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 : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (372895)	3/6/2008 12:07:12 PM
From: Road Walker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1576206

The fact that they paid a dedicated tax doesn't make it much different than programs that are funded by non-dedicated taxes... It sure does in the eye of the taxpayer. He is paying 'this' for 'that', same as you would with an insurance company. the more important issue is the fact that people have come to depend on the money, basing their life decisions around expecting to get it. Well, duh. They have been paying for it their entire lives with every single paycheck, and their US Government has promised the benefit they paid for. Of course they expect and plan on it... to do otherwise would be irrational. One point is that "zero based budgeting" doesn't necessarily imply cuts. The most extreme form would suggest unrealistic up and down moves, which probably should be smoothed out a bit, but I think its a good idea not to consider the level of any federal spending area to be untouchable, or to automatically climb upwards. With most budgets, expense categories change every year. I might decide to take a Euro vacation and play a little less golf this year. A company might decide they need to build a new warehouse so they might cut back on the marketing budget. The country might decide they need more troops in Iraq and put off some domestic infrastructure improvement.... NOT. Sort of common sense stuff that seems to be lacking from the government process where every department is a kingdom unto itself.