Dishonest Budget Talk

[papau]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30620-2004Feb10.html


Dishonest Budget Talk By Robert J. Samuelson
Wednesday, February 11, 2004; Page A31

The most revealing factoid about the Bush administration's budget is this: After scouring the entire $2.4 trillion of federal spending, the White House found 65 programs that it deemed so unneeded or ineffective that they should be eliminated. How much do these programs cost? About $4.9 billion. Although that's a lot of money, it's only 0.2 percent of federal spending -- two-tenths of 1 percent. This qualifies as an aggressive assault on government spending? <snip>

Possibilities: eliminate community development block grants, mass transit construction subsidies and Amtrak. • Cut defense -- $433 billion in 2004 -- by $25 billion by shutting unneeded bases and ending questionable weapons programs. Possibilities: cancel one of two new fighters (the F/A-22 or the Joint Strike Fighter), the Marines' V-22 transport plane and the Army's Comanche helicopter. • Cut nonretirement entitlements -- $314 billion -- by $30 billion... end farm subsidies and reduce subsidized college loans for wealthier families. (Entitlements are paid to anyone who meets the qualifications.) • Trim the costs of the baby boom's retirement by 25 percent...(by)raise Social Security's eligibility age gradually to 70 by 2027; make Medicare's eligibility age the same as Social Security's; and increase Medicare premiums. • Raise taxes to cover remaining deficits. Possibilities: increase taxes on energy or dividends and capital gains (profits on stocks and real estate).

This sobering exercise would strip both parties of self-serving budgetary slogans. Republicans would have to admit that, even after big spending cuts, a balanced budget requires higher taxes.

...If people in Washington were serious, they'd leap to make these questions the center of debate. But of course, they aren't serious. The present dishonesty is too comfortable and convenient for both parties. Budget talk isn't intended to do anything about the budget. It's mostly about scoring political points.

1. YOU ARE NOT KIDDING!

Get em all outta office.