10.15.07 Noble Peas Price?
No sour grapes here.
We applaud the Goracle and the announcement last week of his winning the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. His efforts in raising awareness of climate change is truly noteworthy. Yet global warming is not the only climate change needing our attention. There is another inconvenient truth.
CitizenU would like to raise awareness to our run away federal budget. Unless we change this climate inside the Beltway, serious economic and social catastrophe awaits. Hanging in the balance, or imbalance in this case, rests the very future of our hopes and dreams.
What is the crisis you ask?
Our Federal government and its 3 trillion dollar budget is excessive and wasteful.
One example of many would be the run away costs of our agricultural entitlement programs. Upwards to fifty percent of all farm income in the United States is a government subsidy. Recently we were told billions of U.S. Treasury dollars were sent to farmers who were no longer living. Billions of dollars were sent to corporate dairy farms. Direct cash payments made to farmers not only not struggling to keep their “family farm” solvent, but farmers living multimillion dollar lifestyles have become commonplace.
We can do better. We must do better.
We are here to raise awareness to the real climate problem . . . the climate in Washington D.C. to spend recklessly.
We want to hear from you. What budget suggestions would you make? Search the 2008 Federal Budget and find savings. It is time to invest in our future rather than to spend our future paying for today’s careless climate of spending in Washington D.C.
Noble peas price? Hardly.
What budget cuts can we make? What fat should be trimmed from the Federal Budget? Let’s be specific and pass on our advice to those who make these decisions. Let’s raise the awareness.
posted by CitizenU @ 5:31 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
People need to adopt the Mr. Haan strategy on global warming.
Both Republicans and Democrats are to blame here. The so-called fiscally responsible Republicans, during the Bush Administration, have seen the Federal budget increase by over 42%. Cannot blame the "tax and spend" Democrats for this.
A recent survey of the federal budget found that in recent years "unreconciled accounts" show over $25 billion missing. This means lost money that cannot be accounted for.
Missing?
And I thought the only thing missing was leadership in Congress.
Time for the media to pick away at the Federal Budget and teach us exactly where our tax dollars go.
If not the media, time for the YOUDIA to do the same. Time for the bloggers to UNITE.
We can solve the budget crisis in 5 words: CUT OIL SUBSIDIES AND EARMARKS
Until Next Time,
J. Caesar
Right, because the war isn't the largest expenditure of the United States government at this time. Military expenditures can explain Republican fiscal overspending for the most part. Otherwise, maybe we need to rid ourselves of a few departments. Education, anyone?
M. Aurelius
PS: I think congressional grants and loans that will match the private measures of banks to relieve some ex-homeowners and current homeowners from market distress is a waste. In my opinion, consumer responsibility in this nation has declined, and if we keep on grabbing perfectly capable, fiscally able people and placing them back on their feet (while drying their tears with a handkerchief and soothing them like children) then we will never change. Let the Fed manipulate interest and discount rates and the private sector deal with consumers. Just something to watch out for in '08...
Marcus Aurelius
Hey blog guys! It's been awhile... since when did this become a once-a-week blog? I miss the daily stuff!
Anyway I was at a big 5,000-people (mostly students) Barack Obama rally in Madison on Monday, and it was so packed (and people were in such awe) that three people passed out. Obama: "I'm just knockin' them off their feet!" I got a handshake in there after it ended, pretty cool stuff.
Anyway to answer your question, I think we need to take collective responsibility as a people and find a way to reform wasteful bureaucracy. The inefficiencies in the system are staggering. We spend more money on healthcare than any other nation on earth, yet millions have no coverage, and many millions more have "almost" no coverage. I don't need to mention Iraq, but I will in this sentence alone. Agricultural subsidies keep this nation running, but $billions are wasted as mentioned.
Here is my kicker: how about campaign finance reform?! It's always talked about, and always happens in moderation, but how about actually leveling this playing field, using public-dollars only. The general public will have so much more money they aren't donating, and can maybe start to pay off personal debt, increasing the financial security of the nation as a whole.
Anyway I think it's clear that there are many, many, many solutions to slash and cut at this mammoth budget of ours, increasing efficiency and not decreasing the services this country provides.
-Brandon
Last week, I was at a town hall meeting with Rudy Giuliani. No matter what you may think of him personally, he has an interesting concept when it comes to the federal budget. The phrasing he uses is that government should be run more like a business. Right now, the incentives in government are to spend more money because it's better for your department. Efficiency should be prized, not shuned. Clean, fair financial records should be scrupulously kept in order to prevent overpayment. A balanced budget should be the norm, not a cause for celebration.
Also, I'd like to point out that the people who say the Education Department should be cut are the ones perpetuating a school funding system that is unfair, inescapable, and borderline racist. If anything, it's NASA that should be eliminated, as nothing in the government's history has spent more with as little meaningful results.
Finally, I'd like to praise Senators Obama and Coburn, who co-sponsored the bill creating the internet budget database. The struck a huge blow for government transparency and deserve a round of applause, or a fruit basket, or at least a pat on the back.
Adam Didech
Post a Comment
<< Home