forbes 400. To the max. Stop giving tax breaks to companies that do not need it businesses that ship jobs overseas. It would be a start.. If you do not agree that is ok. I probably do not agree with you ether. . .. ..
(My mind set) for the people that judge others. We own a small bushiness that is profitable. Have no house payment car payment extra, We own our houses and cars.. And do not buy stuff we can not afford to pay for. . . I have to say that so the judgmental people will not have a false impression of me based on my statement... (Good question).. But if the government can not balance the budget do you really expect this group of people will...?
I would cut entitlements of all kinds. I would begin with government retirements (yes, they are entitlements too) at all levels, federal state and local government. The government retirements started high because government workers were paid so much less than non-governmental worker. Now their retirements are higher than most non-governmental wages before retirement. Most civilian retirements are 25% of their pre-retirement wages, but governmental retirements are 65%-75% of pre-retirement wages. Some governmental retirements accrue at 3% per year worked up to 90% of their pre-retirement wages. And some are even more generous. I had two friends just retire earlier this year from the county. Their retirement will be 115% and 118% of their preretirement wages. What that means is one will get a 15 % raise and the other an 18% raise for retireing. No wonder our tax bills are so high and we seem to get nothing for the money we spend. A town in southern California spends about 75% of its taxed revenue on governmental employees retirements.
Retirements should be capped at 30% and accrue at no more than 1% per year worked. Cost of living raises for retirees should be stopped or limited to 1%. Social security disability entitlements should be only given to those that are truley disabled, not those that are inconvienced. I knew a woman that had her leg severed below the knee during an ATV accident. She was only "disabled" when she wanted to be. When she didn't want to be "disabled" she wore an artifical leg and had no normal "mobility problems". But her first trip was to the Social Security office to apply for disability. She was granted full disability and will draw about $1000 per month (Tax-Free) for the rest of her life (plus cost of living adjustments). AND honest taxpayers foot the bill. Then there are the illegal aliens that now draw social security (Thank you Obama and the democratic house and senate.)
I could go on, but Mamapedia hasn't that much memory to spare.
Good luck to you and yours.
The govenrment needs to hire Dave Ramsey. Also taxing everyone the same % would be nice. Its hard to get ahead when 20% goes to the govenrment 10% to the church and the rest is basically groceries and a few bills.
I would say that if the budget did not balance then no politicians could be re-elected and it would become balanced immediately.
They keep spending money that they don't have because there is no consequences.
The only reason you feel like you hear only about taxing the wealthy, is because that is where the Repubs have drawn a line in the sand with their Norquist pledge and refuse to compromise, so people have to keep begging and begging-so far to no avail (unless something has happened in last few weeks-I haven't been paying attention). Do your research, lots and lots of cuts are being made and many more will be made as well. But BOTH sides need to give on this.
