And the porn 'stache doesn't hurt either

[dawgball]

http://www.bobbarr2008.com/issues/

Big Government and Big Spending ? The Root of all Problems.

Government spending at all levels is out of control. Most Americans understand the problem of ?earmarks,? commonly used by pork-minded congressmen to buy votes. But while earmarks are an outrageous abuse of the taxpayer?s money, they account for a very small percentage of federal spending. Over the past decade, total government spending (state, local and federal) has increased from $2.9 trillion to an astonishing $5.1 trillion in 2008. The $3.1 trillion federal budget submitted by President Bush for next year was greater than the combined 1998 spending of the federal government, all 50 states and over 87,000 local governments.

The federal government must take the lead in making significant cuts in spending. Focusing on earmarks risks distracting attention from the broader problem of a government wildly wasting the money of hard-working Americans. Tens of billions of dollars in corporate welfare ? essentially aid to dependent corporations ? should be eliminated. Largesse for middle- and upper-income Americans, particularly so-called ?entitlement? programs, must be cut. Billions in so-called defense spending, which protects America?s populous, prosperous allies rather than Americans, must be eliminated.

Cutting spending would allow America to implement real tax reform. Our goal should be to reduce both the tax burden on Americans and the intrusion in their lives resulting from IRS enforcement of the income tax. One of the best approaches would be to adopt some form of a consumption tax, like a national sales tax, replacing the Internal Revenue Service and all federal income taxes as well as payroll taxes.

It is not enough to eliminate the income tax. We also must repeal the 16th amendment, which authorizes Congress to levy an income tax. Without doing so, there would be an ever-present danger that a future Congress would attempt to bring back the income tax on top of the Fair Tax or any other alternative to the income tax.

Thoughts? Besides the ever-prevalent "wasting your vote" rheotric.

 

[Chadman]

Some interesting ideas here - of course, most currently in power in the legislative branch could not support many of these points as the corporate dollar helped put them in power. I see nothing irrational in a basic consumption tax, at face value. And without knowing exactly what he is referring to with the corporate and upper income dollar benefits, I see nothing irrational in those, either, although helping businesses to succeed on some levels can promote a healthy economy, too. I will hold off on a more targeted attack on these issues for now...but these points are worthy of examination, no doubt.

 

[dawgball]

although helping businesses to succeed on some levels can promote a healthy economy, too.

I think when I try to see how I personally align with the Libertarian Party, this is the thing that stands out the most. I'm for smaller government, not necessarily small government.

I will hold off on a more targeted attack on these issues for now...but these points are worthy of examination, no doubt.

Duly noted. :00hour

:0corn

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

My pet peave and both parties equally quilty is when major issue comes to vote--the other side slides in pet projects that wouldn't float on their own merit and escalate bill.

One example is all projects and expenses added to pass iraq funding

Another classic was sliding in gambling bill on another package.

The killer--all these they tack on to pass major issues stay on books and increase yearly for most part--and gov expense and size continues to expand.