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Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (23694)	10/26/2007 5:33:27 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71588

Re: "A balanced budget amendment isn't a very effective reform to reign in spending." Er... can you prove such a bold and counter-logical position? Re: "... It might have a positive effect at the margin, but its wouldn't be an overwhelming effect." Why? "... Look at all the states that are required to have balanced budgets and look at how their spending has grown." OK. Everyone of them that I am familiar has had MUCH better restraint on spending over the decades then their fellows who are not similarly constrained by provisions in their state constitutions. And, of course, since federal over-spending and chronic deficit spending is an order of magnitude (if not more!) worse then even that of the states... then we could expect the beneficial effects of implementing firm STRUCTURAL IMPEDIMENTS in the Constitution to deficit spending to have an even greater knock-on benefit then we have seen with the various states. Re: " Basically a balanced budget amendment is pretty week as a way to restrain the growth of government. I'm not saying it has no effect but it isn't a very strong one." And, my follow-up challenge: Suggest something, ANYTHING, that offers to be stronger. "While I'd love to have something to offer, the fact that I don't isn't a good argument for a balanced budget amendment. Even if I can't think of a stronger structural reform, in fact even if there are no stronger structural reforms," So... I think it's fair to note that you have NOT OFFERED any possible alternative solutions.... (So... get back with us when you have a better idea....)