Government Spending Cuts

Trump’s plan to bring manufacturing and resource extracting jobs back to the US to allow US citizens to pull themselves out of the welfare plans is sound.  But government spending needs to be addressed.

 

Despite the fact that US federal revenue and spending has doubled since 2008, Congress has done nothing to cut spending, but has over $20 Trillion on its credit card. Likewise, State and local governments continue to spend big bucks on nonessential projects even while critical infrastructure crumbles.

 

Families who face this kind of dilemma usually cut spending, but Congress acts like they can continue to increase federal government spending.

 

Democrats will always fight to make government bigger and more expensive, because they want to continue to “transform” the US into a “socialist republic”.  Democrats think that government is a “jobs program” and they have rigged the “Rules” to their advantage.

 

Republicans remind us that socialism usually ends in collapse like it did in Venezuela and they report waste and suggest moving unconstitutional activities to the States. But Republicans have not gone after spending, because they need to ensure that that they pick up seats in 2018. If Republicans do increase their control, they might take a chance and go after spending and corruption, but they also need to remove those RINOs who get elected as Republicans, but vote like Democrats.

 

Trump cut regulations, ordered a hiring freeze and ordered cuts in several agencies months ago. His plan was to remove job-killing regulations, freeze hiring and let attrition continue to reduce headcount. He lifted the hiring freeze for border agents and is

 

If our members in Congress wanted to do their jobs correctly, they would cut unnecessary federal spending first

Voters need to address government spending at all levels. This will require some effort.

 

I want to see government spending become more transparent, so that voters will know the cost of the services and projects that are imposed.

 

I like to use “utilization” to determine the value of government expenditures to taxpayers.

 

Everybody uses water, water treatment, sanitary sewers, and storm sewers. This requires reservoirs, maintenance and equipment. Those who manage our water and sewers need to do a better job to prevent sink holes and sewer leaks. County budgets need to reflect the fact that this infrastructure should be their highest priority. I would suspend spending on everything else until these systems are brought up to speed.

 

Almost everybody drives their cars on our roads and highways. This includes bridges, road maintenance and road expansion if necessary. I would not allow gasoline tax and auto tax revenues to be spent on anything but roads and highways. Highest priority status is required here as well.

 

When we studied the projects on the 2012 T-SPLOST, we found MARTA, (the Atlanta commuter train) had very low utilization compared to the cost, so that rider fee income only paid for half the cost of operating the current system.  The cost of expanding MARTA was in the $Billions and was unsustainable. We knew that commuter trains required very high density like New York City to be cost-effective and Atlanta was the least dense city on the planet.

 

I would like to see government spending categorize by end-user. The cost of services that are for citizens might include Police, Prisons and Courts. The cost of these services could be reduced if there was no crime. I would charge part of the costs to convicted criminals as a “user fee” Granted, businesses also use these, but the majority of users are criminals or victims. Voters need to understand that the Police and Court systems simply catch and jail criminals to attempt to deter crime. They cannot prevent crime and the results of their efforts are limited.

 

Fires might be able to be reduced by installing lightning rods, but I don’t see these being used or required. I’m amazed that insurance companies are not mentioning this.

 

There are also government expenses to serve citizens who are not self-supporting or supported by their families. This includes those on food-stamps, housing subsidies and other welfare costs. Unleashing our economy to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US is required to reduce these costs.

 

Excessive government subsidies have resulted in the cost problems in healthcare and education. These industries need to re-engineer their costs.

 

Government employee pension plans need to be terminated and converted to 401k Plans with an Age-Weighted plan to supplement those who are close to retirement age.

 

Federal government programs need to be returned to the States and the Counties. This includes Education and Healthcare.  Other unconstitutional federal departments, agencies and programs need to either be brought into compliance with Amendments ratified by the States or returned to the States and Counties.

 

There are many expenditures that government should end.

 

There is no reason for the federal government to maintain the unconstitutional “park system”. These parks are in States and they should be returned to the States. The UN also needs to be removed from tourist sites.

 

There is no reason for government to fund public transit bus service. This is best handled by private sector bus companies.

 

There is no reason for government to be involved in mortgage lending, student loan lending or any other lending. This is best handled by private sector lenders.

 

Public Education has become unaffordable and underperforming. It includes too much socialist propaganda indoctrination. The federal government needs to get out of the education business and give it to the States. The States then need to give it to the Counties.

 

All Federal grants need to end.

 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader