Comments on: A Question For The Tea Partyers http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/ I believe in the free speech that liberals used to believe in, the economic freedom that conservatives used to believe in, and the personal freedom that America used to believe in. Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:00:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Catching up on my reading, and finding a dumb question « The TrogloPundit http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-298643 Catching up on my reading, and finding a dumb question « The TrogloPundit Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:12:58 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-298643 [...] up on my reading, and finding a dumb question Doug Mataconis at Below the Beltway posted this on Tax Day (and I just read it last night): A Question For The Tea [...] [...] up on my reading, and finding a dumb question Doug Mataconis at Below the Beltway posted this on Tax Day (and I just read it last night): A Question For The Tea [...]

]]> By: ShaunKenney.com » Blinded By An Ideology Never Followed http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-298474 ShaunKenney.com » Blinded By An Ideology Never Followed Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:57:39 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-298474 [...] Mataconis over at Below the Beltway has splendidly criticized the movement to describe not only what precisely they are for, but the outright hypocrisy of not opposing the massive expansion of government under President [...] [...] Mataconis over at Below the Beltway has splendidly criticized the movement to describe not only what precisely they are for, but the outright hypocrisy of not opposing the massive expansion of government under President [...]

]]> By: Lance http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-298454 Lance Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:19:14 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-298454 Is it a fair question? Maybe, although the Left sure hates to take the question "how much tax money is enough?" But it's a tone-deaf question. Conservatives have railed against government spending for decades, but the Tea Parties didn't happen until Obama quadrupled (is it still only quadrupled?) the deficit. Anybody who needs to ask "what would you cut" is either ignorant of current events, hasn't thought those events through, or is deliberately ignoring them because it hurts his argument. Is it a fair question? Maybe, although the Left sure hates to take the question “how much tax money is enough?”

But it’s a tone-deaf question. Conservatives have railed against government spending for decades, but the Tea Parties didn’t happen until Obama quadrupled (is it still only quadrupled?) the deficit. Anybody who needs to ask “what would you cut” is either ignorant of current events, hasn’t thought those events through, or is deliberately ignoring them because it hurts his argument.

]]> By: Doug Mataconis http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-297765 Doug Mataconis Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:58:57 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-297765 Okay, that's a good start. However, 80% of the Federal budget consists of entitlements, defense spending, and interest on the national debt. That's where the cuts need to be. Okay, that’s a good start.

However, 80% of the Federal budget consists of entitlements, defense spending, and interest on the national debt. That’s where the cuts need to be.

]]> By: brad http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-297763 brad Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:21:47 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-297763 Simple, $60 billion called the Dept. of Education would be my starting point. Simple, $60 billion called the Dept. of Education would be my starting point.

]]> By: Cargosquid http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-297760 Cargosquid Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:59:08 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-297760 I'm sorry. Just re-read your question. What am I for? More responsive government. Term limits. Politicians that uphold their oaths of office. A strong military and the will to use it. A strong State Department that is confident and defends and expands the values of the USA. A more educated voting populace. One that ignores a pretty face and actually looks below the surface and votes on the issues. A simpler tax. 10-15% flat tax, no exemptions, on all that make 2X poverty rate and above. If it forces us to prioritize, that's a feature, not a bug. I'd say Fair Tax, but, asking Congress to give up the income tax is like asking a crack junkie to just say "no." While he's robbing you for money for his fix.... And lower the drinking age to 18. Either you are an adult or you are NOT. I’m sorry. Just re-read your question. What am I for?

More responsive government. Term limits. Politicians that uphold their oaths of office. A strong military and the will to use it. A strong State Department that is confident and defends and expands the values of the USA. A more educated voting populace. One that ignores a pretty face and actually looks below the surface and votes on the issues.
A simpler tax. 10-15% flat tax, no exemptions, on all that make 2X poverty rate and above. If it forces us to prioritize, that’s a feature, not a bug. I’d say Fair Tax, but, asking Congress to give up the income tax is like asking a crack junkie to just say “no.” While he’s robbing you for money for his fix….

And lower the drinking age to 18. Either you are an adult or you are NOT.

]]> By: Cargosquid http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-297759 Cargosquid Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:50:16 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-297759 It's not a fair question. The protests are the result of YEARS of overspending. It is up to the government to justify its priorities. There is already an instruction manual. The Constitution. It's anger about the government giving spending authority to the Sec. Treasury with no oversight. Its about Congress living high on the hog with no accountability. In general, the protests don't like the INCREASE in spending that is tripling the deficit this year alone. Its about the nationalizing of industries and bailouts with tax money. No Reagan did not make the cuts. He tried and failed. Congress would only pass his military budgets if they got their goodies too. Most of the protesters are not politically minded. Most are just happy to have a venue for their displeasure. We're tired of the incumbents in Congress ignoring the voices of the people. I talked to both liberals and conservatives, both GOP and Democrats. Each person has his/her pet programs that they would like to see cut. Mine? Simple. I'd just like to see a freeze in spending. Pick a number and freeze it for 4 years. And put EVERYTHING into the budget. NO automatic programs. Soc. Sec. Medicare, etc. In the budget. Make our representatives prioritize and actually work for a living. If they believe Medicare is more important than the Education Department, let them figure it out. We object to the philosophy that government only grows; that it can have everything it wants if only it gets more money. We object to the government's philosophy that money given to the States or the the People are gifts,albeit, one with strings, instead of the return of OUR money. Deficit spending may be necessary. But justify it. There is nothing in the Constitution that allows bailouts. That is what we are protesting. It’s not a fair question. The protests are the result of YEARS of overspending. It is up to the government to justify its priorities. There is already an instruction manual. The Constitution. It’s anger about the government giving spending authority to the Sec. Treasury with no oversight. Its about Congress living high on the hog with no accountability. In general, the protests don’t like the INCREASE in spending that is tripling the deficit this year alone. Its about the nationalizing of industries and bailouts with tax money. No Reagan did not make the cuts. He tried and failed. Congress would only pass his military budgets if they got their goodies too. Most of the protesters are not politically minded. Most are just happy to have a venue for their displeasure. We’re tired of the incumbents in Congress ignoring the voices of the people. I talked to both liberals and conservatives, both GOP and Democrats. Each person has his/her pet programs that they would like to see cut. Mine? Simple. I’d just like to see a freeze in spending. Pick a number and freeze it for 4 years. And put EVERYTHING into the budget. NO automatic programs. Soc. Sec. Medicare, etc. In the budget. Make our representatives prioritize and actually work for a living. If they believe Medicare is more important than the Education Department, let them figure it out. We object to the philosophy that government only grows; that it can have everything it wants if only it gets more money. We object to the government’s philosophy that money given to the States or the the People are gifts,albeit, one with strings, instead of the return of OUR money. Deficit spending may be necessary. But justify it. There is nothing in the Constitution that allows bailouts. That is what we are protesting.

]]> By: Matt http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-297715 Matt Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:55:04 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-297715 I can't speak for the GOP, but I did go to the protest. Here's some of what I'd cut: All foreign aid to countries that hate us, most notable Egypt and North Korea. All funds for the useless/pointless United Nations. All funds for propping up private businesses that have failed. All funds for welfare recipients, if they want money they can do the jobs that "Americans don't want" which are currently going to illegal aliens. Hmm, what else? I'd need to do more research. I'm sure there's plenty more non productive spending to be cut. I can’t speak for the GOP, but I did go to the protest. Here’s some of what I’d cut:

All foreign aid to countries that hate us, most notable Egypt and North Korea.
All funds for the useless/pointless United Nations.
All funds for propping up private businesses that have failed.
All funds for welfare recipients, if they want money they can do the jobs that “Americans don’t want” which are currently going to illegal aliens.

Hmm, what else? I’d need to do more research. I’m sure there’s plenty more non productive spending to be cut.

]]> By: DR http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-297714 DR Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:25:53 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-297714 The first thing I would get rid of is the Department of Education; there is no need for my tax dollars to be sent to the Federal government to run a system that the states can run more effectively and cheeper. Next I would get rid of the Department of Agriculture, and then I would get rid of most of the rest of the departments of waste the federal government upholds. No money for AIDS research, no money for stem cell research, no money for the sciences, except NASA because it serves a military purpose. No more foreign aid, no more money for the arts (if your art is so bad people won’t pay money to buy and see it, my tax dollars do not need to support it), next I would get rid of PBS and NPR if you want to make T.V. and radio, then compete, if people want to watch and hear they will. The Federal Governments job is to protect its people, protect them from foreign invaders through an army, protect them from criminals locally, and protect the contracts they make from fraud; everything else can and should be left to local and state governments. It is asinine to give my tax dollars to the Federal government so they can take a percentage to feed off of and then give it back to the state. The first thing I would get rid of is the Department of Education; there is no need for my tax dollars to be sent to the Federal government to run a system that the states can run more effectively and cheeper. Next I would get rid of the Department of Agriculture, and then I would get rid of most of the rest of the departments of waste the federal government upholds.
No money for AIDS research, no money for stem cell research, no money for the sciences, except NASA because it serves a military purpose.
No more foreign aid, no more money for the arts (if your art is so bad people won’t pay money to buy and see it, my tax dollars do not need to support it), next I would get rid of PBS and NPR if you want to make T.V. and radio, then compete, if people want to watch and hear they will.
The Federal Governments job is to protect its people, protect them from foreign invaders through an army, protect them from criminals locally, and protect the contracts they make from fraud; everything else can and should be left to local and state governments. It is asinine to give my tax dollars to the Federal government so they can take a percentage to feed off of and then give it back to the state.

]]> By: The Liberty Papers »Blog Archive » A Question For The Tea Partyers http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/04/15/a-question-for-the-tea-partyers/comment-page-1/#comment-297693 The Liberty Papers »Blog Archive » A Question For The Tea Partyers Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:45:08 +0000 http://belowthebeltway.com/?p=15807#comment-297693 [...] Below The Beltway Share and [...] [...] Below The Beltway Share and [...]

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