Cut government waste and rebuild America

[SHRED]

Here's a couple of cuts:

Cut off the Military/Industrial/Complex's rape of our Treasury via invasions like Iraq, outsourcing to no-bid contractors, and wasteful weapons systems.

End the "war on (some) drugs".

I can dream can't I?


---

[Warpy]

1. Those will certainly help

but in order to accomplish the first, we'll have to redefine the Pentagon's mission as one of national defense, not international meddling.

Corporations that find themselves in hot water overseas are going to have to figure out how to cope all by themselves. We can no longer afford to be their hired muscle, especially since they are loath to foot the bill for it.

[PDJane]

2. Putting a brake on the

Pentagon and it's little actions overseas would also be good for the environment. Every military action uses up more petrochemicals, heats the earth, and leaves all kinds of nasty little goodies around for mother nature to try to fix......like Agent Orange and DU. Those things kill and maim for generations.

[zalinda]

3. More government waste

When companies bid on government projects, those bids should stand, as is. No more cost over runs, no more bonuses, unless specified, no more no bid contracts. If I bid on a job, I am expected to perform that job for the amount I bid. I don't bid low, and then say sorry, cost over runs and it'll cost you more to finish the job. When you bid for a job, you should be professional enough to know exactly how much that job will cost you, and what you should add in, in case there are problems.

If the contractor in California could rebuild the bridge for the amount bid AND under time budget, you know other contractors should be able to do the same.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/25/california-freeway-rebuilt-in-a-new-york-minute/

zalinda

[Donnachaidh]

5. How about taking the overrun costs out of the CEO's pocket?

Saying that overruns *won't* be allowed can be ignored. Especially with the cronies now doing contracts. Sooo, let's make it personal. Write something into the law that requires the owners, shareholders and CEO's of companies who bid and scream *overrun* to pocket the overrun expense themselves.

Take it to that level and you'll see change.

[FormerDittoHead]

4. Iraq is only part of the military problem. As another said - we have to redefine its purpose.

Iraq is making the military budget DOUBLE what it is ordinarily.

Simply, if our military wasn't BUILT to wage a war like Iraq, we wouldn't be there now.

We have to start questioning WHY so many of our resources go to the military.

I mean, it didn't save us during 9/11. It didn't help us AVOID the war in Iraq (great going, military intelligence (an oxymoron, I know), and I honestly have to ask what good it is in its present form.

The (current, high) cost of Iraq will go away in a few years, yet we'll still be spending 300 BILLION on the military year to year? Ridiculous.

If you look at 99% of the "government waste" stories - $700 hammers, $50 screws, $1,000 toilet seats. Guess which department of the government EVERY ONE of these stories come from?

Get out of Iraq. Cut the military to a QUARTER of what it is. WWII is over.