Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: pompsander who wrote (713868)	11/17/2005 7:51:38 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 769670

Tell every cabinet position that discretionary spending has to be reduced by 3% from previous fiscal year actual outlays. The problem with that is the cuts are very likely to be poorly targeted. In fact they often would get targeted at the areas that cause the greatest reduction in desired services because 1 - The government agencies don't have to compete in the market, if they provide worse service people will often still have to use them anyway. 2 - The government agencies would prefer to preserve the money that goes to the government employees, esp. the senior employees, and the perks and pet projects of the senior employees. 3 - If the cuts cause pain to some important constituency that constituency might be able to reverse them, and then maybe even get an extra increase. The most efficient and useful way to cut would be to cut job responsibilities and program from the government. Just say "the government isn't going to do X and Y and Z anymore", and mean it, and follow through on it. But politically this can be difficult. Tim