OK... you skipped the single largest bucket, but that's fine... I didn't need to fix it, but did anyway.
So we agree... great.
OK. I made my point. Now you want me to answer your point... ?
What does that even mean?
I always hear everyone * about taxes. I hate them as much as anyone else but do realize they are a necessary evil to live in the state we live. We have to have roads, we have to have bridges, and we have to have schools and infrastructure. I do not mind paying taxes so these things can exist. I do not want to pay taxes for entitlement type spending such as wlefare living, etc., etc.
My question is, we all hate property taxes and income taxes, so how do we collect a tax to pay for the things we can't as individuals or even small communities afford?
Sin taxes are out because they are just stupid. Would a sales tax even come close to what is needed and would it drive off purchases and encourage a more do it/build it yourself society?
The point I wanted you to address is that military spending as a percentage of budget is near the smallest it's been since WWII. The implications of that point are that the size of military spending is certainly arguable, it's not the reason we're in a budget crisis. If it were, we would have been in a much larger budget crisis from 1945 to 1993.
There's a myth out there that our deficits were caused by the events post 911, and that's simply not the case. Yes, it all adds to the cost, but the items I mentioned, entitlements and interest dwarf the military budget.
Also, do not forget that the CBO has reported that the costs of the Iraq/Afghan wars is over $1 Trillion now. That's defence spending and nothing else. Just because they don't lump it in doesn't make it any less a military item. They were the beneficiaries.
I hope you never have cause to realize that you were a "beneficiary" as well.
The simplest solution would be for the taxpayers to stop allowing the expenditures for those who choose to smoke. I.e. If you choose to smoke, that's your option, but when you get sick because of it, it's not our responsibility to pay for the result of your choices.
Blessings,
Bill
Yeah, 'cause the Iraqi army was poised to invade us. As was the Taliban.I hope you never have cause to realize that you were a "beneficiary" as well.
They had amphibious landing craft right off the coast of San Diego. And paratroopers launching out of Nicaragua.Yeah, 'cause the Iraqi army was poised to invade us. As was the Taliban.
While I agree that the entitlement programs are a major drain and should be largely eliminated, I don't believe your statement is entirely true.
Look at the following chart:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/PerCapitaInflationAdjustedDefenseSpending.PNG
You can see that miliatry spending has increased over the past 10 years.
Military spending accounts for nearly a quarter of the budget (2009) and should be included on any discusion of the national debt situation.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7a/U.S._Federal_Spending_-_FY_2007.png
To say that events post 911 haven't contributed to the deficit is a lie (as is saying that these events are the sole reason for it). I think we can agree on that.
AgreedOkay, then, perhaps we can save 5% of the budget with less military spending. Maybe you think that number should be lower, I don't know. But if we cut entitlements completely over time, and reduce the debt, we could cut the budget by 50%, or 60%.
I think you get my point.
As to whether the Afghan and Iraq wars were legitimate and necessary, I think they were, but that's an argument for another forum.
Agreed
Also agreed.
If you don't resent all taxes, then you have no right to complain about any taxes.
If you say they a right to any of your wages, they have a right to ALL of your wages.
Again, the logic of this escapes me. If I say they can have 1%, then because of this, they can have 100%...? I guess I should just send the IRS a letter telling them they don't have the right to any of my wages, then I'll be scott free. I think some people have tried that in the past... didn't work out so well if I recall.