Denial and chicanery in Washington
Today the New York Times repeats the fable that the budget passed yesterday (April 13) cuts 38 billion dollars. Yet most of the supposed reductions, such as 6.2 billion for a census that is not taking place this year, are phony, simple accounting tricks. Defenders of the budget say that the reductions will kick in during the "out years." When might that be?
The shocking truth is that the real reduction are only a little more than $300 m i l l i o n--that is, one percent of the amount claimed.
For his part President Obama has called for the Pentagon to slice $400 billion in projected spending "through the 2023 fiscal year." Yet analysts point out that the Pentagon could save that much money just by limiting its future spending increases to the rate of inflation projected by the White House. In other words, there will be no reduction in military spending at all.
To me it is glaringly obvious that three things must be done: 1) abolish the Bush tax cuts for e v e r y o n e, not just the rich. This supposed radical step would simply restore the situation to that of the Clinton years, our last secure era of prosperity; 2) make deep, serious, and lasting cuts in the military budget; and 3) restrict the growth of entitlements in Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.
The Republicans only want to do no. 3, while they are dead set against nos. 1 and 2. Democrats will not tolerate reducing no. 3. In principle they are in favor of 1 and 2, but so far have not shown the requisite intestinal fortitude.
This absurd situation is a sure prescription for national decline.
The shocking truth is that the real reduction are only a little more than $300 m i l l i o n--that is, one percent of the amount claimed.
For his part President Obama has called for the Pentagon to slice $400 billion in projected spending "through the 2023 fiscal year." Yet analysts point out that the Pentagon could save that much money just by limiting its future spending increases to the rate of inflation projected by the White House. In other words, there will be no reduction in military spending at all.
To me it is glaringly obvious that three things must be done: 1) abolish the Bush tax cuts for e v e r y o n e, not just the rich. This supposed radical step would simply restore the situation to that of the Clinton years, our last secure era of prosperity; 2) make deep, serious, and lasting cuts in the military budget; and 3) restrict the growth of entitlements in Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.
The Republicans only want to do no. 3, while they are dead set against nos. 1 and 2. Democrats will not tolerate reducing no. 3. In principle they are in favor of 1 and 2, but so far have not shown the requisite intestinal fortitude.
This absurd situation is a sure prescription for national decline.
Labels: Budgetarey chicanery
posted by Dyneslines at 4:23 AM
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