Raise Taxes to Rebuild NO? Or Cut Defense Budget?

Originally posted by crisko

Originally posted by SwearBear
Why not cut the defense budget?

The US defense budget is about 45% of the US governments annual budget ...
www.oldamericancentury.org...

LOL. No it isn't. As of September 2005, it was about 3.4% of the U.S. GNP; and it's actually going down.

Most of the current expenditure is due to the upgrade of decrepit defense systems still left over from the Cold War.

The highest it's ever been was around 5% of the GNP in the 1980's.

Sure, we are fighting wars; but whether or not we are, the troops have to get paid, Hummers need oil changes and Generals need their golf courses maintained.

Google it; or ask your economics teacher.

[edit on 22-9-2005 by crisko]

Er yes it is Crisco. It is around 45% of the governments spending budget.

GNP is Gross National Product and has nothing to do with the government spending. However a larger GNP would give the government more money through taXES ETC.

I suggest you speak to an economics teacher before you try to belittle others, making yourself look silly at the same time.

-----

Anyway, I don't see cutting the military budget an option for the US at the moment. The economy does depend on the military to a certain extent and I think we all know the US is likely to be on the offensive for some time to come.

Increasing taxes is likely the best option as a small increase could be made over and kept over a long period. When the cost has been covered the taxes could be dropped again. Although my skepticism of goverments makes me believe it would likely not be dropped again.

Likely the only other option would be to borrow more money from other countries.

Will the nation's economy be well enough to reconstruct "Huston" and the coast of texas after the new killer storm call "Rita"

One thing is to reconstruct one city now we probably have to reconstruct two more.

Yes our country is heading for some hard economical times.

[edit on 22-9-2005 by marg6043]

Originally posted by Kriz_4

Originally posted by crisko

Originally posted by SwearBear
Why not cut the defense budget?

The US defense budget is about 45% of the US governments annual budget ...
www.oldamericancentury.org...

LOL. No it isn't. As of September 2005, it was about 3.4% of the U.S. GNP; and it's actually going down.

Most of the current expenditure is due to the upgrade of decrepit defense systems still left over from the Cold War.

The highest it's ever been was around 5% of the GNP in the 1980's.

Sure, we are fighting wars; but whether or not we are, the troops have to get paid, Hummers need oil changes and Generals need their golf courses maintained.

Google it; or ask your economics teacher.

[edit on 22-9-2005 by crisko]

I suggest you speak to an economics teacher before you try to belittle others, making yourself look silly at the same time.

I have, these figures are based on the discrentionary budget, which accounts for 35% of total U.S. Spending, the other 65% is Mandatory.






Obviously this isn't 1995. But account for a higher budget, inflation increased income etc. You can download the pdf of the fiscal budget from whitehouse.gov.

50% of 35% is what? 17.5% total?




[edit on 22-9-2005 by crisko]

Now its worse, we have to rebuild from like the middle of Mississippi to the middle of texas, like almost half the Gulf Coast coast.

Use the pork spending on it and take $50 billion from the $420 Billion [this FiscalYear]for Defense, and Use this Defense money For "Defense" and not "Offense". You know they will rebuild the ports, power plants, refineries, and casinos/hotels first. In New Orleans alone I have heard they will have to destroy some 60,000 homes.

Actually I have seen the new advertisements calling for the habitat for humanity to be the ones to build homes for the poor.

I guess if you can take care of the building of homes of the poor with donated items as the way the habitat for humanity does, I guess the government only has to rebuild the houses for the rich.

And occurs the businesses. too.

If people want to rebuild New Orleans then the money should come from the state of Louisianna. Why should federal tax dollars go to rebuilding a city BELOW sea level?

IMO the government SHOULD cut defense spending, but in reality they probably will cut Medicaid and other programs for the poor/disabled

Or Cut Defense Budget?

- of course not...the 'defense budget' has actually expanded...it now has
a new Cabinet Level Department; Homeland Security!!
and the border patrol & coast-guard parts of defense need upgraded too!

Raise Taxes To Rebuild New Orleans?

-of course not...the Government responsibility is only needed, when and if,
the private sector fails to 'step-up-to-the-plate'
The Gov't leadership....might 'sweeten-the-pot' by making the N.O. disaster area a free-trade zone, or an opportunity-zone, or a duty-free & tax-free zone....for either a period of time
or perhaps a goal-oriented model for 'rebuilding' or 'retrofitting' the decimated portions of N.O....in accord with 21st century visions of medium density population centers located in hazardous weather zones.


Let the insurers fufill their obligations, let the free enterprise system create the investment capital & expertise to accomplish the tasks...
just involve the gov't as the regulator and provide oversight to
protect the public from the wolves in society/economy which would prey
on the victims.....