Small Government - A Trump Goal - Apparently

[Kathryn]

Would you be fine with that saving coming from military cuts?

Not all of it but some of it. Pretty much five percent across the board.

 

[Kenny]

For me, another encouraging sign is that not only are former Democrats Gabbard and Kennedy are in the decision making Cabinet but also many Democrats are excited about some of the potential outcomes.

To me this speaks of unity and cooperation in the middle of what used to be contention and separation

 

[Revoltingest]

It is more complex than that..
The Abrahamic religions comprise many creeds .. some extremist.

Abrahamic religions are what they do.
And their record is one including great oppression,
violence, disease, death, theft, genocide, ignorance,
& cult behavior.
And these religions have a better alternative, ie,
secular humanism. Capitalism has no better alternative.

However, usury is widely known to be anti-social, and mentioned in both Bible and Qur'an.
Capitalism is based on usury.

I enjoy capitalism in a country where
interest rates are highly regulated.
No "usury" as I understand the term.
So usury is not essential to capitalism.

 

[Argentbear]

Oh I get the idea all right, and it makes a lot of sense. Problem is you just don't see it for what it is and are living in a utopian generated fantasy world at least at the moment.

SO share an idea. Just how is Trump going to get the oil companies to pick and use the several thousand drilling permits that have been sitting untouched from Trump's first administration?

 

[Revoltingest]

SO share an idea. Just how is Trump going to get the oil companies to pick and use the several thousand drilling permits that have been sitting untouched from Trump's first administration?

Subsidies?
Royal command?

 

[Alien826]

You know what? We've had to trim our budgets by more than 5 percent, so it's time for our government to do so as well.

If an individual is short of money, they have two options. Spend less and/or earn more. (Neither may be actually available, but in principle that's it).

The Government has the same two options. Cut spending and/or increase taxation. The problem in the USA is that most people (most of all the rich who would be least affected by it) don't want to pay more tax. Instead they want to reduce taxation with the weird idea that it will somehow help. If I suggested that you (if you were in that position) should work fewer hours in order to be able to pay your bills you would laugh at me. Cutting spending is the preferred option, but I don't think better efficiency will be enough. Inevitably the call is to cut programs that help the most vulnerable in our society. Again the rich don't object to that as they don't need such programs.

In 1970, the top rate of tax was 70%. The rich were rich enough and there was a thriving middle class. The wealth gap between rich and middle class was considerable, but nothing like what we have now. There were other problems, but this is a time that is looked back on by many as a "golden age". Then along came Reagan ...

 

[Kathryn]

If an individual is short of money, they have two options. Spend less and/or earn more. (Neither may be actually available, but in principle that's it).

The Government has the same two options. Cut spending and/or increase taxation. The problem in the USA is that most people (most of all the rich who would be least affected by it) don't want to pay more tax. Instead they want to reduce taxation with the weird idea that it will somehow help. If I suggested that you (if you were in that position) should work fewer hours in order to be able to pay your bills you would laugh at me. Cutting spending is the preferred option, but I don't think better efficiency will be enough. Inevitably the call is to cut programs that help the most vulnerable in our society. Again the rich don't object to that as they don't need such programs.

In 1970, the top rate of tax was 70%. The rich were rich enough and there was a thriving middle class. The wealth gap between rich and middle class was considerable, but nothing like what we have now. There were other problems, but this is a time that is looked back on by many as a "golden age". Then along came Reagan ...

There were a LOT of problems if you were anything but a white male.

 

[Revoltingest]

In 1970, the top rate of tax was 70%. The rich were rich enough and there was a thriving middle class.

This ignores the fact that very very few actually
paid that high marginal tax rate. The tax structure
was very different, with many generous deductions
people used to lower their taxable income, eg,
recapturing accelerated depreciation lower capital
gains tax rates.

 

[Alien826]

There were a LOT of problems if you were anything but a white male.

Yes, I suggested that.

This ignores the fact that very very few actually
paid that high marginal tax rate. The tax structure
was very different, with many generous deductions
people used to lower their taxable income, eg,
recapturing accelerated depreciation lower capital
gains tax rates.

But the rich paid more taxes in total, no?

 

[Revoltingest]

Yes, I suggested that.



But the rich paid more taxes in total, no?

No.
I've looked into federal tax revenue.

 

[Kenny]

You know what? We've had to trim our budgets by more than 5 percent, so it's time for our government to do so as well.

BINGO!!

 

[Revoltingest]

BINGO!!

Do you believe that Trump will reduce the
budget deficit &/or the national debt?