But to actually make cuts, people would have to take the time to understand the budget and work together to make agreements.
What pork is there in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?
I'm guessing, but I bet a more bi-partisan environment than what we've endured since say, 1994 (Newt G) would have cost the country a whole lot less money... Wonder if any economist has ever studied that? (Working together/ compromise, give/take - vs - ever hardening partisanship/in-fighting/strife/tribal 'purity/loyalty'...)Bootstrap wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 12:05 pmBut to actually make cuts, people would have to take the time to understand the budget and work together to make agreements.
Political warfare in the last decades has not balanced the budget. It has created a massive market for pork. The kind of pork that leads to bigger deficits.
As far as I know, the budget deficit has only been meaningfully brought down twice in recent history. Both times involved Democrats and Republicans negotiating in a divided government. Yelling loudly and pointing fingers and strutting has never brought down the deficit - but it does help with fundraising and pork.Jazman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 12:31 pm I'm guessing, but I bet a more bi-partisan environment than what we've endured since say, 1994 (Newt G) would have cost the country a whole lot less money... Wonder if any economist has ever studied that? (Working together/ compromise, give/take - vs - ever hardening partisanship/in-fighting/strife/tribal 'purity/loyalty'...)
- Late 1990s:
- During the late 1990s, the United States experienced a period of economic growth and low unemployment.
- The federal budget deficit decreased significantly during this time.
- The Presidency was held by Democrat Bill Clinton, and the Republican Party controlled the House and Senate.
- The decrease in the budget deficit was influenced by a combination of strong economic growth, increased tax revenues, and budgetary agreements between the Clinton administration and the Republican-led Congress. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, for example, played a role in deficit reduction.- Early 2010s:
- Following the 2007-2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession, the budget deficit increased due to stimulus spending and decreased tax revenues.
- In the early 2010s, the budget deficit began to decline.
- The Presidency was held by Democrat Barack Obama, and the political landscape in Congress changed during this period. The Democrats initially had control of both the House and Senate, but control shifted in 2010 when Republicans gained control of the House.
- Deficit reduction efforts during this time included the bipartisan Budget Control Act of 2011, which established spending caps and the sequestration process.
And even better response than what I tried to offer... Rules for Radicals - Chris StirewaltBootstrap wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 12:05 pmBut to actually make cuts, people would have to take the time to understand the budget and work together to make agreements.
Political warfare in the last decades has not balanced the budget. It has created a massive market for pork. The kind of pork that leads to bigger deficits.
"But what you want as a citizen is clear, predictable, impartial, competent administration.
We can understand that on the local level, and do it all the time with the DMV, school systems, trash collection, and other public services. We care less about the attributes or partisanship of the individuals making and enforcing the rules and more about whether the job gets done."
This is all very subjective, and labels are always an oversimplification of a person. If you throw this problem at GPT, it says this:
