For those of you who want to see lower taxes and smaller government?

Question

What services that government now provides would you agree to have eliminated or slashed? Here are some suggestions: medicare, medicaid, infrastructure repair, defense, education, environment, sanitation, police, fire fighters, pensions for government workers, anti-terrorism.

If you want to cut taxes, you have to cut spending too. And don't forget the price of all those deficits we run: over $350 billion dollars per year to pay off the interest on the debt.

Bubba: I understand perfectly that some of my examples are at the federal level, and some at the state and local levels. So what? If people really want "smaller government" tell me where you'll accept it and how? It seems to me that when Federal spending is decreased in some area, then the State and locals simply have to take up the slack.

To others: The issue of illegal aliens is a very complicated one from a fiscal point of view. A crackdown on this "problem" would literally decimate entire industries.

Answer 1

We could save 20 billion a year and generate Billions more in tax revenue by legalizing drugs and taxing their use at the same level as alcohol.

Answer 2

Well, I certainly want to see a smaller government and lower taxes but your question's a good one. I think we need to get rid of the Federal Reserve and IRS (or at least reduce its scope by at least 67%), that's for sure. Social Security should give people the choice to have a personal private account, without getting out of the system and people could be in both at the same time, and the same thing with Medicare; this should reduce the dependence on government but as an option. Medicaid should stay the same as it is but maybe an optional private account could be used in parallel. Police and fire fighters, as well as anti-terrorism or immigration, should all become part of the Defense Dept. and could save millions of taxpayer dollars. Education should be kept but all schools should be evaluated and if a school is badly evaluated, the school would become a charter school. Vouchers could be used for poor and middle class students or have parents pay a certain price and whatever's left over could be covered by the local government. But the ideal thing would be to reduce the size of governmental programs. Thanks!

Answer 3

Why don't we cut out the pork and special spending for states, that could save billions.

I'm also all for a more simplified tax system, one based on consumption is rather smart (yes, I actually listen to Republican ideas).

The Environment should be on the Federal level.

Sanitation, police, fire fighters are local issues such as states, counties and cities!

Anti-terrorism falls under the umbrella of national security, which even libertarians say is the federal governments responsibility.

BREATHE

Answer 4

First, READ THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES!! You will find that Medicaid, Medicare, educaton, "environment", "sanitation", etcetra are NOT areas where the federal government is authorized to interfere. The entire welfare state and all of its programs are, likewise, unconstitutional. Eliminate all of these programs at the federal level. The LIMITED powers of the federal government are clearly spelled out in the Constitution. Each state has its own Constitution, as well. Eliminate any program not specifically authorized.

Answer 5

>>If you want to cut taxes, you have to cut spending too.

This is a Democrat tagline that just doesn't make sense in the real world. On face value, it seems as though it sounds correct, but in reality, it doesn't.

We are experiencing record tax revenue right now (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8HH2VM08&show_article=1)because of Bush's tax cuts. He cut taxes and now the govt has MORE to spend.

So lowering taxes DOES NOT mean lowering spending.



I will agree: There is a bunch of fat that needs to be trimmed. The Repubs were out of control with pork, so the Dems ran on "less pork" tagline and won. Now the Dems have more pork than the Repubs. Both are to blame. Anything the president tries to get done (I am specifically thinking of privatizing SS), the Dems will block because of "Bush Derangement Sydrome (blocking anything and ridiculing everything associated with Bush no matter what it is).

1. Welfare - Disqualify illegals from getting it.

2. Privatize SS.

3. Fair Tax System.

4. Spend the money on sealing up the borders and the flow of felons will stop. The medical system can start breathing again. Health care costs will drop. People will have more money to spend. More purchases will be taxed. More revenue will inflow to the govt and the money spent on sealing up the borders will be paid for.

Answer 6

Easy....

1. Consolidate Medicare and Medicaid, then revamp it to promote government independance for able-bodied, working age adults

2. Privatize Social Security....I can make a whole lot more money controlling and investing my own money than handing it over to an incompetent government.

3. Run government more like a business. Many areas can be privatized when done in an appropriate way, and many other areas can cut wasteful spending if made to.

4. Fair Tax system....if you don't know about it, read up on it. Government gets to keep its tax revenue, but wokers get to keep the money they earn.

With just some of the money saved, I would invest more in education to make secondary education available to everyone, and invest in alternative energy sources and energy independence.

Answer 7

We eliminate ALL riders on our bills. Sorry north Carolina your tea cup museum is out so is the park in one Kalifornia senator's gated community.

Then we repeal destructive anti-American laws. No Fascist gun control act of 68 the BATFE can be cut in half.

Then we pass the frivolous law suit act cutting our courts work load in half. Sorry if the National Socialist Republik of Kalifornia burns it self with hot coffee they should pay attention next time.

We also reform welfare to prevent abuse ( some people really do need it).

And last but not least combine repetitive and redundant agencies in to one cluster thus reducing waste.

Cutting the pork by stopping riders on our bills alone will save us millions.

Answer 8

Are you talking federal taxes or local and state...two different things there sport...several of your examples are paid out of loacal taxes while others you stated are at the federal level...before you get your panties in a wad, figure out what it is you are so mad about and then come up with a question.

Answer 9

The Cato institute publishes a handbook that gives a great outline of all the programs that could be eliminated or privatized.
The liberal mainstream media completely ignores the idea of downsizing government.
The God of liberalism is the almighty government, and anyone who dares to make it smaller is a heretic.

Answer 10

A good start would be to reinstate the Pay as you go rules that were in effect befor the republicans took over congress.....have never figured out why the "Fiscally conservative party" threw it out