What should the gov spend?

[BendOverDemocrats]

Simple question, what should the government provide us with? Should any revenue be spent on things like healthcare, welfare, etc?

I am a strict constitutianalist. Government should do for "us" what "we" can't do for ourselves. This includes, national defense, a court system, a highway system, and very little else. There is very little else that can't be handled on a State level, or a local level. Anything else should not be handled by federal government, PERIOD. The constitution clearly deliniates what the federal government can, and can't do. What's the problem?

I don't think there should be a "war on drugs." I would cut any social welfare program. Actually, I would cut any program that does not fit within a strictly contitutional guidline. I would not cut these programs outright, but intigrate whatever they're doing into their private sector counterparts. It would be a simple matter of finding out which private sector counterpart could better serve which social welfare program exists and merge, cut out, the entire program. I could go on adinfenitem (sp), but the bottom line is that government should only do for us what we can't do for ourselves.

[Suburbanite]

I think two things should happen. One would be clearing out all those really stupid little amounts of money that have no business being payed. Like the Deaf German's Art Society. (That is just a made-up example). That would free up a lot of cash. Then I'd clean out the systems we have now, like the Military, that over spend on everything, cut down costs, etc. There is a book I read called Burning Money about how much extra the military pays for everything. It would really be smart to clean that up. Then invest it in all forms of education.

[Suburbanite]

We subsidise them to control the market, otherwise food would be too cheap.

[Suburbanite]

Which won't happen because we have tariffs. You're wrong though. With that rational we would subsidize everything, because all markets are threatened by the world economy.

[mouser2112]

There are so many areas that need to be cut but I think I would look to the Postal Service and the National Weather Service. Both of these areas pretty much have private sector counterparts in place. Postal - UPS and FedX, National Weather Service has the Weather Channel and numerous other start up groups. I don't think you could cut it all immediately but it would be a good start.

[ConservativeX]

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (AlecBaldwin666,)
What programs would you cut first Dave? Please don't say all of them and for heavens sake don't go Libertarian on me and say first funding of the war on drugs...which pays for itself.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

I wouldn't mention it first, but the war on drugs is not a Federal matter. The Tenth Amendment clearly states that all powers not delegated to the Federal Government BY THE CONSTITUTION are RESERVED to the states and to the people.

No, I don't want to see drugs legalized. At all. That's not my point.

My point is that at one time, the Federal Government had to come to "We, the People" to ask if something were Federally outlawed (remember the 18th Amendment? Alcohol?) Not only that, but it took another amendment (from the states and the people) to revoke it.

Now, the Federal Government doesn't have to even remotely ASK us if they can outlaw a substance federally...

What happened between then and now? What amendment was passed to give the Federal Government the power to outlaw drugs?

Doesn't that scare you?

[Suburbanite]

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (mouser2112,)
There are so many areas that need to be cut but I think I would look to the Postal Service and the National Weather Service. Both of these areas pretty much have private sector counterparts in place. Postal - UPS and FedX, National Weather Service has the Weather Channel and numerous other start up groups. I don't think you could cut it all immediately but it would be a good start.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

You need government mail. FedEx, good for sending a package or a over seas message sure, but the Mail system we have right now works amazingly and generates revenue while doing it.

Oh yea, and the War on Drugs would be a good money saver to cut out, if that money just went to tightening up the boarders a bit more, and the rest to education, problem solved.

[ConservativeX]

It's not that simple; first, the Federal Government has no business in Education (re: Tenth Amendment). Secondly, we have so much pork spending that if we just went back to Constitutional limitations, it would be "problem solved".

But that isn't easy, either, as everyone has their own favorite piece of the pig.

[Suburbanite]

The Federal Government should have no control, but should finance it.

[Freetrader]

End all the parasite programs.

This means all programs which give anything to individuals (because they are "needy") and which the rest of us must pay for.

This includes any aid to farmers, or price supports. Virtually the entire farm program. Let them compete or go under!

This includes any health programs which pay people's personal medical bills. Make the tough cuts -- e.g., eliminate subsidies to kidney dialysis patients. IT'S TOO COSTLY! Let people practice preventive medicine in order to stay healthy. Medical costs are TOO HIGH -- it is time to "just say no!"

And of course all "welfare" programs, including any form of corporate welfare.

And get the state out of workers' comp altogether and also out of any role in private pension plans, especially any bailouts of pension plans. Let workers take full responsibility for their own health and safety and retirement.

No one should have to pay for someone else's personal "need".

Education is a legitimate social (nonpersonal) need for government to invest in. However, we already spend more per capita on education than any other country in the world. What is needed now is to improve the way the money is spent.

Also Social Security should be abolished (fat chance of that!) because it too is a parasite program. The elderly should have to pay their own way. If they didn't save during their working years, then that is their fault. Let them continue working and cut out the whining. Most of them can work and earn their own way.

Let all government grants be made subject to grand jury review before they can be approved. Federal grants for scientific research are legitimate (provided there is proper review of each grant) because private business does not have enough incentive to do this research, and the benefit is to all of us, not to any one company or individual.

[Suburbanite]

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (Freetrader,)
End all the parasite programs.

This means all programs which give anything to individuals (because they are "needy") and which the rest of us must pay for.

This includes any aid to farmers, or price supports. Virtually the entire farm program. Let them compete or go under!
<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

You can't do that unless you heavily heavily watch over major farming companies.

[ConservativeX]

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (Suburbanite,)
The Federal Government should have no control, but should finance it.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

Where in the Constitution are they delegated to finance education (if that is what you're referring to)?

If you really think that the Federal Government is going to give money without strings attached (control) then we're not looking at the same government.

[ConservativeX]

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (Freetrader,)

Education is a legitimate social (nonpersonal) need for government to invest in. However, we already spend more per capita on education than any other country in the world. What is needed now is to improve the way the money is spent.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

Perhaps at the local and state level, but the Federal Government has no Constitutional authority to get involved with education.

[Suburbanite]

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (ConservativeX,)
</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (Suburbanite,)
The Federal Government should have no control, but should finance it.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

Where in the Constitution are they delegated to finance education (if that is what you're referring to)?

If you really think that the Federal Government is going to give money without strings attached (control) then we're not looking at the same government.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

I thought this was a hypothetical not a reality?

[Write Winger]

I would reduce the Federal Government 15% across the board as a start...then I would get rid of the Department of Commerce, the Department of Education and the Energy Department. I would then restrict all social security payments to retirees...that is what it was designed for. I would then remove all subsidies for any product, manufactued or grown.

Since none of that is ever going to happen...due to the fact that half the country is composed of parasites...I would divide the country into two nations...one free...and one like we have now.

[Suburbanite]

I'd get rid of our Military before I'd get rid of our Education

[Write Winger]

Too late...education disappeared long ago...these forums are proof. The Federal Department of Education is just a payoff to the NEA by the Democratic Party...it contributes nothing except incompetent teachers and empty headed textbooks and course content to the public *pathetic" schools.

We are a nation where two generations haven't been taught much of anything except that all cultures are equal and wealth is evil.