[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by stevepaa

Yep. social security, medicare, medicaid, unemployment and welfare make up 55% of the budget not counting the wars we fund.

If you can find a reasonable means to decrease these you should be in Congress.

You're kidding me, right? People are in Congress because they are exceptionally talented at kissing ass, lying, and fundraising. Real solutions? Riiiiiiight.

You want my ideas?
Social Security: Privatize it, allow individuals to actually receive a return on their investment, as opposed to the nothing that money makes with the govt. Make it like a 401k, but don't allow early withdrawls.

Unemployment: WTF is unemployment? Throughout my years as a blue collar worker (prior to returning to college), I never had trouble finding a new job. Why should people get a check to take their sweet time finding work? Buh bye.

Welfare: Make it based on pure physical need. If you're a paraplegic, you should get government assistance. If you have a mild physical disability, you're on your own. If you're lazy or have 10 kids (from different daddies), you're SOL. I have a coworker with one arm, the other is a stub from a birth defect. He used to do engineering drafting, ride motorcycles, and was a private pilot. So don't tell me that your back pain keeps you from sitting at a desk somewhere.

So, how much have I saved thus far? I'd be willing to bet that I've saved enough to reduce taxes and still take a serious bite out of our national debt.