Author Topic: So what's with this "sequestration"? (Read 1015 times)

coyotejoe · « **on:** February 24, 2013, 09:12:57 AM »

I really don't get it. Obama and his media lap dogs are spreading the hype that if this is allowed to happen the sky will fall. There will be no police or firefighters, schools will have to close, your garbage won't get picked up etc. As I look at the math, sequestration will impose federal spending cuts of about 85 billion dollars. Now that is a lot of money but small potatoes when you consider that the federal government spent more than 3.6 trillion in 2012 and is projected to spend even more in 2013. Now feel free to correct my math if I'm wrong but I believe 3.6 trillion is the same as 3,600 billion, so a cut of 85 billion is only 2.3%. And that's not even real cuts but only reductions in the projected rate of increase. It is estimated that even with the 85 billion reduction the government will still spend 15 billion more this year than last. Really, the 85 billion cut is not nearly enough. The federal government has been spending like a drunken sailor for the past decade at least and this year's deficit is expected to again top one trillion, so 85 billion is only 8.5% of the cuts needed to balance the budget. Considering there has never been a budget since Obama took office and he will never agree to any meaningful spending cuts it seems to me that sequestration is the best we can hope for. What say you?

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2013, 12:22:44 PM »

It's yet another brilliant political move by obama. He beat the republicans again, and did it so far in advance, and so decisively thatmthey don't even know what happened. He framed the argument around cutting a small fraction of spending, and convincingly elevated that small fraction to the status of major draconian cuts. This is what the public believes. The republicans can propose nothing more than the small percent, and will likely cave in and make increases like they usually do.

Ou have to hand it to obama, the guy has some of the most effective and calculating minds on his team. The republicans don't even know which way is up.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2013, 12:29:36 PM »

don't forget about the air traffic
controllers! !
that was on the radio today.
we're gonna have aircraft of every description
flying willy-nilly in every direction
you can think of and none will know
which way to go or what to do.
the sky will be falling

magooch · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:14:45 AM »

Well, you can try to blame Republicans all you like, but the fact is the Republicans have done what they can. They haven't voted for all the cuts that I think they should have, but at least they have passed a budget each year in the House. What have the Dumycrats done? Nothing! Oh wait, they have proposed more and more and more spending and taxing.

Will Obama and the Dumycrats get away with blaming George Bush and the Republicans when anyone with a brain should know that it is Obama and the Dumycrats who have utterly failed to govern and be responsible with taxpayers resources--probably, because of the lack of a responsible news media and voters who are too stupid to care.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:21:04 AM »

Quote from: Ranger99 on February 24, 2013, 12:29:36 PM

don't forget about the air traffic
controllers! !
that was on the radio today.
we're gonna have aircraft of every description
flying willy-nilly in every direction
you can think of and none will know
which way to go or what to do.
the sky will be falling

So whats different!

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:23:08 AM »

When there is so much undeserved aid going to countries around the world that in effect spit in our faces every time they get a chance it would seem criminal to allow our country to go down when it would be better to cut off aid to them. Or even aid to those here who don't deserve it or abuse it.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:29:14 AM »

Well now that would make way too much sense! besides what would the media do if things werent in turmoil. no one to scare? the hell you say.

Personally, I look forward to the "sequestration", I get virtually nothing from the gooberment.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:31:23 AM »

Yea it would be a wake up call . Or reality check for some. It would be interesting if our troops were not aval. to pull some other third world country out of a jam. The USSR tried to go into Afganastan and it was a $$$$$ drain , let them , China ,Korea ETC. spend their way to bankrupt.

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2013, 04:57:42 AM »

Look at how effective it is. Even here, air traffic controllers and soldiers are being discussed. How about discussing that 30 odd percent of useless bureaucracies that don't need to exist anymore? That's what should be cut and nobody is even talking about it.

It's interesting to see how people automatically assume that government tasks are important. Most of them aren't. Go get a job working for the federal government for a while. If you're not horrified, you're "one of them."

coyotejoe · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2013, 05:11:09 AM »

Well the thing which impressed me is that those "draconian spending cuts" every talking head is so worried about actually amount to only 2.3% of last years spending. Most of us have had to accept a greater cut in our own budgets due to tax increases. Just the 2% increase in FICA withholdings for every one, not even to mention increases in fees like auto registration and business licenses and that's not even getting into the cost of Obamacare because I have no idea what that will cost but know it's only "free" to those who have zero earned income. The cuts mandated by sequestration are not even 1/10th of what is needed to balance the budget so if there is panic now how can we ever even start to crawl out of this 16 trillion dollar hole that grows deeper every day? Do we just give up and accept bankruptcy for our nation?

Oldshooter · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2013, 05:16:45 AM »

Quote

Do we just give up and accept bankruptcy for our nation?

Sadly at this point its the only logical outcome. Unless we can print 16 trillion and make it fly, but that would be like enabling a drug addict. they'd spend 32 trillion in the next 4 yrs.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2013, 05:24:45 AM »

with all the ''VIDAL'' personel to be laid off

i hope Miss-hell Obumer doen't loose any of her 22 assistance
more on this........http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090908174432AAwCoWD

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2013, 06:03:53 AM »

If tax money was used for projects other than commerce and protection first would it be reason to start a hearing looking into impeachment ?

garbhead · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2013, 06:10:59 AM »

If the main problem with our economy is excessive spending, then isn't this a step in the right direction?
I don't want to see several programs and defense cut, but if the people aren't willing to pay for things then so be it. Plus if we weren't trying to police the world, we wouldn't need to spend as much. There's enough of us armed rednecks to battle a foreign invasion. With all our fancy fighter jets and missles and intellegence etc we couldn't even defend ourselves against a couple of dozen hijackers with planes that killed 3000 of us. This is what democracy and freedom is all about, isn't it?

45-70.gov · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2013, 06:15:37 AM »

what i see missing in all this sequetration stuff is

why is no one got the cuts to say ''WHOOO -RAAA!!!''

IT IS ABOUT TIME WE DOWN SIZE

write your congreeman

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2013, 08:19:56 AM »

Living within our means? Is this what it has come to?

I know when the wife and I have had a shortage the first thing we do is stop the paying the water bill, and no more trips to the grocery store, and finally the mortgage simply has to wait.

We have our priorities just like the Feds have theirs. We still go to the movies, and then a nice meal at a steak house, since there are no groceries at home. We leave the power on so the wide screen TV will work for movies, The Direct TV bill gets paid so we can watch wrastling. I say we should be comfortable till things are repossesed. The kids ain't going to starve if school is in session they can get breakfast and lunch both.

It's a good plan, works for the government and will work for me too. Comfort over utility I say.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #16 on:** February 26, 2013, 06:32:36 AM »

Ha Ha yes, it's sad to say but that seems to have become the new American Way!

What bothers me most is that Obama lies every time his lips move and no one calls him on it. I heard him yesterday spewing crap about how "hundreds of thousands of Americans will suffer" teachers will be laid off, cops and firefighters will be let go, our defenses will be weakened, DHS and Border Patrol will be cut back, yada yada yada. Disasterous consequences will befall if he only gets to spend 15 billion more than last year rather than the 100 billion he would like to spend. And all the talking heads line up to kiss his lying ass.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2013, 10:39:20 AM »

what it is, is a line in the sand . What should happen is let it happen then we will see if it is really the gloom and doom the president predicts or it reveals the waste in govt. spending and things on on as if little or nothing happens.

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2013, 09:22:50 AM »

I suppose we will find out who is more valuable, the recipient class or the taxpayer class.

Your average tax payer has items of value that need protected. That protection is something that has been delegated to government.

The recipient has to be mollified with free stuff, otherwise they might riot or worse yet stop voting for Democrats.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2013, 11:26:23 AM »

so how many criminals did he release on us???

and what will be next if we don't cough up some more ''protection money''?

just another chicago THUG stratagy

Swampman · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2013, 11:55:17 AM »

It will hurt NW FL a lot. Millions will lose their jobs. I hope I'm not one of them.

Casull · « **Reply #21 on:** February 27, 2013, 01:45:54 PM »

Quote

It will hurt NW FL a lot. Millions will lose their jobs.

I don't think the entire workforce of NW FL would number "millions".

Swampman · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2013, 03:24:30 PM »

Millions through out the country. Thousands in NW FL. We have the largest Air Force installation in the free world and all US military fliers train here. There are about a dozen installations between Pensacola and Panama City.

Casull · « **Reply #23 on:** February 27, 2013, 04:02:20 PM »

Quote

Millions through out the country. Thousands in NW FL. We have the largest Air Force installation in the free world and all US military fliers train here. There are about a dozen installations between Pensacola and Panama City.

They are still going to spend MORE this year than last. How in the world will that cause the loss of "millions" of jobs? That kind of thinking is simply insane.

garbhead · « **Reply #24 on:** February 27, 2013, 04:07:20 PM »

I think they should quit paying everyone in Congress and everyone in the executive and Judicial branches as well, all their staffers, aides, etc....that's gotta be a chunk of change..plus none of them need it to live on, plus they are not earning it anyway....I don't find anything in the Constitution and/or laws that gives them the right to hire staffers , etc in the first place, but I'm sure they voted on it at some point in time.

Casull · « **Reply #25 on:** February 27, 2013, 04:11:48 PM »

Quote

I don't find anything in the Constitution and/or laws that gives them the right to hire staffers , etc in the first place

I would hazard a guess that 90% or more of what they do is not authorized by the Constitution.

scootrd · « **Reply #26 on:** February 27, 2013, 04:16:47 PM »

The deficit is actually shrinking , and has been over the last three years.
Economists are concerned it actually may be shrinking too fast.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #27 on:** February 27, 2013, 05:20:27 PM »

Look at that little bump when obama took office hmmmmmmm... must be "W"'s fault. And look how it went to hell after obama took control. Mercy we are in deep stuff. IT may be dropping but it has a ways to go before it even gets back to terrible!

Casull · « **Reply #28 on:** February 27, 2013, 05:28:17 PM »

Casull · « **Reply #29 on:** February 27, 2013, 05:29:50 PM »

Hmmmm, Bush was president from 2001 to 2008. obama has been president for the last four years. Methinks my graph is a little more (a hell of a lot more) honest than scootrd's graph.