YOU ballance the budget!

[Prince Glittersnatch III]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html?hp

YOU BALANCE THE BUDGET! Use this NYT interactive and choose the shit you would cut to make that mean 'ole budget deficit get blasted to smithereens!

AXES AT THE READY!

[Phox]

Hey, look at that, by reducing military spending (but not altering the non-com benefits), returning taxes to Clinton-era levels, and instating a carbon tax, a national sales tax, and a millionaire's tax, I balanced the budget. Whodathunkit?

[Thurnez Isa]

Yes but how many countries did you invade?

[Requia ☣]

Military cuts are not nearly as large as they should be.

Balancing for 2015 is easy enough, balancing for 2030 is a nightmare.  On the other hand I have a 100billion+ surplus in the short term, so some serious paying down of the debt will at least make that less of a disaster.

[Phox]

Yes but how many countries did you invade?

None, but I pulled troops out of Iraq, Afghanistan, AND Europe, and reduced the overall military strength of the country. I is a bad Amurrican.  

[Phox]

Military cuts are not nearly as large as they should be.

Balancing for 2015 is easy enough, balancing for 2030 is a nightmare.  On the other hand I have a 100billion+ surplus in the short term, so some serious paying down of the debt will at least make that less of a disaster.

It's only a nightmare if you keep the Bush Tax Cuts. But I agree, you should be able to reduce military spending to a greater degree. But I think most of those are proposals that are currently being talked up. Could be wrong though.

ETA:  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html?choices=03t005yg

[Requia ☣]

Actually., the bush tax cuts don't affect the long term as much (I rolled back all of those, except the capital gains, and raised numerous other taxes), they make it very easy for the 2015 projection though.

I also did a projection where I took every non military spending cut and no tax hike... 200 billion shortfall in 2015.

And yes, they are current proposals (which is why I kept the capital gains cuts, what *should* be done is raise the capital gains but not the short term capital gains tax that was also cut in the Bush plan).

Still, some cuts to the navy and air force would be appreciated, not to mention slowing down our weapons programs (seriously, until an F-15 gets shot down, we don't need new fighters).

[Phox]

Actually., the bush tax cuts don't affect the long term as much (I rolled back all of those, except the capital gains, and raised numerous other taxes), they make it very easy for the 2015 projection though.

I also did a projection where I took every non military spending cut and no tax hike... 200 billion shortfall in 2015.

And yes, they are current proposals (which is why I kept the capital gains cuts, what *should* be done is raise the capital gains but not the short term capital gains tax that was also cut in the Bush plan).

Still, some cuts to the navy and air force would be appreciated, not to mention slowing down our weapons programs (seriously, until an F-15 gets shot down, we don't need new fighters).

Hmm. You are right about that. I did roll back the capital gains though. I suppose it is just a matter of perspective as to how we view the long term effects. But you are dead on about the military.

[Death]

Yes but how many countries did you invade?

None, but I pulled troops out of Iraq, Afghanistan, AND Europe, and reduced the overall military strength of the country. I is a bad Amurrican.  

  AMURRICA HATEN' HIPPIE

[Cain]

I crashed the budget, then sold the entire military to China as mercenaries.  What do I win?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I crashed the budget, then sold the entire military to China as mercenaries.  What do I win?

The screams of jingoists, to lull you to sleep at night.

[Death]

I crashed the budget, then sold the entire military to China as mercenaries.  What do I win?

The screams of jingoists, to lull you to sleep at night.

As well as dog and catburgers on the menu at McDonald's.

[East Coast Hustle]

Hey, look at that, by reducing military spending (but not altering the non-com benefits), returning taxes to Clinton-era levels, and instating a carbon tax, a national sales tax, and a millionaire's tax, I balanced the budget. Whodathunkit?

IWDYAFY.

[Juana]

I slashed military spending, raised taxes, instituted a carbon and bank tax, eliminated farm subsidies, reduced troops in Iraq, and closed loopholes. Solved both deficits with some pretty good surplus numbers.

Hey, look at that, by reducing military spending (but not altering the non-com benefits), returning taxes to Clinton-era levels, and instating a carbon tax, a national sales tax, and a millionaire's tax, I balanced the budget. Whodathunkit?

National sales tax is a bad idea, imo. Hurts poor people more than anyone else.

[East Coast Hustle]

sales tax is the most regressive way of raising tax revenue that I can think of.