tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post110798597637453959..comments2023-11-03T07:31:49.573-04:00Comments on Liberal Citizen: Fraud, Waste, Cronyism, Secret No-Bid Contracts, and Only One Accountant. Porkrinds Anyone?Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09253150846911854844noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-1108238300288506802005-02-12T14:58:00.000-05:002005-02-12T14:58:00.000-05:00Can anyone tell me what's the ceiling on the feder...Can anyone tell me what's the ceiling on the federal deficit? What? Nobody knows? <br />I was trying to figure out what Bush meant when he said he'd reduce it by 50%! <br />Curious GeorgeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-1108145354245738322005-02-11T13:09:00.000-05:002005-02-11T13:09:00.000-05:00The other big problem in the House is that Speaker...The other big problem in the House is that Speaker Hastert replaced the Ethics chairman and a couple others who had dared to issue a reprimand against Majority Leader DeLay. <br />Now, the Ethics Committee is totally controlled by the hard-line Republicans and unless they allow it to take up issue, nothing happens.<br />So there it goes another check in the system. One-party government has never been so authoritarian in recent years. It's a shame.<br /><br />Andrew PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-1108140158268518672005-02-11T11:42:00.000-05:002005-02-11T11:42:00.000-05:00The Dept of Defense is one of the worst offenders ...The Dept of Defense is one of the worst offenders in wasting our money. Two DOD functions -- inventory management and weapon systems acquisition -- have been on the list of problem programs since 1990.<br />"This is unacceptable and should not be tolerated," Comptroller General (of GAO) David M. Walker said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-1107998930848160952005-02-09T20:28:00.000-05:002005-02-09T20:28:00.000-05:00This is not exactly on budget issues, but here's a...This is not exactly on budget issues, but here's a take on the Social Security debate going on....<br /><br />CLAIM: “By the year 2042, the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt.” [President Bush, 2/2/05]<br /><br />FACT: In 2042, enough new money will be coming in to pay between 73-80 percent of promised benefits. Even with this reduction, new retirees will still receive more money, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than today’s beneficiaries. [WP, 2/5/05]<br /><br />CLAIM: “In the year 2018, for the first time ever, Social Security will pay out more in benefits than the government collects in payroll taxes.” [President Bush, 12/11/04]<br /><br />FACT: “In 14 of the past 47 years, including 1975 to 1983, Social Security paid out more in benefits than the government collected in payroll.” [MSNBC, 1/14/05]<br /><br />FACT: Under Bush’s plan, expenditures will begin to exceed revenues even earlier, in 2012. [New York Times, 2/4/05]<br /><br />CLAIM: “Under the current system, today’s 30-year old worker will face a 27% benefit cut when he or she reaches normal retirement age.” [GOP Guide to Social Security Reform, 1/27/05]<br /><br />FACT: According to the Congressional Budget Office, younger workers would receive better benefits from Social Security as it exists now, even if nothing changes, than from President Bush’s private accounts plan. [EPI, 2/05]<br /><br />THE PRESIDENT’S PLAN / PRIVATE ACCOUNTS<br /><br />CLAIM: “As we fix Social Security, we also have the responsibility to make the system a better deal for younger workers. And the best way to reach that goal is through voluntary personal retirement accounts.” [President Bush, 2/2/05]<br /><br />FACT: Analysis of the plan so far does not prove the accounts would be a better deal for anyone not working on Wall Street. Workers who opt for the private accounts would recover forfeited benefits through their accounts only “if their investments realized a return equal to or greater than the 3 percent earned by Treasury bonds currently held by the Social Security system.” But CBO factors out stock market risks to assume a 3.3 percent rate of return. With 0.3 percent subtracted for expected administrative costs on the account, “the full amount in a worker’s account would be reduced dollar for dollar from his Social Security checks, for a net gain of zero.” [WP, 2/4/05]<br /><br />CLAIM: “You’ll be able to pass along the money that accumulates in your personal account, if you wish, to your children or grandchildren.” [President Bush, 2/2/05]<br /><br />FACT: Most lower-income workers will be required to purchase government lifetime annuities, financial instruments that provide a guaranteed monthly payment for life but that expire at death. Money in these annuities cannot be passed on to heirs. [NYT, 2/3/05] <br /><br />From, http://www.thinkprogress.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-1107996357638824982005-02-09T19:45:00.000-05:002005-02-09T19:45:00.000-05:00What did our surplus get us? Not much! Then 9-11 c...What did our surplus get us? Not much! Then 9-11 came and we had to spend for security, the war, etc.<br />NeilAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-1107990720091335502005-02-09T18:12:00.000-05:002005-02-09T18:12:00.000-05:00Let me give an example of how we do things in Iraq...Let me give an example of how we do things in Iraq. You are aware of those cement barriers, some 10 feet high, that encircle most important buildings in Iraq. Well, they are not a product of high technology, right? <br />The US is paying $10,000 for each one (about 12 feet long) because it buys from an American contractor. <br /><br />Now, there is a big Iraqi cement factory that sits idle near Bagdad. If we were smart, we'd employ many Iraqis to produce these cement slabs, thus giving work to locals to help their own country rebuilt. By the way, the Iraqis can make the same product the US buys for $9,900 less!!!<br /><br />Halliburton in addition to overcharging the US for all the services (from fuel to food) is very wasteful (surprise?!). Trucks and oil tankers that cost $100,000 or more to buy (I wonder where they find their "dealers") are abandoned if they break down on the highway. This is part of doing business in Iraq.<br /><br />Anne, NYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774506.post-1107986793239301192005-02-09T17:06:00.000-05:002005-02-09T17:06:00.000-05:00All of this is wrapped in the American flag and se...All of this is wrapped in the American flag and served with lots of patriotism! Why question authority?<br />The transfer of wealth is facilitated by the proxies in the White House and Congress. Yet, most Americans aren't outraged. Maybe their too afraid....<br /><br />Katherine, NYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com