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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

U.S. Congress OKs big budget cuts — bigger fights await

World Apr. 15, 2011 - 12:19PM JST ( 15 )

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15 Comments

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MolenirApr. 15, 2011 - 07:43AM JST

Story neglected to mention the largest portion of the budget. Entitlement spending. Currently accounts for 54% of the budget. Thats what needs to be cut the most.
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rajakumarApr. 15, 2011 - 08:51AM JST

Deficir 1500 billion USD in 2011,total is 14 something trillons. Budget cuts begin to cut deficits,good.

The deficit now of 14000 billion,should be stopped and not allowed to rise via budget cuts or whatever it takes.

Trillions in Deficits should go on reverse gear,slowly but surely in next 2 decades via careful planning and actions.

Stronger Economy and stronger USD,will the rewards in the future decades,if deficits can be put in reverse gear. Jobs increase will be problem,so Obama administration needs to tackle this problem too.

How to increase jobs,with decrease of currency flow into US system?

There should be more care among americans ,for families,with low incomes,to help them,ride through the next 2 decades.

It should be gradual process,may be 0.5 percent cut of deficit this year,with near USD 40-70 billionUSD, cut will be good.

More higher percentage of deficit could be made in coming 2 decades,in gradual phase.

US citizens should practise waste not and want not ways,in their living styles. More people,should save money,to live off interests from their savings.

When economy is stronger,more cuts, can be had via sale of US real estates.The fight in public debts issues,is long one,that need constant debate and brainstorm of ideas,to fight correctly by all parties in USA.

The USA has only 34 people living per kilometer square,its very low. If near 5 million people in Singapore in 710 square kilometer,can be comfortable economically,don't see why USA citizen cannot. The US just need ,to do right stuff,like in 1990s,to get economy right,for 310 million people.

Inflation control,also should big target for USA,to win the fight against deficits.
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WeaselApr. 15, 2011 - 10:38AM JST

If the country is so broke, how could it afford extending tax breaks to people who didn't need them, or continuing fighting wars on the currently maxed out credit card?
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MangamanApr. 15, 2011 - 06:05PM JST

38 billion from the budget and 78 billion from the prez! Super! I am sure the American people are extremely proud of their politicians right now! And if they are, it only shows they can't be bothered with basic arithmetic!

Provided there is no interest on that 14 trillion, and this 116 billion saved goes toward paying it, it will only take 120 years to pay it off! Ha! But there will be interest, and I seriously doubt the 116 billion even covers that!

And look at what they cut! Ecological funds? Community development? What's next? Meds for grandma? America is still too chicken size down the military I see. Two great big oceans on either side are just are not enough to help an American chill I guess.
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SargeApr. 15, 2011 - 07:31PM JST

Weasel: "continuing fighting wars on the currently maxed out credit card"

And getting involved in a third one! ( Libya )
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TheQuestionApr. 15, 2011 - 10:23PM JST

Raise SS age to 80, none of this stupid debate over 70. When SS was enacted almost nobody reached the original requirement age, time to either correct that error or eliminate it entirely. I'd sure like to have all the money put into it back, especially considering that at this pace I'd never see it anyway. Start winding down Medicare and Medicaid, they should only be for those who cannot under any circumstances take care of themselves either due to defect or defect brought on by old age. Revamp or remove the Department of Education which has been a colossal failure. Institute a flat tax and put some consideration to a new tax code, it doesn't need to be smaller or more understandable, just different. Stop subsidizing all forms of energy, if it's worth the money people will buy it, if it's not than it needs work. And pass something that specifically outlines that the government will NEVER use taxpayer money to bail out a private company again.
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SushiSake3Apr. 15, 2011 - 10:48PM JST

And slash military pensions and benefits. If those guys can fight in a war, they can earn an income after a war. Just like the rest of Americans can and do.
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SushiSake3Apr. 15, 2011 - 11:03PM JST

Absolutely bloody amazing.

Both parties spent weeks haggling over whether to slash 1% - no, hang on! – 2% from the budget, and then when they finally agreed, it was backslaps all around for a ‘job ell done.’

If the GOP wants to slash Medicare and SS, the Dems should slash the Pentagon budget by no less than 25%.

The U.S. already spends more on defense than the next 20 largest countries’ defense budgets combined, and does America REALLY need 11 carrier battle groups and long range bomber squadrons?

Of course not.

Obama should make slashing the Pentagon budget by at least 20% the bottom line in Dem negotiations.
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MolenirApr. 16, 2011 - 07:58AM JST

If the GOP wants to slash Medicare and SS, the Dems should slash the Pentagon budget by no less than 25%.

Hey, I'm fine with that, as long as we slash Medicare and SS by an equal amount. Now that I think about it, doing that would put us completely into the black, and pay off the debt entirely in about 6 years. Not a bad deal all things considered.
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SuperLibApr. 16, 2011 - 09:45AM JST

Cutting the Pentagon budget is a double edged sword. What it translates to is cutting a lot of good paying jobs for educated people who work for contractors, especially in places like California which is already dealing with an insane unemployment rate. We're also watching NATO drop the ball on Libya since they don't have the hardware to get the job done without the US. I agree cuts need to be made, but making 25% of the military suddenly vanish sounds like a foreigner who just wants to seem more harm done than good.
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MangamanApr. 16, 2011 - 10:26AM JST

Superlib, as ever, you don't seem to know what military funds are spent on. A 25 percent cut in U.S. military spending does not translate into a 25 percent cut in the military. You ever hear of R&D? You have any idea how much things like the predator drone program cost, and all it does is give us a bad rep?

Libya is not a problem of hardware anyway! Holy crap, but there is plenty of hardware to go around! We could squash Gaddafi like he was a gnat. NATO probably could like a rat without the U.S. on board. The reason its not happening is the lack of political resolve to do it, not hardware and not money.

I have to agree with others. U.S. military spending needs cut as a top priority. The spending is completely insane and unjustifiable.
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TheQuestionApr. 16, 2011 - 11:02AM JST

Actually defense and the courts are the only two things I find worth spending federal money on. Everything else is merely overreach.

The U.S. already spends more on defense than the next 20 largest countries’ defense budgets combined, and does America REALLY need 11 carrier battle groups and long range bomber squadrons?

Considering the U.S hasn't had a period of peace lasting more than a decade in well over a century I'd say it might be better to err on the side of caution. Maybe the next war will be someone that can actually do something.

You have any idea how much things like the predator drone program cost, and all it does is give us a bad rep?

I think we've given up on caring about our rep, at least I have.

NATO probably could like a rat without the U.S. on board. The reason its not happening is the lack of political resolve to do it, not hardware and not money.

By all accounts NATO has been having a serious undermanning problem and according to the Washington post and Al Jazeera they're also running low on precision bombs and other munitions.
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MolenirApr. 16, 2011 - 11:16AM JST

Actually defense and the courts are the only two things I find worth spending federal money on. Everything else is merely overreach.

There are a few other things that really do fall into what the Federal sphere of influence should be, however I agree with you for the most part. That said, I wouldn't mind cutting the defense budget a bit, however it doesn't even come close to the amount we're spending on entitlements. If you're looking to cut something, the entitlement spending is and should be the top priority. At the very least restructuring it, and essentially privatizing it 20 years or so from now, like they're suggesting in the Ryan plan would be a good thing.
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Lieberman2012Apr. 16, 2011 - 11:52AM JST

Mangman as usual you are all over the place, anywhere but on topic. Cuts are needed across the board, not just with the military.
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SuperLibApr. 16, 2011 - 07:26PM JST

Mangaman: Superlib, as ever, you don't seem to know what military funds are spent on. A 25 percent cut in U.S. military spending does not translate into a 25 percent cut in the military. You ever hear of R&D? You have any idea how much things like the predator drone program cost, and all it does is give us a bad rep?

Nope, I've never heard of R&D and the high paying jobs that go with it. You can probably tell by my post that that went well over my head. And the Predators are probably the most revolutionary development in America's arsenal in the last decade. Very low cost and very effective. If you're talking about making cuts this is one of the last programs that you should be talking about. I know you have personal baggage about them but people who have to balance money with capabilities will obviously toss your baggage aside.

Libya is not a problem of hardware anyway! Holy crap, but there is plenty of hardware to go around!

Well let's gut spending and take care of that....AND FAST!

I have to agree with others. U.S. military spending needs cut as a top priority. The spending is completely insane and unjustifiable.

I actually support military cuts. I was talking to another poster who wanted a 25% cut on the next budget. That's why I brought up the issue of jobs. Cuts need to be made but not carelessly by dumping quite a few educated people on the unemployment line all at once. It needs to be managed and done in phases.