Is there fat left to cut in the federal budget?

[Wakie]

What do you guys think?  Is there still fat left in the budget?

[John Dibble]

Yes, it's full of pork lard.

[MODU]

Yes, it's full of pork lard.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Citizens Against Government Waste

Now, while I don't agree that everything they have listed as pork is actually wasteful, they have a pretty good listing of how much pork is out there.  Special thanks to Senators Stevens and Byrd for making pork an art.

[KEmperor]

Mike Naso.

[Democratic Hawk]

Ten years after Bill Clinton declared that 'The era of big government is over' and here we are! Look where the GOP have taken you

It's actually the subject of this weeks Lexington column in The Economist entitled "Send in the cronies: Big-government conservatism faces its biggest test so far; it could prove fatal"

And so it should, it's stank hypocrisy. The GOP is in no position to criticise Democrats any more [My comments not Lexington's]

I think Andrew Sullivan said it all when he commented that the only [I wouldn't go that far] difference between the two parties is that the Democrats are the party of big solvent government and the Republicans, the party of big insolvent government

Of course, there's plenty of fat to cut it's a question of where

Dave

[The Duke]

Of course there is.  Tom DeLay is a buffoon and a liability.

[MODU]

Hawk,

I haven't seen any party take a hard line on pork or spending and mean it.    Both of the two leading parties are big time porkers.

[Emsworth]

Of course, there is plenty. A majority of federal spending--or perhaps even more--is either unnecessary, unwise, or unconstitutional.

[Wakie]

Wow ... seems like everyone in the forum has the same conclusion.  Tom DeLay is full of crap.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050914-120153-3878r.htm

[Blue Rectangle]

Of course there is.  Tom DeLay is a buffoon and a liability.

^^^^^^

Although it is a little funny to see the media pressure him to give up pork in his home district to pay for Katrina, when Rita is about to smack his constituents.

[ilikeverin]

You must be crazy if you don't think so.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Oh yes. But if you think it's possible to get rid of it you're kidding yourselves...

[A18]

Yes. In fact, CATO has outlined a number of minor cuts, most of which were attempted by the Republicans after their 1994 takeover of the House, that would make up for the lost Katrina revenue.

[Dave from Michigan]

yes, it is pathetic that the republicans won't even make some simple cuts.  If Tom Delay cared about the party he would step down today, the guy is a disgrace to the party.  Unfortuntely i the democrats would be any better with spending.  The party of less government is dead .

[A18]

Abolishing the Department of Education would be a good start.

[Alcon]

Yes, there is fat left to be cut from the federal budget.

[Blue Rectangle]

Abolishing the Department of Education would be a good start.

We tried that.  The result was that Clinton got re-elected.

[Bono]

Abolishing the Department of Education would be a good start.

We tried that.  The result was that Clinton got re-elected.

Meh. Reagan got elected promising that(and failing to deliver).

[The Duke]

Yes, there is fat left to be cut from the federal budget.

Doyou think you're a waiter or something, because you just served Ted Kennedy.

[AkSaber]

Let's start with U.N. dues.

[DanielX]

I believe that approximately 60% of government spending should be eliminated. Current ratios of spending is 60% entitlements, 20% military, 20% discretionary. I think about 30-30-40 is better - or, keep defense spending roughly constant (there's fat there, but the fat should, rather be cut, rendered into a more effective military), and cut out roughly 80% of entitlements (basically, eliminating MediCare, fully privatizing Social Security, and limiting entitlements to minimal Medicaid (if that) and stuff for government employees and veterans), and roughly 40% of non-entitlement spending (essentially gut Interior, Agriculture, Education, HHS, and HUD, cut most other stuff, merge Homeland Security with Defense, snip Energy, Commerce, Labor, and whatever else I've forgotten).

[Defarge]

yes

[Erc]

The problem is, pork is popular.

Nita Lowey just brought home $250k to preserve & update an old picture house in my town...and I can't honestly say I'm not glad she did it.

I know it's wrong...but when you get it, pork is lovely.  And therein lies the problem.

[ATFFL]

No, there is no fat.  There is fricking lard in there.

[??????????]

No, there is no fat.  There is fricking lard in there.

Quit insulting the govt by calling it fat. You'll hurt its' feelings, you know the proper term is "a bit of baby fat".