Almost 65 and retired. Raised by an East Coast liberal. I am also a child of the sixties.

There really is a solution!

Posted Friday, August 5, 2011, at 9:59 PM

I guess at this point most of you out there know who I am and have some understanding of my views concerning the current mess we are in. I will try and be as accurate as possible, but if I make a factual error I will readily admit it and apologize. I will not engage in grade school play yard name calling. It brings NOTHING to the table.

Item 1, I am totally in favor of a balanced budget amendment.

Item 2, Social Security and Medicare benefit cuts are off the table. We paid into those trust funds and had a contract with the government who when they saw fit STOLE our money.

Item 3, I agree there is waste in the federal budget. That MUST be fixed!

Item 4, I do not agree with the notion of completely dismantling of the EPA. History has shown that too many companies will not do the right thing unless forced to. The same thing goes for OSHA. There are many agencies that could be streamlined or combined.

Now on to the solution.

A balanced budget amendment with teeth and no loop holes. The only time deficit spending is allowed before we have a rainy day fund equal to 1 years budget outlays is in the case of a DECLARED WAR! Good bye War Powers Act.

Also allowed is deficit spending in the case of a natural disaster in OUR country. All overseas bases would be closed immediately and all troops would be brought home. Border security would become the primary focus of the military, because if we get this right, people from everywhere will try to get in.

I would also add to this amendment the stipulation of no foreign aid or foreign military aid. Sorry folks, we are BROKE and the bank has closed. We will have to borrow for a few years, there is no choice. You can not slash the federal budget 40% in one sitting. I would give them 5 years to do it. Spending increases will be held to 3% a year.

Many of you have stated and rightly so, your opposition to benefits to illegal immigrants. I agree, but the fact of the matter is that many of these benefits have been ordered by the Supreme Court. Until they reverse their decisions, we are stuck. The same thing goes for so called anchor babies. There is a reason that Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life, and that is to avoid political pressure being put on them.

The tax code is a joke that no one but the lawyers and accountants and lobbyist are laughing at. There is a simple solution. A flat tax on everyone who earns an income, or earns a profit from the sales of products or services.

Social security benefits and defined pensions are exempt. The tax on profits will be just as simple as an individuals tax. Profits will be taxed on gross profits. Gross profits will be defined as the difference between what a product or service cost to produce and what it sells for. No fancy write offs or exemptions. If a product or service is produced overseas completely, then a 5% extra tax will be imposed. If the parts are made overseas and assembled here, then the penalty is only 2.5% If you are going to take our money and not give us jobs, then you will pay for it. The rate of said tax will be enough to cover debt interest payments, Social Security payments, payroll for active duty military, as well as military pensions and military family benefits. All other spending is on the table. There will be enough revenue collected to pay down the national debt 5% a year and put aside 5% of the total budget into a rainy day fund that will require a 75% majority vote to get to. The tax rate will not change until there is NO MORE NATIONAL DEBT AND THE RAINY DAY FUND IS FULLY FUNDED!!!!!!

Pity the poor lawyers and accountants and lobbyist who will have to earn a real living, just like the rest of us.

And before anyone says this plan will drive companies out of this country, remember, we are one of the world's largest consumers. We get to make the rules. It's OUR MONEY they want.

Is my solution somewhat draconian? Most likely. Does it sound too simple? What do you think? Do we finally learn how to balance a check book and live on a budget?

Do we want to be the envy of every country on earth because we are beholden to NO ONE ?

Think about it folks.

Roy

Comments

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Well I went and did it. Sorry I deleted the wrong one. If you commented, please repost.

Roy

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Fri, Aug 5, 2011, at 10:07 PM
The only problem is politics; right & left. I wish the lot would take their ball and go home - and not come back.

-- Posted by Craftbeer on Fri, Aug 5, 2011, at 10:47 PM
ROY........as simple as it sounds it would work.People as a whole understand this need but as you stated it has to be shared and it has to be phased in.The only thing that wont happen is the military on the borders(both)POSSE CONMATATOSS..........oTHER THAN THAT LETS GET ON WITH IT........

-- Posted by lamont on Fri, Aug 5, 2011, at 11:49 PM
lamont

Posse Comitatus Act was enacted by congress, they can repeal or modify it as needed.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 12:40 AM
Roy I like all the ideas you have except the flat tax. Take a look at www.fairtax.org it has 20 million and 15 plus years in research. They also do a comparison between a flat tax, the current system and the fair tax. Just my two cents worth.

-- Posted by pjluckyman on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 6:18 AM
I haven't look at all of it, but my question is what about those companies that only sell goods here and consume nothing. They take our money and walk away free and clear? How is it fair to tax the food we eat? The medications we take? We need to become a nation of producers, not just consumers.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 7:18 AM
As much as I love love love the idea of metaphorically looking at the world and saying "I'm taking my toys and going home" and withdrawing all our troops and money/aid (because really, WHY are we giving money WE DON'T HAVE to some of these people??)... I'm not so sure it's such a great idea.

Our presence in some of these countries helps us to have an up to date feel for... levels of civil unrest, levels of military unrest, stability of the government, stability of their financial systems, and a host of other things I don't have a hope of comprehending, much less listing. And while I'd love to imagine backing away from the global whole and focusing on improving things here at home, the reality is we can't afford to do that. Too many unstable countries have the means to use weapons that can effect us globally, even if they're only being aimed at a neighbor. Some idiotic government of a country seething with unrest doesn't take the right precautions and the wrong person gets access to their version of the Big Red Button and we're all going to hell in a handbasket. If the worst they could do was get their hands on a bunch of AKs and go spray bullets at their own population, I'd feel bad about it, but be much less concerned about the impact it could someday have on me and mine. When the plane's going down, you put your own mask on first, after all. If that means some poor folks are eating bullets because their government has collapsed/is corrupt/never existed, so be it. However, in this case I suspect putting your own mask on first means maintaining a presence in countries and places we'd rather wash our hands of.

Thoughts?

Personally I'd love to live in a world where every act of idiocy/corruption/greed resulted in the perpetrators getting lined up and ro-sham-bo'd by the victims. Makes the point AND lessens the likelihood they'd procreate. Win/Win.

I do agree with all 4 of your points, and certainly appreciate the simplicity/directness of some of your solutions. Complicated doesn't necessarily mean better.

-- Posted by slowdown on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 7:54 AM
Mike

I think our forefathers foresaw the possibility of politics corrupting the judiciary, therefore the lifetime appointments. Our political landscape changes on a regular basis. Just imagine the chaos if federal judges were elected every 4 years. The constitution reinterpreted every 4 years according to what ever the political agenda is at the time. What was legal 4 years ago is now illegal, what was illegal 4 years ago is now legal. Is that what you really want? If the people are so concerned about the judges appointed, then they should pay more attention to the people they elect that make those appointments. As it is, it does require a certain degree of consensus to get appointments made. That prevents the extremest on both sides from taking over. As it stands now we have 4 left leaning, 4 right leaning and one in the middle. A good balance if you ask me.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 8:22 AM
slowdown

As far as I'm concerned, we have as much business being involved in other countries affairs as they have getting involved in ours. We should make it known to all in no uncertain terms, mess with us and we will bomb you into the stone age or further back. We own the biggest, baddest toys in the world. We lack the intestinal fortitude to use them. Are there those out there that are willing to engage in a game of chicken? You bet! Is it our job to ensure political stability in other countries? Absolutely NOT! Let's take North Korea for example. The have the means to launch a nuclear attack, although it would be limited in size. For all their blustering, they would never do that because they know that if not us, then someone else, would bomb them back to atoms. And yes I think MacArthur was right. We MUST get our house in order before we can afford the luxury of trying to get others houses in order.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 8:44 AM
Sure most of you have seen it now, S&P downgraded our credit rating to AA+ Guess now we wait and see what is going to be next.

-- Posted by Eagle_eye on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 8:50 AM
There are other nations that have a lower credit rating than AAA and they are paying a low interest rate on their debt. Start to worry when we reach the level of the eurozone.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 8:54 AM
I RECOGNIZE THAT CONGRESS CAN REPEAL IT .......THEY WONT......AND I DONT WANT THEM TO.......it is a safe guard from tyranny and dictatorship.

Yes we need to be some places but someplaces need to defend themselves and europe is one of those places.If you have ever been to germany you would know what I mean.....you cant drive anywhere 15 minutes without comming across some type of military installation,it is foegien aid in disguise .IT NEEDS TO STOP.

-- Posted by lamont on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 9:42 AM
finally some one steps up to the plate.

-- Posted by shockwave on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 9:46 AM
lamont

I was referring to border security. Keeping people out, not keeping them in, if that's what your referring to.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 9:52 AM
HewBet

If you read the first comment, it was me apologizing for deleting the wrong version of my blog. My bad.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 10:56 AM
Can anyone on here possibly justify maintaining military bases overseas given the fact that we are FREAKING BROKE.

I also thought our militaries job was to protect us from those who would seek to harm us. Those who cross our borders illegally are seeking to harm us.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 12:35 PM
HewBet

Get home now, I agree. Tactical nukes would be a waste of money. Let them solve their differences and if they dare come after us, it's back to atom status for them!

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 1:31 PM
Thanks Mike. I'm looking forward to meeting you and everyone soon. Don't worry about me. I'm a big boy and can take care of myself.

P.S. Those out there that don't agree with me are simply individuals who hold different views. Thank God we are Americans and have that privilege.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 1:53 PM
Thank You Roy for your comment below and just to let you know we have 2 things in common. I lived in New England and we raised our Grandson

P.S. Those out there that don't agree with me are simply individuals who hold different views. Thank God we are Americans and have that privilege.

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 2:04 PM
Thank You MsMarylin

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 2:06 PM
Does anyone else find it interesting that those who were involved in the killing of Osama are now dead? Does that not sound fishy to anyone else? This nation is in the toilet. Roy, you have some great ideas. You seem like a pretty level headed guy and the best part is you are just a regular Joe (or Roy as it would be). The problem with this country is career politicians and a lack of term limits. We cannot count on the people of this country to vote the trash out or not vote them in in the first place (another form of term limits and Zook will point out). If someone does not get a handle on what is going on---there will be nothing left and nobody will have to worry. Just sayin.

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Sat, Aug 6, 2011, at 11:42 PM
OpinionMissy

Thank You for your post, but 2 things. First, and this is from AP. " None of the 22 SEAL personnel killed in the crash were part of the team that killed bin Laden in a May raid in Pakistan, but they belonged to the same unit. Their deployment in the raid in which the helicopter crashed would suggest that the target was a high-ranking insurgent figure. " , and secondly I never said this nation was in the toilet. I stated we are BROKE. The first 2 sentences of your post are the type of statements that get blogs off track, and I prefer that things stay on track so as not to cloud the issue or issues brought up in the blog. Thank You again.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sun, Aug 7, 2011, at 5:40 AM
I agree with you 100%. Maybe you should run for President in 2012. Why can't we bring most of our troops home? To protect our borders, and round up and deport the Illegal Aliens already here? We could attach a small number of our troops to the American Embasy in each foreign country who should be keeping an eye and an ear tuned to the country where they are stationed.

We should petition the Supreme Court to change the laws pertaining to Illegal Aliens. What part of Illegal does our Government NOT understand? Why should these people be allowed t

-- Posted by butterfly97838 on Sun, Aug 7, 2011, at 8:31 AM
Feel I should clarify... I don't want us spending our resources, financial or otherwise, to hold some other countries hand. I merely think it's... impractical? unlikely? naive? to think that we could have the awareness that might give us an edge in defending ourselves from attack. The best defense may be a good offense, but knowledge is power, and I don't think we'd have access to the same types or amounts of knowledge we do today as a direct benefit of having a presence in key places around the globe, military or otherwise, if we withdraw into ourselves to the degree you're suggesting.

I don't think it's our job or our responsibility to stabilize other governments, so much as I feel it's a smart thing to know where the hotspots are, where the next threat might come from and what form it might take.

I do think we could enjoy the benefits of a global presence without extending ourselves as much as we have. Many of our bases and personnel are likely a bit superfluous and could be closed/brought home without significant negative impact.

-- Posted by slowdown on Sun, Aug 7, 2011, at 8:53 AM
As a Montana native, I'm happy the EPA has been at work throughout the state.

http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/mt/index.html

-- Posted by DaveThompson on Mon, Aug 8, 2011, at 4:01 PM
OATHKEEPERS......AND after the (illegals)??????? WHO WILL BE NEXT?.......our country....just who are we talking about?????????? that statement always sends up danger signals to my brain .So would you clarify please.

-- Posted by lamont on Mon, Aug 8, 2011, at 7:20 PM
WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT.......THE OATH I TOOK I DONT INTERPRET THE WAY YOU DO.....I WILL NOT TALK SEDITION OUT OF ONE SIDE OF MY MOUTH AND TREASON OUT OF THE OTHER.I DONT NEED A REMINDER ABOUT why and how i served.MY ALLEGIANCE IS TO MY COUNTRY NOT AND IDEOLOGY OF ONE SORT OR THE OTHER.I DONT NEED OATHKEEPERS TO WATCH DOG ME.....WHO IS WATCH DOGGING THEM???????? NO ONGOING PLANS....... THE WHOLE WORLD HAS HEARD THAT BEFORE NOT TO LONG AGO.ILL SAY IT AGAIN.... YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY MINORITYS FEEL ALIENATED.THINGS LIKE THE OATHKEEPERS WE DONT SEE THAT THE SAME AND YOU DONT UNDERSTAND THAT.....YOU SEE PATRIOTS I SEE JACK BOOTS IT IS THAT SIMPLE.and unfortunatly I see leaders of that kind of garbage right here.....I see.... while were at it......last but not least to insinuate that our military would allow itself to be used in that way is and insult,to all who have served,who are serving and will serve in the future.I AM AND AMERICAN FIRST AND FORMOST I DONT HAVE ANY MIXED LOYALTYS.

-- Posted by lamont on Tue, Aug 9, 2011, at 8:29 AM
@HewBet - Yes I read the article and I agree it reads like a talking point paper.

The author is addressing a proposed rule. I believe the finalized rule is here:

http://origin.www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-12-30/pdf/2010-32757.pdf#page=1

He also states global warming is a lie and that, "...indeed, the Earth is presently in one of its natural cycles of cooling, not warming".

If the earth is in a "natural cycle of cooling", then the next series in the cycle would be warming. Otherwise would would the earth be cooling from?

-- Posted by DaveThompson on Tue, Aug 9, 2011, at 10:49 AM
Welcome Roy:

this is a great blog. We might not always agree on everything, but I think that you are off to a great start.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Tue, Aug 9, 2011, at 11:06 AM
what the article said was that the rate that was previosly predicted, things are not happening,but they are happening.THAT IS ALL IT SAID.It is not worth the argument talking points are talking points.

-- Posted by lamont on Tue, Aug 9, 2011, at 1:47 PM
I'm skeptical of objectivity of any article that contains the word "alarmist" fourteen times.

http://atmos-chem-phys.net/11/2789/2011/acp-11-2789-2011.pdf

http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/big-questions/is-the-global-earth-system-c...

-- Posted by DaveThompson on Tue, Aug 9, 2011, at 4:27 PM
Here are a couple of articles for everyone to consider at their leisure.

http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/new-paper-on-the-misdiagnosis-o...

The second link is from Remote Sensing.

http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/3/8/1603/pdf

-- Posted by DaveThompson on Tue, Aug 9, 2011, at 7:03 PM
Then there's always an opposing view.

http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/global-warming-debunked-or-not/

-- Posted by DaveThompson on Tue, Aug 9, 2011, at 7:18 PM
you forgot something.....onlys hommers opinion counts....after all when you see yourself as god why listen to anything but yourself.

-- Posted by lamont on Wed, Aug 10, 2011, at 12:49 PM
On subject. I can't think of anyone on the left that would enact any of these cuts except towards the military. I can't think of how we could elect enough people to congress of the mind to want to do this. Would most of them have to be from the right or left? Maybe the middle? It would have to be big majority of right minded people? Coming up with where to cut is easy. Electing those who will cut is next to impossible.

-- Posted by skeeter on Thu, Aug 11, 2011, at 6:48 AM
HITDOG......... HOMMER !!!!!!!!.........YOU TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE RELATED TO YOU???????? AS USUAL YOUR OFF ON THE NAME CALLING BUSINESS. DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD ?????????? HOPE SO. EVERYBODY'S GOT YOUR NUMBER.......... WHY DONT YOU JUST STOP OR GO AWAY.The artic would be a good place and as GOD you can recreate it as you see fit.

SKEETER the left is not against cuts they are against how they were to be done,and the fact that there were no revenues involved in the fix.IF YOU HAVE A MONEY PROBLEM YOU DO 2 THINGS YOU STOP SPENDING AND YOU GET A PART TIME JOB.THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM.So we cut and we raise taxes ,by closing loopholes please tell what is wrong with that.I dont think it is right that we should expect just one part of the society to pay for the society's mistake and it is a collective mistake.I want to see them cut government redundancy,,congressional spending,fraud in welfare programes at the federal level to start,forgien aid and the agency's with dubios missions.I want to see tax loopholes closed for corporations who are outsourceing jobs,tax funds in off shore accounts,collect what is due us from iraq,remove the troops from both iraq and afhganistan,stop the war on drugs to the extent that we are in other countries, fight that fight on our borders,close military installations in countrys who are not spending what we spend for national security.We should not be providing a safe haven for them to prosper in at our exspense in the market place.These are things both the right and the left should be able to agree on.Pointing fingers at our people in need is garbage they should be taken care of first. So lets do that.

HOMMER...... Ill take it that the probe by your own article is a federal one so therefore they are investigating someone who did work for them how would you call oversight irresponsible???????only if YOU see it that way most people would say .....right on.... they didnt do what they got paid to do and we are going after them.YOU can always find something to critercize so whats next????????? YOUR research has become meaningless hommer it is so biased that it is not even worth reading.You need to create a web site that is dedicated to berating all things left hommer doesnt like.......you should have many participants and you wont get any arguments,therefore creating your heaven......what say you???????????

-- Posted by lamont on Thu, Aug 11, 2011, at 9:27 AM
You don't get it ! You can only see as far as your nose

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Aug 11, 2011, at 5:51 PM
BOY.......NOW HOMMER THE ONLY BOY HERE IS YOU.YOU JUST PROVED IT AGAIN.I HAVE A NAME USE IT....AND STOP THE NAME CALLING.DONT TALK ABOUT GLOSSING OVER YOU NEVER DO.....THERE YOU ARE PROJECTING AGAIN.YOU ONLY USE WORDS THAT APPLY TO YOURSELF.

ZOOK......NO NO NO THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FREEZE ON FORGIEN AID .......ALL OF IT.I am afarid that they are going to say it was a previous commitment which i covered already.......i say they could have frozen it and they should have.IF they wanted to send food stuffs i probally would go along but funds absolutly not.AND THAT MEANS ALL. EACH SHOULD BE EVALUATED AND SENT TO CONGRESS AND THE SENATE. ......NOW REMEMBER what the dept ceiling does it gives us the authorization to BORROW MORE and that is were the garbage starts.

HOMMER IF YOU STOP READING WHY ARE YOU ANSWERING??????? AND WHO ARE YOU TO TALK ABOUT WILLFULL LIES......YOU CANT STAND IT WHEN YOU ARE WRONG......TOUGH.BETWEEN THE PUT DOWNS AND THE NAME CALLING WHO WANTS TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ????????????????? PERFECT YOUR NOT, LIKE IT OR NOT YOUR NO BETTER THAN THE REST OF US. ALL OF US ......DEAL WITH IT.

OH AND HOMMER EVERYONE KNOWS CALLING A BLACK MAN A BOY IS A VERY BIGOTED REMARK.....AND YOU KNOW IT TOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO WHAT DOES THAT MAKE YOU HOMMER ?????????????

-- Posted by lamont on Thu, Aug 11, 2011, at 10:18 PM
HOMMER...... YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT. IN THIS DAY AND AGE IT IS A RACIAL SLUR AND YOU KNOW IT ......NICE TRY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERNT READING ....... YES EDUCATION IS FUN HOMMER YOU SHOULD GET SOME, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE WORLD AND PEOPLE.......KEEP IT UP, YOU JUST MAKE YOURSELF LOOK STUPIDER.ANYONE ON THIS BLOG KNOWS WHAT YOU JUST DID.....SO WHY DONT YOU ASK THEM HOMMER??THEY KNOW AND I KNOW SO TAKE YOUR BOY RIDE BACK TO MONTANA WERE YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT.YOU ARE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, THE REASON IS YOU KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH IT AND I HAVNT FIGURED OUT WHY??????? ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO CALL ME HOMMER ?????????? GO AHEAD WE ALL KNOW WHATS NEXT YOU JUST PROVED IT.....HAHAHAHAHAH....DUMB ......HEHAW HEHAW,HEHAW

-- Posted by lamont on Fri, Aug 12, 2011, at 4:23 AM
What I was saying is during the debt debacle whenever Boehner had something to vote on the tea partiers wouldn't vote on his plan and he is their Speaker of the House. They shoved him in a corner, made him look embarrassing and held our country hostage when it was important to get the debt ceiling raised. We had never faulted on our debts ever before and the tea party was playing a very stupid game....

Do you think we would be better off today if we didn't raise the ceiling? Wall street today is on a roller coaster ride, causing whip lash on all of us . What do you think would of happened if we didn't get the debt ceiling raised?

Look at all the foreclosures in our country people didn't pay their payments for what ever reasons, maybe they lost their job and because theyhad no money they lost their houses. What would of happened to the United States if we didn't pay our debt?

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, Aug 12, 2011, at 8:55 AM
Seen a new poll out today. Most are unhappy with the tea party......

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Sat, Aug 13, 2011, at 4:15 PM
Well Zook if its only Demo's that don't like the tea party, I guess we have more Demo's then I thought we had

http://news.yahoo.com/tea-party-fortunes-fading-even-star-michele-bachmann-22500...

And Yes it's Bush's fault after all you always tell us that lol !

Obama will get tougher in 2012 as he takes on his 2nd term as President wait and see

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Sun, Aug 14, 2011, at 8:55 AM

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