The United States must reverse its spending habits, and most Americans know it. A recent poll by Resurgent Republic shows that 62 percent of likely voters are very concerned about the level of deficit spending of which Congress is guilty. When those that were somewhat concerned are included, the percentage of Americans that view Congress’ spending as reckless and irresponsible grows even larger.
President Obama is obviously aware of this sentiment among the American people, but whether or not he takes it seriously is another question. The Washington Times reminds us that during his presidential campaign, President Obama promised to “go through the federal budget line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less.” And just last week, the President addressed his debt commission, claiming that in order to achieve its objectives, everything—tax increases, spending reductions, and even the recently-passed health care overhaul—must be on the table.
But is everything on the table? The President’s budget for 2011 included a recommendation to cut discretionary spending to create $10.3 billion in savings. Since these won’t go into effect until October, Republican leaders suggested the President use his rescission authority to enact the cuts immediately. And just last week, they upped their recommendation by offering a list of rescissions that would increase savings to $375 billion.
These represent real savings that could be obtained with no action from the questionably effective debt commission. If the President were serious about cutting spending to reduce the deficit, this would be the place to start, but thus far, no response has been given.
Instead, the President’s actions indicate the opposite. He signed a bloated and likely-to-fail health care bill that creates expensive new entitlement programs and will cost trillions. He raised the debt ceiling to $14.3 trillion. He proposed a budget that will create record deficits for years to come. And according to Resurgent Republic, 56 percent of likely voters agree that the costly stimulus package was a waste of borrowed dollars on unnecessary spending. As far as fiscal responsibility goes, President Obama does not have a good track record.
According to Heritage budget expert Brian Riedl, soaring deficits are due not to a lack of taxation, but rather out-of-control spending. This is based on current and historical levels of spending and taxation as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product. President Obama doesn’t need to wait for the recommendation of the debt commission to prove he means business when it comes to controlling the federal deficit. The way forward is clear: cut spending, and do it now.
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Mr. President, I respect your concern not to ask you of your faith. It is plain to see your embarrassment of it and an obvious revelation, it’s definitely not in the people who live in dignity, free from government dependency. Which is the Declaration of Independence in being an American. Your duty not to interfere, IF you are representing America or cared to govern America as a free nation.
Persons taking on their responsibilities, self reliance, is what FREEDOM is! Holding people accountable to choices of actions that violate others financially or physically, is civil duty… In America the only inferiority is a complex. Not the American’s governments take on the people the American government serves. Where’s your faith Mr. President? oops sorry. I didn’t mean that.
It would be a good idea once again for the people of the world to realize, America’s freedom is world freedom UNDER LIMITED GOVERNMENT!
get out of the peoples house, mr. president, you do not represent America or Americans and you’re a terrible role model for freedom and holding yourself accountable.
An air of indifference and failure to understand Economics .101 is present in Washington. The left-wing hasn't learned anything from America's economic history. It's time for the American voter to exert our power and remove all supporters from Congress be they Democrat, Independent or Republican. The spending curve must be reversed. The result of the credit card type spending spree will our children, grand children and great grand children an America not inherited our generation. My hope is the voter comes to his/her senses in 2010 and 2012 and combined makes the changes necessary to save Republic.
government as regulation/debt for u.s.sovernty,—population,land, water, climate, treasury, economics, ect— heritage could become advocates of (complexty science), providing stastitical help in the positions you propose.
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While I am in an agreement on the need for restraint, however for the last 30 years we have been on a course for increased spending while cutting taxes which are fiscally unsustainable. The blame lies in the two party system where politicians are running on bringing home the beacon just to get re-elected.
The Republicans are speaking out of two sides of their mouth on what certain people want to hear to what is the reality. Many of the arguments presented by the conservatives about cutting spending cuts alone will solve the problem when in reality the cost goes up and many of the money in the programs is income to someone (simple Economic 101). As a matter of fact, there's an excellent article on Center for American Progress (CAP) about relying on spending cuts alone will entail and it would be many programs that we all take for granted and use on a daily basis.
I would like to see a partnership between government, business and the public on what is our priorities and what we as a nation are willing to pay for. As I always say if you want something, you have to pay for it.
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Billie
Your comment "Persons taking on their responsibilities, self reliance, is what FREEDOM is!"
While it is true, however; you'll find people with disabilities who are denied opportunities to become self sufficient simply an employer does not want to hire them even if they are extremely intelligent and knowledgeable and no matter what they are relegated to nothing. I see this all the time and it is something you failed to present in your argument.
Spending by Obama and congress is beyond incompetent.
It is now grossly negligent.
And it is only one step below treasonous.
We are not yet officially out of the recession. The troubles in Greece and the Gulf put the recovery in jeopardy. And the Heritage Foundation is recommending spending cuts that may further jeopardize the recovery. Making near term spending cuts at this time makes less sense than raising taxes.
Just wondering whether the recommendations show a lack of basic macroeconomic understanding or are intended to reverse the recovery for political benefit in the mid-term elections.
I thought this was a conservative blog with real answers? The number 1 problem is entitlement spending and not a peep? Within 5 years this number will become 2/3 of the budget and will eventually become 3/4 when we reach the middle of the baby boomer generation. If the cuts proposed above were enacted today, we still have over 1 trillion in annual deficits. You are throwing deck chairs off the titanic.
Seems to be a simple start towards a solution… I wonder why he can't figure it out. It must be all that brain matter he has crammed into his super-intelligent head of his is getting in the way.
James, you're absolutely right!
It wasn't mentioned because I am one of those people you write of. It would be dangerous for me to live independently. I do have family. I make my way with NO HELP FROM GOVERNMENT! You see it everyday? I LIVE IT! Nobody knows true discrimination like a person with a diisability not seen through the naked eye.
But when my disease DOES show it's ugly face, it's a HUGE DISTRACTION IN THE WORK PLACE! Which makes it a huge loss to the business. It was the hand I was dealt that was not brought on by lifestyle. I do not find it feasible that someone else suffer the financial consequences. Including the business owner! Due to the life threatening consequences and the humiliation that goes with, I was forced for my own sanity, to stop working. Things are figured out without GOVERNMENT'S nurturing breast. Our household income is 40k. lots of money isn't it, James? Especially when there's a costly medical condition! while you support government inching to make my independence from government, IMPOSSIBLE!
I have applied for social security as I have paid much into it. By government standards I qualify but that didn't stop the government from denying me 4 years in a row. The last year I applied was 2007, didn't get the good news until 2 weeks ago? Funny aren't they? Had they not taken ss out of my weekly paychecks, I would be a much healthier person today. I was born an individual. My life? MY PROBLEM! KEEP THE GOVERNMENT NANNIES OUT! My complaint is, government CAN SET the COSTS but DON'Tt. TOO MUCH MONEY TO GOVERNMENT! Government takes full advantage of me and people in the same situation (so -to-speak.)
…and James, if I can do it since 13 years of age, all can! Family, friends, charities, whatever. It is so dangerous for government involvement into PERSONAL, INDIVIDUAL HEALTH AS THEN IT BECOMES PUBLIC! PRIVACY WILL NO LONGER EXIST. YOU'LL HAVE NO IDEA WHO'S HANDS and EYES YOUR RECORDS GO THROUGH! YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS IS MORE HARM THEN GOOD.
I'm sorry James, but I have to call you out on one more thing. People with visible disabilities ARE NOT DENIED EMPLOYMENT. government bribes business to hire disabled people and government gives the business a DEDUCTIBLE! Why would the business even be so stupid to deny employment when the person being denied can get backing to claim discrimination? They wouldn't, James! So please, you do not see it all the time, you've been brainwashed by the president and the media. As far as insurance, I've not been denied at all! It is or was accessible to ALL. Peoples failure to do for themselves is the illusion of denial, obama created for your sympathies. Please open your mind!