[quote author="IrvineRenter" date=1223637134][quote author="WINEX" date=1223618760][quote author="IrvineRenter" date=1223615525][quote author="WINEX" date=1223589636][quote author="stepping_up" date=1223589062]Education is an investment.... an educated society is more productive, earns more and commits fewer crimes. I don't mind paying taxes for an investment like that.</blockquote>
I agree that education is essential. But that doesn't explain why the Feds should be subsidizing something they aren't authorized to engage in. There are state and municipal bodies that can handle these needs more effectively than the Feds. And here's another shocking idea, why not tax the users of education instead of everyone?</blockquote>
With all the Federal intervention in the financial markets and various bailouts leading us into either socialism or communism, I can't get too worked up over whether or not they spend money on something that probably gives a return on investment like education.</blockquote>
So am I correct in assuming that you were against the Feds being involved in education (and other activities that they aren't authorized to engage in) up until last Friday? If that isn't the case, aren't you just rationalizing poor judgment?</blockquote>
No, I am in favor of the Federal government spending/investing in education. I am not a strict constructionist with regards to the constitution. I was just pointing out that you are worrying about window treatments while the foundation is crumbling.</blockquote>
First of all, about the bailout.
I don't think you will be surprised to hear that I am against it and feel that the socialization of risk is an atrocity.
But let's have a little perspective here.
Though I don't feel like looking up the exact numbers, the Federal budget is somewhere around $3 trillion a year. There were enough earmarks tacked on to the bailout bill that it's hard to quantify the exact cost, but it's somewhere around 25% of what the Federal government spends every year. If the Federal government actually followed the Constitution and realized that any powers not EXPLICITLY granted to it by the Constitution were reserved for states and the people, the cost of running the Federal government could probably be kept under $1 trillion. (aside for providing for the common defense and promoting commerce, there isn't much the Federal government is supposed to be engaged in)
So while you have every right to be offended by the bailout bill, you should be even more offended that the people that brought you that bailout bill spend 3 times as much each and every year on activities they have no right to engage in. If you really wanted to, you could rationalize the bailout bill as being Constitutional in support of interstate commerce. But what justification is there for funding PBS or NPR or the National Endowment for the Arts, or a projector in some planetarium in Chicago, or a long list of other things.
Reduce the size of Federal government and the corresponding burden it places on the people of this government, and you will find that the American people are quite resourceful and don't need to live in a nanny state. Unfortunately we as a people have been conditioned to absolve ourselves of all responsibility for our own actions. By turning to government to solve our problems, we make the root cause of those problems far worse. It's well past time for this country to suck it up and accept responsibility when it is due.
I agree that education is essential. But that doesn't explain why the Feds should be subsidizing something they aren't authorized to engage in. There are state and municipal bodies that can handle these needs more effectively than the Feds. And here's another shocking idea, why not tax the users of education instead of everyone?</blockquote>
With all the Federal intervention in the financial markets and various bailouts leading us into either socialism or communism, I can't get too worked up over whether or not they spend money on something that probably gives a return on investment like education.</blockquote>
So am I correct in assuming that you were against the Feds being involved in education (and other activities that they aren't authorized to engage in) up until last Friday? If that isn't the case, aren't you just rationalizing poor judgment?</blockquote>
No, I am in favor of the Federal government spending/investing in education. I am not a strict constructionist with regards to the constitution. I was just pointing out that you are worrying about window treatments while the foundation is crumbling.</blockquote>
First of all, about the bailout.
I don't think you will be surprised to hear that I am against it and feel that the socialization of risk is an atrocity.
But let's have a little perspective here.
Though I don't feel like looking up the exact numbers, the Federal budget is somewhere around $3 trillion a year. There were enough earmarks tacked on to the bailout bill that it's hard to quantify the exact cost, but it's somewhere around 25% of what the Federal government spends every year. If the Federal government actually followed the Constitution and realized that any powers not EXPLICITLY granted to it by the Constitution were reserved for states and the people, the cost of running the Federal government could probably be kept under $1 trillion. (aside for providing for the common defense and promoting commerce, there isn't much the Federal government is supposed to be engaged in)
So while you have every right to be offended by the bailout bill, you should be even more offended that the people that brought you that bailout bill spend 3 times as much each and every year on activities they have no right to engage in. If you really wanted to, you could rationalize the bailout bill as being Constitutional in support of interstate commerce. But what justification is there for funding PBS or NPR or the National Endowment for the Arts, or a projector in some planetarium in Chicago, or a long list of other things.
Reduce the size of Federal government and the corresponding burden it places on the people of this government, and you will find that the American people are quite resourceful and don't need to live in a nanny state. Unfortunately we as a people have been conditioned to absolve ourselves of all responsibility for our own actions. By turning to government to solve our problems, we make the root cause of those problems far worse. It's well past time for this country to suck it up and accept responsibility when it is due.
