Things We Can No Longer Afford
-
As the American national debt mounts, eventually we are going to have to make some hard fiscal choices. Cuts must be made. These are some things I would reform/cut...
-
The tax code and the IRS. Taxes should be much simpler, personal and corporate. Everybody should pay at least some tax on earned income, even if it is a miniscule amount. By having a simpler tax code, we don't need as large an IRS.
-
Department of Education. Abolish it or tremendously downsize it. Money budgeted to the states should be given as bloc grants and let the states use it as they will, with very few restrictions.
-
The defense procurement process. Equipment must come in on-time and within budget. We can no longer afford debacles such as the Littoral Combat Ships. And for some things, we should buy or license-build. We've bought Harrier jets, Italian frigates and Swedish anti-tank weapons, because they were good weapons, fit the mission profioe and we didn't have to do the R&D.
-
Healthcare. At least part of our rise in healthcare costs is directly related to rules and laws mandated on the system. We need to free the system from excessive paperwork and the necessary middle management to deal with it, thus lowering costs.
-
Social Security. FICA tax should be paid on every dime of earned income and the cap should remain (albeit raised a bit). No illegal alien should ever collect Social Security.
-
Military staffing levels. Time to go to a universal conscription. After basic training, young men and women can go back to their neighborhoods, where they will be required to do drill or community service two days per month for two years. Or they can apply to enlist, length of service dependent on MOS and need.
I think this costs money, but also saves money. There are contractor services the military will no longer need, because of manpower issues. It will help in recruiting and possibly with retention. It helps with training expenses, should the U.S ever have to rapidly expand its forces. And it provides labor for community service projects.
Those are some things we can no longer afford. What are some others?
-
-
#1. Agree. It seems that many of the tax "loophole" could be eliminated (for example, mortgage interest, etc.). The free market in homebuying will correct itself if this is no longer available.
The IRS should also be allowed to have their own software for taxpayers to use. The information is already there, so it reduce errors
#2. Don't really know enough about this, but I think I disagree. I think there should be some sort of standard. Otherwise, too much chance for politics if states can do what they want.
#3. Not sure, but I don't know why the military does not set up their projects to have a bonus clause if it comes in early and under budget and a penalty clause for the opposite (the probably do, but don't know). Do not allow "cost plus" contracts.
#4. Take a look at other countries and how they do it. The high costs in the US are not only because of higher salaries. Equipment costs, etc. are the same if you are buying it for a US hospital or a Taiwan hospital.
#5. Agree with your first part, but also think that there should be no cap (or at least a very high cap)
#6. Don't know. Taiwan has mandatory service. Just recently increased to a year.
-
You simply must adjust the retirement age for SS.
-
Do away with spend it or lose it budgeting. Find ways to reward programs that come in under budget.
-
Do away with spend it or lose it budgeting. Find ways to reward programs that come in under budget.
@LuFins-Dad said in Things We Can No Longer Afford:
Do away with spend it or lose it budgeting. Find ways to reward programs that come in under budget.
What type of carrot would you dangle?
-
@LuFins-Dad said in Things We Can No Longer Afford:
Do away with spend it or lose it budgeting. Find ways to reward programs that come in under budget.
What type of carrot would you dangle?
@Jolly said in Things We Can No Longer Afford:
@LuFins-Dad said in Things We Can No Longer Afford:
Do away with spend it or lose it budgeting. Find ways to reward programs that come in under budget.
What type of carrot would you dangle?
New Title in lieu of a raise.
