Budget Cuts to Seriously Consider

So, we constantly hear how we have cut all we can from the budget, and we need more revenue.  I known all along that this is untrue, and likewise suspected it would be easy to make cuts.  So I went through the federal budget.

Well, here is what I have come up with.  I understand that some of you are going to see stuff in here that affects you, and you may not like it.  I don't mean to sound harsh, but that's just too bad!  Friends, we have a SPENDING crisis, led by an out of control government that keeps funding unnecessary and unconstitutional programs.  They MUST be cut!  I have not made any cuts at all at this time to any program that is constitutionally ordained (such as the Department of the Interior) at this time.

Republicans in the past have been good at cutting taxes, but dismal at cutting spending.  To put it in perspective, let's say 40 years ago, on a Monday morning on your way to work, someone on the street corner handed you $100.  Likewise, another $100 again the next week, and again every week thereafter.  Obviously you will become accustomed to getting that money, and will account for it in your personal budget.  You are not legally or morally entitled to that money and it's not owed you.  It's been given to you by someone as a gift.  Now, let's assume that next week as you go to work, the man is still there, but he no longer gives you any money.  Furthermore, we find out that the money he's been giving you all these years he has been taking from someone else: it wasn't even his to give!  Well, naturally the money flow stops.  I understand that the loss of this money every Monday will cause you some discomfort, but, do you have any right to complain or protest?  After all, it never was owed you, and it wasn't even his to give!

That is the scenario we find ourselves in with most of these government programs, which explains why they need to be cut.  For decades the federal government has been funding special interests with money stolen from the wealthiest among us to buy votes for the sole purpose of staying in power (I call it the incumbent protection plan).  This is immoral, unjust, and a perversion of governments purpose.  So let's see if we can find any waste...

DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition (free school lunches, federal welfare, etc. - state matters) - $8.132

Marketing and Regulatory Programs - $2.057

Research(?) - 2.723

Rural Development - $2.646

Administrative costs - $.663 (I will cut that by at least 1/3)

Total Savings   -   $16 Billion

DEPT. OF EDUCATION

Personally, I seek to eliminate this department altogether.  Education is and should be a state matter.  That would save about $71 Billion.  At the very least, here are some programs that my blow your mind!! 

Race to the top, Investing in Innovation, English Learner Education (essentially an illegal alien Democrat voter head-start program), Effective Teaching and Learning For a Complete Education, College Pathways and Accelerated Learning, Excellent Instructional Teams, Expanding Educational Options, Supporting Student Success, Adult Education State Grants, Workforce Innovation Fund, Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, TRIO (welfare for inner city), GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), Institute of Educational Sciences

Total Savings   -   $14.277 Billion

DEPT. OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD)

The HUD can go, too.  We will, in good faith, continue to honor the loans we currently back, taking on no more new ones.  And here are some programs we are funding; Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (which group could this one be targeting...hmmmm), Tenant Based and Project Based Rental Assistance, Public Housing, Miscellaneous Funds, Transforming Rental Assistance (???), Community Development Fund, Salaries and Expenses, Policy Development and Research

Total Savings   -   $47.539 Billion

THE EPA

We need to get rid of the EPA at a savings of over $10 Billion annually, which doesn't even consider the BIILLIONS of dollars in additional taxpayer savings because of the burdensome regulations placed on businesses.  In lieu of abolishment, I would at the very least propose making the EPA nothing more than a fact-gathering operation; an agency from which state and federal legislators can obtain information, but the responsibility should lie solely on elected officials to vote openly on any changes in environmental policy.  How is it that a single organization, which has no elected members and is not accountable to the taxpayer in any way, can penalize, fine, and essentially levy taxes on individuals and businesses?

DEPT. OF STATE & Other International Organizations

The following would be trimmed from this dept; International Narcotics & Law Enforcement, Foreign Military Financing, Pakistan Counterinsurgency (Seriously?),  Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia; Development Assistance (mighty vague), Peace Corp, Multilateral Development Banks, Other State & International Programs (again, vague)

Total Savings   -   $56.777 Billion

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL & COMMUNITY SERVICE

Its stated purpose is to... "Strengthens the Corporation's Management and Information Technology Infrastructure to Meet the President's Vision, and Support Growth & Excellence in its Programs" (Sounds like spying on us; wire tapping, etc, to me)!   Among other things, it expands Ameri Corp and has a "Social Innovation Fund" (sounds to me like some "community organizer" crap to me; I bet ACORN is in there somewhere), This one gets ZERO DOLLARS! 

Total Savings   -   $2.651 Billion (for now...but you know Obama intends to expand this one!)

DEPT. OF JUSTICE

There are some cuts that can be made fromt he D.O.J. for sure.  For Example, BATFE  -  GONE!  This organization, in my opinion, is a federally funded domestic terror organization, and an absolute abortion of liberty.  Break it down; Alcohol - legal; Tobacco - legal; Firearms - legal and a right protected by the Constitution.  Some more programs within that could go; Office of Justice Programs, Office of Community Oriented Policy Services, Office of Violence Against Women (what about violence against men, babies, children...)

Total Savings   -   $4.571 Billion

CORP OF ENGINEERS  -  CIVIL WORKS

Mississippi River & Tributaries and Regulatory Programs??? 

Total   -  $563 Million

DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Many of these programs will stay put (for now), but billions of dollars can be cut from them accordingly as necessary later.  The ones that can be removed; Health Resources & Services Administration (the primary federal agency for improving access to health care for uninsured, isolated, and vulnerable - clearly a state matter), Indian Health Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Aging, Over $10 Billion in TARP money that will be canceled

Total Savings   -   $54.664 Billion

DEPT. OF THE TREASURY

There is again over $10 Billion of TARP money assigned that will be canceled.  Also, if we get rid of the IRS and enact the Fair Tax...

Total Savings   -   $23.367 Billion

DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR

As stated earlier, there is some waste here that can be cut to be sure.  However, there are some fundamental programs, ones which are mandated by the Constitution, so research research would be needed into what does, does not, can, and cannot be cut. 

Now, was it all that painful to save a minimum of $206 Billion?  That was assuming we kept the EPA and the only defunded the Dept. of Education by $14.277 Billion.  If we cut the Dept. of Education, and return education matters to the states, which is where they belong, we will have saved $263 Billion!  AND if we get rid of the EPA, we're at about $273 Billion. 

Did some of those figures shock you?  Are many not obvious waste? Are you a bit surprised at how little $273B in cuts actually affects you.  That's because most of these funds were targeted at specific groups and constituents to buy votes.  Here is a link to the budget so you can check for yourself how much is still left to cut!  (THE U.S. FEDERAL BUDGET - FY 2011)  We just cut out nearly 1/3 of our current federal budget, which is nearly equivalent to our entire federal budget in FY 1991, just 20 years ago!  Change we can believe in?  A new era of fiscal responsibility?

People, we NEED TO WAKE UP and start taking our country back from special interest congressmen!  We need to hold them accountable.  This is not a joke, friends.  We cannot sustain this current path of irresponsibility.