tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616959642391988608.post124565443573735048..comments2024-03-28T00:18:25.641-07:00Comments on Calafia Beach Pundit: The problem with healthcareScott Grannishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14028519647946868684noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616959642391988608.post-14447082141157954052009-12-29T21:03:37.180-08:002009-12-29T21:03:37.180-08:00Scott,
For FY2009 spending on the GWOT and the De...Scott,<br /><br />For FY2009 spending on the GWOT and the Defense Department accounted for about $660 billion out of 1.2 trillion in discretionary spending. I simply don't know how we get to balanced budget without taking a hard look at the military. I also think that one-sixth of the entire budget is actually a pretty good chunk. <br /><br />Of course, in the long-term the real killers are Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03573575140584770666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616959642391988608.post-15428230914412937242009-12-29T18:06:41.390-08:002009-12-29T18:06:41.390-08:00Colin: Regarding your statement that "Any ser...Colin: Regarding your statement that "Any serious attempt to get the deficit under control has to include a serious look at the military.<br /><br />In the current environment, where non military discretionary spending has literally exploded, the military component of the federal budget is quite tiny, about one-sixth of the federal budget. You could cut military spending to zero and the Scott Grannishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14028519647946868684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616959642391988608.post-34153904436061531272009-12-29T17:47:04.065-08:002009-12-29T17:47:04.065-08:00Okay, if the feds absolutely strangle everything, ...<i>Okay, if the feds absolutely strangle everything, how does one explain our flourishing agricultural sector, which is extremely regulated, guided and subsidized by the federal government, and also many state governments?<br /><br />US farmers routinely brag they are the best in the world.<br /><br />Our military is widely regarded as extremely competent and efficient--and is totally a creature Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03573575140584770666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616959642391988608.post-2148927617693121382009-12-29T10:57:47.474-08:002009-12-29T10:57:47.474-08:00"Our military is widely regarded as extremely..."Our military is widely regarded as extremely competent and efficient--and is totally a creature of our federal government, taxpayer-financed, with spending completely controlled by Congress."<br /><br />The military is great at kicking ass, a disaster when it comes to cost overruns, accounting, and pork barrel allocations by Congress. I don't know who you're talking to that Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06843411100678811292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616959642391988608.post-48299976958855517482009-12-29T02:43:57.771-08:002009-12-29T02:43:57.771-08:00Mr. Grannis:
The graph in your post depicts out o...Mr. Grannis:<br /><br />The graph in your post depicts out of pocket payments at 12%. The 12% will surely shrink further because by 2011, the under the Senate bill, flexible spending accounts (using tax free money for health expenses) will be capped at $2,500. The bill also addresses health savings accounts (HSA’s) and puts new restrictions upon withdrawals.W.E. Heasleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00368333904571061995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616959642391988608.post-24934004634551517112009-12-28T20:55:58.812-08:002009-12-28T20:55:58.812-08:00Okay, if the feds absolutely strangle everything, ...Okay, if the feds absolutely strangle everything, how does one explain our flourishing agricultural sector, which is extremely regulated, guided and subsidized by the federal government, and also many state governments?<br /><br />US farmers routinely brag they are the best in the world.<br /><br />Our military is widely regarded as extremely competent and efficient--and is totally a creature ofBenjamin Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14001038338873263877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616959642391988608.post-24133591532196674122009-12-28T17:31:14.386-08:002009-12-28T17:31:14.386-08:00Colin: you are very right. Healthcare reform has t...Colin: you are very right. Healthcare reform has taken on a religious quality, and the same holds for global warming. The Democrats don't want to be bothered with the facts, they are absolutely sure they are doing the right thing. One distinguishing characteristic of the modern liberal mindset is a belief in the ability of government to do good.Scott Grannishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14028519647946868684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6616959642391988608.post-18148510511101464582009-12-28T15:34:04.904-08:002009-12-28T15:34:04.904-08:00Exactly. And yet President Obama -- who vowed to t...Exactly. And yet President Obama -- who vowed to take on the special interests, take bold action, have a new kind of politics, etc -- is attempting to make insurance even more central to the health care system, when what is needed is the opposite. <br /><br />When presented with such graphs you almost have to wonder what the reaction of the Obama Administration is. It seems their quest for Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03573575140584770666noreply@blogger.com