How to Fix the Deficit

With all this talk of the deficit being too large, and it is, a few things need to be said. In 2001 when he left office and for the three years previous to it Bill Clinton had overseen budgets with surplus balances. In 1993 when Bill Clinton passed his budget which included tax increases not one Republican voted for it and a catastrophe was promised.

People have short memories and we get the government we deserve. Republicans are better at campaigning than Democrats. Today Barack Obama for whatever his attributes may be is not passionate and will not get out the faithful in an off year election.

How do we fix the budget. It will be hard but first we must face some facts. Keep in mind, no one wants to face these facts. 20 percent of our budget is on military spending. We need a military about half the size we have now and even then it would be bloated. Sound easy? Now imagine all those bases closing, all those planes, ships and other things that are made by civilians for the military. It is politically impossible but there is a reason all these smaller countries surpass our standard of living. They do not act as the worlds police free of charge. Think about it. Canada knows if they were ever attacked we would defend them. The Monroe Doctrine makes it clear.

Medicare and Medicaid at some point will need to be wrapped up into a single payer health care system. We are not there and are nowhere close. Why? For much the same reason the military cannot be trimmed. Too much money is being made the way it is now. Eventually when demographics catch up with the Republican party we will have to make these changes.

Social Security needs small modifications. Raising the top amount that can be contributed is the easy fix. Tell me why I can make 80000 and pay X amount and a person who pays a million dollars and pay X in the social security. In other words it is a regressive tax. The more you make the less as a percentage of income you contribute. This would not balance the program but it would help...

See three tough decision and much of the problem is fixed. Now take someone who cuts some more ridiculous programs. Coporate welfare is a disgrace, petrolum subsidies, agricultural subsidies designed for family farms being extended to monster corporate farms.

On the other side of the political spectrum welfare reform was done 10 years ago and has been successful. Foreign aid is a minute part of the budget but again what we give Egypt and Israel would be better spent on converting to energy independent resources so that we are not so needing to be militarily involved in the middle east.

Common sense is gone. Reading about folks like TR and Truman who did what they did and considered it an honor to not be reelected if they did what was right and lost their job.

It can be fixed but the courage to do so is not present at this time.

Maine Governor's Race

This is an interesting group running. Richard LePage the former CEO or maybe current CEO of Marden's. Libby Mitchell and to a lesser extent, maybe Elliott Cutler.

I have an acquaintance through my son, her son has been a good friend of mine for years and years who is active in Republican circles. She stopped by as she is running for a local office and I realized that no matter how much you like someone, you may not agree politically. I, did not disagree with her, there is no sense and I do like her. I may even vote for her as on a local level having someone you know and can contact is worthwhile but this Lepage cat. I believe he is one of these who are much like our Republican friends in Washington. There whole theory is trickle down economics and the smartest thing a Bush ever said was old George with his " Voodoo Economics" comment about the Reagan economic plan.

Recently I read in the local paper that this race is considered LePage's to lose. I find it hard to believe that a state as blue as Maine would elect a candidate as red as Lepage. Whoever is the governor is going to have a very tough job. He may be setting himself up to be the most unpopular man in the state.

The real question will be does Elliott Cutler have the money to make this a real race.