It’s nice to wake up on a Sunday morning and give a hearty chuckle followed by a good facepalm. The NY Times’ Jackie Calmes needs KCCO
The latest budget impasse ushered in a new round of austerity on Saturday, with the nation facing reduced federal services, canceled contracts, job furloughs and layoffs.
For those who live in Liberal World, let’s provide an explanation as to the Sequester: it reduces the rate of federal spending growth by a tiny percent. If a federal agency is currently budgeted for 1 billion this year, they aren’t going to get 998 million next fiscal year. They will receive slightly less than the budget increase, so, instead of 1.1 billion, they’ll get 1.0998 billion.
The progress on deficit reduction over the past two years will also probably hamper job creation and the economic recovery. Private and government forecasters project that sequestration alone will cost about 700,000 jobs this year and will shave at least a half percentage point from economic growth. The Congressional Budget Office now forecasts a falling deficit but stubbornly high unemployment in coming years.
First of all, if the people who run the federal agencies cannot deal with tiny reductions in future increases of budget allocation and maximize the money they have, perhaps they should be replaced with people who understand How To Make A Budget. Start with refusing to pay for cost overruns (this could save hundreds of billions each year). Stop funding masters degrees for people in Indonesia (16-20 million). $500 million on a study to get 5 year olds to sit still (Gorilla glue is much cheaper). Reduce overlapping programs. Oh, and here’s $25 billion a year to maintain unused federal buildings.
Second of all, unemployment has been high throughout Obama’s terms, thanks to horrible Democrat policies which have turned a recession into a stagnation. Expect, though, Obama and the MSM to blame every job loss on Republicans not caving to Obama’s incessant demands for more taxes so he has more to spend (anyone who thinks extra tax revenue, including from the increase on those making $400K or more, will be used for debt/deficit reduction is a fool.)
Third, the NY Times has been practicing actual austerity as of late
(Reuters) On the cost-cutting side, the Times, which has repeatedly waved wads of buyout cash at its staff to reduce headcount, most recently persuading an additional 30 of its 1,100-plus journalists to leave the building permanently.
The Fish Wrap has been on a job cutting bender for years, with the latest coming at the beginning of 2013. They’ve been divesting themselves of assets (such as the Boston Globe) in order to streamline their operations. There was concern they would default on their debt, which included the silly stock buyback and building a new home office. They’ve dumped several departments, such as shutting down the Green Blog. They’re doing all they can to avoid insolvency. But, they still have a hissy fit when the federal government has a potential for layoffs.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.
Study my Letter on [email protected].
The so-called “federal government” is not only Bankrupt, It’s Head- Over- Heels in Debt, & Operating Way in the Red, & It Has A Huge, & Increasing, Budget Deficit. There’s virtually zero $ for anything whatsoever.
(Instead of searching for Crazy Inbox, try June 5, 2012 P=6498.)
Don’t forget the $250 million sent to Islamic terrorists in Egypt, plus the new technology and hardware flown to them, and nearly $1billion in aid to Syria terrorists, robot squirrels, robot cinder-block throwers, LOUD gas-powered “mules”, beautified bridges full of artwork (why?!??), new road construction with demands for sidewalks and ramps to nowhere.
And now, Homeland Security buying millions of rounds of ammo along with light tanks?!?! What does “HOMELAND” domestic security need with light tanks?
While they complain about lack of money, and make fun of kooks warning of civil war, our gov’t is preparing openly for civil war. And they are preparing to make it bloody.
Gumball,
It doesn’t appear that DHS has purchased any light tanks.
That report seems to be coming from one blog which does not link to any sources.
Here’s what Congressman Bill Posey blasted about this:
HERE IS THE DEAL ON REPORTS THAT DHS IS PREPARING FOR A CIVIL WAR The contact was for the repair of 2,700 MRAPs for the U.S. Army Forces Command (a Defense Department entity), not the Department of Homeland Security. The contact was completed in May 2012, and the vehicles are in use overseas by the U.S. Army in Afghanistan or in Army training facilities at Ft. Irwin, CA and Ft. Polk, LA. The contract was misreported by bloggers as being a DHS purchase. DHS owns 17 Army surplus MRAPs, which are used by their High Risk Warrant Services unit to raid criminal operations. These vehicles are identical to armored cars used by SWAT teams throughout the country. There are no plans to acquire additional vehicles. The House Committee on Homeland Security is aware of these claims, and has conducted an investigation at the direction of Chairman McCaul of Texas. House Homeland Security Committee is continuing to monitor the situation.
Given the lack of citation on the original report and that there is a contract that says exactly what Posey claims, I am going to go with Posey for now.
Thank you gitarcarver,
I knew you could bring out facts.
I didn’t have time to vet the story that my boss showed me on Drudge today. Typically, Drudge is pretty reliable, so…. I “assumed”.
It was on a lot of sites that all went back to one /”survivalist” site.
Now to be honest with you, I think DHS having the MARPs is problematic to begin with. If the things are similar to those used by SWAT teams, borrow those vehicles to serve warrants with.
Seventeen us better than 2700, but it is still too many for me.
I also agree with you on the aid to Egypt. Part of the reason given was to help stabilize Egypt’s economy. What about the US economy? The administration screams about sequestration and is giving roughly $0.75 to Egypt for every US citizen?
That’s just plain stupid.
We give billions and billions to foreign countries and as much to countries we have no business giving any aid to. Such as Syria, N. Korea, and several African nations. And now Egypt while it is under rule of Muslim Brotherhood.
All the while our administration blames congress. They are both to blame. Meanwhile, all federal agencies keep on spending and keep on hiring. We are told there is a pay increase freeze on federal employees. It’s not really. Oh, they won’t get their advancement raises, but they still get their COLA each year and their in-band step pay increases.
Meanwhile how many millions of Americans have lost their jobs and homes? How many people have had their hours cut AND their pay cut? Just so the feds can keep on growing.
Our Federal intake is highest it has ever been, but we are still being tasked to give up more of our dollars. Enough is enough.
End aid to all foreign countries. End all stimulus. End direct subsidies to private companies. Close the EPA, DofED, DofEngy, and any other stupid wasteful duplicated agency. Enact flat tax that everyone must pay. Move half of our Northern Border Patrol to the Southern Border. Put illegals to work building a 75foot wall from coast to coast without heavy machinery. if they put in 5 years hard labor, learn english and history, then they can apply for citizenship.
(sorry, another rant)