How to pay for Katrina and future disasters?

[catatonic]

Is there really that much left that we can cut? I heard a former Democrat official saying the kind of budget that's available for modification would have to be cut 40%. He said that can't happen and the debt will go to our children. I can't stand this. We need to raise taxes. 67% of Americans believe paying off debt more important than lowering taxes.

Come on! Let's raise taxes.

[EN[i]GMA]

I'm sure I could find something to cut.

I heard there was a war or something going on, probably some waste there.

[racer5.0stang]

Just raising taxes isn't going to ensure that the money will be spent properly.

[Ali]

Just raising taxes isn't going to ensure that the money will be spent properly.Good point... a change of government, perhaps?

[racer5.0stang]

Good point... a change of government, perhaps?

There are crooked people on both sides.

More like a change in policy. Install check systems to help insure that monies are going to the proper locations and in the appropiate amounts.

[D_Raay]

Yeah cut taxes and then end up paying anyway when something like Katrina happens.

[ericg]

Don't be a criminally incompetent public.

[valvano]

every part of govt down the line should be cut 10-20%, and the govt payroll should be cut an equal amount (federal level)

the number one thing the president needs is a true line item veto and a balanced budget amendment...

[EN[i]GMA]

There are crooked people on both sides.

More like a change in policy. Install check systems to help insure that monies are going to the proper locations and in the appropiate amounts.

And of course the people installing and overseeing the check systems are: The very same people we're trying to stop.

That's sure to turn out great.

Maybe we just need a check system for the check system.

[Ace42X]

GMA']
Maybe we just need a check system for the check system.

And so on ad infinitum. You need a system which isn't totally open to abuse. That way you'd not have to invest as much time and effort into propping it up.

[racer5.0stang]

GMA']Maybe we just need a check system for the check system.

No, just an outside group to audit the system.

[valvano]

then you will have everybody working to match the numbers, and they ultimately get numb to the numbers

[Monsieur Decuts]

dope, dope light, dope extra light and dope 100 slims

[D_Raay]

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/205128.shtml?5day

Hurricane Rita's projected path aims at... Crawford Texas?!

[QueenAdrock]

Well, if it does blow down his ranch, at least we know that relief efforts will be plentiful.

Granted, plentiful for him, but maybe some people can loot some of the new TVs that will be going into his newly built house.

[QueenAdrock]

every part of govt down the line should be cut 10-20%, and the govt payroll should be cut an equal amount (federal level)


And why the government payroll? My dad worked his ass off for 30 years for the government as a forensic chemist. Why should his pay be cut?

[infidel]

Just give the federal government to Halliburton and let them run it will illegal aliens.

[ericg]

I concur with dope... but the nation has to take a giant leap for mankind first... correct resource proliferation.. government, business, and social reform... before the nation's character/ common denomination can appropriate the degree of civility/ common wealth (wherewithal), mentally and physically, accountable enough per capita to have a reasonable amount of responsibility for it... a value system simply built on virtue and real progress... you know, all that's "good".

Anyway, as many professionals have said, the restoration of the region's coastal environment would generate a vast number of jobs for the region (concentrating on the regions sanitization and water purification is an urgent and mandatory precursor), as would the manufacturing and development of benign energy. We ought to take the opportunity to rebuild with this technology and put it on the map. New Orleanians re-investing in their land should have the opportunity to benifit by farming this resource and feed it into a new power grid that can be mandated throughout the country and world. The applications are infinite. A transitional apparatus of the same technology for engines should be mass manufactured like yesterday with tax incentives perhaps to get every car in the shop.

No more oil war. Wow. There's alot of money. I bet if we impeach Bush and indict much of his admin and fill the seats with (a sound character and persona) good, accountable, honest, responsible, integral... not to mention, intelligent people, in a relatively short amount of time we would also turn many of our enemies into allies by rebuilding Iraq's region and the world with this same resource like we're all one people. Free power is the answer all round. It's that simple. The quicker people catch on and take every initiative to consolidate, invest, and mandate it...

I'm no pro, but liquidate OPEC and Haliburton etc... and boost this energy and the economy into the 21st century.

Anyway, 2 days left and counting...

I always say more than I started to, but never enough....
The beauty of progress is always better than the devastation of degeneration.
Who doesn't get that?
You figure it out.

[Ali]

GMA']Maybe we just need a check system for the check system.Isn't that called a Constitution?

Oh, wait, that's being used for toilet paper. Sorry. :o

[valvano]

And why the government payroll? My dad worked his ass off for 30 years for the government as a forensic chemist. Why should his pay be cut?

i am referring to the # of people on the fed payroll......

some should be just plain done away with, others outsourced to more efficient private contractors...

[Tone Capone]

Confiscate all the kick backs UN officials get while trying their hardest not to look useless. That should be more than enough to pay for all the crap going on in the world... :)

[Ace42X]

That should be more than enough to pay for all the crap going on in the world... :)

The largest amount auditied was the equivalent of a few $100,000. You think less than a mill is going to get far when Halliburton gets billion-dollar contracts handed to them on a platter?

Prat.

[QueenAdrock]

i am referring to the # of people on the fed payroll......

some should be just plain done away with, others outsourced to more efficient private contractors...

Alright, I can see that.

I just get pissed when people say that government people are worthless because I know how hard my dad worked for every cent he made.

I personally think that most of Bush's paycheck should be going towards the deficit. It wouldn't make even a dent, but it'd make him think twice before he spent billions of dollars at the drop of a hat on god knows what.

[EN[i]GMA]

And so on ad infinitum. You need a system which isn't totally open to abuse. That way you'd not have to invest as much time and effort into propping it up.

I was being sardonic.

Any system is open to abuse, period.

As far as I can see, our only hope is to give 'systems' as little power and influence as possible and hope for the best.

[EN[i]GMA]

No, just an outside group to audit the system.

Kind of like Arthur Anderson 'auditing' Enron, right?

Maybe we just need auditors to audit the auditors!

[EN[i]GMA]

Isn't that called a Constitution?

Oh, wait, that's being used for toilet paper. Sorry. :o

I bet I personally own more Constitutions than G.W.'s entire White House staff.

And I only have one.

[Ace42X]

GMA']
As far as I can see, our only hope is to give 'systems' as little power and influence as possible and hope for the best.

While corruption would thus be diminished to a smaller level, the net opportunity for corruption would increase proportionately.

[Space]

THIS IS NOT A WORLD PROBLEM, WE GOT FAT WE CAN CUT OUT OF OUR PORK.

LET IT GO.

DONATE YOUR BLOOD TO YOUR DADDY IF HE FALLS ILL, AND YOUR MAMA, YOUR SISTER, AND YOUR BROTHER WILL LOVE YOU! (lb)

[Tone Capone]

The largest amount auditied was the equivalent of a few $100,000. You think less than a mill is going to get far when Halliburton gets billion-dollar contracts handed to them on a platter?

Prat.

uh oh... the message board avenger is here to save the day!!! :eek:

ps. If you think it's only a few $100,000 you are stupider than you usually comes off as....

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1726768,00.html

it's just the tip of the iceberg...

[Ali]

GMA']I bet I personally own more Constitutions than G.W.'s entire White House staff.

And I only have one.You'd better make sure it's up to date.

[catatonic]

Check out the polls on the cover of pollingreport.com:

How confident are you in the federal/state&local governments ability to handle a major disaster in the future?

federal 54% confident 45% nonconfident
state 64% confident 34% nonconfident

"If you had to choose, which one of the following options do you think is the best way for the government to pay for the relief effort for Hurricane Katrina? Cut spending on Iraq. Delay or cancel additional tax cuts. Add to the federal debt and gradually pay it back. Cut spending for other domestic programs like education, welfare, transportation, and health care."

.

Cut Iraq
Spending 42
Delay Or
Cancel
Tax Cuts 29
d To
Federal
Debt 14
Cut Other
Domestic
Spending 11
Unsure 4
9/16-18/05

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[baltogrl71]

look our fucking government is so fucked up we could give our whole pay check for taxes and they would still be in a hole. where the hell does all the money go? in their pockets! And what about the people whos stuff got screwed up, yeah i feel bad for them but they chose to live there and they chose to get insurance or not. Everyday people have fires and floods and lose all their shit and no-one runs to help them, only if your in some group disaster should you get help? what the fuck? Those other people who aren't in the group disaster they figure their shit out themselves. Help should only be given to those who absolutly need it i.e. the elderly. And if I want to help then I want to know exactly where the money that I worked for is going, so letting the government handle it ain't gonna work!