pWhich government program should be first in line for spending cuts?

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Results

41 %

Defense

26 %

Foreign Aid

19 %

Food stamps and safety net

5 more options

@Nov '12 c 277 comments V 563 votes

Detailed Results Next Debate Vote Now

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563 Votes

7 hr
sillybilly1b voted

v Food stamps and safety net
u

Fri
DrSilicon voted

v Social Security
Fri

Zach

v Defense

Cut all the spending. And start with the defence. We don't need Homeland Security purchasing assault vehicles and billions of rounds. We don't need millions for tanks and drones. We need to balance Social Security. We need to stop giving "aid" to corrupt countries who keep all the money in the government while their people starve. We need to cut food stamp programs by passing restrictions so that drug users aren't using tax dollars for food while they have money to buy crack. STOP WASTING MONEY and fix these programs!

Post
u

Thu
Obsidion endorsed CanadianIndy

v Defense
u

Thu

Gatnos

v Foreign Aid

I can not understand why this government would borrow money (going into debt) and then give it to foreign nations.

Post
u

May 16

Wafflecone

v Defense

it's where the pork is.

Post
u

May 15
chiefevans706 voted

v Food stamps and safety net
May 15
silentrunning endorsed marine1

v Foreign Aid
u

May 15
JumpRoundhouse endorsed marine1

v Foreign Aid
May 15

PayThatCEO

v Foreign Aid

First and foremost, foreign aid. While they like to tell us that foreign aid is but a small percentage of our budget, we are the world's top donor. They fail to explain that this "aid" is broken down into myriad types that may not necessarily fall into the "aid" category. We give money each and every year to all but 18 countries in the world. An allowance. And these countries come with their hand out, like a greedy child, looking for their money, as well as a cost of living raise. Mexico, alone, has asked for 270 million dollars this year. Does the money DO anything positive for the countries? Here's an example of military aid to Israel. We give them several bil...

Post
May 15

patriotic

v Defense

Defence should be about dafending tbe USA not the rest off the world...

Post
u

May 14
TParks-1 endorsed Lonesomedove51

v Foreign Aid
u

May 14
Randolf endorsed karma

v Food stamps and safety net
May 14
Bob72370 voted

v Food stamps and safety net
u

May 14
MensaMan voted

v Defense
May 13

PaulUK2901

v Defense

The Defense budget and capability is so grossly overblown, it could be massively cut without any compromise on security. At the present moment Generals are rejecting further equipment purchases, saying they just aren't needed!! Cut the Defense budget and use at least some of the money to create New Technology jobs.

B1

Post
u

May 13

HMB1114

v Food stamps and safety net

Tons of waste, fraud and abuse that needs to be cut in these programs. There certainly are lots of people who genuinely need assistance but gutting the excess is necessary to make these programs run efficiently and effectively.

Post
u

May 13
bleakoutlook voted

v Defense
u

May 12
DotsonB voted

v Foreign Aid
May 12
warwil630 voted

v Defense
May 12
Fyi1957 endorsed marine1

v Foreign Aid
May 12

getchapull77

v Foreign Aid

Why give money to a country that hates us

Post
May 11
MWINCHESTER endorsed marine1

v Foreign Aid
May 11
Bill2E endorsed Chrysalis

v Defense
u

May 11
MalloryGrace endorsed marine1

v Foreign Aid
u

May 10
nagydonnac voted

v Foreign Aid
u

May 10
looncraz endorsed karma

v Food stamps and safety net
May 10

whatheheck

v Foreign Aid

And next, take the keys to Air Force 1 away from Obonzo.

Post
May 10
GodlessLiberal voted

v Foreign Aid
May 9

N0rthman

v Defense

Cut militarization and concentrate on defense. We're all over the world and we don't need to be. If countries need our protection, then they need to pay us. It's as simple as that.

Post
u

May 9
Jimbo voted

v Defense
u

May 9
Bill voted

v Another program
u

May 9
Big_jeff voted

v Foreign Aid
u

May 9

4PeteSake

v Another program

NONE! Spending cuts and austerity are phony solutions to a non-existent problem!

B1

Post
u

May 9

CaryNickel

v Foreign Aid

We shouldn't spend one dime on foreign aid until every road, bridge, park, monument, etc. is "up to snuff", and every American citizen is clothed and fed. When it comes to taxpayer funds, the needs of the United States should come first.

B1

Post
u

May 8
captbigtime endorsed marine1

v Foreign Aid
May 8
MsElizabeth voted

v Defense
May 7

MarkColwell

v Defense

Freeze defense spending, raise taxes on corporations, eliminate corporate welfare, raise taxes on the rich, tax capital gains the same as earned income and hire more auditors to hunt down fraud waste and abuse in government.

B1

Post
u

May 7
LilliB voted

v Foreign Aid
u

May 7
mejiakay1986 voted

v Defense
u

May 7

fraps

v Social Security

When Social Security started life expectancy was a bit over 60 and full payout was at 65. Today life expectancy is getting close to 80. The retirement age should be ramped up significantly over a period of about ten years so the retirement age starts about three years earlier than the average life expectancy. Medicare should have the same start date as Social Security full pay.

r2 replies

Post
May 7
oldtimer2 endorsed marine1

v Foreign Aid
u

May 6
gitrdone8383 voted

v Foreign Aid
u

May 6
LibertyWolf voted

v Social Security
May 6
Johnnytj voted

v Defense
u

May 6
buckilaked voted

v Defense
May 5
Ktulue voted

v Defense
u

May 5
Brogan voted

v Foreign Aid
May 4
LossforWRDS707 voted

v Social Security
u

May 4
mxdirtdude endorsed CanadianIndy

v Defense

Fri

Zach

v Defense

Cut all the spending. And start with the defence. We don't need Homeland Security purchasing assault vehicles and billions of rounds. We don't need millions for tanks and drones. We need to balance Social Security. We need to stop giving "aid" to corrupt countries who keep all the money in the government while their people starve. We need to cut food stamp programs by passing restrictions so that drug users aren't using tax dollars for food while they have money to buy crack. STOP WASTING MONEY and fix these programs!

Post
u

Thu

Gatnos

v Foreign Aid

I can not understand why this government would borrow money (going into debt) and then give it to foreign nations.

Post
u

May 16

Wafflecone

v Defense

it's where the pork is.

Post
May 15

PayThatCEO

v Foreign Aid

First and foremost, foreign aid. While they like to tell us that foreign aid is but a small percentage of our budget, we are the world's top donor. They fail to explain that this "aid" is broken down into myriad types that may not necessarily fall into the "aid" category. We give money each and every year to all but 18 countries in the world. An allowance. And these countries come with their hand out, like a greedy child, looking for their money, as well as a cost of living raise. Mexico, alone, has asked for 270 million dollars this year. Does the money DO anything positive for the countries? Here's an example of military aid to Israel. We give them several bil...

Post
May 15

patriotic

v Defense

Defence should be about dafending tbe USA not the rest off the world...

Post
May 13

PaulUK2901

v Defense

The Defense budget and capability is so grossly overblown, it could be massively cut without any compromise on security. At the present moment Generals are rejecting further equipment purchases, saying they just aren't needed!! Cut the Defense budget and use at least some of the money to create New Technology jobs.

B1

Post
u

May 13

HMB1114

v Food stamps and safety net

Tons of waste, fraud and abuse that needs to be cut in these programs. There certainly are lots of people who genuinely need assistance but gutting the excess is necessary to make these programs run efficiently and effectively.

Post
May 12

getchapull77

v Foreign Aid

Why give money to a country that hates us

Post
May 10

whatheheck

v Foreign Aid

And next, take the keys to Air Force 1 away from Obonzo.

Post
May 9

N0rthman

v Defense

Cut militarization and concentrate on defense. We're all over the world and we don't need to be. If countries need our protection, then they need to pay us. It's as simple as that.

Post
u

May 9

4PeteSake

v Another program

NONE! Spending cuts and austerity are phony solutions to a non-existent problem!

B1

Post
u

May 9

CaryNickel

v Foreign Aid

We shouldn't spend one dime on foreign aid until every road, bridge, park, monument, etc. is "up to snuff", and every American citizen is clothed and fed. When it comes to taxpayer funds, the needs of the United States should come first.

B1

Post
May 7

MarkColwell

v Defense

Freeze defense spending, raise taxes on corporations, eliminate corporate welfare, raise taxes on the rich, tax capital gains the same as earned income and hire more auditors to hunt down fraud waste and abuse in government.

B1

Post
u

May 7

fraps

v Social Security

When Social Security started life expectancy was a bit over 60 and full payout was at 65. Today life expectancy is getting close to 80. The retirement age should be ramped up significantly over a period of about ten years so the retirement age starts about three years earlier than the average life expectancy. Medicare should have the same start date as Social Security full pay.

r2 replies

Post
u

May 16

Wafflecone

Social Security has not added one dime to the national debt, by law it can't.

Post @Wafflecone
u

May 16

fraps

@Wafflecone Right. It has all the money held in a lock box. OOOPS, NO MONEY IN THE BOX. ONLY IOU's. Were do they get the money when the money coming in does not meet the needs of the money they have to send out? Ever hear of unfunded liabilities? Ever hear of Ponzi scheme. The law is there. The money has been spent. SO SORRY.

Post @fraps
May 1

NoAmnestyEVER

v Food stamps and safety net

Anything that aids leeches and illegal aliens.

Post
Apr 30

InjusticeSucks

v Defense

Like buying more Tanks the Military dose not want but the GOP insisets on Getting.

r1 reply

Post
May 1

NoAmnestyEVER

Let us know when you learn how to speak English.

Post @NoAmnestyEVER
Apr 30

loganrollo

v Another program

Congress paychecks.

B1

Post
Apr 29

harold_lloyd

v Another program

The very first thing to eliminate, not just cut, is depletion allowances and every other subsidy for profitab;e corporations. Paying Exxon to pump oil doesn't make sense. Defense spending could probably shrink some in recognition of ending two wars, but we also need to resolve to raise taxes any time we intitate combat operations.

Post
u

Apr 28

tomincali

v Food stamps and safety net

all illegal aliens and legal immigrants need to be the first cut of all things. first off they are to not be a public charge so if they are getting any form of assistance or public aid its time to send them home.go on to esl school programs and all ethnic studies in school,cut school down to the 3 r's .cut out all other than english papers on local state and fed levels. thing is cutting all things that are not to citizens only will help a huge amount.

Post
Apr 25

Laity1

v Food stamps and safety net

The whole system is rife with abuse, rewards irresponsibility, and foments a cycle of dependency.

r1 reply

Post
Apr 25

Laity1

And, why not Dept. Energy, EPA?

Post @Laity1
R Load more comments...

Jul '12

CanadianIndy

v Defense

Look, it's a pretty simple decision. Cut from an area that can withstand a cut and has surplus funds. And before you suggest social security, keep in mind that there are over 300 million citizens to service, where the Defense budget has been overfilled for years. But seriously, Foreign Aid? It actually makes up less than 1%! Vet Benefits? I'm against wars, but I have immense respect for those who fought in them. They deserve more than we give them anyways. Defense has got to be slashed.

B4

r6 replies

e47 endorsed

Post
Jul '12

marine1

v Foreign Aid

ALWAYS take care of your own first. What is important to the legal citizens of the country should ALWAYS come first and foremost.

B4

r5 replies

e39 endorsed

Post
u

Jul '12

karma

v Food stamps and safety net

It's time we stop giving people excuses to not be productive. Granted there are a few who do not abuse the system, but many do. Let's go back to the way it was many years ago. Stop giving food stamps and start giving commodities. Basic food items that is just enough to feed the families. No junk food, no sodas, just good healthy items and products that force parents to actually cook meals at home. No more microwave t.v. dinners or lunchables so they don't have to actually tend to their children. Give them flour, sugar, oil, cornmeal, beans, canned meat, rice, pasta, cheese, vegetables, etc. The government will save tons of money by buying the food in bulk, not to ment...

B3

r8 replies

e30 endorsed

Post
u

Jul '12

DisgruntledOne

v Defense

US spends 10x more on DoD than on Education. Education pays the bills, innovates, creates real wealth, real opportunity. Education cannot be stripped by any person, government, or institution. Education is an inalienable right. The uneducated are prey, easy to assail and take advantage of, and govern. Prisons are full of the uneducated. A prisoner costs about $33,000 per year to incarcerate. A K-12 student costs 1/3rd to 1/5th of that amount, and then provides a return on investment. Education protects individual rights and in doing so, protects society. For every dollar spent on DoD, a dollar should be invested in our economic future. Furthermore, DoD spending is a fa...

B1

r1 reply

e15 endorsed

Post
u

Jul '12

IMAQT

v Foreign Aid

It says foreign aid is 1%, but I disagree. Having 25,000 troops in S Korea where we can secure their border but not our own, is not defense but foreign aid. Having 100,000 troops in Afghanistan is not in defense of our country, it is foreign aid. Rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan is Foreign aid. Having nearly 80,000 troops in Europe is not in defense of our country, it is foreign aid. Same can be said for Kuwait, Japan and the various other military bases around the world. We borrow from Europe to defend Europe. We borrow from the Gulf states to defend the Gulf states. We borrow from Japan to defend Japan. Is it not a symptom of senility to be borrowing from the world so...

B3

r3 replies

e9 endorsed

Post
Jul '12

Thunderchicken

v Another program

How about every program. We should start with a 10% across the board cut to every budget. Yeah, it's going to hurt. But the longer we put it off, the more it will hurt.

B5

r1 reply

e6 endorsed

Post
u

Jul '12

Lonesomedove51

v Foreign Aid

Great place to start.

r1 reply

e8 endorsed

Post
Jul '12

Wilberhum

v Defense

20% of the budget. Budget for 2012 $1.415 trillion. Of the total world expenditures for defense we spend 41% Way too much. We can't half it in one year but we should cut 10% a year for 5 years.

B2

e5 endorsed

Post
Jul '12

Larry

v Food stamps and safety net

Too many abusing our great government

r1 reply

e7 endorsed

Post
o

Jul '12

Stratton

v Medicare

The amount of fraud and waste that taxpayers pay for through Medicare is absolutely staggering. In some cases the government actually insists on paper forms rather than electronic ones even as it is paying illegal reimbursements to fraudsters.

B4

r3 replies

e3 endorsed

Post

Politix

pWhich government program should be first in line for spending cuts?

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