What are you willing to give up?

sevenmmm · #41 12/25/11, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabian knight

Boy has this thread gone away from the OP wanted.
This is what you Personally would give up, something YOU personally get and then give up.
Now I agree with this poster~!
I am getting everything I can legally sign up for and use. If it gets the country to a faster way to the bottom, so be it.
But by golly I am getting my teeth fixed on the State of WI.'s bill not my own. Si I am NOT giving a thing up that I personally am getting from the government. Why should I?
Illegals in this country get all sorts of free stuff.
Well it is about time the "rest of us" also are able to get a few things, those that have worked for years, now can't because of some disability.
Well by golly now it is MY TURN to take this country to the bottom at a fast rate, so then it cash get turned around for the better.

But in the mean time i am going to benefit, not just those that come into this country illegally.

Ah. Feels good to come clean, doesn't it?

chamoisee · #42 12/25/11, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

Remember, folks, the idea here is to state something that you personally benefit from that you would be willing to give up. It's easy to say, "I'd give up foreign aid," if you don't benefit from it.

What kind of a hit are you willing to take to your own pocketbook?

I think there is supposed to be some kind of a perceived societal benefit associated with imprisoning people who smoke pot....I think it is extreme and a waste of time.

I would have been OK with losing WIC although I am no longer on it. The food from WIC was nearly all I had to eat during one point of my life....but after that, it was helpful but the foodstamps could take care of the food needs if used judiciously.

I would be willing to give up Medicare and Medicaid if they were replaced with something that the hospitals and big pharma countries couldn't milk to death.

I presumably benefit from the wars and killing that our government engages in by deriving security from that. I would be willing to face a higher risk of terrorism in order to have our military engaged only in matters of self defense or non-violent assistance of out allies and other countries.

I also presumably benefit from cheaper food due to agricultural subsidies. I would be willing to give that up as well.
http://www.sustainer.org/dhm_archive...n186sixmythsed
http://farm.ewg.org/

In regard to Health and Welfare, I would be very willing to receive email notifications of changes rather than receiving 10-15 letters a month telling me that essentially nothing has changed. This is a complete waste of paper and postage money. I also would be willing to be forced to provide ID when I use my EBT card in order to prove that I am not engaging in fraud, and to be limited to healthful foods such as those found mostly on the perimeter of the store layout or even to have my EBT purchases tracked (i.e. so much money per month was spent on produce, so much on whole grains and beans, so much on dairy, etc). But this would not happen because there is a huge push for American consumers to consume corn products.

I no longer received cash assistance and even when I did, it was for very brief periods of time...but I would be willing to give that up if I were. I can see helping to feed people, especially when there are children, old people, or disabled folks who simply cannot feed themselves, but cash assistance, particularly for people who are not in the above category, no. Coupons for toilet paper and laundry/dish soap, diapers, etc... OK, but not cash.

Yvonne's hubby · #43 12/25/11, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

Remember, folks, the idea here is to state something that you personally benefit from that you would be willing to give up. It's easy to say, "I'd give up foreign aid," if you don't benefit from it.

If the government could save $3 million by closing a bridge instead of repairing it, would you say, "Save the cash," even if it made your daily commute 10 miles longer? What kind of a hit are you willing to take to your own pocketbook?

I was under the impression that we were discussing the federal government/budget rather than state and local governments. I am pretty sure that most of our bridges fall under the heading of state and local budgets although I do recognize that our Constitution does authorize the use of federal funds for roads that carry our mail I pretty much think these should be state responsibilities.

tinknal · #44 12/25/11, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvonne's hubby

I was under the impression that we were discussing the federal government/budget rather than state and local governments. I am pretty sure that most of our bridges fall under the heading of state and local budgets although I do recognize that our Constitution does authorize the use of federal funds for roads that carry our mail I pretty much think these should be state responsibilities.

While they are a state responsibility they often get federal funds to build them.

Yvonne's hubby · #45 12/25/11, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinknal

While they are a state responsibility they often get federal funds to build them.

And that is fine too... as all of all of our hiway monies dont amount to a drop in the bucket when it comes to the federal spending. That is kinda like the old gal backed up to the ocean... just how much difference would it make whether she peed or not?

tinknal · #46 12/25/11, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvonne's hubby

And that is fine too... as all of all of our hiway monies dont amount to a drop in the bucket when it comes to the federal spending. That is kinda like the old gal backed up to the ocean... just how much difference would it make whether she peed or not?

Oh, I agree, just pointing out how the funding often works. As I stated before I pay a tax for fuel that pays for roads and I have no problem with this.

tinknal · #47 12/25/11, 04:17 PM

I could still show you at least one local bridge that was built by the WPA.

Cornhusker · #48 12/25/11, 04:53 PM

I don't know that I get anything but headaches from the current pack of thieves in Washington.
Congress can only think of a couple of areas to cut, defense, Social Security, and infrastructure.
Really?
That's all we can cut?
Or is that what will get the sheep thinking the other side is wanting to starve old people?
They don't want to cut the budget, they are living too high.
We need to cut the bad guys out of government from Obama on down.

SquashNut · #49 12/25/11, 05:57 PM

Still i would give up the inflation the country is experiencing to pay for the welfare programs and food stamps. So I don't have the privelage of paying for other families grocerys. And paying for road crews to repair roads since they do such a poor job any way and the repairs don't last very long.

Yvonne's hubby · #50 12/25/11, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquashNut

Still i would give up the inflation the country is experiencing to pay for the welfare programs and food stamps. So I don't have the privelage of paying for other families grocerys. And paying for road crews to repair roads since they do such a poor job any way and the repairs don't last very long.

If you think the roads fall apart quickly where you live you should try living in Ida..... oh. Ok. carry on!

chamoisee · #51 12/25/11, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvonne's hubby

If you think the roads fall apart quickly where you live you should try living in Ida..... oh. Ok. carry on!

I can always tell when I cross the ID/WA border. Right away the roads are so much nicer. Still, I am thankful for what we do have. Potholed, deeply rutted, washboarded dirt roads that have mud up to your axles every spring isn't my idea of fun and I am more than happy to pay the tax that funds modern roads.

Yvonne's hubby · #52 12/25/11, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chamoisee

I can always tell when I cross the ID/WA border. Right away the roads are so much nicer. Still, I am thankful for what we do have. Potholed, deeply rutted, washboarded dirt roads that have mud up to your axles every spring isn't my idea of fun and I am more than happy to pay the tax that funds modern roads.

I grew up in eastern Oregon, just across the river from Idaho.... I recall the sign that was on the Idaho side... "Idaho's hiways are as good as ever.... that is the problem". I occasionally get the chance to visit the area... I have seen a lot of improvement since my younger days. I would say at least every third pothole is smaller now.

Laura Zone 10 · #53 12/26/11, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

In another thread, DanielY posed the question, "What are you willing to give up in order to actually lower [government] spending?"

Unless I am misunderstanding the question, which is possible, my answer is this:

I earn every thing I have. I am not willing to give anything up.
I don't know what 'government' service I 'benefit' from.....I can't think of one.....so the answer would be: I am willing to give up nothing. All that I have I have earned.

Quote:

Thus I pose the following question: What government program or service do you benefit from that you would be willing to forgo in order to balance the federal budget?

I didn't make it in school long enough to take Govnt/Econ. So bear with me.
I don't know if I receive any govnt. benefits. I don't think I do.
Therefore, I am not willing to give anything up.
However, I think there is PLENTY of foolish spending that can be cut...right now today.
Unfortunately it will not happen, as that is not part of the 'master plan'.
Sorry.....I am totally a conspiracy theorist on this topic!!

Quote:

I'll start:

I would be willing to pay more for my Tricare health insurance. Right now, my premiums are something like $30 a month!

While I enjoy this largesse, I wouldn't complain if the program were made to be self-supporting, or the premiums were calculated on a sliding scale so that the people who could afford to pay more would be required to do so.

What's yours?

Maybe someone can tell me what 'government' program I benefit from?

Jim Bunton · #54 12/26/11, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laura Zone 5

Unless I am misunderstanding the question, which is possible, my answer is this:

I earn every thing I have. I am not willing to give anything up.
I don't know what 'government' service I 'benefit' from.....I can't think of one.....so the answer would be: I am willing to give up nothing. All that I have I have earned.

I didn't make it in school long enough to take Govnt/Econ. So bear with me.
I don't know if I receive any govnt. benefits. I don't think I do.
Therefore, I am not willing to give anything up.
However, I think there is PLENTY of foolish spending that can be cut...right now today.
Unfortunately it will not happen, as that is not part of the 'master plan'.
Sorry.....I am totally a conspiracy theorist on this topic!!

Maybe someone can tell me what 'government' program I benefit from?

Laura, we all receive some government benefit. Do you live on a street or a road? If you pull off of your property onto the street you are benefiting from the government that built and maintains that road. Did you or your children attend a public school? Police, fire, and even ambulance service in many areas are all thanks to government. No one is the island many would like to think they are.

Jim

Laura Zone 10 · #55 12/26/11, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bunton

Laura, we all receive some government benefit. Do you live on a street or a road? If you pull off of your property onto the street you are benefiting from the government that built and maintains that road. Did you or your children attend a public school? Police, fire, and even ambulance service in many areas are all thanks to government. No one is the island many would like to think they are.

Jim

Thanks Jim!!
The roads.....yeah I use them.
But I pay huge loads in taxes to maintain them?
No public school. I pay huge loads in taxes.....but I homeschooled.
Police Fire...etc. Again, I pay up the nose in taxes for these folks.....

So I 'pay' for these services?
When someone says "benefit" from the government, I am thinking "freebie"???

wwubben · #56 12/26/11, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laura Zone 5

Thanks Jim!!
The roads.....yeah I use them.
But I pay huge loads in taxes to maintain them?
No public school. I pay huge loads in taxes.....but I homeschooled.
Police Fire...etc. Again, I pay up the nose in taxes for these folks.....

So I 'pay' for these services?
When someone says "benefit" from the government, I am thinking "freebie"???

You say you didn't stay in school long enough to study government and later you say you home schooled.Did your students get a complete education?

Ambereyes · #57 12/26/11, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwubben

You say you didn't stay in school long enough to study government and later you say you home schooled.Did your students get a complete education?

Wow, nice thread drift..

pancho · #58 12/26/11, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laura Zone 5

Thanks Jim!!
The roads.....yeah I use them.
But I pay huge loads in taxes to maintain them?
No public school. I pay huge loads in taxes.....but I homeschooled.
Police Fire...etc. Again, I pay up the nose in taxes for these folks.....

So I 'pay' for these services?
When someone says "benefit" from the government, I am thinking "freebie"???

Yes.
We all pay for many things we don't benefit from.
If we have to pay for anything it isn't a benefit.
A benefit would be something free.
I have paid for many thngs I do not recieve.
Just wish I could get some of the things I have already paid for.

Yvonne's hubby · #59 12/26/11, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwubben

You say you didn't stay in school long enough to study government and later you say you home schooled.Did your students get a complete education?

Interesting question.... which brings up another.... what is a complete education?

SquashNut · #60 12/26/11, 12:00 PM

Used to be self taught was respected. At least most people I know that are self taught have some common sense. Some thing I don't see from alot of the public school students. Or we wouldn't have had so much of the over extended credit card bills.

And people would know that we cann't keep paying for so many social programs.