Did you all miss this? I didn't.

[midwestyankee]

I've already said I don't care what the spending is labeled. Earmarks, pork, perks, it's all coming out of the same pocketbook. We have to start this somewhere. It doesn't seem like anybody cares.

Okay.

So how about you show some more cojones than the loyal opposition and actually name specific programs that you would cut in order to balance the budget?

It would also be interesting to work this budget simulator to see what kinds of choices you might make in order to reduce spending.

 

[midwestyankee]

I've been wrong, too. While I don't live in Missouri, the largest part of Kansas City is there. Of course, we have the richest suburbs in our state.

Anyway, the former mayor of KCMO started this new downtown renovation thing in the last couple years of her term and everybody thought it was just another money sucking project of hers, because she had "friends" who could benefit. While the friends did benefit and still are benefiting, downtown is also benefiting. I think it's slower than it should be, but there is a new district in an area that was not blighted, but it needed help. Now, the area is growing, and there are other businesses moving downtown.

Companies started renovating old textile district buildings into lofts and yuppy types are moving in. They are great spaces with 14 foot ceilings. Only the rich can afford them, but that seems to work, because they have money to spend in the other new businesses that are moving in. They still need some of the necessary things to live like in the suburbs but there is now at least one food market in operation. A few years ago, downtown was dying. Now, it's coming back.

One advantage to the new renovation downtown is it includes a lot of drinking and eating establishments. They are all within walking distance to and from the lofts, so people can go out, eat and drink and not have to worry about driving home. For some it can be a chore to walk home, though. They tend to drink more, because they don't have to worry about driving.

Any idea which one of your legislators tacked the federal assistance for this project onto some other bill? Because I think Kansas City sucks and the money should have gone to Chicago. What a fucking waste of my tax dollars!

 

[Sir_Winston54]

Okay.

So how about you show some more cojones than the loyal opposition and actually name specific programs that you would cut in order to balance the budget?

It would also be interesting to work this budget simulator to see what kinds of choices you might make in order to reduce spending.

I got the debt down to 60% of GDP, but only by 2024. I'm just a softie. I left most of the low-income and educational programs in.

 

[DVS]

Okay.

So how about you show some more cojones than the loyal opposition and actually name specific programs that you would cut in order to balance the budget?

It would also be interesting to work this budget simulator to see what kinds of choices you might make in order to reduce spending.

I've already said I'm no professional in this, but even I can see we need to tighten our belt a bit. I'm OK with some of this spending, but we need to cut the budget, not raise it. We're in this fix because we can't say no to people who want our money.
You may or may not agree with these areas, because they are small.

But we have to cut things and there aren't many large cuts that can be make without hurting someone's pet project. I lost my job when someone cut a research project back in 2011. Budget cuts can damage lives. Step one, look for overspending, stupid spending and spending that has gone unnoticed for years and is no longer needed.

I think there would be more than you think out there that nobody would even miss...well, other than the shifty ones looking for a quick profit at our expense. Once this has begun, I bet we'd find all sort of things we missed before. Just saying there's not enough there is a cop out. I'm not a very trusting person.

If you want more from me, I want the same pay, benefits and pension as any other member of congress. I don't give out my solutions for free.

 

[DVS]

I got the debt down to 60% of GDP, but only by 2024. I'm just a softie. I left most of the low-income and educational programs in.

I was looking at that and got a headache. Maybe I'm best at just bitching at my present pay scale. I think I'd be good as a cost cutter, if I was in the thick of things. But, like I said in my last post, I'd need a guarantee of the same pay, benefits and pension before I go to work.

 

[Stella_Omega]

If you want more from me, I want the same pay, benefits and pension as any other member of congress. I don't give out my solutions for free.

Okay, but the oversight committee is gonna be all over your ass.

and I want the same pay and salary that you get, for looking over your shoulder.

 

[Ropebunny]

Okay.

So how about you show some more cojones than the loyal opposition and actually name specific programs that you would cut in order to balance the budget?

It would also be interesting to work this budget simulator to see what kinds of choices you might make in order to reduce spending.

I got debt down to 58% by 2021. I actually got it down further but thought I'd throw some more money towards social security, education, research and stimulus. One thing that greatly surprised me the lack of VAT (which we call GST- goods and services tax). Our GST is currently at 15% as opposed to the proposed 5% in the US and our also cover ALL goods and services, including groceries, healthcare and education. It sucks, everyone hates it, but it is a relatively reasonable method of taxation, especially at the proposed level.

I also did some cutting to heathcare. I can't for the life of me figure out the implications of certain cuts to the healthcare system (or to be honest, how the bloody system works) so I'll eat my words if I made some stupid cuts there.

I was looking at that and got a headache. Maybe I'm best at just bitching at my present pay scale. I think I'd be good as a cost cutter, if I was in the thick of things. But, like I said in my last post, I'd need a guarantee of the same pay, benefits and pension before I go to work.

I've said it before (but not here) and I'll say it again till I'm blue in the face. I'd figure this shit out for NADA if only the powers that be would let me. I think I'd be lynched by the end of it though; I'm all for aggressive taxation if it ensures a reasonable standard of living for all.

Why does socialism have to be such a dirty word?

 

[DVS]

Any idea which one of your legislators tacked the federal assistance for this project onto some other bill? Because I think Kansas City sucks and the money should have gone to Chicago. What a fucking waste of my tax dollars!

I live on the Kansas side and none of my legislators colluded or my tax dollars touched. Kansas City doesn't suck. Chicago blows. That's why they call it the windy city.

Oh, and the smell with that southern breeze? Take a big breath. It's coming from our stockyards.

 

[DVS]

I got debt down to 58% by 2021. I actually got it down further but thought I'd throw some more money towards social security, education, research and stimulus. One thing that greatly surprised me the lack of VAT (which we call GST- goods and services tax). Our GST is currently at 15% as opposed to the proposed 5% in the US and our also cover ALL goods and services, including groceries, healthcare and education. It sucks, everyone hates it, but it is a relatively reasonable method of taxation, especially at the proposed level.

I also did some cutting to heathcare. I can't for the life of me figure out the implications of certain cuts to the healthcare system (or to be honest, how the bloody system works) so I'll eat my words if I made some stupid cuts there.



I've said it before (but not here) and I'll say it again till I'm blue in the face. I'd figure this shit out for NADA if only the powers that be would let me. I think I'd be lynched by the end of it though; I'm all for aggressive taxation if it ensures a reasonable standard of living for all.

Why does socialism have to be such a dirty word?

 

[BiBunny]

Why does socialism have to be such a dirty word?

Because...because...COMMUNISM! The Cold War! Atheism! Stalin! THE DIRTY FUCKING REDS!!!!!

In other words, fucked if I know. Selfishness?

 

[DVS]

Maybe it's us, we did vote for them. Maybe it's our priorities, I want to give food to those who don't have enough, somebody else wants to buy a tank. I want to help a single mother who's child's dead beat dad doesn't pay his child support, someone else wants a new football stadium.

It seems to me we care more about, things, wars and what's in it for me than we do about those who really need help.

I'd like to think that everybody would want to give food to those who don't have enough. Maybe I'm wrong.

Ooo, a tank sounds cool. It would keep all of those damn creditors from messing with me. I could also loan it out to help locate dead beat dads. I think it would be pretty intimidating to see a tank knocking on your door.

We already have a very nice football stadium, even though it was built in the '60s. Now we just need our team to start winning so we don't have to go to games with a bag over our heads.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I'd like to think that everybody would want to give food to those who don't have enough. Maybe I'm wrong.

Only a deaf dumb blind kitten could possibly think you were right.

I say this in all sorrow, but really, where have you been this last Election year?

 

[Netzach]

Okay.

So how about you show some more cojones than the loyal opposition and actually name specific programs that you would cut in order to balance the budget?

It would also be interesting to work this budget simulator to see what kinds of choices you might make in order to reduce spending.

Wow, I did it and I didn't think I could. Everyone will be retiring at 68, though. Since we're not European most working people won't even notice, probably, sadly.

 

[Netzach]

I got the debt down to 60% of GDP, but only by 2024. I'm just a softie. I left most of the low-income and educational programs in.

I did too. And I didn't dismantle all known defense or tax everyone to death. I only gave vets and mass transit increases. Yeah, I did go outside my comfort zones a little as a progressive in some ways, but nothing too crazy. We could do this.

 

[DVS]

I did too. And I didn't dismantle all known defense or tax everyone to death. I only gave vets and mass transit increases. Yeah, I did go outside my comfort zones a little as a progressive in some ways, but nothing too crazy. We could do this.

Netzach in 016! Netzach in 016!