1 I am completely necessary.

2 American's are extremely literate. We only import foreign engineers because we like diversity.

3 So am I

4

Coming Soon!

5

 

What, raising the age of Social Security one year by the year 2050 is not good enough for you?

6 Rush Limbaugh singlehandedly decides what is best for America. (I know this because he told me so himself. Many, many, MANY times.)

7 I don't exist as a Cabinet position yet, but I should.

8 The 2011 Republican House budget needs to start with the assumption that total spending will be limited to 2007 levels.

Then that amount should be split between the different departments with individual budget bills that zero out some agencies like the EPA etc.

This needs to be a fight o the knife with the tax and spenders and the public does need to see that. It is the only way the economy will ever recover.

9 See?  All those spending cuts didn't hurt one bit, now did they?

10 Posted by: Department of Energy at November 11, 2010 03:41 PM (4Kl5M)

Except for the part where military bases use electricity, and our tanks run on diesel fuel.

11

Posted by: JEA at November 11, 2010 03:44 PM (zBrsL)

Thanks for sharing.

12 You can't eliminate the EPA, vic.  There are some worthwhile environmental laws and they need to be enforced.

13 5

Coming Soon!

Posted by: Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:44 PM (RWtqz)

Of course, you'll need oversight. That's why they will create me.

14 We can't exist without the Department of Redundancy Department.

15 We're building a factory in Chicago - all we needs is Obama to sign the order.

16

I'm absolutely essential when it comes to preserving and promoting the arts, you ignorant hillbilly bastards.

17 14 5

Coming Soon!

Posted by: Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:44 PM (RWtqz)

Of course, you'll need oversight. That's why they will create me.

Posted by: Department of Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:46 PM (LdYLm)

It's only a matter of time, boys...

18 I'd be happier at 1972 spending levels than 2007.  Don't even adjust for inflation.

19 The feds could save a shitload of money if they made those American Recovery and Reinvestment Act freeway signs 25% smaller.

20 Thank you for not putting Olympia Snowe's picture next to her Top Headline. And for moving Janet N down the page just a little further. No top headline for MouseMan?

21 Can we stop sending the palis money to use for killing Jews?

22 You can't eliminate the EPA, vic.  There are some worthwhile environmental laws and they need to be enforced.

Posted by: ChiTown-Jerry at November 11, 2010 03:46 PM (f9c2L)

Let the States form their own EPA and limit them. The EPA the feds have is a worthless political organization full of religious zealots. 

It should be eliminated and start over from scratch.

23 14
5 Coming Soon! Posted by: Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:44 PM (RWtqz)

Of course, you'll need oversight. That's why they will create me.
Posted by: Department of Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:46 PM (LdYLm)
Without me, you have no basis for being.

24 A well-known scientist once gave a public lecture on astronomy. He described how the earth orbits around the sun and how the sun, in turn, orbits around the center of a vast collection of stars called our galaxy. At the end of the lecture, a little old lady at the back of the room got up and said: "What you have told us is rubbish. The world is really a flat plate supported on the back of a giant tortoise." The scientist gave a superior smile before replying, "What is the tortoise standing on?" "You're very clever, young man, very clever", said the old lady. "But it's turtles all the way down!"

I can imagine some nefarious bureaucrat in Washington, DC advancing the same notion about Departments (in the opposite direction).

"I'm afraid you'll never find out whose in charge. It's Departments all the way up!"

25 Most states have their own environmental protection organizations/bureaucracies ALREADY GET RID OF THE EPA!!! and the Dept of Ed. that's the one I want gone the most

26 Can we stop sending the palis money to use for killing Jews?

Posted by: Captain Hate at November 11, 2010 03:49 PM (ccPlf)

Hey! That's a major revenue stream for us!

27 I'd be happier at 1972 spending levels than 2007.  Don't even adjust for inflation.

Posted by: ef at November 11, 2010 03:49 PM (c7Pp2)

I was serious. You can't realistically go back to 1972. However, we could write a budget for 2011 that used the 2007 as a max. Once we get that we can start working it back towards lower numbers. 

The objective is not just to lower spending alone. It is also to show business that we are serious.

28 Seriously, WHY are we sending out so much foreign aid? it's destructive to the foreign countries and just a huge waste of money.

29 I'm going to stick with my original analysis of this plan:

They can go fuck themselves.

30 24 14
5 Coming Soon! Posted by: Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:44 PM (RWtqz)

Of course, you'll need oversight. That's why they will create me.
Posted by: Department of Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:46 PM (LdYLm)
Without me, you have no basis for being.

Posted by: Department of Recursion at November 11, 2010 03:50 PM (Wqfrr)

To short-sighted, even recursive loops end. What you need is me!

31 Is it true that Wyoming's winters are so cold they cause your brain to rot faster?

BY THE WAY TYPO IN YOUR HEADLINE - It is Simpson

32 Let's just try anarchy, vic.. no taxes! no services! no regulations!

it'll be fun, just like the good ole days!

33 If you've loved the elimination of waste and fraud  from Medicare and Medicade that 0bama has achieved, you are gonna love the spending cuts he's got lined up coming down the road.

Remember 0's campaign promise to go through the budget, line by line, and cut out any unnecessary and wasteful spending?

Whee!! Good times, man. Good times.

Seems so long ago . . . .

34

Let the States form their own EPA and limit them. The EPA the feds have is a worthless political organization full of religious zealots. 

It should be eliminated and start over from scratch.

Posted by: Vic at November 11, 2010 03:50 PM (/jbAw)

I think most states already have EPAs

35 and the Dept of Ed. that's the one I want gone the most

Posted by: BlackOrchid at November 11, 2010 03:51 PM (SB0V2)

Notice that I said "etc" there with the EPA. There are hundreds of agencies I would kill outright.

36 Posted by: Vic at November 11, 2010 03:45 PM

I would prefer a return to the 2000 spending levels -- perhaps with an adjustment for real inflation -- as a starting point.

Also, I would like to see all government agencies established since 1960 shut down. That would rid us of LBJ's legacy, as well as the idiotic wastes of money by presidents through Bush 43 (Homeland Security? what a crock of shit!). The money allotted to the now-Zombie Agencies in '00 can be applied to debt reduction.

What little is of value at EPA could be incorporated into the Interior Department. Some of the antipollution rules make sense, but many more are worthless crap.

Tens -- maybe hundreds -- of thousands of gubmint workers suddenly made redundant? So-friggin'-what? Those who live by the public teat can die by it, too.

37 30 I'm going to stick with my original analysis of this plan:

They can go fuck themselves.

Posted by: DrewM. at November 11, 2010 03:52 PM (HicGG)

Too self-rewarding. Let them eat cock!

38 25
A well-known scientist once gave a public lecture on astronomy.
Posted by: Radioactive Satellite Of LOVE at November 11, 2010 03:50 PM (LdYLm)

Bertrand Russell is commonly believed to be the scientist in question.

39

I think most states already have EPAs

Posted by: buzzion at November 11, 2010 03:53 PM (oVQFe)

California's is crazier than the feds.

40 The 2011 Republican House budget needs to start with the assumption that total spending will be limited to 2007 levels. at zero.

FTFY

Actually, it needs to start with expected receipts, and then budget money based on actual Constitutional priorities until the expected receipts run out- then stop.

41 Well, Tax money is not YOUR money, so what do you care?!?

42 32 Is it true that Wyoming's winters are so cold they cause your brain to rot faster?

BY THE WAY TYPO IN YOUR HEADLINE - It is Simpson

Posted by: Marcus at November 11, 2010 03:52 PM (CHrmZ)

Eat my shorts!

43

I think most states already have EPAs

Posted by: buzzion at November 11, 2010 03:53 PM (oVQFe)

Yep and boy howdy are they active in Ohio. Where I live (rural Central Ohio), you can't hardly burn a pile of leaves without them showing up and asking questions.

44

 

You know what Simpson & Bowles need?

A nifty graph with two lines -- one showing the deficit with their proposed cuts, and another line charting the deficit without their proposed cuts.

It worked for Obama's stimulus. Right?

45 33 Let's just try anarchy, vic.. no taxes! no services! no regulations!

it'll be fun, just like the good ole days!

Posted by: ChiTown-Jerry at November 11, 2010 03:52 PM (f9c2L)

That's a standard democrat tactic.  Accusing someone of wanting anarchy because they don't think the federal government needs to control every aspect of our lives.

46 Inflation out of control;
People living in tents;
Overpopulation starved my dollar
 it's only got 50 cents.
And suddenly you ask WHY!
Because the DEFICIT is TOO DAMN HIGH!

47

Let the States form their own EPA and limit them....Posted by: Vic at November 11, 2010 03:50 PM

I disagree with this, Vic. We've already seen the lunacy of automakers having to build cars with special "California" emissions controls. That's a huge waste of money. Nationwide standards for pollution control actually make sense...when they are sensible regulations.

48 I'm going to stick with my original analysis of this plan: They can go fuck themselves. We'll need a feasibility study.

49 Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

50 What little is of value at EPA could be incorporated into the Interior Department. Some of the antipollution rules make sense, but many more are worthless crap.

There are some (a few) of the original rules that were worthwhile. Unfortunately the barrel of apples is totally rotten. I doubt if there are any good apples left in the organization at all.

The only thing that can save the thought behind the EPA is to totally kill the entire organization and fire them all. If the desire then is to have a federal EPA a year down the road, the it can be re-crafted using much tighter controls on the bureaucrats and make sure that not a single one is rehired from the past.

51 33 Let's just try anarchy, vic.. no taxes! no services! no regulations!

it'll be fun, just like the good ole days!

Posted by: ChiTown-Jerry at November 11, 2010 03:52 PM (f9c2L)

As opposed to the fun-park of freedom, prosperity and benefits we get now?

Fuck that, I'll take my chances.

(and it'd not be anarchy, it'd be chaos while we momentarily suffered the natural state of man--a week, tops--then, order would be restored independently by local groups.)

52

Yep and boy howdy are they active in Ohio. Where I live (rural Central Ohio), you can't hardly burn a pile of leaves without them showing up and asking questions.

Posted by: ErikW at November 11, 2010 03:57 PM (hasSL)

And they've done a bang up job keeping grand lake st. marys clean too.  Maybe in a few years people could fish in it again.

53

Posted by: ChiTown-Jerry at November 11, 2010 03:52 PM (f9c2L)

Yeah, imagine how hard it will be to get through the day without a Department of Education and the NEA.  Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

54 I'd starve and "smallify" the EPA, rather than totally axe it BUT . . . I want the Dept of Ed to just disappear!

55 55

Posted by: ChiTown-Jerry at November 11, 2010 03:52 PM (f9c2L)

Yeah, imagine how hard it will be to get through the day without a Department of Education and the NEA.  Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

Posted by: Cicero at November 11, 2010 03:59 PM (QKKT0)

Who are you gonna call?

56 I disagree with this, Vic. We've already seen the lunacy of automakers having to build cars with special "California" emissions controls. That's a huge waste of money. Nationwide standards for pollution control actually make sense...when they are sensible regulations.

If complying with CA EPA rules becomes too onerous they can just quit doing business in CA. Besides, if things keep going the way they are headed CA will default anyway.

57 51 Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Posted by: Infinite Regress Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:59 PM ()

I don't know. The Coast Guard?

58 31 24 14 5 Coming Soon! Posted by: Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:44 PM (RWtqz)

Of course, you'll need oversight. That's why they will create me.
Posted by: Department of Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:46 PM (LdYLm)

Without me, you have no basis for being.
Posted by: Department of Recursion at November 11, 2010 03:50 PM (Wqfrr)

To short-sighted, even recursive loops end. What you need is me!
Posted by: Infinite Regress Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:52 PM (LdYLm)

My eyesight is just fine, thank you very much! As it says in Scripture:
"You hypocrite, first cast out the Jim Beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the remote out of your brother's eye."

59 On that State EPA thing we are going to have State EPA's anyway whether we get rid of the federals or not. Here it is called DEHEC and yes they are a bunch of assholes as well. But it is easier to get a handle on them rather than the feds.

And horror of horrors, they actually do local inspections and concern themselves with more than auditing paper.

60 Nothin wrong with a little anarchy, you feckin wankers.

61 Posted by: buzzion
Well, you haven't been listening to vic, then..  Get rid of all public schools, etc. etc..

If you missed the sarcasm in there, sorry.. But conservatives sound like dopes when they start talking about complete elimination of what many of us still consider worthwhile services (like public schools at the local level, clean water and air standards nationally, etc.) that have had funding gone amok.. let's not throw out the good with the bad.

The more localized we can make funding the better, yes.  The feds are very wasteful and inneficient. But some things belong at the federal level and simply need to be watched constantly for bloat.

62

And they've done a bang up job keeping grand lake st. marys clean too.  Maybe in a few years people could fish in it again.

Posted by: buzzion at November 11, 2010 03:59 PM (oVQFe)

Heh, good point. 

63 Let's just try anarchy, vic.. no taxes! no services! no regulations!

it'll be fun, just like the good ole days!



I've always been sort of a Constitutionalist classic liberal, as little government as can be tolerated sort. Knowing that the inherent immorality in the human population requires some government be in place to protect us from each other, required when you move man from a state of perfect freedom to that of living in a society. But I have to say, after watching a lifetime of inhumanity purported by the supposed uber humane communists and socialists, you progressive liberals make one hell of a sales team for anarchy.

64 You know this was most likely said but wouldn't it be wise just to get rid of departments which are redundant? And the break the federal workers unions?

65 Simpson/Bowles isn't going to have enough votes to get out of that committee.

More serious trouble: Chris Van Hollen wants a spot on the House Budget Committee just so he can push-back against conservative ideas in the next congress.

66 56
I'd starve and "smallify" the EPA, rather than totally axe it BUT . . .
I want the Dept of Ed to just disappear!
Posted by: BlackOrchid at November 11, 2010 04:00 PM (SB0V2)

Ed Anger, what say you?

67 A serious reconsidering of the need for several of the cabinet positions should be done.  Many, such as the EPA, Education, ETC., should be drastically downsized and consolidated with another department.  But I should say that the first on the list of investigations should be the so-called "czars" who, I think, wield the real power in this regime.

68 Here is a listing of ALL of the Government Departments and Agencies.  I can cut 80% of these without any careful analysis, easy.

Posted by: CDR M at November 11, 2010 04:02 PM (5I8G0)

Ha! USA.gov: Government Made Easy

The irony, I'm sure, is completely lost on them.

69 Somewhere, while reclining on a lawn chair, G. Gordon Liddy is laughing at us.

70

Posted by: ChiTown-Jerry at November 11, 2010 04:05 PM (f9c2L)

If it really is good it will return very quickly.  Your view is to not even attempt getting rid of the bad because something good may go away with it.

71 61 31 24 14 5 Coming Soon! Posted by: Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:44 PM (RWtqz)

Of course, you'll need oversight. That's why they will create me.
Posted by: Department of Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:46 PM (LdYLm)

Without me, you have no basis for being.
Posted by: Department of Recursion at November 11, 2010 03:50 PM (Wqfrr)

To short-sighted, even recursive loops end. What you need is me!
Posted by: Infinite Regress Department of Departments at November 11, 2010 03:52 PM (LdYLm)

My eyesight is just fine, thank you very much! As it says in Scripture:
"You hypocrite, first cast out the Jim Beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the remote out of your brother's eye."

Posted by: Department of Recursion at November 11, 2010 04:03 PM (Wqfrr)

Hey, I am a Biblical expert, I will be created just like the first Man and Woman. Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree and Noah's wife was Joan of ark. Noah built and ark and the animals came on in pears. I suggest you look into how Jesus enunciated the golden rule, which says to do unto others before they do one to you. He also explained a man doth not live by sweat alone.

72 ya know what?  I'm just cranky because I see this fucking report by Simpson and Bowles and look at all the anger about it from both the right and the left and know full well absolutely nothing will be done about the debt we are in. Nothing. No one will ever agree and no politician will ever give up funds once they've been allocated.

It's fucking hopeless.

So, sorry for getting on people's cases.  i'm just depressed.

73

Stupid, smelly sock!

74 Oh, and where in the constitution does it mention foreign aid? And mine the southern borders And shoot every prisoner in jail with a life sentence Money everywhere now

75 Waiting to hear the announcement of the new Department Czar.

76 I  vow to fly from state to state, city to city, with my 40 cars, 3 planes, and my 3000 person entourage booking entire luxury hotels, until I have made it clear how important it is to cut government spending  and carbon emissions.

My first government spending cut will be to raise taxes on people who I call wealthy, but who make much much less than I do.

77 Posted by: CDR M at November 11, 2010 04:02 PM

I looked at the first page of your link and, after I was through puking my guts out, found two agencies worth keeping: Air Force and Army.

God knows how much shit could be broomed with an A-to-Z search!

78 >>I'm just cranky because I see this fucking report by Simpson and Bowles and look at all the anger about it from both the right and the left and know full well absolutely nothing will be done about the debt we are in. Nothing. Oh somethings going to be done alright. Either by choice or by default, but something is going to happen.

79 like public schools at the local level,

Right because conservatives are so against allowing communities to make the decision to educate the children within the community.

Perhaps we note that the federal involvement in the primary education system has turned it into a quagmire, that was as a whole much better off without the federal money, and without the federal intervention.

80 Posted by: ChiTown-Jerry at November 11, 2010 04:05 PM (f9c2L)

Let's take these one at time:

What, about eliminating the Federal Department of Education would, in any way, stop funding of local public schools?  The last Texas budget (that would be State, by the way, there, Jerry) spent 55% on public schools- and we don't get to have a nifty voucher program like some States do.  Additionally, at least here in Texas, we pay local property taxes to support the local school district.

Why do we need national standards for clean air and water?  Clean is clean.  We've pretty well got that figured out.  As someone (Vic, maybe) already pointed out, the State agencies are already both more efficient and more effective than the Federal EPA.  Unless you really think Michigan or Pennsylvania would completely get rid of environmental standards, you're only advocating Federal control for the sake fo Federal control.

Neither of these things belong at the national level.

81 76

Stupid, smelly sock!

Posted by: Soona at November 11, 2010 04:09 PM (IfHfi)

A guy comes down for breakfast one morning and sees his wife at the stove with the frying pan on, and one of his socks in it.

Husband: "What the are you doing?"
Wife: "I'm only doing what you begged me to do all last night!"
Husband: "I wasn't asking you to COOK MY SOCK!"

82

(like public schools at the local level, clean water and air standards nationally, etc.)

 

yeah, I hear that here every day,  what a bunch of neandrethals those conservatives are... reality it's more than a concept.

 

 

sheesh/

83 God knows how much shit could be broomed with an A-to-Z search!

Posted by: MrScribbler at November 11, 2010 04:10 PM (Ulu3i)

I wonder how many of them have been created just since Obama took office.

84 I had Simson-Bowles 2 years ago, my doctor recommended more fiber.

85 So, sorry for getting on people's cases.  i'm just depressed.
Posted by: ChiTown-Jerry at November 11, 2010 04:09 PM

I suggest we draft someone like Ford's Alan Mulally to go through the government agency-by-agency (including Congress and the White House) and kill off useless programs and agencies, privatize others, and force elected officials (from the most junior Representative from Guam right up to the "leadership") to operate under normal business conditions instead of behaving like entitled royalty.

86

I wonder how many of them have been created just since Obama took office.

Posted by: ErikW at November 11, 2010 04:13 PM (hasSL)

I wonder how many of our esteemed politicians even know they exist.

87 87 I had Simson-Bowles 2 years ago, my doctor recommended more fiber.

Posted by: Dr Spank at November 11, 2010 04:15 PM (LLZiU)

Did it pass?

88 Yeah, I like to bowl.  Problem?

89 I'm with the anarchy people, basically.  I'd love to see just enough gov. to keep our nation secure from foreign assholes and let the states make most of the rules.  You know, like it was first proposed in the US Constitution.

90

 

The dildo is a tree/bush?

91

I wonder how many of them have been created just since Obama took office.

Posted by: ErikW at November 11, 2010 04:13 PM

Simple answer: too fuckin' many.

92 It bears mentioning that Hillsdale College has steadfastly refused to accept any federal funding whatsoever and it is one of the top-ranked liberal arts schools in the country. The camel's nose of federal $$ has been kept out because Hillsdale knows full well that once $$ are accepted, the feds will swoop in to dictate as much as they can how the college will be run.

93 Posted by: MrScribbler at November 11, 2010 04:17 PM (Ulu3i)

I'm not really sure that very many were.  Sadly.

That said, we do need to get rid of most of them.

94 public schools?
Yeah, that ought to be the first thing on the chopping block. It is the head of the snake that got us into this mess and it is the club the parasites who suck out our substance use to beat ever more money out of us.

95 Posted by: ya2daup at November 11, 2010 04:18 PM (Wqfrr)

Indeed, the States had this problem almost as soon as the Department of Education (in its current form) came into existence.  Not for nothing is it said, "He who pays the piper calls the tune."

96 #68  More serious trouble: Chris Van Hollen wants a spot on the House Budget Committee just so he can push-back against conservative ideas in the next congress.

Not very smart of Hollen to want that position primarily to fight with Paul Ryan.

Made the mistake of reading some of the comments to that HuffPo piece.  I had no idea that wanting to shrink the size the government is a prototype of a "fascist state"...

/cuckoo!  cuckoo!

97

 

This is interesting, no?

From the Oxford English Dictionary:

Dildo ¹

A word of obscure origin, used in the refrains of ballads.
  Also, a name of the penis or phallus, or a figure thereof; spec. an artificial penis used for female gratification; the lingam of Hindu worship; formerly, also, a contemptuous or reviling appellation of a man or lad; and app. applied to a cylindrical or ‘sausageÂ’ curl.

Dildo ²

The Tree was long since called by the Spaniards, and by the Negroes that lived there, the Dildoe-Tree; and the English retain the same name still. The Dildoe-tree is a green prickly shrub, that grows about 10 or 12 foot high, without either Leaf or Fruit. It is as big as a mans Leg, from the root to the top, and it is full of sharp prickles, growing in thick rows.

98 Somebody needs to grab their nads with their hands, and start setting back the age of enrollment for social security and medicare until both are one year beyond average expected lifespan, on a one year every two years basis so that those really close to retirement* don't get totally boned. If we don't start doing that now, we will go under.




_{*(I'm actually a little miffed at those folks anyway, they let these programs go from semi sane out of control in their lifetime)}

99

That bullshit report is nothing, but smoke & mirrors.    I'm really getting sick of this shit.   The average, semi-literate American* could figure out how to cut government spending.     These fuckers in DC are supposed to be our intellectual betters?    Makes me want to shake the ever loving shit out of them.

 

 

 

 

_{*As long as it's not a lefty puke}

100 90 87 I had Simson-Bowles 2 years ago, my doctor recommended more fiber.

Posted by: Dr Spank at November 11, 2010 04:15 PM (LLZiU)

Did it pass?

Posted by: Radioactive Satellite Of LOVE


Yeah, turned out to be a mouse issue.

101 Except for the military, the fed gov. should be cut 50% across the board.  And that's just for starters.

102 As long as we are having a fantasy about cutting the budget, how about the FAA?

I've seen the beast from the inside, aviation is safe IN SPITE OF the FAA, not because of.

103 95 It bears mentioning that Hillsdale College has steadfastly refused to accept any federal funding whatsoever and it is one of the top-ranked liberal arts schools in the country. The camel's nose of federal $$ has been kept out because Hillsdale knows full well that once $$ are accepted, the feds will swoop in to dictate as much as they can how the college will be run.

Posted by: ya2daup at November 11, 2010 04:18 PM (Wqfrr)

Don't forget about Grove City College.  They set up their own student loan program and their overall cost is about 60% of most private colleges, about $20K per year.

104 I think these suggestions are terrible news for the Democrats, potentially. If an Obama-created commission admits that welfare state is headed for collapse, it's much harder for Democrats to demonize Republicans for coming up with plans of their own, such as the Ryan plan. I think the Dems have screwed themselves by admitting the status quo can't work.

105 All these reports are designed to do is show the public what it will take to get things under control, which pacifies the public into accepting more debt and spending.

106

But conservatives sound like dopes when they start talking about complete elimination of what many of us still consider worthwhile services

 

And exactly who gets to decide which services are "worthwhile"?

This may come as a news flash, but there was clean water & air, schools, running water, & electrical power before the EPA, Ed., etc.

107 I've seen the beast from the inside, aviation is safe IN SPITE OF the FAA, not because of.

Posted by: John Galt at November 11, 2010 04:26 PM (F/4zf)

I read an article in Aviation Week many moons ago about how even just changing the flight corridors from WWII-era concepts to allowing a more efficient GPS flight path model would enhance safety and save billions every year.

God forbid they move on something like that.

108 Posted by: John Galt at November 11, 2010 04:26 PM (F/4zf)

Actually, I can't complain too much about the existence of the FAA (its operation is another matter).  Since we have to coordinate: Interstate Commercial/Private Air Travel, International Commercial/Private Air Travel, Interstate/International Military Air Travel and a whole host of other things, I'd say it fulfills (or is supposed to fulfill) a necessary function.

It may fulfill that function very poorly, but the function is, nevertheless, something I am willing to concede the Federal Government should be overseeing.

109 106
Don't forget about Grove City College.  They set up their own student loan program and their overall cost is about 60% of most private colleges, about $20K per year.
Posted by: Hedgehog at November 11, 2010 04:28 PM (oQIfB)

I knew there was another college, but its name escaped me. Explicitly because of its policy to not accept federal $$, I've donated annually to Hillsdale for at least 20 years now.

110

#111,

You do know that other countries rely on companies to handle those tasks...?

111 Regarding education, if a country like Sweden can implement the voucher system, why can't we? It's sad, socialist countries like Sweden now rank ahead of us in many economic freedom indices... Why can't Texas implement vouchers state-wide with their new Republican super-majorities?

112 What is amazing is that people in the early 1800s were outraged a 2%, saying it was far too high.

If only they could see us now.

113 Posted by: Jess at November 11, 2010 04:39 PM (/ueuy)

Actually, I was unaware of that.  I don't know that it completely invalidates my argument, but it certainly goes a long way.

I'm also willing to bet, however, that in other countries, they only hire one company to do the job (I'm just not seeing how it could be coordinated terribly well with a bunch of companies just for, say Germany, doing it).

Presuming you're correct (like I said, I don't know, so I'll assume you're not just yanking my chain), then I could certainly get behind doing it at the State level (I'm sorry, I don't trust companies with routes for F-22s, F-117s, etc).  But I can also see (and accept) the argument for Federal control of that one.

Posted by: Spike at November 11, 2010 04:40 PM (WLxeI)

Third rail, man, third rail.  I'd love to see it, and it does have a better chance with the new Republican congress.  However, most of our Pols remember Governor Mark White (don't know if he was any relation to Bill) who ticked off the teachers and promptly got voted out of office.

Our State Teachers Unions aren't quite as bad as the national, but they've got some pretty sharp teeth when they want them.

My mom, who is a teacher, still nearly froths at the mouth at the very thought of Mark White.

114 Do we have a Department of Douche??  It smells of pool boy and desperation down here!

115 Wait 'til they create me.  Then you'll see real government in action.

Having said that, real government won't be in action until they create me.  Then you'll see it.

116
"GET RID OF THE EPA!!!
"and the Dept of Ed. that's the one I want gone the most"

Unless you cut out all of the tumor, it will just grow back.

117 Actually, it needs to start with expected receipts, and then budget money based on actual Constitutional priorities until the expected receipts run out- then stop.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at November 11, 2010 03:56 PM (8y9MW)

There's a good idea what about his idea?

118

In all seriousness, the enabling legislation of the EPA and of the Dept of Education can be altered in a single session to a limited demarkation of purpose (idenify, investigate, and regulate harmful pollutants, for example) that can be maintained and run with fewer than 1200 workers - part or full time. Permanently, That is, make each absolutely capped at that many workers - and specify that payment made to any "independent contractor" worker, even a plumber (to ensure no one tries to get around the cap by putting all 175,000 irs agents in a subcontractor corporation), uses up one of those employee slots.

The most ruthless motherfuckers with the longest sharpest blades are the ones left on top six months later. Tame them and force them to codify and simplify all regs. Give some sort of bonus per dollar saved for the taxpayer. Start with the need for each rule to be reasonable in scope.

For example, the Dept of Education funding. Instead of forcing all schools to follow umpty-billion rules attached to a thousand different grants all of which are social engineering experiments in funding, you just divide up the budget by state, send them that much money, mail a "Send Me A Report in August, Kay" form and arrest anyone who doesn't fill out the form within 120 days. Parade them around for the cameras dressed as a pantomime horse's ass (the legal penalty) and shame them into filling out the paperwork. This could be a popular television event, garnering the Treasury some revenue.

 

119 And see, in my above example, most of the employees of the Dept of Education actually would turn out to be janitorial and maintenance - for all the empty buildings being sold.

120

Oh, and the upshot? You take out the federal structure, you can handle the rest of the state funding directly with less than 500 employees. You cut it down to size using federalism. Trust the states to administer, you intervene or regulate only in the most limited and reasonable way - such as, say, requiring states to investigate and cooperate with other state's inquiries to ensure that convicted child molesters can't try to get a teaching certificate in a distant state. A recommended chart of accounts structure so people can simplify data comparisons between various states and their education agencies. The states tend to refer to federal suggestion when they decide to update certain regulations and such on their own. Eventually, most if not all of the states will end up with common coding schemes - or at least similar.

Not much else but signing the checks to the states every quarter and answering the phone.  It just doesn't need a whole department. Maybe a tiny Bureau. Or an Office.

 

121

#116,

Funny you should mention Germany... and try Canada, along with a number of other nations around the globe.

122 Great post..see your blog in clothing stores,there are many hot sale  clothing stores online.a hollywood or ended up being during their high dollar fashion number.

123 see your blog in north face jackets,there are many hot sale north face denali jackets .and other observing methods you could buy wholesale clothing and sell them for profit about the eBay marketplace.

124 hello everyone,im wholesale supplier  online

Welcome to our website   

=====   http://www.1shopping.us/    =======

accept paypal and free shipping

We need your support and trust!!!

Dear friends, please temporarily stop your footsteps

To our website Walk around A look at

Maybe you'll find happiness in your sight shopping heaven and earth

You'll find our price is more suitable for you.

And we shall be offer you free gift about MP4 if you more order.

=====   http://www.1shopping.us/   ========