Ways to decrease the Federal Budget/Deficit

[Land_Owner]

Most Private Corporations offer 7 annual Holidays.  The following are Federal Holidays in 2011.  From this list I can see three, which should be ELIMINATED for ALL Federal Employees:

[Empty Quiver]

That would be a start Land owner. That would apply to the 85% left employed, were I king.

Don't know about the rest of you. Where I have worked the word came from on high " your department will reduce cost by X% while suffering no loss of production".  This was nonnegotiable, it happened, managers and hourly were eliminated for non compliance or in compliance which ever it took to reach the goal.

There is absolutely no desire to get this country corrected, NONE. The elected officials are by and large intelligent people, very intelligent. Each and every one of them know EXACTLY what is being done. They are happy that it is happening, end of story.

[Shu]

It is not the Federal worker causing the deficit. It is the politicians and big business.
Most of the Federal workers I know are putting in 50-60 hour weeks and being compensated for 40 hours. I do not believe the Federal worker is any more dedicated than anyone else, it is just most do not see behind the curtain. When the Afghanistan thing started I can recall a project manager come to me and say we need to have this problem solved in a week or there are going to be some lives lost. Well guess what, the team got together we brainstormed with many 12-18 days and came up with a solution. I believe any group given the task would have jumped in just like we did.

Federal workers were not the ones who loaned money to people who couldn't possibly pay back how much they borrowed. Federal workers are not borrowing money from China or spending your tax dollars stupidly. Federal workers do not have pet programs that feed people to damn lazy to work.

Federal workers did not create this problem but they are expected to pay for it. Why single them out. Federal pay is at the whim of the president and congress. Federal workers just lost thier cost of living allowance. Which wasn't much to begin with.

Get the politicians under control demand they quit spending money they don't have. That is the solution.

By the way my counterpart in private industry makes more in pay and allowances than what I get for paid holidays easily. Could I work for private industry, yes but I would lose out on being able to work hands on with the people who are asking for new weapons systems and upgrades. I'll take that pay hit for something I really believe is right.
Just my 2 cents.

The politicians are the ones to blame, both sides of the house.

[Mohawk]

Gov employees don't get the perks of the private sector. Many Gov employees work holidays. No additional pay. Private sector gets overtime pay. We usually don't. Private sector can give raises at will.  We can't.  I make half the pay and do twice the work as a public servant and I am proud of that. Recently, many gov employees were told your workload will increase 300 percent but your salary will remain the same. Nobody flinched. Do more with less and we are glad to do that. That would not have flown with many private companies. That's the dedication public servants have. 

[Land_Owner]

Good points Shu and Mohawk.  I am not saying that ONLY the Feds and Public Sector take it in the shorts to provide for the deficit recovery...I firmly believe that if we put Congressmen and Congresswomen on Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid (instead of the Golden Parachutes they have voted exclusively for themselves) many of our failed systems would be corrected pronto!!!

Something else to consider,  the Private Sector does not have the "Deep Pocket" of the tax- or rate-payer to provide an "endless stream" of revenue as do the Federal, Municipal, and Utility sectors. 

Not every private project created by the Public sector makes a profit and the ones that go "south" generally take a lot of marginal "north trending" dollars with them leaving the Private sector to "adjust to fluxuating Market conditions"...read that DOWNSIZING, which isn't all bad.

At least we're WORKING in comparison to those that are ON THE DOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[billy_56081]

Reduce congress and the senates pay to the average income of their district they represent. Cut the presidents pay to theaverage ofthe United States. Cut the per diem pay of them by 75%.  Cut the use of Air Force one to official buisiness only, all trips must be approved by congess. Cut congresses travel reimbursment tocoach rate and limit it to no more than 4 times a year. Cut staffing by 90%. Reduce the federal workforce by 25%. Cut congess's housing allowance to an E5 miitary rate.

Thats just a start.

[buffermop]

That approach is a start, but a small amount in the deficit bucket. One good approach is to stop foreign aid when we need it more here at home. Lets take care of #1 first.

[Mohawk]

Well the public sector does not have an endless stream. 9,200 state jobs cut in this state, thus the do more with less policy...... I used to work for one of the "big 3" auto makers and they threw away money in the '90's. No surprise they needed bailout. What we need to stop doing is giving foreign aid to countries. 2 Billion to Egypt annually since 1979..... Really? Strategic as it may be but.... Really?  Israel..... Really.....? Just with the power of our nuclear arsenal it justifies using our dollars at home for our citizens. For Americans. And the folks that just refuse to work... Legislation is needed. My neighbor is a "Veteran". He is also been convicted of " Burglary of a Habitation" (Home Invasion). On parole for several years. Doesn't work but draws off the VA fund. He sits outside and drinks beer and enjoys our tax dollars at will. Disabled by VA standards but seems normal to me......whatever....  He even tried to bring weed downstairs to his apt until I said I would zoom his a$! if he did.   These are the great folks WE fund!! as taxpayers.  Yes, I am moving in three months.

[Hooker]

Cut all foreign aid.
Cut all subsidies to private enterprise.
Allow the federal government to do only those things that it is burdened with by the Constitution.
Eliminate the IRS.
Collect  taxes at the state and local levels only.
Pay the federal government through the states only for the cost of it's Constitutional duties.
There you go problem solved.

Pat

[Pat/Rick]

Hooker, a big plus ONE!! Constitutional burden would eliminate the large percentage of gov't alone. NO, federal property other than that which is required for government buildings, and military bases neccessary to our defense.All others are held against Constitutional designs, NO nat parks, wildlife preserves, and NO multitude of alphabet agencies.

Foreign aid? All the most of that is, is extortion money so foreign governments stand ready to do our bidding. Yep, we're paying them off. The citizens of Egypt are tired of our buying rights to interfere with Sudan apparently following suit. Yemen? What 250 million plus a year? Are we renting to buy that crap hole or what??

Oh the things I can think of that would torque off everybody that hates us while they get millions of our bucks.

[Empty Quiver]

It is not the Federal worker causing the deficit. It is the politicians and big business.
Most of the Federal workers I know are putting in 50-60 hour weeks and being compensated for 40 hours. I do not believe the Federal worker is any more dedicated than anyone else, it is just most do not see behind the curtain. When the Afghanistan thing started I can recall a project manager come to me and say we need to have this problem solved in a week or there are going to be some lives lost. Well guess what, the team got together we brainstormed with many 12-18 days and came up with a solution. I believe any group given the task would have jumped in just like we did.

Federal workers were not the ones who loaned money to people who couldn't possibly pay back how much they borrowed. Federal workers are not borrowing money from China or spending your tax dollars stupidly. Federal workers do not have pet programs that feed people to damn lazy to work.

Federal workers did not create this problem but they are expected to pay for it. Why single them out. Federal pay is at the whim of the president and congress. Federal workers just lost their cost of living allowance. Which wasn't much to begin with.

Get the politicians under control demand they quit spending money they don't have. That is the solution.

By the way my counterpart in private industry makes more in pay and allowances than what I get for paid holidays easily. Could I work for private industry, yes but I would lose out on being able to work hands on with the people who are asking for new weapons systems and upgrades. I'll take that pay hit for something I really believe is right.
Just my 2 cents.

The politicians are the ones to blame, both sides of the house.

I'm not going to dispute what your experiences are.

Chrysler had a few financial problems a while back, they cut out stuff they could no longer afford. I would imagine the auto workers and designers who were laid off would argue they had been busting their butts to help out the company. I have cut out things I can no longer afford. When will the Fed and State Gov't no longer be able to afford something.

Sadly it seems that the Gov't can always afford to borrow. They are forging my name to loan documents on a daily basis. I'm not sure but I think the Chinese Premier came to look at the Lincoln Memorial as collateral on the next loan. I hope the Park Service detailed it before he looked it over, we're borrowing a lot of money ya know.

You will not find a swinging pair on an elected official, sorry ain't gonna happen. They are incapable of saying no to an opportunity to spend other peoples money. The rat bastards are filling their life boats with our treasure, ripping holes through the hull to get faster access to the boats. We are all to busy bailing to pay attention.

[srussell]

That approach is a start, but a small amount in the deficit bucket. One good approach is to stop foreign aid when we need it more here at home. Lets take care of #1 first.

and let someone else have the U.N  we pay for 9o% of it and receive very little in return. just move it out of the U.S.

[Shu]

I don't for a second believe federal workers are more dedicated than the private sector counterparts. We take budget hits just like the private sector. When tasked to reduce your budget or reduce your people you try to reduce your budget first. SOmetimes you don't get a choice. I am a federal employee and I get to work on some really exciting things. Sometimes it is really good sometimes it is not.

It is not the workers who waste money it is congress. Term limits would be a good start, having congress muster in everyday and punch a time clock just like everyone else. Find these pork barrel projects and cut them.

People on my team are held accountable for every dollar we get. My goal was to reduce our waste so we do not have to reduce our people. It is amazing how people can get creative. We have been on a down turn just like the private sector.

It is something we all must work together to overcome. Congress wastes more than any government entity.

[petemi]

I'll say put a big tax on imported manufactured goods and force U.S. business to come home.  Implement the Flat Tax and shut down the IRS and BATF.  Minimize government and reduce wages and benefits.  And, Yes, cut out foreign aid except for disaster relief.  Reduce welfare payments and make people, who can, work for it.  A person in a wheelchair can still be a toll collector.

I have a step-son who at age 15 told me he was never going to work for a living.  He's now 40 physically fit, and never has had to.  There's something wrong with this picture.

Pete

[lakota]

I see veterans day on that list. It has always been my belief that the only people who should get a paid day off on veterans day are VETERANS!

... NO nat parks, wildlife preserves...

I dont know how I feel about that. If it were not for public lands there would be precious little green space left and if not for public lands I know I would not have anywhere to hunt of fish anymore and I suspect that applies to most of us. BUT...When they close federal land to public use-that I have a serious problem with since it is supposed to be OUR land.

[no guns here]

Reduce congress and the senates pay to the average income of their district they represent. Cut the presidents pay to theaverage ofthe United States. Cut the per diem pay of them by 75%.  Cut the use of Air Force one to official buisiness only, all trips must be approved by congess. Cut congresses travel reimbursment tocoach rate and limit it to no more than 4 times a year. Cut staffing by 90%. Reduce the federal workforce by 25%. Cut congess's housing allowance to an E5 miitary rate.

Thats just a start.

Implement the Flat Tax and shut down the IRS and BATF.

I like these... but IMO NOTHING will ever be done until term and service limits are imposed upon Congressional offices.

My plan:

No more  than 10 years of service in any federal position that is filled through election or appointment.

If a balanced budget is not presented to the President for signature by 2359 hrs on the last day of the fiscal year, Congress would be sequested in the chamber until it is accomplished.  Once the bill is signed, all members of congress would be summarily relieved of their position and duties.  A new congress would be voted in within 90 days.  Ex members of congress would not be eligible for any further federal employment or elected state positions.

The IRS would be cut by 10% per year until it reached a size equal to 10% of it's current staffing.  The federal tax code would be eliminated.  All sales would be subject to a flat 10% tax.  No loopholes, no deductions, no credits.

All other federal departments would be cut 5% per year until they reach a point equal to 50% of current staffing.

No federal department would have armed agents unless it was designated as a law enforcement agency was approved as such by a vote of 2/3 of all state legislatures.

Bring all troops home from overseas with the exception of 4 bases.  One each in Europe, Diego Garcia, Japan and Korea.

Focus the various technical research departments of the federal government on developing long term renewable energy resources. 

Rebuild and reemphasize the used of railways for goods distribution with the intent of eliminating about 75% of the need for long haul trucking.

Federal research and development of the 100-200 mpg car technology along with viable electric vehicles.

Immediately redeploy all of the service members from OCONUS to our southern border and build a series of smaller installations along the border.  Members would conduct training exercises within a 20 miles stretch of the border.  They would be given authority to seize and hold any suspected illegal aliens.  Detainees would be turned over to INS.  Liberal rules of engagement against anyone threatening them...  The border would be most jealously guarded against any incursions.

The official language would be declared to be English.


Well I've more ideas but since I'll never be declared Ultimate Pleni-Potentiary Ruler of the USA for a day... I'll give up for now.


NGH

[joeinwv]

#1. The big expenses:

Social Security, Medicare, Defense and Interest on debt. Everything else the government does are just drops of water in the ocean.

#2. The debt problem:

Fractional lending is the creation of money out of nothing. This directly causes a deflation in the value of money. It is also dependent on foreign investment. We have to get rid of the Federal Reserve Bank. Despite its name, this is not a government entity - it is private.

#3. Stop spending:

So we identify where the money is going, and why it is losing value. Now you have to have a budget - you create a firm cap on spending. You make some tough decisions on what gets funded and what does not.

[beerbelly]

For everyone that thinks government workers are dedicated, just wait until you have to deal with them! Most I have dealt wit are worthless as tits on a boar pig!

[Sourdough]

As a government employee (Now Retired) I did not ask for those holidays, they were imposed by congress.  As for the old wives tale that you can not fire a government worker, WRONG.  I fired two, they took me and the Government to court and the firing stuck.  As a Plumber/Pipefitter I could have made more in the private sector, but I was following a military spouse around and got "Spouse Preferance" for a government job when we moved.  Spouse preferance ment that I got preferance for the first job that came availiable that I was qualified for that opened after I got there. 

The Air Force started contracting out many of our jobs, and the people living on base really noticed a differance in the quality of work being performed by the contractors and us government employees.  I have to say we performed high quality work for less money than the contractors.

The problem is there is too many Government Employees.  Not the Employee's fault, but congresses fault for creating so many differant agencies, that duplicate the same effort being done by other agancies.  Other agencies are just far bigger than they need to be.  The person appointed to run these agencies are good at empire building, and they build the agency into far more than congress ever ment for it to be. 

National Park Service is one agency that has overgrown it original bounds.  The NPS is Overmanned and constantly trying to gain more and more land to justify their existance.  US Fish And Wildlife Service is another one, they duplicate the efferts done by each state.  They are often at odds with the state because their Boss (District Superintendent) has a differant idea about how to manage wildlife.    US Dept Of Education, Why?  Each state is charged with educating their young people.  The states were doing fine before the Federal Government stuck their nose into it.  US Dept of Ed, Another dept that needs to go away.  BATF&E is another agency that deffinately needs to redirect their attention more to the explosives, and to also be scaled back.  This is another agency that experienced Empire Building, and has grown far too big.  BLM is one other agency that has experienced Empire building.  they administer and oversee the lands owned by the Federal Government.  Back East you do not see anything of them, they are strictly out west.  The Western states get a lot of their harrassment and overbearing rules and regulations.  Here in my state much of the land owned by the state or private ownership is surrounded by BLM lands.  BLM denies us access by refusing to allow us to build roads across BLM land.   

We also have stupid laws that are paying people to sue the Federal Government over frivilous reasons, then their attourneys get big bucks in supposed reimbursements.  this has become big business for the environmental groups.  These laws need to be overturned.

Joeinwv:  You are correct in that those areas are big spenders, but those are areas that can not be cut too deeply without serious repercussions.  The agencies I have mentioned spend billions of dollars each year and are totally non productive, frivilous agencies.  Just because they are not in the forefront does not mean they are not spending just as much as the afore mentioned agencies.     

[mcwoodduck]

From all of the economics and accounting classes I took in collage there are two way.
Cut spending, close useless or redundant depatments.
Or lower taxes drasticly.
Best would be a combination of the two.
Cutting spending and stream lining government would be helpfull but the real boost would be to cut taxes drasticly.
After all if you get upside down in your family budget you look at the have to's and cut out the luxury items.  You also look for ways to increase your income.  The only way for Government to increase income in the long run is to cut taxes.  Not tack on more taxes.
Cutting taxes is not a 0 sum gain.  If you cut taxes from 30% to 15% that will not half the federal income.  Just the opposite.
More people will have money, companies that were postponing hireing will hire, Employment will go up.  Incomes will rise.
More money will flow in and around the economy.  Goods will be sold and created.
Since Taxes are a COST to most businesses, prices too will fall making more goods available and inside of more people's demand curve.  With more goods being demanded more production, distrubtion centers, shipping of finnished goods and raw materials.
JFK understood this, FDR understood this, Ronald Reagan understood this.  But the current batch of democrats either understand it, and do not want there to be a soaring economy or they do not understand Economics.  They are either evil or stupid.

[SHOOTALL]

Gov employees don't get the perks of the private sector. Many Gov employees work holidays. No additional pay. Private sector gets overtime pay. We usually don't. Private sector can give raises at will.  We can't.  I make half the pay and do twice the work as a public servant and I am proud of that. Recently, many gov employees were told your workload will increase 300 percent but your salary will remain the same. Nobody flinched. Do more with less and we are glad to do that. That would not have flown with many private companies. That's the dedication public servants have.

What country do you mean here ? If their work incressed 300 % they would still only work 1/2 a day ! They wouldn't leave because of benifits ! No over time ? who ? around here they get it even those on salary. THIS DOG DON'T HUNT !

[SHOOTALL]

For everyone that thinks government workers are dedicated, just wait until you have to deal with them! Most I have dealt wit are worthless as tits on a boar pig!

BEST POST YA EVER MADE !

[steg]

Wow, so many things were said that make so much sense, It's too bad that the politicians don't read these posts. I'm a retired government worker, And I never did figure out where they came up with those holidays, My biggest reason for this post is Veterans Day, I do believe that it is a day that should be celebrated by Vets. it gauls me to see the great Veterans Day sales and such that have nothing to do with Vets, Just had to throw in my two cents...............................steg

[SHOOTALL]

Like factory jobs all the perks came when no one wanted the job. Now both are jobs people want. Its not to hard to figure out.

[mcwoodduck]

Like factory jobs all the perks came when no one wanted the job. Now both are jobs people want. Its not to hard to figure out.

From what I understood,
Government jobs had aweful pay but great benefits, or at least it did in the late 80's and you had to make a desicion to go for cash or a retirement package.
Now you look at the government pay and it is above that of the private sector for the same jobs and the benefits are better.
There is a problem when good people will leave the private secotor to go do the same job at Government for more money and better benefits at tax payer expense. 
Why even have some of those postions. Why not sub out the job.  Why do we need maintence personell at government buildings when there are plenty of service companies that can do the same job for 50 to 75% of the cost.

[SHOOTALL]

Alot of maintance could , but some can't like boiler tenders etc. Just make it cost effective. Like GM cut new workers , early retirement etc.

[Shu]

Fed pay isn't that great. Benefits are okay. I'd quit but then I wouldn't get to blow stuff up.

[SHOOTALL]

sure ya could , just over revv it 

[mcwoodduck]

Alot of maintance could , but some can't like boiler tenders etc. Just make it cost effective. Like GM cut new workers , early retirement etc.

I am in the boiler business.
I cringe when ever a School District guy calls.
There is a sceene in the national Lampoon movie 1941 where Ned Batty reads everything you are not to do in loading ad firing the AAA gun they placed in his yard.  The school guys do the same thing and skip steps and cause all kinds of havoc on equipment.  This is a general observation and not the rule.  I have a very few school guys that I would want to send out on some service calls
As for the large steam units in central plants that use heat exchangers to make hot water, there are many other systems such as a Hot water boiler directly firing the water for heat and hot water.  Or splitting systems into heating and Domestic and getting under the boiler operator size restrictions that most states have.  Giving the government building a more efficient system that can be used with a building management system to still lower the cost of heating the schools and office buildings with outdoor reset, night set back, year long clocks, and other energy saving devices.  there are even companies that do proformance contracting that would install a new system and monotor it for a minimum ammount.  Especially if you are talking school districts with half a dozen buildings or more.  I also hate the year end waste with the schools.  The budget is the budget and if there is anything left over at the end of the year they need to spend it so they get it again in their budget next year.  I have had schools order 10's of thousands of dollars of parts and not know what they have just to order more parts, that they have in stock weeks later. Same person on the phone.  A freind tells me he had an order of 100,000 in dickie clothes that are still in a warehouse years later to eat up the budget.  And this happens every year.  I have not sympathy when people say there is no money in the budget at a schools district for new books or teachers.

[Mohawk]

Veterans Day? The Vet's full service BBQ lunch was provided by other non vet staff. Much of it on donations. But God forbid those volunteers get the day off to prepare the day for our war vets. Are you kidding me? I guess that is waste and spend?