The Obama Budget
Obama has released his FY 2010 Budget , and there's a lot to digest in there. NPR has a helpful overview
by department. My personal, overall impression is that there is some great stuff in there, but it is too big.
I'm a bit disappointed that there are not more places where wasteful spending has been cut. I didn't want to see McCain's hatchet, but I was expecting a bit more from Obama's scalpel. Looks like he used a laser scalpel that was low on batteries. This is not exactly a final budget, though, so we'll see what happens.
Some specifics:
War costs will now be included in the deficit calculations. No more of the shifty accounting of the Bush Administration. That's a good thing, I'd say. But overall, a 4% increase in Defense spending? Bah. It's a relatively small increase, I suppose, but this is where I was hoping to see some cuts.
More unemployment benefits, more funding for OSHA - no complaints from me. Laying the groundwork for "automatic enrollment in workplace pension plans." Not exactly sure how that will work. I'm reserving judgment on that for now.
Big changes to the student loan system. Could be a good idea. There are also supposed to be cuts to education programs that don't work, but we won't know what those will be 'til April.
Pretty pleased with the Energy/Environment section. Much more funding for the EPA, reinstating the SuperFund cleanup tax. Clean energy investing. And the big one: a cap & trade system to curb greenhouse gas emissions. I still think I'd prefer a carbon tax, buy I'll take cap & trade.
Health Care Reform is in the budget, but of course without any real details. That's for Congress to hash out.
And of course, tax increases (but not until 2011) for those making more than $250,000. I don't have a problem with that, either.
There's a lot more. Read the whole thing if you dare. Or just spout your uninformed opinions, like I just did!
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Comments :
Freedom to Farm, part II
I noticed that the buget aims to remove a lot of agricultural subsidies, sometimes just by limiting how much any particular farm/corporation can receive. I think that's promising, but am doubtful that it will stand up to the farm lobby any better than the "Freedom To Farm" bill did.
In my expert opinion, you should do what I tell you to do.
Agreed
I forgot to mention that as one of the aspects of the budget that I liked. It is promising, and I think it is an issue that is gaining a bit of traction in the public mind, so maybe it can survive the lobbying. One can hope.
We are the environment. There is no distinction. What we do to the earth we do to ourselves. —David Suzuki
Bush just signed a 5 year Ag subsidy bill last year.
Even if Obama wanted to open that up he won't be able to until his second term.
My position...there shouldn't be any ag subsidies for the crops. I can compromise on the water & water delivery systems though.
Too true, Adam
Ag subsidies are one of many subsidies that the government continues to make that would never pass a popular vote among the citizenry. Of course, I'm saying that that should be the measuring stick. I am simply pointing out that the vast people wouldn't stand for it if that was the only issue on their plate.
But that's how these things work. Scattered general public opinion is simply no match for well entrenched and organized special interests. In that sense, a few hundred well-connected and savvy advocates in DC for the farm lobby can overpower public opinion and keep their booty flowing.
This should be fun
Everyone's all fired up and ready to go!
Them's fighting words.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/28/Keeping-Promises/
I'm only half stupid
Friedman Debunks Liberal Economic Philosophy
Underlying all arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. ~M. Friedman
Friedman gave reasons that could be used to support...
Keynes during a Panic.
If people aren't spending money that they have and that is the cause of a recession, then changing hands of the money and spending it could make everyone better off.
Keeping money in the hands of people that don't spend it during a recession is like allowing the Christian Scientist the control of medicine during a pandemic.
In our society, people are rewarded for pretending to be certain about things they're clearly not certain about. -- Sam Harris,
I don't view it that way...
He was addressing the very underpinnings of whether government or people better can provide for themselves and society.
Underlying all arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. ~M. Friedman
Bush may have been Hitler, but Obama is clearly a Pedophile!
I mean how else would you describe someone who is screwing America's kids faster than anyone else ever dreamed possible?
I'm the Bugs Bunny of Swords Crossed!
-4 Strongly Disagree - 0 Meh - Strongly Agree +4He is just replacing
the money that was stolen from America by investment bankers and friends.
I guess Jindal is screwing the little children whose parents lost their jobs all a big favor by giving the finger to unemployment stimulus in his home state. Is he a pedophile too?
I'm only half stupid
No.
Because he is screwing the parents and not the kids in your example. :) Besides, I thought I hjeard that his state was one of the only states who have been adding jobs to the rolls. That seems far preferrable to a handout.
I'm the Bugs Bunny of Swords Crossed!
-4 Strongly Disagree - 0 Meh - Strongly Agree +4That is illogical
You can't screw the parents without screwing the kids. It's not like the kids can divorce their parents when they are out of work.
I'm only half stupid
The parents are the responsible parties, not the kids.
It is their income that is affected, not the kids'. In Obama's case it is the kids' income that will be affected.
I'm the Bugs Bunny of Swords Crossed!
-4 Strongly Disagree - 0 Meh - Strongly Agree +4That's just ignorant
The best way to provide for the children's future is to stabilize our current economic situation, and our financial system which seems to be in free fall.
I assume you prescription for fixing health care is tax cuts for those with no jobs or perhaps a private health account invested in the tanking stock market?
How about another tax break for big insurance companies or drug companies so they can take better care of us by charging more for health insurance, because bigger profits for insurance companies benefit us all, right?
It is exactly this kind of ignorant hyperbole spewed forth by the right that has got us into the mess we are in today. HIgher costs for health care, bigger profits for insurance companies, and hospitals forced to raise costs because people without health care end up at the emergency room.
I'm only half stupid
This would be a cool stuff!
.
Just keep this in mind.
Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds...~ A. Einstein