Leave it to the people

[Fresh_Start]

in terms of what our national budget should be spent on.

We should be able to designate where we want our tax dollars to go.
If its added to tax returns, this is what I am willing to fund with my tax dollars, then the government would have a specific survey and initial budget based on the national priorities.

I'm willing to bet that the actual voice of the people would be greatly different than how it is currently being spent.

[Indydem]

1. Yes it would, but not in the way you think.

The wealthiest Americans, who pay the greatest percentage of income taxes, would earmark theirs for conservative causes (defense, wars, etc) and the portion of Americans who pay little to no income taxes would earmark theirs for public assistance and social programs. Those programs would dry up and disappear.

[Fresh_Start]

2. I don't agree with you

I doubt the wealthy would fund the military either.

[Indydem]

3. Why not?

Most of them are MIC connected.

[Fresh_Start]

6. really? do you have any statistics to back that up?

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/newsgraphics/2012/0115-one-percent-occupations/index.html

And even if their money was MIC, which it isn't, they would still want to have their taxes reduced and so would be unwilling to fund it at the current levels.

[GoCubsGo]

4. It IS left to the people.

We have a representative government. The House of Representatives and the Senate ultimately determine the national budget, as they control the country's purse strings. They are elected by "the people". If "the people" don't like how their representatives are representing them, then the people need to replace them.

[Fresh_Start]

5. No, it is not left to the people

in theory that is what our representative government should have done.
But it has been corrupted and no longer represents the people.
Instead it represents the money which is thrown at the representatives.

[GoCubsGo]

7. Yes. It IS.

Again, if you don't like your representative, then get rid of him or her. See: Alan Grayson. See: Allen West...

[Fresh_Start]

8. please explain why the majority of votes in the most recent election for NC were for democrats

the the representatives elected were far disproportionately republican?
The democrats won the popular vote in the state.
But received only 1/4 of the congressional seats.

[GoCubsGo]

10. Because Democrats not exercise their choice in 2010.

They stayed home, rather than getting out and voting like they did in 2008. Republicans came out, voted in their own, and they gerrymandered the districts in their favor. It works both ways.

[Fresh_Start]

11. but you claimed that the people are represented accurately

except in important elections? and that to you is accurate representation?

[julian09]

9. How did that work in Michigan?

Repugs ram through their will in lame duck session, installed special managers to replace elected officials.
Part of the problem is people don't educate themselves on the state elections. Regional voting coal states, oil patch states, agricultural states, manufacturing states, union vs non union states etc; makes it difficult to serve everyones preferences.
Defense will always be top priority, banking, health care, pharma are next.

[GoCubsGo]

12. Or, California?

It epitomizes "Let the people decide", with its government-through-ballot-initiatives. It borders on FUBAR there.