How would you fix the United States' budget problem?

[Freiheit Reich]

Huge issue and not given enough priority by Romney or Obama.

1) No more government foreign aid
2) Pull out troops from all foreign countries, close bases in foreign countries
3) Build an electric fence along the border reinforced with landmines and guard in towers that will shoot border crossers (warning shots are allowed though). Guards will be told to warn crossers before firing.
4) Deport all illegal immigrants
5)Flat sales tax imposed on all new items (used items will not be taxed because this is double taxation) 25%
6)Flat income tax-15% all income, no deductions
7) Balanced budget amendment-government spending is never allowed to exceed revenues
Outsource violent prisoners to Mexico if they can house prisoners cheaper or privatize prisons
9) End federal grant programs for college students
10) Phase out entitlement programs
11) Decrease permanent military, national guard will be relied on more if there are emergency issues
12) Decrease size of federal government

[Laissez-Faire]

No, he's pretty much right. They're current structure is unsustainable (like Japan in the early '80s, but like 8000x worse) and there is a profound lack of political will in the upper echelons of the CPC to fix anything.

They are unsustainable, yes, but they do have economic power. Lots of it. They control most of the manufacturing sector and hold vast quantities of rare earth materials.

No. They still depend on consumer economies around the world. Trust me, China is just as dependent on other states, particularly the USA and nations like Japan, as those other nations are dependent upon them. We benefit greatly from our trade relationship with China, and with structural reforms in our economy to promote full free trade, we'd be able to take the full capital benefits of that.

[Prolusio Acies Sigillium]

>implying our debts won't continue growing, and playing catch up by printing more money/taking it from everyone with a dollar to their name wouldn't demolish the economy (reposting this from a comment to another user with a similar stance)

If you cut back on spending and raise taxes on the wealthy, no, your debt won't keep growing.

There was an interesting video somewhere, that demonstrated, how, even if all government spending stopped, and you took every single cent those making over $250,000 had, you still couldn't get rid of half of our debts.

[Divair]

They are unsustainable, yes, but they do have economic power. Lots of it. They control most of the manufacturing sector and hold vast quantities of rare earth materials.

No. They still depend on consumer economies around the world. Trust me, China is just as dependent on other states, particularly the USA and nations like Japan, as those other nations are dependent upon them. We benefit greatly from our trade relationship with China, and with structural reforms in our economy to promote full free trade, we'd be able to take the full capital benefits of that.

And I didn't say they don't rely on everyone else. In this global market, everyone relies on everyone. But saying that they don't have power is utter BS. If they go down, we'll go crashing with them.

[Laissez-Faire]

Huge issue and not given enough priority by Romney or Obama.

Both don't have a lot going fror them on foreign policy and the economy, at least personally. The movements behind them are the only things that really have the energy.

[Divair]

If you cut back on spending and raise taxes on the wealthy, no, your debt won't keep growing.

There was an interesting video somewhere, that demonstrated, how, even if all government spending stopped, and you took every single cent those making over $250,000 had, you still couldn't get rid of half of our debts.

Because you're trying to eliminate the problem at once. Which part of "in chunks" don't you understand?

[Laissez-Faire]

No. They still depend on consumer economies around the world. Trust me, China is just as dependent on other states, particularly the USA and nations like Japan, as those other nations are dependent upon them. We benefit greatly from our trade relationship with China, and with structural reforms in our economy to promote full free trade, we'd be able to take the full capital benefits of that.

And I didn't say they don't rely on everyone else. In this global market, everyone relies on everyone. But saying that they don't have power is utter BS. If they go down, we'll go crashing with them.

Power which is rapidly falling, and which was the result of overspeculation on a lulzy scale.

[Wamitoria]

You don't pay off all of your debts at once...

>implying our debts won't continue growing, and playing catch up by printing more money/taking it from everyone with a dollar to their name wouldn't demolish the economy

Yes, taxing everyone at 100% would demolish the economy.

No, you don't need to do that to pay down our debts. FFS, we had a higher debt-to-GDP ration in the late '40s.

[Grand Britannia]

3) Build an electric fence along the border reinforced with landmines and guard in towers that will shoot border crossers (warning shots are allowed though). Guards will be told to warn crossers before firing.

Lovely idea...

[Divair]

3) Build an electric fence along the border reinforced with landmines and guard in towers that will shoot border crossers (warning shots are allowed though). Guards will be told to warn crossers before firing.

Lovely idea...

His entire plan is horrid. Expect for the non-interventionism. That's fine.

[The Allied Powers]

3) Build an electric fence along the border reinforced with landmines and guard in towers that will shoot border crossers (warning shots are allowed though). Guards will be told to warn crossers before firing.

Lovely idea...

No it isn't. Unless you're being sarcastic.

[Laissez-Faire]

3) Build an electric fence along the border reinforced with landmines and guard in towers that will shoot border crossers (warning shots are allowed though). Guards will be told to warn crossers before firing.

Lovely idea...

To hell with the whole "no standing army" thing, I guess...

[Divair]

Lovely idea...

No it isn't. Unless you're being sarcastic.

You're bad at picking up sarcasm, are't you?

[Genivaria]

increase reduction of troops in iraq and afganistan
reduce our nuclear arsenal
reduce the naval fleet
cut the overall size of the military
raise the tax rate on capital gains
eliminate tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry
create a public health care option

Here's a weird idea: Ask France and Europe on advice for Healthcare and Education respectively.
*gasp* Asking Europe for HELP!?
US to Finland: We will give you large sums of money IF you can take our single most poor and troubled school and get it within the top 5 within 4 years.

May I suggest public works programs?

Yes of course, but what would those "works" be? More roads?

[Ifreann]

3) Build an electric fence along the border reinforced with landmines and guard in towers that will shoot border crossers (warning shots are allowed though). Guards will be told to warn crossers before firing.

Lovely idea...

Nothing saves money like enormous building projects with constant electricity requirements, massive man power requirements, and the somewhat less tangible costs of committing war crimes.

[Laissez-Faire]

Lovely idea...

Nothing saves money like enormous building projects with constant electricity requirements, massive man power requirements, and the somewhat less tangible costs of committing war crimes.

I'm sure the Constitution loved being violated as well.

[Grand Britannia]

Lovely idea...

To hell with the whole "no standing army" thing, I guess...

I must have missed that...

[Laissez-Faire]

To hell with the whole "no standing army" thing, I guess...

I must have missed that...

It's a nice principle which states the government won't maintain an armed and active/able force within the United States, unless in the event of defensive war. Having armed border guards in army configuration is bad for that.

[Divair]

May I suggest public works programs?

Yes of course, but would those "works" be? More roads?

Railways? Roads? Bridges? Schools? Solar power plants? Nuclear reactors? Electric car infrastructure (battery stations like Better Place)? Stuff like that.

[Ifreann]

Nothing saves money like enormous building projects with constant electricity requirements, massive man power requirements, and the somewhat less tangible costs of committing war crimes.

I'm sure the Constitution loved being violated as well.

Certainly, but that's free. Well, until you have to defend yourself in court.

[Laissez-Faire]

Yes of course, but would those "works" be? More roads?

Railways? Roads? Bridges? Schools? Solar power plants? Nuclear reactors? Electric car infrastructure (battery stations like Better Place)? Stuff like that.

Why not private works?

[Laissez-Faire]

I'm sure the Constitution loved being violated as well.

Certainly, but that's free. Well, until you have to defend yourself in court.

Too bad they don't have the Anti-ACLU.

[Wamitoria]

1) No more government foreign aid

Less than 0.5% of our budget.

2) Pull out troops from all foreign countries, close bases in foreign countries

Immediate destabilization of the middle east, oil prices skyrocket.

3) Build an electric fence along the border reinforced with landmines and guard in towers that will shoot border crossers (warning shots are allowed though). Guards will be told to warn crossers before firing.

How does this solve our budget problem? Protip: Illegal Immigrants tend to pay taxes without collecting benefits.

4) Deport all illegal immigrants

See the above.

5)Flat sales tax imposed on all new items (used items will not be taxed because this is double taxation) 25%

Budget problem gets worse with what you suggest.

7) Balanced budget amendment-government spending is never allowed to exceed revenues

Unemployment hits 35% as a result of removing 1.1 trillion from our budget immediately. Government is overthrown.

Outsource violent prisoners to Mexico if they can house prisoners cheaper or privatize prisons

Los Zetas already have plenty of foot soldiers, thank you very much.

9) End federal grant programs for college students

College students sit around with massive debts and no jobs. College students turn to radical ideologies. See my response to #7.

10) Phase out entitlement programs

With the tax cuts you want and the balanced budget amendment, they would have to be ended quickly rather than phased out.

11) Decrease permanent military, national guard will be relied on more if there are emergency issues

Great, now we have unemployed, bitter soldiers wandering around with unemployed, bitter college students while the economy is in the shitter.
See my response to #7.

12) Decrease size of federal government

Hell, your proposal essentially lays out the dream scenario for any aspiring dictator in the US. I would laugh this post off, but there are people in the government who actually think like you.

[Grand Britannia]

I must have missed that...

It's a nice principle which states the government won't maintain an armed and active/able force within the United States, unless in the event of defensive war. Having armed border guards in army configuration is bad for that.

The U.S can't afford to not have a standing military...They've made too many enemies as it is.

[Laissez-Faire]

1) No more government foreign aid

Less than 0.5% of our budget.

Still doesn't mean it needs to stay unchecked.

2) Pull out troops from all foreign countries, close bases in foreign countries

Immediate destabilization of the middle east, oil prices skyrocket.

I'll grant you that. I'd perhaps counter with some diplomatic rather than military re-arrangement. Such as actually seing a few states as sovereign, namely being Israel, to make their own decisions and live with their consequences.

4) Deport all illegal immigrants

See the above.

Not to mention deportation, even in such a scheme, never works.

5)Flat sales tax imposed on all new items (used items will not be taxed because this is double taxation) 25%

Budget problem gets worse with what you suggest.

Unless of course the income tax was eliminated- it might reduce the structural bureaucratic mess, to be honest. Even some reorganization of the whole system of income tax while still keeping it would help, if not solve, the issue.

7) Balanced budget amendment-government spending is never allowed to exceed revenues

Unemployment hits 35% as a result of removing 1.1 trillion from our budget immediately. Government is overthrown.

So reducing regulations might be important before going onwards with the austerity. Better, honestly, some be done now rather than later.

The whole structural problem is maintaining government authority on the economy in principle while doing all of this.