Evidently Nothing!


“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.” Cicero – 55 BC

I agree nothing!

As long as poor people are given the chance to vote themselves hand outs through elected public officials they will do so over common sense, balanced budgets, and global community need. In the Declaration of Independence the line "To promote the general welfare" has been twisted into "The people demand free hand outs at the expense of tax payers."

So what was the deal with the republicans adding to the defecit and demanding the rich keep the tax cuts? I thought you republicans were defecit hawks? damn start two wars and dont fund them and then cry about the defecit. what a twisted mess this country is in.

First of all the problem is greater than party lines! it is a failure in the electoral system and failure in the leadership we choose even though I am not voting for the clowns other people are in the hopes for freebies and handouts!

The greatest failure is the stupidity of American voters as a whole since we keep getting stuck with sell outs and poverty crusaders!.

unfortunately, civilizations have risen and fallen because of the need for the haves to keep the have nots oppressed, and karma keeps coming around ,,,,,I dont think balancing budgets was as major when civilizations were SMALLER or based upon creating for ourselves our own food and bartering with our services for supplies

now that we function with MONETARY bartering which is unequally accessed , we have and always will have lopsided assets compared to debts

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On A more serious note technologically speaking we have advanced more in the last 50 years than in the 6000+ years since the first civilization the Sumerians. Although their understanding of astrology was astounding. I don't think it's so much that we haven't learned as individuals it's more that we haven't applied what we have learned as a people ... there in lies the problem ... at least that's what I think

brilliant observation ,,,

LOL...it all comes down to laziness!!

Considering the helping programs only help those in need and not those who just want it the philosophy doesn't fit.

Also half of this country gets a rebate from the government at tax time, they don't pay so that half shouldn't be crying about tax payers money being spent on public assistance because it ain't their money.

I agree that we have to slow down on helping outside of our country in down times.

This country went in debt just to become a country.

When you say the stupidity of American voters. Are you talking about those who vote, or those who don't?

Foreign aid is a minuscule portion of the federal budget....maybe a whopping 2% at most.

Social Security, Medicare, and Defense are the largest portions. Hence the debate over Entitlements so many years ago. Now, pork barrel projects are another form of Entitlement which is buried with the federal books because of legislation passed. Cut out the pork, and the government will saved at least, if not more, than what is spent on foreign aid.

The government also offers incentives to businesses (subsidies) which are essentially bribes to get business owners to adapt to newer regulations. And then there are Endowments for all sorts of things: literature, music, art, scientific research, etc. Why should the government have to fund these things? At one point in time, it was the wealthy private sector that funded such pursuits.

We need to stop giving people within this country so many handouts. As long as they are receiving, they aren't giving anything back. It doesn't matter whether we are talking about the rich or the poor because both have soiled their hands with government money. Enough is enough. End the cycle. Tear it down, and rebuild anew.

BOTH!!! I try hard to vote for the lesser of the two evils. People vote for what will get them free hand outs or make them feel good for themselves. People are so hot for change but they do not think about the consequences of their ideal changes. Instead of balancing the budget and fixing the health care system what did we get? MANDATORY HEALTH CARE INSURANCE AND A DEFICIT THAT IS SO HUGE NOW WE MAY NEVER GET OUT OF THE HOLE WE ARE IN NOW!!!