Email About Budget Deficit

[KenH]

I sent the following email to my U.S. Representative and my two U.S. Senators.


The federal government of the United States is fiscally in critical condition. Here are the numbers:

During the 8 years of the George W. Bush presidency, the yearly budget deficit averaged $544 billion.
During the 8 years of the Barack Obama presidency, the yearly budget deficit averaged $1.2 trillion.
During the 4 years of the Donald Trump presidency, the yearly budget deficit averaged $1.8 trillion.
During the first 3 years of the Joe Biden presidency, the yearly budget deficit has averaged $2.1 trillion.

Of the $33.1 trillion national debt, $27.4 trillion has been added in just the past 23 fiscal years since the beginning of the 21st century.

Sir, this is not sustainable. The profligate spending of the federal government must be stopped immediately. Surely you realize this. Will it be hard for you and your colleagues to fix this problem? Yes! But you really don’t have a choice, unless you and your colleagues want to be responsible for the financial demise of the United States of America.

You must bring the budget into balance within the next 5 years. The rising interest payments on the national debt will not allow for any other course.

Therefore, to stave off the insolvency of the United States government, I suggest the following guidelines:

Fiscal year 2024 – reduce the yearly deficit to $1.6 trillion.
Fiscal year 2025 – reduce the yearly deficit to $1.2 trillion.
Fiscal year 2026 – reduce the yearly deficit to $800 billion.
Fiscal year 2027 – reduce the yearly deficit to $400 billion.
Fiscal year 2028 – reduce the yearly deficit to $0.

It would be wise and prudent to balance the budget more quickly, but, frankly, I have little to no confidence that you and your colleagues can meet the guidelines of even my modest proposal. Thus, I do not have an optimistic outlook for the future viability of the federal government. But, if it does fail financially, it will be you and your colleagues who brought it about due to your own inaction.

Will you be a fiscal Paul Revere and sound the alarm to your colleagues and the nation? Will you help change the course of the United States to one of fiscal sanity, responsibility, and prudence, thereby saving the nation from financial collapse?

If you and your colleagues keep kicking the can down the road, there will eventually be no can to kick.

 

[canadyjd]

Brother, I appreciate your concern. The DC establishment will never balance the budget.

The only way to accomplish this is…..

1. Organize a constitutional convention of the states specifically to address this.

2. Pass a constitutional amendment that

a. limits taxes to 10% for individuals and 15% corporations

b. Requires a balanced budget yearly

c. Allows for deficient spending on a year by year basis with 2/3 required to pass

d. Place all monetary policy under direct control of the POTUS and their administration

Peace to you

 

[KenH]

The only way to accomplish this is…..

1. The issue with a constitutional convention is that it is not settled that a convention can be limited to a single subject. Remember, the intent of the 1787 gathering was merely to amend the Articles of Confederation. That idea was scrapped and we see what the result has been. It was one of the biggest bait-and-switch operations in history.

c. If a single issue convention is actually possible and a balanced budget amendment made into law, then no deficit spending should be allowed for any year. Period! To do otherwise would be to leave open the floodgates to the mess the United States has now.

d. The current fiat monetary system should be scrapped and replaced by a gold standard monetary system.

 

[KenH]

U.S. national debt as of 9/25/2023:

$33,112,060,391,950.29

The United States government (meaning taxpayers) is going further into debt by $65,000 per second.

 

[canadyjd]

U.S. national debt as of 9/25/2023:

$33,112,060,391,950.29

The United States government (meaning taxpayers) is going further into debt by $65,000 per second.

Yikes!!!!

peace to you

 

[canadyjd]

1. The issue with a constitutional convention is that it is not settled that a convention can be limited to a single subject. Remember, the intent of the 1787 gathering was merely to amend the Articles of Confederation. That idea was scrapped and we see what the result has been. It was one of the biggest bait-and-switch operations in history.

c. If a single issue convention is actually possible and a balanced budget amendment made into law, then no deficit spending should be allowed for any year. Period! To do otherwise would be to leave open the floodgates to the mess the United States has now.

d. The current fiat monetary system should be scrapped and replaced by a gold standard monetary system.

My point is the DC politicians will never do it. If possible, it must be done with a grass roots movement at the state level and force DC into compliance.

peace to you

 

[Salty]

What budget items do you think should be reduced/ eliminated?
Please give specific examples.

 

[canadyjd]

What budget items do you think should be reduced/ eliminated?
Please give specific examples.

The entire department of education
The entire EPA
The entire CIA
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program (Federal Welfare)
Medicare
Medicaid
(When the government pays with tax payer money it results in tens of billions of ‘waste, fraud and abuse’ that politicians promise to fix every cycle”
Reduce federal employees by 40%.

And there are countless budget items of 100,000K and more that are part of “base line budgeting” which means they are never cut, just a continuous part of federal budget. This includes Obama phones for the poor, faith based initiatives, etc. get rid of it all.

Completely do away with “base line budgeting”. Start every congress with a new budget and negotiate.

peace to you

 

[KenH]

What budget items do you think should be reduced/ eliminated?
Please give specific examples.

How about this idea, using very approximate numbers, let say fiscal year 2023 spending comes in at $7 trillion and tax revenues at $5 trillion since the budget deficit needs to be cut around $400 billion per year, how about for fiscal year 2024, as an example, Congress cuts spending by $200 billion to $6.8 trillion, thus reducing each item of spending by 3.3%, and for fiscal year 2024 Congress increases taxes by $200 billion, or by 4%. And then do a similar process over the next 4 fiscal years to achieve a balanced budget. (Note: the 50/50 split and the resulting percentages on spending and revenues is for illustration purposes only.)

Unless fiscal sanity is restored to the federal government in the near future (meaning around five years, in my opinion), then the Congress is basically doing nothing more than arguing over the arrangement of the deck chairs on the Titanic as it sinks into the North Atlantic.

 

[canadyjd]

How about this idea, using very approximate numbers, let say fiscal year 2023 spending comes in at $7 trillion and tax revenues at $5 trillion since the budget deficit needs to be cut around $400 billion per year, how about for fiscal year 2024, as an example, Congress cuts spending by $200 billion to $6.8 trillion, thus reducing each item of spending by 3.3%, and for fiscal year 2024 Congress increases taxes by $200 billion, or by 4%. And then do a similar process over the next 4 fiscal years to achieve a balanced budget. (Note: the 50/50 split and the resulting percentages on spending and revenues is for illustration purposes only.)

Unless fiscal sanity is restored to the federal government in the near future (meaning around five years, in my opinion), then the Congress is basically doing nothing more than arguing over the arrangement of the deck chairs on the Titanic as it sinks into the North Atlantic.

Congress NEVER CUTS spending. They use a “baseline budgeting” system. That means the prior budget is the starting point. It is never less.

They pass a gigantic budget, and then pass continuing resolutions at those higher levels of spending, all the while claiming there are budget cuts when none exists.

The Freedom Caucus is fighting against the continuing resolution this time around.

peace to you

 

[KenH]

I should also state, that as minarchist and one who thinks that the federal government should be restricted to only its enumerated powers in the U.S. Constitution, that I think the great bulk of federal spending should be stopped. Now I realize it would take to time to unwind programs such as Social Security, Medicare, etc.; thus my emphasis on getting to a balanced budget posthaste and then working on these constitutional restraints, given the urgency to stop increasing the national debt.

 

[KenH]

Congress NEVER CUTS spending. They use a “baseline budgeting” system.

Congress is also supposed to pass individual appropriation bills; however, that have not followed that requirement in around 26 years.

I am saying they will have to cut spending - either voluntarily or they will be forced to as the financial situation in the United States drastically deteriorates within the near future. It is just like the problem with Social Security running out of money about a decade from now - they were talking about this back around 2005 after George W. Bush was reelected, yet here we are and they still haven't done anything about it.

If Congress refuses to get its fiscal house in order, then eventually there won't be a can left for them to kick down the road.

 

[Salty]

I stand for a very strong military
I do agree we do need to have troops stationed overseas.
Currently most personnel going to Germany and other "long tour" areas are for three - four years.
I propose going back to "Brigade 75" (I think that was the term) A unit would go to Germany for 6 months and then return.
With four bde - A unit would spend 6 months in Germany and 18 months at Ft Hood. Then the cycle restarts.
There would be no PCS movement - which includes:
1) The entire family goes overseas -
A. Schools are needed
B. MWR for families ie youth centers - ect
C. Additional medical facilities and personel
D. POV's are shipped overseas
E. Family Household goods are sent
F. Large Items that are not shipped - are stored in CONUS at govt expense
G. Large items that are not shipped need to be issued overseas -
H. Larger PX's are needed to properly service entire families.
I. Ect, ect, ect.

By making the tour 6-9 months - many expenses are no longer needed.
and on each PCS move - there is breakage, ect - which must be recovered.

In addition - a short tour - say Korea - is one year. But, lets say - that a GI is at Ft Hood, Tx.
The GI is sent to Korea - His family is permitted a govt provided move to his Home of Record (HOR)
then often that GI will be sent back to FT Hood after his one year Korea tour. The govt will ship his family
back to Ft Hood - with many other needed expenses - ie temporary housing allowance, ect.
My plan - the family would not be authorized a PCS move until the GI returns from that short tour -
and if he returns to Ft Hood - (which is very probable ) than the Govt has saved a lot of money.

Now this next item may be considered sexist - if it is - so be it.
Female GI's if she get pregnant - then she is discharged from the military. (though Medical care would be provided until
birth of the child.

Here is why:
First - the GI would be issued new "PG" uniforms - at a good cost -
Second - the GI would be authorized a lot of free leave- which is paid!
and now both parents get free time off, ect click here for link
Third, the GI is still on Active duty for time in Rank, ect and would be promoted,ect.
Fourth- The unit is short of personnel
Fifth: ect

Lots of other ways for the military to save money

 

[canadyjd]

Congress is also supposed to pass individual appropriation bills; however, that have not followed that requirement in around 26 years.

I am saying they will have to cut spending - either voluntarily or they will be forced to as the financial situation in the United States drastically deteriorates within the near future. It is just like the problem with Social Security running out of money about a decade from now - they were talking about this back around 2005 after George W. Bush was reelected, yet here we are and they still haven't done anything about it.

If Congress refuses to get its fiscal house in order, then eventually there won't be a can left for them to kick down the road.

The whole purpose, of the out of control spending is to collapse the economy. Then, the libs of both parties will shout “see, capitalism has failed!!! We need socialism!!!”

They will declare a national emergency and grab as many institutions as possible, including all private pensions and savings and leave an IOU.

They will see the country burn to the ground if it means they gain more power.

peace to you

 

[KenH]

I do agree we do need to have troops stationed overseas

I think that all U.S. overseas bases should be closed and all military personnel brought home. The only military personnel that are not based on U.S. territory should be those on ships and those protecting U.S. foreign diplomats such as those in embassies.

 

[KenH]

In order to balance the federal budget and stop increasing the national debt before the United States falls into financial ruin will require EVERYTHING to be on the table - taxes, the military, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, transportation, education, etc. - ALL spending and ALL sources of revenue.

 

[Salty]

I sent the following email to my U.S. Representative and my two U.S. Senators.


The federal government of the United States is fiscally in critical condition. Here are the numbers:

During the 8 years of the George W. Bush presidency, the yearly budget deficit averaged $544 billion.
During the 8 years of the Barack Obama presidency, the yearly budget deficit averaged $1.2 trillion.
During the 4 years of the Donald Trump presidency, the yearly budget deficit averaged $1.8 trillion.
During the first 3 years of the Joe Biden presidency, the yearly budget deficit has averaged $2.1 trillion.

From the FWIW dept
when you consider basic inflation

2009 1.2 trillion W/ inflation in 2017 = 1.37 trillion
2017 1.8 trillion W/ inflation in 2017 = 1.99
2021 2.1 trillion W/ inflation in 2023 = 2.38