We Need a Real Spending Freeze and Tax Cuts
by Greg Knapp
Don’t you hate it when you go to a 50% off sale and then realize the store marked up all the prices in order to offer the big savings? Welcome to President Barack Obama’s spending freeze.
It’s hard to keep up with the shocking numbers under Obama. Federal spending was up 18% in his first year and the deficit was $1.4 trillion, almost three times greater than it was the previous year. That’s 9.9% of 2009’s GDP, more than three times the post World War II average. (Sorry, Barry, but you can’t blame it all on Bush. That budget was done under a Democrat House and Senate and signed by you. ) Depending on whose numbers you believe federal nondefense discretionary spending will increase another 7-10% for 2010.
The Congressional Budget Office says we’ll run at least another $1.35 trillion deficit. The average deficit for 2011-2020 will be around $600 billion per year. Even in Washington that’s a lot of money.
The spending boom has not stimulated the economy and unemployment has climbed to over 10%.
But don’t worry. Now that Obama has created “government gone wild” he wants a spending freeze to save your money. As my dad used to tell my mom after she bragged about all the money she saved while shopping, “We can’t afford to save anymore.”
How much will we save? It depends on what “spending freeze” means.
Here is the spending that won’t be frozen:
- The $787 billion stimulus – Whoops, it’s now $862 billion according to the CBO
- The new stimulus – sorry, “jobs program”
- Any new health care plan
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Social Security
- Veteran’s Affairs
- Homeland Security
- Defense
Here is the spending that will be frozen if Obama’s plan gets passed:
- Discretionary, nonmilitary spending from 2011-2013 (with exceptions even to that, it look like it will save us about $15 billion for 2011 from a budget of more than $3 trillion)
This ice cube sized spending freeze will do almost nothing to help. It’s time to bring in Mr. Freeze Meister (see above photo) and the liquid nitrogen. Private businesses and individuals have had to cut back everywhere they can. It’s time for our federal government to do the same. Here’s the plan:
- No increase in spending in any program and all government salaries frozen for the next two years.
- All new hiring frozen except for defense for obvious reasons.
- All government pensions, including for the legislative and executive branches, will be phased out. If a 401k plan is good enough for the rest of us, it’s good enough for our government workers.
- All government employees, including our politicians, will be required to take one week off without pay as many in the private sector have had to do.
- Government employees will be monetarily rewarded for the savings they create in their departments.
Long term economic growth will come from capital and jobs. We must stop taking money from people to spend on an ever bigger government. It’s time to be bold. Cut income taxes across the board. Cut our corporate tax rate from the second highest in the industrialized world to the lowest at 10%. Cut the capital gains tax to zero for the next two years. Watch the world send money and jobs to America and existing American companies stay here, expand and hire.
The idea that these types of tax cuts explode our debt has been proven false by Coolidge, JFK, Reagan and George W. Bush. Every time these types of tax cuts have been applied our economy has improved markedly and tax revenues have increased. The deficits and cumulative debt have been created by the increased spending, not by letting Americans keep more of their hard earned money.
Obama and the Democrats won’t suggest any of these things. The question is, when will the Republicans?
To paraphrase the Clintons, it’s the spending, stupid.
(Don’t miss my new web show Recap with Greg Knapp segment one andsegment two. It’s a week’s worth of politics and current events crammed into about 7 minutes with a bunch of humor mixed in.)
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84 Comments
So, we will continue to give BILLIONS of dollars to a foreign country that has attacked us (USS Liberty) and all we get in return is increased threat from around the world? Seems like that would be the first thing to cut even if we weren't running deficits. Seems like treason to not do so when we are. Ask your representative if he/she is loyal to the US or Israel – see how much money they get from AIPAC (you know, that hotbed of spies we continue to somehow tolerate in our presence.)
Spending Freeze and Tax Cuts?
I see Brazen Barry with his burnished brass balls bashing and blaming Bush agaijn this morning on TV. This from a man who has just broken ALL RECORDS with his multi-trillion dollar budget deficits. This has gone beyond ridiculous. The boyz in da hood aren't gonna have to worry about eatin' chitlins and tripe no mo'. They are gonna be eatin' "fee-lay mig-non" with their Ripple and collards.
This is treasonous.
The statist will not stop until they are stopped by the people.
To call it a 'budget' is laughable. We must rid ourselves of the insanity in Washington by whatever means.
Yes, let's have some real spending cuts. Let's close most of the 800 military bases in 130 countries and stop spending as much on "defense" as the rest of the world combined. Let's stop the "defense" industry corporate welfare and get back to protecting the homeland against real threats instead of nation building and global hegemony.
Our current crop of lifetime officials have shown they have very little in common with working Americans. If they did, then we'd see common leadership that advances issues important to us such as the ones you outline. We'd see an elevation in our standard of living, not bills like Cap-and-Trade that are specifically designed to make our energy costs "skyrocket".
You need not be an expert to see that the Obama administration is on the wrong track when it comes to handling the economy. A basic knowledge of math is all that's required. So many in Washington cannot count…
Do you honestly think a different administration from "the other party" would have done anything different? They all follow Keynesian economics which calls for government spending in the face of recession to offset the reduction in consumer spending. Not saying that's an excuse, but all these people clamoring that it's Obama and the Democrats don't understand how our current government works. The other party would have spent the same, just in different ways (like maybe invading Iran).
Just heard him on television (AGAIN!) and couldn't believe the 'arrogance' of him Still BLAMING the 'previous administration' for all the financial mess that HE made!! What part of BEING RESPONSIBLE for your own actions, does he not understand! I'm insulted EVERY time he opens his mouth and blames others for HIS DECISIONS!!
The biggest improvement would have been Ron Paul but even he would be limited to what he could do.
Indeed – voting for the other statist party will have no effect.
On top of making a mandatory 6 day work week for all elected officials until we have a balanced budget…
No salary. (use your savings, that's what we are doing!)
No health insurance (perhaps then you will understand how much of an aspect having employment means to having health insurance)
No paiges (bout time you lazy SOB's do something besides pass it off!, and you can always rent a prostitute!)
No taxpayer paid for flights home (better get in your pick-up and drive your happy asses home, or pay for airfare yourself…We do!)
No business trips (goto meeting is pretty cheap! And if you cannot do business the way the rest of the country does, then you need to resign immediately)
You get nothing…Until we have our finances in order!!!
So if we murder all the Jews' on the planet, you would STFU…?
We need to get Andy to ban this sick bastard once and for all.
Hello, you Jew hating moon bat. Is your tin foil hat on too tight this morning?
Getting desperate to keep that boat floating, are we?
I just don't know what to tell you if you're completely caught up in the two party narrative pushed by establishment politicians and mainstream media, especially the 24 hour cable "news" infotainment channels.
Yes, let's all hide in our houses and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist. That will work!
I like all of your proposals but you for got two. Foreign spending and the welfrare state for world governments and the biggest one of all, the UN. What a joke the UN is. Bring the money home to it's people and those that have worked their a** off to earn it. It's their money and they want it Mr. President. Are you listening Republicans and Democrats.
Isn't it amazing that the world complains about the US and the louder they complain the more money we send them. I'm sorry that your socialist governments take all of your income in the way of taxes and your standard of living is lower than the US. I've been to your countries and I've seen how you live. Your medical programs are terrible, your fuel, food, dorable goods, are outragiously high because your governments think they know whats best for you. And England how do you like paying that great monarchy of yours $10B a year for nothing. Your taxes are paying for all that you think is wonderful and free. How's that working for you? Are you happy yet?
What, because he pointed out that the militaristic Israeli wing lobbies our government very successfully through AIPAC? There's nothing sick or anti-Semitic in that statement of fact.
Well, you far from alone on that issue. The good news is that, just like the trolls on this board, every time he opens his mouth he reveals more clearly who he really is. It ain't a pretty picture, is it?
I didn't say the Republicans are without fault. You need to face facts, we are going to elect a Republican or a Democrat for the next president.
Looks to me like you're not saying anything at all. Unless it's a half-hearted attempt to defend the current administration. It's pretty obvious to me you're just another troll.
NObama is spending like he won the lottery while the rest of us are suffering a second great depression!
The whole Fed Gov needs to make changes… such as pay cuts, lay offs, etc… NObama needs to take a pay cut too! His performance does not justify his compensation!
Stop taxing?
Stop spending??
You might as well expect them to stop breathing …
Yeah sure, I guess tempering criticism with facts in order to better understand reality is just "troll" behavior.
Wow, that must be the greatest example of a straw man I've ever seen.
Knapp would love to see Obama try and balance the budget in the middle of a recession. It would cause the economy to contract and ensure political victory for Republicans in November. If Obama falls for any of this phony outrage he deserves to lose.
Time to Take Profits: Too Much Government Involvement Will Ruin the Economy
James | Nov 23, 2009 | Comments 6
2009 has been an epic year to date for the average trader. It’s been a rally since March, but the key question is when will we see a major reversal. With the S&P already up 66%, can we expect this kind of trend to continue? My firm opinion is that the markets have become oversold and its time to invest in strong sectors or hard assets rather than the paper assets such as the market itself. I feel the gains we have been seeing throughout the past year have been overexagerated and almost created an optical illusion that the economy is at full strength. It’s through the mass amount of stimulus, bailouts, and rescue plans that the world has somehow saved us from mass chaos and kept markets going higher. The thing I question is what is going to make me want to be a long-term investor if we can’t see any form of sustainable growth. Frankly this past year has been all superficial, temporary growth supported by the bailouts. The key questions that need to be answered are what will happen to these companies when the stimulus checks stop coming through? Will they all fall off the map? I have questions with the way things will be run in the future. When will we see the side effects of the bailouts? If its anything like projected this could mean decades of debt, inflation, and higher taxes. I have my skeptics with the way the government is handling this whole ordeal. Why can’t we let banks fail? To read more about my opinions on this read last weeks article, Too Big to Fail Too Big to Survive. I just feel with the way the government is controlling everything they are taking away the personal risks companies take on. I would cut out any form of government intervention with the economy and allow free market principles to take place. We are already seeing the start of this with the government passing an amendment to where they can control the size of investment banks. How’s this make sense? So we tell Goldman Sachs not to make top dollar and become the biggest bank in the world because it imposes risk. Since when should the government decide what type of return a company should pursue? When you penalize growth and signal to companies that their success is getting out of hand then less growth is expected. Ultimately if this plan were to pass we would just see less growth, which would hurt the overall strength of the markets. Plus with the huge debts coming from health care reform, etc what confidence can we have in the American economy? What we have to look for is investment possibilities overseas. Aka China who is taking the opposite direction of the U.S. promoting growth. Though how much can China grow if the U.S. has decided not to?
Best thing you can do for your children's future:
Teach them how to speak Mandarin Chinese. They won't be able to make any money otherwise. The 21st century belongs to China.
Don't believe me? Try to find anything made in the USA next time you go to Walmart…
You can't complain about the fact the we're not cutting in a way that is a real cut and then complain about the tax rates. While you can argue that lower taxes will encourage better and more profitable business (and higher tax revenues) this is a gamble – and with a huge deficit we do not need to gamble like the government already does by spending more than we have.
Make real cuts and spend the money you get from the American people – no more. If fact, until we are at a zero balance again, don't spend 10% of that income.
Exactly.
This was the goal of the CFR-types preaching "Free Trade."
According to wiki
"In May 1968, the Israeli government paid US$3,323,500 as full payment on behalf of the families of the 34 men killed in the attack. In March 1969, Israel paid a further $3,566,457 in compensation to the men who had been wounded. On 18 December 1980, Israel agreed to pay $6 million as settlement for the US claim of $7,644,146 for material damage to the Liberty itself"
although human life is priceless at least they did try and make amends also just for grins do I have to mention the LBJ was the president that pushed this under the rug?
Care to name any other countries that we send aid to that have done the same? I can't think of any but I will wait.
Not a gamble, a fact. When people have more money to spend they will spend it, business will increase and jobs will reappear. Gov doesn't make jobs, Gov doesn't make anything… they soak up money from those that make things and those that work. Gov spending our money doesn't help our economy.
Study reagan. You'll see how he turned things around.
Walmart? Don't you mean Chinamart, Thats what I call it. Oh oh and Kmart I call it Koreamart, just because!!
This guy really has too much time on his hands! The first poster as well. On any subject he can spin it to blame the joooos. I've got a question for you, who would be your next target if Israel did not exist? You HAVE to find someone. Your life would be incomplete if you did not have someone to blame all your problems on. Of course your are even more of a coward than your suicide bomber buddies. Does mom pay for your internet access or do you get it for free at the library?
I didn't either when people said it in the 90's. Now I don't see how anyone continues to buy in to notion of the Republicans being different. Even if they are not run by the same international bankers, they are still statists who just sell it via war instead of peace.
Then you may as well give up and elect McCain. LOL! Whoopde f*ckin doo.
LBJ was the president that pushed this under the rug?
Because he was in on it, most likely. Isn't this around the time we made up the Gulf of Tonkin incident for WAR?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-33196630...
Care to name any other countries that we send aid to that have done the same?
That attack and spy on us and sell our missile secrets to China? No. I'm sure NO OTHER country would get away with that and still get huge subsidies from the US tax payers.
…and stop watching CNN.
odumbo math 101….
But this is exactly my point. McCain, although a disaster, would have been a much better choice than Obama. It is not giving up to get the better of two choices.
And beyond that we have a much better chance of replacing the Republican candidate with a better candidate and winning than you do electing a third party candidate (wihch is essentially zero).
I will not argue this any further.
So, instead of pushing health care reform, gun control and Amnesty for illegals he would have started WWIII with Iran, gun control and Amnesty for illegals.
"Best thing you can do for your children's future: "
Teach them how to properly use and maintain a firearm would be top on my list…!
And, I don't shop at Walmarts…I refuse. I will patronize my local businesses, and pay top dollar for it, and enjoy spending every penny of my hard earned money there… I'm not a greedy American bastard that thinks he deserves everything handed to him…Ever look around at the people in a Walmart? Ever watch the people that just got done using grub stubs to fill three shopping carts full of junk food roll their carts out to their brand new 2010 vehicle? Yeah…
Well, glad you make enough to do that. Some of us need to save as much as we can. So I didn' t pay some union worker $30 an hour to make some piece of crap… oh well.
Most importantly, consider the moral implications of any government spending!
"You don't own your earnings. The government owns your earnings. Anything you are allowed to keep is a gift."
Taxation is armed robbery. Government spending is financed by robbery. Public funds is blood money.
taxationisrobbery.blogspot.com
I can understand your motives, but I don't quite follow your means. You propose that both political parties operate for the same purpose governed by a singular "shadow government" type organization, therefore belief in one or the other is misplaced. My question to you is that if the world operates as such, then how do you upset such a system? Instead of directing attacks at good people who really want to make a difference it stands to reason that they should be encouraged to make informed decisions about who they elect in order to root out the influence of any of these alleged "puppetmasters" that work the strings of our government.
Tell me Mr Freeze doesn't look EXACTLY like little Timmy Geithner.
The past 100 years have been about the Democrats getting what they want and Republicans playing the part of slowing their PROGRESSIVE policies down. Sort of.
This I believe is why Ronald Reagan failed to secure Conservatism in the government. Republicans never had the guts to really pull the reins on Uncle Sam.
Here is the real deficit.
http://www.usdebtclock.org/index.html
today is 347,352.00 / citizen
In short, we are screwed!
Down with the jews!
Lets meet, your making me hot
Down with jewish bankers.
You are so sexy
I like jelly
Do you know how many jewish bankers were in the Bush administration?
Do your homework before you call me a simpleton!
I lover you, I think I really do!
Power to the people, destroy the evil crypto captialist, long live the poor!
When everyone is in the government, only then we will be free!
I preach hate the jews just like you, why not love my friend?
And anyway, Jews suck, can you guess what my name means
I mean rubbed all over my nipples
Quit using my handle! I am the real JPA, and jews do suck but thats beside the point!
You're not JPA, you poser. I shouldn't be surprised at such underhanded tactics when you can't debate me.
I think you really must be scared. You're not JPA, you poser. I shouldn't be surprised at such underhanded tactics when you can't debate me.
God Bless Israel and her people. Plagues and death to her enemies!
Thus saith the Lord God to Israel,"Those who bless you,I will bless; and those who curse you, I will curse".
We understand. It hurts, doesn't it? It's called "reality". You should stop by for a visit some time.
[...] loved this article at Big Government. In it, the author discusses Obama’s “spending freeze.” I use quotations, [...]
Thus saith the Lord God to Israel,"Those who bless you,I will bless; and those who curse you, I will curse". "I will raise you up above all the nations and peoples of the Earth and they shall know that You are My People."
[...] rest is here: » We Need a Real Spending Freeze and Tax Cuts – Big Government Tags: 130-countries, close-most, industry-corporate, military-bases, rest, spending-as-much, [...]
It just doesn't matter, when the fed govt owns 15 TRILLION,or 52% of all the bankrupt homes in the US.No wonder they have to give blank checks to Fannie and Freddie, just to cover up this appalling fact.And adding 3.8Trillion is not going to help a bit.But, Hey we will "freeze" a few billion dollars in funding….it's sad when a few hundred billion dollars does not mean much in the overall fiscal picture of our country.Makes the 930 billion dollar S&L scandal bailout look like chump change.
Don't try buying firearms or bullets in CA….they track who buys the bullets now.
[...] Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this | // Posted by Justin at 6:01 PM Tagged with: Barack Obama, Big Government, Congress, corruption in government, federal spending, Obama, Political Humor, politics, tax and spend progressives, Tax Reform [...]
It is just false to state that the parties are all the same.
The scope of the spending and corruption from the left is beyond debate!
I just don't know what to tell you if you think they are the same, I don't buy it.
Spoken like a true Zionist cult member.
Now THAT is a moon bat. Can't even get the facts straight. Israel that is mentioned in the Bible is LONG gone. And the Jew shysters taking you for all you are worth are not even related the the Biblical Jews but are 9th century converts. That's how the devil works – by DECEPTION. You are going straight to H3ll – no excuses! LOL!
Down with the jews, your my kind of guy!
Do you like leather?
Would have been a short war, and then you could not go home on weekends?
Not understanding why thats a bad thing, jews and arabs are bad right?
The fed. gov't has actually had a hiring freeze for a while within several agencies, including the VA, the second largest gov't agency. I don't know if the author realizes that gov't employees make considerably less than they would in the private sector. Why do you want to punish federal employees? A week of unpaid leave? My husband is a fed. employee, do you know the last time we went on vacation? Try never. Because DC is freaking expensive, and it's hard enough to pay our mortgage, set money aside for retirement and put food on the table. Did I mention he's a veteran like a lot of other federal employees? You want to cut them off at the knees, too? How about cutting entitlements, 2/3 of US spending? Trim the Department of Ed. that's actually getting a bump in this budget. Oh, and how about government contractors? Do you know how well they do? Why don't you go after them?
You're not JPA, you poser. I shouldn't be surprised at such underhanded tactics when you can't debate me.
Does it really look to you as though anyone here gives two farts in a hurricane what you think? I guess you're blind as well as retarded.
Load your own.
[...] [...]
Stop (AID) to all of them. Lets have a FULL Congressional Investigation into the LIBERTY. It was OUR (AID) that paid the (settlements) in the first place.REMEMBER THE LIBERTY
Perhaps if our government weren't so big we wouldn't be running a deficit just to fund it! Without such a deficit perhaps we wouldn't have to borrow so much money just to fund it! And now Obama and his crew have increased the debt limit by another 1.9 billion? It doesn't sound to me like they plan on freezing any spending and if they did they would only;y spend the money saved somewhere else. But that's how this administration rolls. You have to spend your way out of a recession. They are, of course, correct but they fail to mention that spending needs to happen from the bottom up. They way out of a recession is to leave the people with more money in their pockets not less so the government can justify and fund it's own growth.
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