Federal 2007 Budget

[Steve]

As a concerned citizen I thought I should point this out. I am pretty familiar with the whole Federal budgetary life-cycle and know that the President's budget is never final. During this pass-back process, it takes people like you and I speaking our opinions to our elected senators and congressman to influence modifications to the budget.

President Decreases Grant Program Money for '07

and

President's 2007 Firefighting Budget Criticized

I am just floored by the President's constant low-funding of first responders. If you couldn't tell from previous political postings, yes, I am a Republican. Even that said, issues of citizen safety and education should not be partisan issues.

I am also speaking out as an insider to all the Fire Grant programs. I have worked with the people who manage these programs and have seen how this money gets put to use. (For more information, visit http://www.firegrantsupport.com/).

These programs operate with very low overhead and dollar for dollar, an unbelievably large percentage goes to funding first responders for personnel, safety, equipment, training and prevention. How can "we" cut this down to around $300 million and in the same breath budget for 3+ billion (yes billion) for Avian Flu mitigation?

I ask any like-minded brethren to speak out to your representatives and do so quickly. Failure to make the funding levels change and you might want to brush up on life-saving techniques and keep a bucket of water by the front door.

 

[mkronmal]

Steve,

I agree that any criticisms should be expressed to our representatives. However, as a strong proponent of states rights and therefore responsibities, I'd like to see a little less sucking on the capital nipple.

 

[MarkP]

Dear IRS:

Enclosed is my 2005 tax return showing that I owe $3,407.00 in taxes. Please note the attached article from USA Today, wherein you will see that the Pentagon is paying $171.50 for hammers and NASA has paid $600.00 for a toilet seat.

I am enclosing four toilet seats (value $2,400) and six hammers (value $1,029), bringing my total remitted to $3,429.00. Please apply the overpayment of $22.00 to the "Presidential Election Fund," as noted on my return. You can do this inexpensively by sending them one 1.5" Phillips Head screw (article from USA Today detailing how HUD pays $22.00 each for 1.5" Phillips Head Screws is enclosed for your convenience.)

It has been a pleasure to pay my tax bill this year, and I look forward to paying it again next year.

Sincerely,

A Satisfied Taxpayer

3 Thoughts

1- Zero Gravity
When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside-down, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 C.
The Russians used a pencil.
Your taxes are due again -- enjoy paying them.

2 - Our Constitution
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.

3 - Ten Commandments
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a Courthouse is that you cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal", Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment.

 

[marc olivares]

Dear IRS:

i like the cut of your gib...

 

[ericslwb]

I sprayed milk out my nose after reading thought #2. Now I have to clean the screen.

 

[antichrist]

2 - Our Constitution
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.

LMAO. That reminided me of an old article; http://www.borowitzreport.com/archive_rpt.asp?rec=522

?A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom to other nations of the region,? Mr. Bush said. ?And who knows? If democracy works in Iraq, we might give it a try, too.?​

 

[SCSL]

2 - Our Constitution
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.

Bravo !!!

 

[KEJ]

LMAO. That reminided me of an old article; http://www.borowitzreport.com/archive_rpt.asp?rec=522

?A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom to other nations of the region,? Mr. Bush said. ?And who knows? If democracy works in Iraq, we might give it a try, too.?​

LOL! You gotta laugh, because the alternative is hysteria and funny jackets with those pesky criss-crossy sleeves...

KJ

 

[vray]

Failure to make the funding levels change and you might want to brush up on life-saving techniques and keep a bucket of water by the front door.

....and don't forget the duct tape. Homeland Security recommended.

To this administration, national security is purely a political issue. That bill will be paid in full the time we get attacked 9/11 style. These guys are nothing but fluff and no substance. Just primping for the bush apologists. It is okay to be spending $100,000 per minute in Iraq, but not okay to fund our emergency services back home? Wouldn't that be Homeland Security? Thank god I live in the mountains and only have to worry about avalanches and my own stupidity.

Liberal note on the budget: fuck the superrich and their tax cut. Fuck the large corporates and their tax cuts. The country needs that money, and not for social hand outs either. There are a lot of things falling down on the home front. Ok, then, how about a "war profit tax"? Poor people are doing the actual fighting of this war, and the rich are making money on it. I am not cool with that sacrificial arangement.

Who out there has faith that this administration will have all the assets in place and the system primed when the next 9-11/Katrina/whatever happens?

 

[cmoore207]

Fuck the large corporates and their tax cuts.

Yikes, who do you think the "poor" people work for? How many will lose jobs with more money going to government? Before anybody mentions it, Exxon is a bad example, lets think about more typical large corporations like GM, HP, Dell.

Capital flows to where it is least hindered. So do jobs. Think beyond the initial windfall the government would receive, and think about the drastic decrease in revenues as companies and jobs moved overseas.

 

[cmoore207]

BTW Vray, I agree with the rest of your post. I voted republican last time around and have serious doubts as to whether I will do it again next time.

 

[KEJ]

....and don't forget the duct tape. Homeland Security recommended.

To this administration, national security is purely a political issue. That bill will be paid in full the time we get attacked 9/11 style. These guys are nothing but fluff and no substance. Just primping for the bush apologists. It is okay to be spending $100,000 per minute in Iraq, but not okay to fund our emergency services back home? Wouldn't that be Homeland Security? Thank god I live in the mountains and only have to worry about avalanches and my own stupidity.

Liberal note on the budget: fuck the superrich and their tax cut. Fuck the large corporates and their tax cuts. The country needs that money, and not for social hand outs either. There are a lot of things falling down on the home front. Ok, then, how about a "war profit tax"? Poor people are doing the actual fighting of this war, and the rich are making money on it. I am not cool with that sacrificial arangement.

Who out there has faith that this administration will have all the assets in place and the system primed when the next 9-11/Katrina/whatever happens?

We might gain a bit more insight if the White House doesn't provide "Brownie, you're doin' a heck of a job" with the legal counsel he's asked for. He said if they don't, he's gonna spill the whole beans!

KJ P.S. And they'd better do it fast, he was served with another subpeona in the hallway as he exited the hearing today. No money = big talkie!

 

[MarkP]

Socialism is deadly. Go ahead and tax those corporations. I'm sure there are other countries that would love to have them and their jobs. Geesh.

Obviously not in business for yourself.

How about we dynamic score your economic policies . . .

The Bush Budget?s Hidden Gold: Dynamic Scoring Comes to the Treasury

How fast would this country be broke and drinking lots of vodka? It's been done before, just not on this continent.

 

[vray]

Let me clarify my tax statement. I agree corporations and rich people provide jobs, and I agree stimulating their interests can have a positive effect. As with everything, it is about degree. There comes a point where it ceases to become effective, and becomes more about free money for a friend/contributor. Going back to the 2000 dollar toilet seat example, sure, that stimulates the economy too, but the process is ineffective and flawed. I just don't think we get a decent bang for the extra bucks we are give the corporations. Corporations should be taxed fairly, and taken off the welfare roll.

 

[MarkP]

Here's a ton of data. The most important aspect is looking at the data in a relative fashion - percent of GDP, inflation adjusted, etc. Most of the individual links don't work but the summary pdf files do.

National Government Outlays
Robert Sahr
Oregan State University

 

[vray]

Socialism is deadly. Go ahead and tax those corporations. I'm sure there are other countries that would love to have them and their jobs. Geesh.

Obviously not in business for yourself.

How about we dynamic score your economic policies . . .

The Bush Budget?s Hidden Gold: Dynamic Scoring Comes to the Treasury

How fast would this country be broke and drinking lots of vodka? It's been done before, just not on this continent.

Socialism is when the government owns the means of production. In the US, industry is privately or publicly owned, and the government regulates. Socialism is a strawman argument as it is not even on the table. Regulation and how much/little is what we debate in America. FYI, corporations are already being taxed in America.

Yes, I am in business. And yes I pay taxes. Some I agree with, some I don't, but I pay them, and I don't really mind, I use the roads, police, fire etc. Where are the freebies in the budget for the small business owner? The freebies seem to go to corporations who create jobs, but not here, in some 3rd world country. Give me some extra cash for my business, and I'll employ an American, maybe even two. I am not an economist, so what do I know, but it appears to me that things way out of wack and driven by politics, not sound economic reasoning.

 

[kellymoe]

As a concerned citizen I thought I should point this out. I am pretty familiar with the whole Federal budgetary life-cycle and know that the President's budget is never final. During this pass-back process, it takes people like you and I speaking our opinions to our elected senators and congressman to influence modifications to the budget.

President Decreases Grant Program Money for '07

and

President's 2007 Firefighting Budget Criticized

I am just floored by the President's constant low-funding of first responders. If you couldn't tell from previous political postings, yes, I am a Republican. Even that said, issues of citizen safety and education should not be partisan issues.

I am also speaking out as an insider to all the Fire Grant programs. I have worked with the people who manage these programs and have seen how this money gets put to use. (For more information, visit http://www.firegrantsupport.com/).

These programs operate with very low overhead and dollar for dollar, an unbelievably large percentage goes to funding first responders for personnel, safety, equipment, training and prevention. How can "we" cut this down to around $300 million and in the same breath budget for 3+ billion (yes billion) for Avian Flu mitigation?

I ask any like-minded brethren to speak out to your representatives and do so quickly. Failure to make the funding levels change and you might want to brush up on life-saving techniques and keep a bucket of water by the front door.

I work for the Los Angeles City Fire Dept. I know that in the last few years our dept. has been showered with Fed. funds MICLA finds etc... while our normal budget has decreased we have recieved more from Homeland Security. It has kinda been the old we will give you less here but give you more there. We are are still getting the money it's just coming from differant places now. I know smaller deptartments are probably taking it in the shorts though. My brother is the Fire Chief in Soldotna Alaska and he has had a tough go of it lately. Soldotna is not exactly a huge terror target.

 

[montanablur]

Dear IRS:

Enclosed is my 2005 tax return showing that I owe $3,407.00 in taxes. Please note the attached article from USA Today, wherein you will see that the Pentagon is paying $171.50 for hammers and NASA has paid $600.00 for a toilet seat.

I am enclosing four toilet seats (value $2,400) and six hammers (value $1,029), bringing my total remitted to $3,429.00. Please apply the overpayment of $22.00 to the "Presidential Election Fund," as noted on my return. You can do this inexpensively by sending them one 1.5" Phillips Head screw (article from USA Today detailing how HUD pays $22.00 each for 1.5" Phillips Head Screws is enclosed for your convenience.)

It has been a pleasure to pay my tax bill this year, and I look forward to paying it again next year.

Sincerely,

A Satisfied Taxpayer

3 Thoughts

1- Zero Gravity
When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside-down, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 C.
The Russians used a pencil.
Your taxes are due again -- enjoy paying them.

2 - Our Constitution
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.

3 - Ten Commandments
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a Courthouse is that you cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal", Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment.

Mark-

That is the first thing of yours that I have read that I completely agree with. Very good humor!

 

[KEJ]

And where have you been, Montanablur? Not doin' time for tax evasion I hope? Did they reject your payment of toilet seats?

KJ

 

[montanablur]

It's been a good winter... Hard to sit in front of a computer when the snow is waist deep... Had a few projects Los Angeles, (The At&T commercials that aired during the Super Bowl) Busy man a busy man...

Fun to see there are still political ramblings and phantom racks still exist...