Sequestration Devastation?
Not By a Long Shot!
If you've been exposed to any form of news media this month,
you've been told that a looming disaster is approaching as March 1 approaches,
and federal budget/spending "sequestration" takes effect.
From ajc.com News:
"The White House today released examples of what the
Obama Administration says will happen if $85 billion in automatic budget cuts
are allowed to go into effect on March 1, arguing the domestic spending cuts in
the "sequester" would "threaten thousands of jobs and the
economic security of the middle class."
In a fact sheet given to reporters, the Obama White House
argues there would be damaging across the board cuts to education, small
business, food safety and more ... ."
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/national-govt-politics/jamie-dupree-white-house-lays-out-sequest-impact/nWKPZ/To emphasize the grave danger about to destroy America's economy and the lives of registered (and un-registered) voters, the Obama administration released a "Fact Sheet:" with a litany of the extent of the destruction about to sweep the Nation.
A summary of the horrific impact includes:
• Cuts to
education• Cuts to small business
• Cuts to food safety
• Cuts to research and innovation
• Cuts to mental health
• Security and Safety
• Research and Innovation
• Economic Growth
• Government Services
• Education
• Economic Security
• Public Health.
Unfortunately, what the White House and Congress fail to
tell you, is that the "devastation" is NOT the result of draconian
slashes to our lives, welfare and futures, but a 2% decrease in the rise
of total government spending; which will inevitably exceed the unprecedented total $1,358,000,000,000.00 for FY 2012.
Of this total, "discretionary" spending ( the
stuff that might be "cut") has exploded by 60% since 2008!
In case you're not sure just who's telling the truth, you
could always look at the "letter of the law."
Since 99% of people will not take that step, and would
rather listen to their favored "truth-teller" on the tube, here's the
real deal:
OMB ESTIMATES AND EXPLANATION OF DIFFERENCES.—Not later than
7 calendar days … after the date of enactment of any discretionary
appropriation, OMB shall transmit a report to the House of Representatives and
to the Senate containing the CBO estimate of that legislation, an OMB estimate
of the amount of discretionary new budget authority and outlays for the current
year, if any, and the budget year provided by that legislation, and an
explanation of any difference between the estimates.
(A) The term ‘nonsecurity category’ means all discretionary
appropriations not included in the security category defined in subparagraph
(B).
(B) The term ‘security category’ includes discretionary
appropriations associated with agency budgets for the Department of Defense,
the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the
National Nuclear Security Administration, the intelligence community management
account (95–0401–0–1–054), and all budget accounts in budget function 150
(international affairs).
‘‘with respect to fiscal year 2013— ‘‘(A) for the security
category, $686,000,000,000 in new budget authority; and ‘‘(B) for the
nonsecurity category, $361,000,000,000 in new budget authority"
The "report" that the CBO is required to publish,
has been. It shows, clearly, there is no devastation on the horizon.
It reveals that the scare tactics of the right and the left
are little more than flailing attempts to protect their favorite programs and
take further advantage of the taxpayers who are being stuck with these
ridiculous bills:
So, how does "total discretionary spending under
"sequestration" compare to the planned spending increases for 2013?
From the Wall Street Journal:
"the sequester cuts the agencies' "budget
authority" by about $85 billion between March 1 and Sept. 30,
The government spent $3.538 trillion in the fiscal year that
ended in September 2012. So [i][b]$85 billion is 2.4% of the federal
budget[/i][/b]. … Depending on the agency, cuts are going to be in the ballpark
of 5% and 13%, according to various estimates from government
officials."
What's really happening?
The government will have to cut 2% of
projected total spending in the coming years!
Now, I'm not rich, but I am certain that I can find two
cents to save from each dollar I have to spend without feeling too much pain.
If I have to cut increasing my "discretionary
spending" (Shiner Bock, Jack Daniels, movies, Pecan Sandies, Marlboros, et c.) by
"between 5% and 13%, I'm pretty sure I can handle that , too.
Are you terrified, too?
Or should we just expect "business as usual?"
2/24/13 ETA:
How about we cut fundung across the board to 2008 levels, when schools were full of teachers, no firefighters or other first-responders had been laid off, there were still construction jobs and job-training programs, and no banks or automakers had yet needed to be bailed out?
Things were working well as far as government-run programs/jobs were concerned until the housing bubble and financial bailouts; so, why not "reset" policy and funding to those levels and let the taxpayers spend the rest as they see fit?
We no longer have an Iraq war to pay for and Afghanistan is all but over. According to the Obama administration, Government Motors and Chrysler are flying high and do not need our help anymore. All the "bailouts" were paid back. Where's all that extra money now?
There should be tons of extra money to spend on social programs without the need for any other tax increases or spending increases!
Jw
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