"It profits me but little that a vigilant authority always protects the tranquillity of my pleasures and constantly averts all dangers from my path, without my care or concern, if this same authority is the absolute master of my liberty and my life."

--Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Regular Guy Believes... Cutting Federal Government Spending is Child's Play II

We knocked a cool billion out of the FY 2011 federal budget on page 1 of the Department of Agriculture's section.   Moving on then, let's try page 1 of the Department of Commerce's proposed budget:

  • The Budget also provides $80 million for the Technology Innovation Program, which invests in high-impact research that will address critical national needs and advance innovation.   Gone, Baby, Gone!   Sorry, but the private sector is better able to decide what research is worth funding and what research isn't worth funding.  This money will just end up as a payoff to politically-connected companies.
  • The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership will receive $130 million to enhance the competitiveness of the Nation’s manufacturers by facilitating the adoption of more efficient manufacturing processes.  Yeah, because U.S. manufacturers are stupid, and aren't as always trying to adopt more efficient manufacturing processes anyway.   You don't need to "facilitate this"... the market demands it every second of every day.   If it has to be facilitated, as a matter of basic economics it isn't more efficient.   Cut it!
OK.  So page 1 of the Department of Commerce only netted us $210 million in savings.  But I'm doing this in my spare time over lunch with Lay's Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Wing potato chips gooing up my keyboard.  Imagine what would happen if the Congressmen we elect would spend their days doing this exercise!   (Congressman is a full-time job, isn't it?  Or do they just eat rubber chicken and kiss smelly babies?)

Gee, this is fun!  You too can solve our country's fiscal problem in the comfort of your own home!

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