In fact, I can't believe you haven't already done so.
Just follow this link:
to the NewYorkTimes.com's handy-dandy, interactive, budget-fixing, simple-as-pie do-witcher/thingamajig ---
that allows you to pick your own favorite ways to cut federal spending and/or increase taxes --- from among the list of spending cuts and tax increases recently proposed by the chairs of the President Obama's bipartisan task force on deficit reduction.
This little gizmo is the greatest thing since Ross Perot' debate charts... for solving the nation's budgetary problems. And when you get done using it, the newyorktimes.com website makes it super easy to post your ingenious political solution right out over TWITTER......or to easily share a link defining your proposed solution with all your friends...or your Member of Congress in just seconds.
No doubt your congressional reps (both Senate and House) will be waiting for you to help them out... on this hot political potato.
It's a great learning experience:
For example, did you know that the two chairmen have proposed enough ideas to fix the budget deficit by 2015 -- by spending cuts alone?
Did you know they've also proposed enough new taxes to eliminate the deficit by 2015 -- by tax increases alone ....including that hot proposal to eliminate the mortgage interest deduction?
Bottom line:
that would be pretty much right down the middle of the old political road.
Did you know that the single most substantial change they have proposed is long term cuts to MEDICARE benefits.... and that almost everything else pales to that in terms of potential impact.
(Of course, MEDICARE costs ...increasing way above our overall rate of economic growth.... is the single most unsustainable federal program. It may be the third rail of politics, but it's also the 900-pound budgetary gorilla.)
Well, I didn't know any of those things. Now I do.
In fact, now I'm clearly an expert on how this whole exercise should come to pass in Washington
Here is:
My Solution to the New York Times Budget Puzzle
My Plan gets us there by 64% spending cuts and 31% tax increases..... because I'm not willing to see it done by either cuts or new taxes alone.
To get to a point where a significant surplus could go toward paying down the debt by 2015, I didn't have to eliminate the mortgage interest deduction ...or skewer anything else I'm not willing to live with/without.
But you may disagree, so you'd better tell your Congressperson.... because I'm sure mine will do exactly what I say.
I've done my duty. I've saved the Republic.... with just a few minutes of my valuable time.
Now, my fellow federal spending sinners.....
***********************
Jim Hale
Principal Broker / Owner
Graduate, REALTOR Institute e-PRO
2012 Member, Million Dollar Club of Lane County
2012 Member, Real Estate Brokers Million Dollar Club
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