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1 Sophia77  Fri, Oct 5, 2012 2:58:45pm

He was probably kinda stunned. Me too. Who ever heard such a blizzard of baloney?

2 Bob Dillon  Fri, Oct 5, 2012 10:23:29pm

[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com...]

Romney’s not out to drive Big Bird off the air. He just doesn’t think that he rates a Washington subsidy — and he’s not alone.

President Obama’s own Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction commission calls for ending PBS’ subsidy — some $280 million — outright. And for good reason.

3 Tigger2005  Fri, Oct 5, 2012 10:31:53pm

$280 million? Why, that would pay for about two days of war with Iran, or a few high tech jets that don't work.

4 Curt  Sat, Oct 6, 2012 3:08:09am

re: #3 Tigger2005

$280 million? Why, that would pay for about two days of war with Iran, or a few high tech jets that don't work.

But at least the jets are part of the fully defined requirement of the Federal government's spending.

The calls to end "waste, fraud and abuse" are numerous, and little by little, saving can be accomplished by looking at how we have spent and fairly reevaluating each dollar spent against required law and prioritized under the current fiscal stresses.

Like Bob Dillion points out, even the Presidential Commission listed this as a cutting item.

Speaking of that: If the Presidential commission recommendations are to be regularly ignored, then let's not spend for those to be seated and resourced...even if members take no money for the work, there is still lots of money spent to make it happen and publish the reports. - therefore, another cost savings. Actually, that is one of the jobs of Congress, as mandated in the Constitution, so we taxpayers were required to pay for someone to do the job of the elected representatives we are required to pay by law, so got taken...again...by the political process that just debates, debates, and debates more....without result.

5 Tigger2005  Sat, Oct 6, 2012 5:48:38am

The Constitution states among other things that one of the government's responsibilities is to "promote the general welfare." So I think a pretty good case can be made that public television promotes the general welfare, and more so than billions wasted on pork barrel military projects. $280 million is a freaking bargain to reach millions of people with educational and informative programming that isn't ratings-driven.

6 Obdicut  Sat, Oct 6, 2012 5:59:14am

re: #2 Bob Dillon

[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com...]

Romney’s not out to drive Big Bird off the air. He just doesn’t think that he rates a Washington subsidy — and he’s not alone.

President Obama’s own Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction commission calls for ending PBS’ subsidy — some $280 million — outright. And for good reason.

What's that good reason?

7 Obdicut  Sat, Oct 6, 2012 5:59:45am

re: #4 Curt

The Jets aren't actually part of the constitutionally defined spending, no.

8 Curt  Sat, Oct 6, 2012 7:46:32am

re: #7 Sheeplord

The Jets aren't actually part of the constitutionally defined spending, no.

"Provide for the national defense" vs "promote the general welfare."

One is a word indicating mandatory requirements, the other, not as much.

So...if you want to debate what is and isn't worth paying for in the military budget, I guess nothing is specified, so nothing can be purchased?

Does that go for EPA, DoE, DoS, FEMA, HHS, DoT, DHS? I guess, by that extension, nothing is buyable.

How about "as determined by the Secretary" or similar language for all offices within the Executive Branch, in laws that then define, for any given point in time, the specifics of the spending, at least for major (and some time very detailed) spending approvals?

It is how it works and by the way, Congress is responsible to approve all top level purchasing programs, such as building specific aircraft, the SecDef isn't the final stamp of approval.

By your logic, where would PBS funding fall?

9 Curt  Sat, Oct 6, 2012 7:50:22am

re: #5 Tigger2005

The Constitution states among other things that one of the government's responsibilities is to "promote the general welfare." So I think a pretty good case can be made that public television promotes the general welfare, and more so than billions wasted on pork barrel military projects. $280 million is a freaking bargain to reach millions of people with educational and informative programming that isn't ratings-driven.

Isn't there an entire Department of Education? What's that budget?

As far as "pork barrel military projects," do you have experience in planning national defense? How do you figure jet fighters are "pork barrel military projects?" What other programs of the DoD are subject to the same determination by your estimates?

10 Obdicut  Sat, Oct 6, 2012 8:13:09am

re: #8 Curt

"Provide for the national defense" vs "promote the general welfare."

One is a word indicating mandatory requirements, the other, not as much.

I disagree with that parse, and I'd also note that the founding fathers really didn't like standing armies, so if you're going by original intent, the air force is actually an example of something very far afield from their original intentions.

So...if you want to debate what is and isn't worth paying for in the military budget, I guess nothing is specified, so nothing can be purchased?

No, I was mainly riffing off the air force not being in there, just an Army and a Navy-- and the founder's dislike for a standing army.

By your logic, where would PBS funding fall?

Yeah, you missed my point, so you're kind of far afield here.

Very shortly after the foundation of the United States, the US was setting up stuff like insurance schemes for sailors, buying vast new tracts of land, etc. There was no time period where the US didn't do things that obviously make sense only through the 'general welfare' clause. There's nothing in the least bit radical or weird about using the general welfare clause to support things done in the, let's see, what to call it, general welfare.


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