Here are some Cuts for You, Mr. Bush

Published on February 11, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

Here are some cuts I propose for Bush and company for the coming year. I'm not in all cases suggesting we do away with these departments completely, but that we seriously cut back (he said he wants to remove redundant federal agencies among other things). I'm sure most people will agree with some departments, disagree with others:

The Department of Homeland Security: Homeland Security should be under an already existing cabinet post, that of the Defense Department. The United States was already set up with a Homeland Security Department prior to 9/11; they're called the state National Guards. A post and a few staff at the national level to coordinate between the states is all that is needed to efficiently operate
The National Endowment for the Arts: Congressional pork at its finest. If pissing in a jar and putting a crucifix in it makes one an artist, call me Picasso. Seriously, though, the arts, while a vital part of our society, should be privately unerwritten. Period.
The National Education Association: The "other" NEA, this one is redundant in that it replicates each state's education association, and has created bureaucratic waste that has drained dollars badly needed at the consumer (student) level and appropriated them at the administrative level.
The BATF: A holdover from the Prohibition era, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (always wondered why they grouped those three together), has become an albatross that has cost far too much to the taxpayer. While incidents such as Waco and Ruby Ridge are now part of a bygone era, they are examples of the horrific, totalitarian control these people feel justified in exerting over U.S. citizens.
The Border Patrol: Laughably inefficient, these units also replicate the role the National Guards should be playing in border states. Simply eliminate them and divert part of their funding to the Guard units of border states.
The DEA: The "war on drugs" was an expensive lesson in how NOT to control drugs within our borders. The DEA replicates the role of other law enforcement agencies and should be done away with.
The EPA: We have held our environmental standards to international standards for years. Each individual state has different environmental needs, and the powers currently granted the EPA should be granted to state environmental agencies.
The BLM: The Bureau of Land Management should produce a plan to turn over federally held lands to state jurisdiction. Poor supervision at the federal level and a high cost to consumer make this an unnecessary expense.

I'm sure I stepped on everyone's toes somewhere in there, but I really feel these agencies need serious cuts. With a skyrocketing budget and a whole bevy of ridiculous pork barrel expenditures, it's time to tighten our collective belts.

Comments (Page 1)

Dr Guy

on Feb 11, 2005

The BATF: A holdover from the Prohibition era, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (always wondered why they grouped those three together), has become an albatross that has cost far too much to the taxpayer. While incidents such as Waco and Ruby Ridge are now part of a bygone era, they are examples of the horrific, totalitarian control these people feel justified in exerting over U.S. citizens.

Al Capone? I think he fit all 3 areas well!

I will not argue with any of these. Except the NEA. Do you mean the Dept of Ed? I am not familiar with the former, but having worked in education for over 10 years, I definitely agree with the latter.

foreverserenity

on Feb 11, 2005

Doesn't each states' EPA fit under the umbrella of the Federal EPA? In the case of a major disaster, would the states be able to operate on their own without help?

If the border patrol is dismantled and the funds go to the National Guards, won't there need to be more people hired in that capacity?

This seem redundant because border patrol is direly needed even though it may not be as effective as it should be, it is really needed and needs revamping.

The NEA , the DEA, surely these organizations just need to be revamped to be more effective.

stubbyfinger

on Feb 11, 2005

Especially the DEA, all they do is fatten the profit margins for the drug dealers and imprison way to many of our citizens for having an addiction.

Jamie Burnside

on Feb 11, 2005

The NEA is the national teachers' union. I don't think that government bankrolls unions.

Regardless, I think that the NEAs funding done already been cut.

sandy2

on Feb 11, 2005

Gideon... our enviornmental practices are not up to international levels... not at all. We need to crack down on our enviornmental practices, end the war on drugs, and make college scholarships. The biggest cut I have for you is decrease S.S. expenses, medicare expenses and defense expenses.

Dr Guy

on Feb 11, 2005

Sandy, I think you need to do some research. Our Standards are better than most if not all of the rest of the Nations. Google it. We are.

drmiler

on Feb 11, 2005

The NEA is the national teachers' union. I don't think that government bankrolls unions.

They don't bankroll unions, however they *do* help bankroll the NEA. Link

Xiozan

on Feb 11, 2005

The Department of Homeland Security

Agree, last time I checked we also have a Coast Guard that guards the US Coastline. Government just needs to revamp the National Guard.

The National Endowment for the Arts

Agree, if that is the best art that can be produced from Government funding than cut the funding, last time I checked most of what everybody considers GREAT ART (myself personally Beethoven, etc.) are not funded by Government grants the only art that is, well its crap literally.

The Rest

Agree as well.

Good suggestions Gid, just need a Government who has the truly "Progressive" (not Regressive Progressive) balls to do it and talk about saving a bunch of money AND not just on car insurance!!

- X

Shulamite

on Feb 11, 2005

Thought this was stellar... nada mas a decir, so once again gotta say "you rock!"

Too bad all that politicking interferes with such blatant common sense! (You scratch my back I'll scratch yours; riders, et cetera...) How can we clean up THIS system? I mean, even the blasted food pyramid is created through much political mire.

Jamie Burnside

on Feb 11, 2005

Maybe the government can cut everything. Then it may be possible to invade Iran and North Korea without raising taxes.

With no domestic spending, (besides the treasury/ IRS that collects money... and the part that pays to maintain the core government offices)we could establish a 100% war nation-state.

There may even be enough money left over to pour into Iraq and Afghanistan with kickback cash to spare for everyone involved.

This way we'll all learn how much we don't need the federal government, while at the same time achieve international objectives.

sqrrldrw

on Feb 12, 2005

Agreed on EPA, NEA, DEA, "other EPA," Homeland Security and BLM. I think the border patrol is probably fairly ineffective at a number of their responsibilities, but I wouldn't cut too much. Maybe more trimming.

I would suggest one additional cut: Our 4 billion dollars a year to Israel for military aid. I suggest we tell Israel that we'll take $500,000 a year every time they bomb someone, surround a compound or fire anything larger than a mortar without telling us before they do it. We've bankrolled a percentage of their military (a portion they could viably afford). Yet, we fund them to a tune of 1% of our total Pentagon budget (401 Billion). What have we gotten out of it other than pure political capital in the U.S. from some jewish-americans? We haven't gotten peace in that region and it hasn't helped us in relations with the moderate muslim countries in the region. It is an example of political pork at its worst. We need to tell them to play ball or lose money. Ideally, this idea could be brought up privately with the Israelis at a nice Camp David accord while negotiating for peace in that region.

take it easy,

sqrrldrw

whoman69

on Feb 12, 2005

If border patrol is put in the hands of the Guard, does that mean that its only illegal immigration one weekend a month and one two week stint a year. Do you realize this would actually cost more money to activate those units and would also disallow them from performing their military duties. They would also need training time. In that time period we would have no border patrol. Its not the job of the states to guard the borders.

kingbee

on Feb 12, 2005

With no domestic spending, (besides the treasury/ IRS that collects money... and the part that pays to maintain the core government offices)we could establish a 100% war nation-state.

There may even be enough money left over to pour into Iraq and Afghanistan with kickback cash to spare for everyone involved.

This way we'll all learn how much we don't need the federal government, while at the same time achieve international objectives.

hmmmm. seems as if someone's been reading those project for a new american century position papers. LOL

Gideon MacLeish

on Feb 12, 2005

Sandy, I think you need to do some research. Our Standards are better than most if not all of the rest of the Nations. Google it. We are.

Thank you, Dr. Guy. You saved me some effort.

kingbee

on Feb 12, 2005

The United States was already set up with a Homeland Security Department prior to 9/11; they're called the state National Guards. A post and a few staff at the national level to coordinate between the states is all that is needed to efficiently operate

while i feel the dhs is a truly outrageous and foolish waste of 37+ billion a year--im sure we could pay half that amount and still ensure our first responders arent adequately funded nor equipped any worse than they are now--im under the impression there are barely enough stateside guard troops to handle floods and other natural disasters.

always wondered why they grouped those three together),

i believe it had to do with the tax stamp strategy once used to criminalize gambling, marijuana, machine guns and alcohol as well as regulating the tobacco industry. these are the same people formerly referred to as 'revenuers'?

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!