Budget 101: A Common Sense View

The President's budget makes an effort to reduce spending, and we can predict that the left is gearing up to resist because the reductions are in Medicare. I'd just like to ask them, "Okay, if you were in charge, where would you make the cuts?" Obviously, their response would be "defense." But they know very well that it's difficult to justify a cut in the defense budget right now (even though we all know there must be some waste there.)

Personally, I think there should be a balanced budget amendment, perhaps with a tightly worded exception override allowing perhaps only 1 or 2 percent leeway for very specific circumstances and triggering specific budget adjustments and calculations.

I know, I know, Congress would have no problem -- for example right now -- overriding the budget for Iraq, and we're back to square one; but there must be some way to keep this from happening. Specific language could force them all to go through the motions of justifying their override, to limit the excess to the 1 or 2 percent, and to make the appropriate cuts elsewhere -- either through consensus or through mandated general cuts, the choice being up to the legislature.

But we all know, that's like asking the wolves to tend the sheep.


[Thanks to tuccoo.com for the image.]