The right and wrong way to cut $4 trillion from the budget

[ProSense]

The wrong way: House GOP budget for 2012 to propose more than $4 trillion in spending cuts over next decade

WASHINGTON — A Republican plan for the 2012 budget would cut more than $4 trillion over the next decade, more than even the president’s debt commission proposed, with spending caps as well as changes in the Medicare and Medicaid health programs, its principal author said Sunday.

The spending blueprint from Rep. Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, is to be released Tuesday. It deals with the budget year that begins Oct. 1, not the current one that is the subject of negotiations aimed at preventing a partial government shutdown on Friday.

In an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” Ryan said budget writers are working out the 2012 numbers with the Congressional Budget Office, but he said the overall spending reductions would come to “a lot more” than $4 trillion. The debt commission appointed by President Barack Obama recommended a plan that it said would achieve nearly $4 trillion in deficit reduction.

Ryan said Obama’s call for freezing nondefense discretionary spending actually locks in spending at high levels. Under the forthcoming GOP plan, Ryan said spending would return to 2008 levels and thus cut an additional $400 billion over 10 years.

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The right way, Andy Stern's (also a member of the President's fiscal commission) proposal to cut nearly $4 trillion: The 21st Century Plan for America’s Leadership (PDF)

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My plan addresses both- the fiscal and investment deficit; reduces the fiscal deficit by nearly $4 trillion (virtually identical to Simpson-Bowles); adopts the Sustainable Defense Task Force and the Coburn audit recommendations for defense; confronts the need to control costs for health care at GDP+1 per beneficiary, but also recognizes the need for the long term structural reform in health care; offers a responsible pathway to ensure Social Security solvency for 75 years without damaging the one stable source of retirement savings for a majority of Americans; and in addition to the Transportation Trust Fund, creates the Invest in America Fund that is fully paid for, and guarantees designated revenues for economic growth, and the enhancement of American competitiveness.

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Stern also did a great job smacking down GOP union busting: Wisconsin Union Fight Is Really a 15-State GOP Power Grab

Paul Ryan is a clown.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. Unrec

Let's stop talking about cuts and start talking about revenue and tax increases.

There are two sides to the ledger.

[ProSense]

3. "Let's stop talking about cuts and start talking about revenue and tax increases. "

You obviously didn't read Stern's plan (which includes increasing revenues and investment), even the snip in the OP.

Still, thanks for sharing the reflexive "Unrec."

[Cali_Democrat]

5. How much revenue are we talking about?

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Finally, Obama is embracing FDR's policies

After 2+ years of http://harpers.org/archive/2009/07/0082562">promulgating Herbert Hoover's policies, Obama is now http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/opinion/06krugman.html?_r=1">embracing FDR's policies circa 1937.

Great stuff.

[jaxx]

4. I wonder if this repub blueprint will have any numbers.

Most of them don't, just talking points for the sheeple. Let's see if they put numbers by programs and show exactly how much they will cut. My guess is they won't.

K&R to stop the rightwing propaganda.

[n2doc]

6. Again- they are trying to cut taxes to reduce the deficit

When oh when will people stop falling for that voodoo?

[ProSense]

7. Yes, it's the GOP way. n/t

[ProudDad]

8. Prediction: Andy Stern will be vetoed by Mr. G.E. (n/t)

[ProudDad]

9. And war spending keeps goin up and up...

The elephant in the room is the capitalist friendly Permanent War Economy(tm)...

Even Stern's timid attempts at providing a solution to the republican meme of a "deficit problem" doesn't impact the fucking war machine...

I direct your attention to something much more important and likely to succeed...

This is where the war must be fought...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x643803


On edit: they still maintain the fiction that the infinite growth capitalist economic model is sustainable or desirable on a finite planet. This is still just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic...