Re: ObamaRama 8
Good idea. They can start with Iraq and Afghanistan where there is no return on investment. Once that's done then they can start in here.
One could argue that the increased stability of Iraq (and hopefully Afghanistan) keeps oil prices from being higher than they could be. Not that this would be an acceptable reason to have our troops in harm's way, because it's not.
Here's my take on what to do about our current situation:
Public-sector job outsourcing and/or wage reductions would be another place that could/should be looked at in my opinion. The government was never intended to be a major employer, but if you looked at the majority of cities/counties/states, you'd find that they are the largest (or one of the largest) employers. Furthermore, the unions that have gained control of these employees continue to look at government as a bottomless wallet. Obviously, we need our basic services--police, fire, limited public works--but there needs to be a limit on what is considered "core public services". The guy that mows the grass in the neighborhood park doesn't need to be making $45,000/year. The mechanic at the municipal golf course isn't worth $65,000/year......hell, the city/county shouldn't even be IN the golf course operations industry in the first place, let alone paying union wages to run the operation. The private sector is nearly always more efficient--which is a benefit to the taxpayer--and creates the competition necessary to keep the spending of tax money at a minimum.
I also believe that more targeted military spending should be enacted. The military, like every other government agency, is wrought with waste and fraud--especially when it comes to military contracts and contractors. This is an area where we have the ability to cut costs and improve the efficiency of the world's greatest military. We need to continue to draw down our troop numbers in a safe and responsible manner while pressuring our allies to contribute to the security of the Middle East.
And again, putting able-bodied welfare recipients to work in menial labor capacities would result in greater employability for the recipient and a better ROI for the state/federal gov't. We should be getting SOMETHING for the free money we're currently hemmoraging. SSDI, Medicare, Medicaid, Section 8 and other social welfare programs need to be completely overhauled and more scrutiny brought upon the situations of those who recieve the benefits.
Finally, I am in favor of doing away with the current system of localized taxes benefitting individual public school systems. The only way to make things fair would be to ensure that each school district is funded in a proportionally-fair manner. This would do away with any inequities in quality of education and would level the playing field for students going out in to the world, be it college, tech school or into the workplace. This would also eliminate the need for the biased institutions of affirmative action and quota-based policies, most notably in the workplace and in the university admissions process. Education itself also needs to be supplemented by more real-world education: how to interview for a job, how a credit rating works/why it is important, fiscal responsibility/planning/budgeting, etc.
However, the most important thing that needs to begin being taught in our schools--and by parents as well--is personal accountability and responsibility. Our current mindset is one of being a victim and blaming others for our own failures and shortcomings. Until we start taking responsibility for our actions and being held accountable for the consequences, our country will continue a slide towards mediocrity, and eventual ruin.
The problems with this country can't be solved by any one solution whether it be tax cuts, change in interest rates, public works projects or health care reform. The chickens of the last 20 years or so are coming home to roost and it is time to pay the piper. The fact that no one seems willing to do that (on both sides of the aisle) is really bugging me.
