Sequestration won't cut anything! Instead of hiking govt spending by 9%, we will hike it by 7%.

[Little-Acorn]

All the politicians are screaming about how terrible the cuts will be in sequestration.

Just one problem: There aren't any.

For the last four years (2008-2011), we have increased govt spending an average of 9% per year.

The $85 billion in so-called "cuts" that sequestration will cause, are simply reductions in the rate of increase. And the amount to about 2% of the Federal budget - a relatively tiny amount.

If the Federal budget is scheduled to go up the same as it has in recent years, then this will be taken off the top. So, what would have been a 9% increase, will now become a 7% INCREASE because of sequestration.

That's still an INCREASE. It's not a cut at all.

We keep hearing stories about how teachers will be fired, National Parks will close, etc. etc. because of this coming sequestration. Excuse me, all these terrible things will happen because of a 7% INCREASE in spending???

And that's what they're saying will happen NEXT year, when sequestration kicks in.

Well... we lived through THIS year, without any of the 7% increase at all. Because we don't get that 7% until next year. We had even less govt spending, than we'll have after the 7% for next year. Why didn't any of these terrible things happen THIS year, when we had even less spending than in the "disastrous" year coming next year?

I am the only one who thinks these dire predictions make no sense at all?

 

[dogtowner]

Yeah but BO can use it to withhold funding for this one to give to that one. and we all know he is happy to dyiff the pentagon.
why do you think the theGOP has been wanting to know whst exactly he would spply the change.
?

 

[Iolo2]

The Republicans want to sabotage the country to get rid of a dark skin, surely? What has it to do with reality?

 

[Little-Acorn]

The Republicans want to sabotage the country to get rid of a dark skin, surely? What has it to do with reality?

Inevitably, the liberals always look immediately at the race of the people involved... even when it's not involved.

 

[BigRob]

The Republicans want to sabotage the country to get rid of a dark skin, surely? What has it to do with reality?

Republicans have already passed two bills through the 1/3 of the government they control that would replace the sequester.....the 2/3rds of the government controlled by Democrats has done absolutely nothing.

 

[PLC1]

All the politicians are screaming about how terrible the cuts will be in sequestration.

Just one problem: There aren't any.

For the last four years (2008-2011), we have increased govt spending an average of 9% per year.

The $85 billion in so-called "cuts" that sequestration will cause, are simply reductions in the rate of increase. And the amount to about 2% of the Federal budget - a relatively tiny amount.

If the Federal budget is scheduled to go up the same as it has in recent years, then this will be taken off the top. So, what would have been a 9% increase, will now become a 7% INCREASE because of sequestration.

That's still an INCREASE. It's not a cut at all.

We keep hearing stories about how teachers will be fired, National Parks will close, etc. etc. because of this coming sequestration. Excuse me, all these terrible things will happen because of a 7% INCREASE in spending???

And that's what they're saying will happen NEXT year, when sequestration kicks in.

Well... we lived through THIS year, without any of the 7% increase at all. Because we don't get that 7% until next year. We had even less govt spending, than we'll have after the 7% for next year. Why didn't any of these terrible things happen THIS year, when we had even less spending than in the "disastrous" year coming next year?

I am the only one who thinks these dire predictions make no sense at all?

Nope.

Lots of people think they make no sense at all.

You're correct that the so called "sequestration" (just what do they mean by that word, anyway?) is merely a minor slowdown in the rate of increase. The talk of people losing jobs and travelers having to wait in line for hours and so on is just that - talk.

But, talk they will, accomplishing nothing but providing an opportunity to leap and hoot, pointing fingers at the other party and scoring points for their own. Government is dysfunctional.

Afterwards, there will no doubt be some disaster or other that will be pointed out and the word "sequestration!" repeated, as if that were the cause. The truth of the matter is that the federal government needs to be cut back a lot further than it ever will be.

 

[dogtowner]

Last chamce for the GOP to just say no to more taxes.
they will cave as they always do and that will be it for them.

 

[Texas_tea]

Last chamce for the GOP to just say no to more taxes.
they will cave as they always do and that will be it for them.

The GOP will cave ... just as they did with Hagel's confirmation with no answers on Benghazi.
We are in a one party system ... good cop, bad cop scenario with both parties working towards the same goal.
Bigger government, less Freedoms and Liberties!

 

[PLC1]

 

[Cruella]

Sequestration has absolutely nothing to do with cutting the increase by 2%. It's smoke and mirrors. Obama, since his last election, is hell bent on destroying Republicans. The sequestration was his idea to begin with, he even threatened to veto it if congress tried to change it and now he's out on his dog and pony road show blaming the Republicans for it, with the media parroting every talking point. Obama doesn't have to worry about re-election and is out for blood. He is meaner and nastier than ever. He actually plans on carrying out his threats.

Last night Homland Security started releasing 10,000 illegal criminals into American
cities because.....? Because of not getting his way with raising taxes again. La Hood has already stated that there will be fewer air traffic controllers etc because of sequester. Janet Napalitano has also threatened to add 2-4 hours longer waits to fly. You watch, if sequester goes through without more tax increases, Obama will make his threats good.

 

[TheJPRD]

More than 30 years experience with government contracting and financial analysis taught me a lesson. The US Government is bloated with unnecessary costs, particularly in the area of its employment excesses! It has become even more bloated by the outrageous additions in government employees made by the Obama administration.

This government excess is compounded because of the effects it has on every entity from whom our government buys things. It amazes me when politicians try to convince us that 2%-10% reductions in the rate of government growth will hurt our nation. It is a FACT that if our government was willing to keep its competent employees, fire its incompetent employees and those who are on the payroll because of their ethnicity/politics/nepotism, the fixed cost of government personnel could EASILY be reduced by 30% or more! If the govenment were to further reduce its personnel costs by ridding us of the ridiculous and unnecessary regulations on businesses, another 8%-10% reduction in costs would result. This last step could also reduce the costs of the products procurred by our government by 30%!

Our government is an incompetent employer, and is inefficient in it's "business" practices! If competence could be forced on our government, there'd be entire agencies that could be eliminated with little or no noticeable impact, as well as 30% or greater reductions in personnel within the Military-Procurement agencies, Social-Security Administration, Medicare employees, Congressional staffs, Executive Cabinet hierarchy and staffs, etc. etc. etc.

Unfortunately, once government has been allowed to grow as large as ours has, those in power become unwilling to give up even a small part of their little empires!