As I write this, it appears that the federal government is about to shut down because the House and Senate cannot agree on whether to add language defunding or delaying Obamacare to the “Continuing Resolution.” Despite all the hand-wringing heard in D.C., a short-term government shut down (which doesn’t actually shut down the government) will not cause the country to collapse.
And the American people would benefit if Obamacare was defeated or even delayed.
Obamacare saddles the American health care system with new spending and mandates which will raise the price and lower the quality of health care. Denying funds to this program may give Congress time to replace this bill with free-market reforms that put patients and physicians back in charge of health care. Defunding the bill before it becomes implemented can spare the American people from falling under the worst effects of this law.
As heartened as we should be by the fight against Obamacare, we should be equally disheartened by the fact that so few in D.C. are talking about making real cuts in federal spending. Even fewer are talking about reductions in the most logical place to reduce spending: the military-industrial complex. The U.S. military budget constitutes almost 50 percent of the total worldwide military spending. Yet to listen to some in Congress, one would think that America was one canceled multi-million dollar helicopter contract away from being left totally defenseless.
What makes this military spending impossible to justify is that is does not benefit the American people. Instead, by fomenting resentment and hatred among the world population, our costly interventionist foreign policy makes our people less safe. Thus, reducing spending on militarism would not only help balance the budget, but would enhance our security.
Yet both the House and the Senate continuing resolutions not only fail to reduce military spending, they actually authorize $20 billion more in military spending than authorized by the “sequestration” created by the 2011 Budget Control Act. Most of the supposedly “draconian” sequestration cuts are not even cuts; instead, they are “reductions in the planed rate of spending.” This is where Congress increases spending but by less than originally planned – and yet they claim to cut spending.
Under sequestration, military spending increases by 18 percent instead of by 20 percent over the next ten years. Yet some so-called conservatives are so opposed to these phony cuts in military spending that they would support increased taxes and increased welfare “military” spending. This “grand bargain” would benefit the D.C. political class and the special interests, but it would be a disaster for the American people.
Instead of grand bargains of increased spending and taxes, those of us who support limited government and free markets should form a coalition with antiwar liberals to reduce spending on both the military industrial complex and domestic welfare programs. Instead of raising taxes on “the rich” we should also work to reduce all corporate subsidies. This “grand bargain” would truly be a win-win for the American people.
Sadly, even if a congressional coalition to cut both warfare and welfare spending was formed, it would be unlikely to carry the day as long as the Federal Reserve is willing to enable Congress’s debt addiction by monetizing the debt. But this cannot last forever. At some point the Fed’s policies will result in hyper-inflation and an economic crisis that will force Congress to reduce spending. Hopefully, the growing number of Americans who are awaking to the dangers of our current path can convince Congress to reduce overseas militarism and begin an orderly drawdown of the welfare state before this crisis occurs.
Ron Paul is a former U.S. Congressman from Texas and the leader of the pro-liberty, pro-free market movement in the United States. His weekly column – reprinted with permission – can be found here.
61 comments
Very good points! We’re increasing military spending, but we have so much suplus equipment we’re giving APVs to local Police Depts free.
All of the vehicles given to police departments are obsolete by current standards.
HMMWVs never leave the bases in Afghanistan – if they do, they usually
disappear in a cloud of dust and Semtex, composition b or PBX smoke. It is far
cheaper to sell or give away the “support vehicles” than it is to bring them home. In the states, the HMMWV class of vehicles was never certified for civilian use so the Army has no choice but to scrap them or give them to an appropriate governmental agency.
Colonel, you have been told over and over to stop posting truth and facts on this site.
BS. They were never certified for civilian use so Gubmint Motors could sell that POS they call a HUMMER. What a joke. They lost out on the Jeep and learned there lesson.
They were never certified because I don’t need 20 mph crash bumpers, padded dashes and all the rest of the safety BS that “keeps me safe” but adds significant cost to and reduces the gas mileage and performance, of the car when I’m bashing around the desert. They also perform significantly different
than the average passenger car. The Vietnam era jeep can only be licensed as an antique or curio car for the same reasons. If it had been about sales, AM General would have made a one size fits all car that they could sell with little or no modification. HMMWVs are crap anyway, lousy ride, too wide, noisy to a fault (one of the saving measures was the elimination of all sound deadening materials) – the best vehicle I ever used were the RSAVs we had in USASOC. Basically a stripped down, ruggedized Range Rover Defender 110. Slim enough with sufficient ground clearance to go anywhere with a classic Range Rover ride.
Nah. I’d rather have the real thing. That’s exactly what jeep is about. Bare bones. Not comfortable, durable and doable.
Besides, there is absotively no cooler looking vehicle in the world than the military hummer, bar none. Exactly what a vehicle should look like. Frack the rest, It’s the best.
Cooler than a military hummer oh please, that list is a mile long let’s start with a ferret, roughly the same dimensions and weight as the basic hummer but actually armored by design –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret_armoured_car
Then there’s the FASV – I had a platoon of these Chenowith dune buggies armed with Mk 19s, TOWs and M2 HBMG. 90 mph at night with nothing but PVS5s – so dangerous that they were all destroyed after being declared a bad tactical concept – the only real ones still in existence are in museums:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Fast_Attack_Vehicle_01.jpg
But then there’s my personal favorite – the Styer Daimler Puch Pinzgauer 710 – a beast of a military carrier, 70 mph, can carry 10 troops, 100% slope (will climb until the tires loose traction), air cooled VW motor, multiple oil pumps to ensure engine is lubed regardless of angle – simply a beast. I almost bought one three years ago – my wife told me it was her or the truck …http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinzgauer_High_Mobility_All-Terrain_Vehicle
Your not getting it colonel. I am born and breed hard core civi cuz. The first, see above.
The second, any one can put an ak on a mi NJ i sand rail, though the 1800, and dare i dream the 2100 made an awesome desert machine. Did this get adopted as sop? The last, militarily might be solid, but even you can agree an unarmored vw bus does not VB inspire much fear. HAGD. bad day. Working on a solid 3 xtylenol/ibu drunk. HMMV RULES THE CC FUCKING WORLD
Frank, drugs, alcohol and keyboards are never a good idea – funny for the reader, but never a good idea for the poster…
Thats fucked up colonel. Smartphone. I’ve never dissed you. I dont agree with you, but I’ve never dissed you cuz.
Kidding dude, kidding – I quit posting with my (only as) smart (as its user) phone for that very reason.
Fuck you asshole. Ever had a bad day asshole?
Unfortunately. That will only bolster Oshitforbrains position when he becomes one of the back room power wielders. And he will should this country move any further towards communism.
Don’t be such a schmuck, fits. Since 1990 Base Realignment and Closure Act, we have closed over 350 military bases in America. The US Army alone has closed 100 installations in Europe since 2003 and plans on returning an additional 47 installations to host nations by 2015. The Navy has also been consolidating and shedding European bases over the last eight years. The Navy closed an air station in Iceland and Naval Support Activities Gaeta and La Maddalena in Italy. Currently, the Navy is assessing capacity of remaining bases in Spain, Italy, and Greece. Its leaders also plan to review the US Marine Corps installation in Norway. Finally, since 1990, the Air Force has reduced aircraft and forces stationed in Europe by 75%.
Still more cuts are coming to America’s overseas posture. Before he left office, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta directed the Pentagon to explore additional opportunities for consolidation in Europe. Already, DoD is planning to continue reducing the US presence in Europe by approximately 15% over the coming decade.
The Pentagon is set to cut 100,000 ground forces and $487 billion over 10 years (without the budget sequester, which would raise the dollar figure to roughly $1 trillion cut!). They must work out how to do so without compromising their ability to maintain America’s national security. So tell me, schmuck, how you are going to secure and defend US interests when you have cut the military down nothing.
Budget savings? Peace dividend? Ever wonder why The Establishment pushed the Obamacare tax over and above cutting entitlement spending? Simply, as of 2012, 46% of all federal spending goes to Medicaid and Social Security. Federal income tax receipts in 2012 was 46% of ALL federal revenue…and all of it went to Medicaid and Social Security. Federal insurance contributions from our paychecks (FICA) as of 2012 amounted to 35% of all federal tax receipts. This money is being used to pay for our military readiness, which is 19% of our budget.
Corporate tax revenue amounted to only 10% of all 2012 tax receipts. That money pays the interest on the US Debt, now at 17 trillion dollars. The Feds spend 17% on discretionary spending and 13% on “other mandatory”. That is 20% federal spending that is over and above all federal tax receipts and outlays. This 20% is called a budget deficit, ace. And currently, there is now revenues to pay for it.
But wait. The Establishment needs a new source of tax revenue, and Obamacare is it. The Supreme Court ruled that the Obamacare individual mandate is constitutional because it is a tax. Under the law, people who do not have health insurance will have to pay 1 percent of their income to the IRS starting in 2014. The only thing left is public pensions and private retirement accounts to raid.
Whose is fantasizing? The Fed is not going to “expire” in three months, retard. The Fed is here to STAY. Go to federalreserve(dot)gov. And all the time wasted on the nonsensical data about the US Military spending is just that: a waste of time. Either you believe the role of the military is to defend the sovereignty of the US, or you believe (as the Fascists do) that the military must defend “US Interests”…. Meaning a Corporate, Fascist Security Force for companies doing business overseas. If you want to defend offshore business ventures, do it without forcing others to help pay at gunpoint, or by counterfeit money-printing.
The Fed Reserve’s 100 year charter ends in December 2013. Congress must vote, the President must sign to renew, dumkopf. See Federal Reserve Act of 1913. Speaking of military spending, Gross National Product is kinda neat…we spend 4.4% of our GDP on military spending. Russia spends 4.5% of their GDP on military spending. Guess we are bigger than they are, economically. Gee, I wonder why?
http://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/is-the-federal-reserve-act-going-to-expire.htm
It’s amazing how a simple link can expose someone like Thomas as an utter fool.
Really. Hmmm? Can you document the charter is up?
Rumor was, Roberts was blackmailed to rule for Obamacare.
Alex Jones? Is that you?
I liked Michael Savage’s explanation better. Maybe Roberts was off his meds! He’s looney! Maybe he shouldn’t be on the bench! (Except for all those other times he ruled in favor for conservative shit.)
Also, Ctrl + F “train wreck”, was not disappointed.
Obamacare + “massive train wreck” count on Google is now 166,000.
The only “train wreck” I see though is Sean Hannity’s “Stop Obama Express.” lol…
You mentioned much but said nothing. 1. The Federal Reserve charter is NOT up for renewal. Don’t be confused about the 100 yr. charter=much more reading for you. 2. You spouted much about our military industrial complex but honestly-you know nothing of what you speak of. 3. Libertarianism espouses NON-INTERVENTIONISM which is very different from ISOLATIONISM. Damn, I could destroy your argument even worse but the intelligent ones who read your articles are the ones I am more concerned about. Take your passion to a Nascar event because you don’t belong here!!!
So even though the ACA has not yet been fully implemented Ron Paul (of all people) knows exactly what the ramifications will be?? (And no surprise that FITS – of all people – would be posting this crap)
Ron Paul’s ‘Revolution” was such a success of course I am going to believe him – good grief!! (How many times did he run for POTUS? Hope you idiots donated lots of money for each campaign!)
And Ron Paul has never been anything but a Fake Libertarian – a Fraud – yet he convinces all sorts of ignorant yahoos to lick his ass and dance in the street for him – Revolution indeed!!! LMFAO
Good thing you Revolution Bozo’s still have the nut that did not fall far from the tree – that would be sonny boy Rand – maybe a Junior Revolution??????
You seem a wee bit perturbed, Mr blues. Are you not up for the coming Paulite Age?
“We have not attached the leeches to the patient yet. How can you say you know the ramifications?” Fascist medicine (Obamacare is NOT Socialized Medicine, it is enhanced CORPORATE medicine) is going to be bad, because forcing people to do business with big corporations, allows the Big guys to step on the Little Guys, and with Government help to boot.
Your complaint has some truth in it, though too much sky is falling stuff. The truth is the only way to solve your complaint is a single payer system, like Medicare. I am all for making Medicare available to everyone who wants it.
Is that why the UK and Canada are trying to move away from their single payer systems? No, government isn’t the answer. Single Payer only does 1 thing, it leads to rationing of care. It must because it has no way to control costs.
If you want the real fix, free market. Go look at the website for The Surgery Center of OK once. Want to know why they can post their prices online and only charge 20% of what others charge? Because they don’t take Medicare or Medicaid. Both of which forbid the posting of prices. They do take insurance but then your costs go up because they must hire people to process all the insurance paperwork.
If we eliminated government from healthcare and health insurance (state and federal govts), prices would drop 80% literally overnight. The Surgery Center (and others like it) are living proof of that. Think anyone wouldn’t be able to get catastrophic insurance coverage for pennies on the dollar of today’s costs? Everyone that wanted insurance would have it, Emtala would be repealed so we wouldn’t be paying for people that go to the ER without insurance and prices would be incredibly low.
I wonder if your black ass will still have a job @ BC&BS when it’s all said and done.
Hurrah for Obamacare.
Can’t wait to get reasonably-priced health insurance WITHOUT “exclusions.”
You know, the same kind of health insurance members of Congress get…
Better go out and play, possum if you think your health insurance will be reasonable priced… unless of course you are one of many salivating for some of the free coverage and/or subsidies, AND your same doctors that Obama promised you for your vote. Meanwhile, the rest of us will be paying higher taxes, higher premiums, fewer doctors, higher out of pocket, less services, IRS intimidation, security breaches by hackers, and anxiety that our most sensitive information is being massaged by personnel that haven’t even received a security clearance.
“Most Popular Question at Healthcare.gov: How to Get Exemption From Lack-of-Coverage Penalty Fee?” Weekly Standard reports
Another poignant article from the doctor. Ron Paul is as good as gold.
Ron Paul is a completely unaccomplished former U.S. Congressman from Texas who generally comes up with some of the dumbest ideas you’ve ever heard. One of those guys who should have stuck with his original calling, “Dr. Paul”was apparently a pretty good doctor and even a good Air Farce officer but a complete goofball as a legislator. One of his more articulate statements “”…I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in [Washington, DC] are semi-criminal or entirely criminal…” is typical of his “pull it out of his ass” line of thinking. Another quote shows his devotion to limited government and the idea that all men are created equal; “…“I miss the closet. Homosexuals, not to speak of the rest of society, were far better off when social pressure forced them to hide their activities. They could also not be as promiscuous. Is it any coincidence that the AIDS epidemic developed after they came ‘out of the closet,’ and started hyper-promiscuous sodomy? I don’t believe so, medically or morally….”
He is the leader of the pro-liberty, pro-free market, pro-goofy idea movement in the United States. His weekly column read by almost 25 people not associated with the “Dr. Paul Movement”(something best cleaned up with toilet paper) can be found pinned to bulletin boards and lining the bird cages of his 25,953 sycophantic
followers – and was reprinted with here with permission but without any real thought or analysis.
Damn it Will, I’m getting tired of having to edit Dr. Paul’s by-line for you – get it straight.
Don’t forget to send in a generous donation so ‘Dr Paul’ can keep cranking out the craziness 10 months after retirement from the House.
Thats all good, but what does it have to do with the article? The USA does spend 50% of ALL military spending worldwide. The Fed does print up far more than taxpayers can keep up with. Yes, he comes up with “dumb” ideas… But all the ideas in this article are true, and all the commentary offered is accurate. Ron Paul, like all of us, is wrong sometimes: but he is right in this article.
What does it have to do with the article – nothing really, I just like poking fun at Ol’Ronbo.
As for this article, we’re already in the process of disengaging. There are less than two full brigades worth of combat soldiers in Europe – why are they there? Because we have treaties with allies that keep them there.
“…Under sequestration, military spending increases by 18 percent instead of by 20 percent over the next ten years…”. Spending on defense doesn’t increase in real dollars, in fact, it remains fairly flat but we will have to replace the weapons systems that we wore out in Iraq and Afghanistan whether you approved of those wars or not. In fact spending really increases only in respect to GDP – wanna increase GDP? Cut taxes on industry – what does Ol’Ronbo suggest – increasing taxes on industry.
He occasionally has some good points – I agreed with 97.235% of lasts weeks “post” on web taxes – not necessarily for all the reasons “Dr. Paul” espouses. He’s a clanging gong – there are plenty of others who are actually in power espousing far more clearly conceived and effective routes to correcting some of this mess that we ought to be listening to.
You’re an idiot and just took everyone of your quotes out of context lmao! He actually voted against most of what has happened but one voice was silence by the entire congregation.
The paid trolls gotta make a living too. Those that believe people in DC care about Americans or are doing anything to stave off economic collapse are either clueless or paid to ignore it. Neither party wants to cut , neither party will cut.. at least not willingly.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure the colonel is not a hufpo agent. I think he’s got a little to much military mindset (follow or leave) instead of what is necessary in the civilian sector (Lead, follow or get out of the way). All in all I think his/her heart is in the right place.
He’s just a little slow at civilian politics. Just sayin, colonel.
Not only did Paul publish the comments he went on to defend them while simultaneously claiming to have never read them. Believe Ol”RonBo if you want but I took nothing out of context and accurately quoted the
racist, er kook,er “Good Doctor”. here’s Ol”Ronbo defending the very quote I “took out of context”. http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/12/27/395391/fact-check-ron-paul-personally-defended-racist-newsletters/Paul has gone on record as being opposed to the 1964 Civil Rights act and opposed issuing a congressional medal to Rosa Parks.
It’s in the record – Dumb ass
Not only did Paul publish the comments he went on to defend them while simultaneously claiming to have never read them. Believe Ol”RonBo if you want but I took nothing out of context and accurately quoted the racist, er kook, er “Good Doctor”. here’s Ol”Ronbo defending the very quote I “took out of context”. “… PAUL: I never read that stuff. I never — I would never — I came — I was probably aware of it 10 years after it was written… Well, you know, we talked about [the newsletters] twice yesterday at CNN. Why don’t you go back and look at what I said yesterday on CNN, and what I’ve said for 20-some years. It was 22 years ago. I didn’t write them. I disavow them and that’s it….”http://thinkprogress.org/polit…
Paul has gone on record as being opposed to the 1964 Civil Rights act and opposed issuing a congressional medal to Rosa Parks.
It’s in the record – Dumb ass
“Reprinted with permission and for payment.”
You are an idiot. He never said any of those things. Your dumb ass believes in spending money we don’t & never will have? Not getting enough attention at home?
I’m pretty sure he doesn’t roll like that. Most of the time, kind of, pretty sure?!? Hmmm…
James – he didn’t say them – he printed them in his own news letter. What’s worse, a slip of the tounge or intentionally printing something?
I’m all
about eliminating the deficient and having an appropriate balance of taxes and expenditures
– I’m just not kooky enough to buy Paul’s BS.
Hell, I may be leaning a little libertarian in some areas – the war on
pot is a waste of resources for instance but shutting the border completely
today is a damned good idea.
Why is it always white guys who call out RP for being a racist when he talks about the economy? I looked on YT for some less than white folks who feel the same, they just don’t seem to be there. I can see if someone wants to debate the facts of his economic ideas, but to pull this old crap out? Turn to your buddy on the right (in your profile pic) and ask him what he thinks of RP. I bet you will be surprised.
I asked Bubba what he thought about Ol’Ronbo and this is what he had to say: “…like I was sayin’, Ron Paul is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue him, boil him, broil him, bake him, saute him. Dey’s uh, Ron-kabobs, Ron creole, Ron gumbo. deep fried Ron, stir-fried Ron. There’s pineapple Ron, lemon Ron, coconut Ron, pepper Ron, Ron soup, Ron stew, Ron salad, Ron and potatoes, Ron burger, Ron sandwich. That- that’s about it but there’s one thing you can’t make and that’s Ron Paul President! Stupid cracker.”
Just for shits and giggles, I asked several of my African American soldiers what they thought of Ron Paul – about 75% asked Ron who? The few that knew who he was thought he was a racist, almost all of those had heard about his newsletter proclamations. Just over half of my black soldiers identify themselves as “conservative”, about 30% say the are “Democrats” (though to the Soldier they all deny being “liberals” – except for the two Rastafarians).
No self respecting black man would vote for Ol’Ronbo.
Here is the irony of all your hate towards RP. If this man was President, you would not be in that God forsaken place. The young men and women who lost their lives under your command would still be here. Perhaps you like war, perhaps you like out of control spending. I sure hope there is enough money left to get you boys home when the time comes. Bless you for your service, but FU for your ignorance.
Dumb guy-he was a working physician at that time & different have the time to “police” the newsletter. He didn’t write it & doesn’t support those remarks-his words. Ron Paul received more money from us in the military than any other candidate. The reasons is we have much to risk-OUR LIVES! You are just a stupid person who believes whatever CNN tells you.
That’s MY president!
Mine as well, if I have to claim one.
To claim yes, but we definitely need the house and senate to be filled with people like him. It’s all good an well to have an ideologue as POTUS, but veto’s can be overridden. I considered this in the last election. It would be a tough choice.
Bring on the Ron Paul Robots! When Ol’ Ronnie passes on to the Great Newsletter Publishing Company in the Sky half of his cult will join him in a suicide pact.
And commenters here don’t have a clue why I occasionally flip out and start cussing a screamin’. It’s got to be me. It can’t have anything to do with the partisan Demlicans and Repuklicrats whose only interest is in blowing up every other country, or destroying this one from within.
God forgive me for being a piss poor excuse for a Libitard commie whore. I’m so sorry. I ask that you forgive me of this sin and replace it with the desire to steal from my fellow man so I can proudly say “I am Robin Hood. I am with the Saviors of humanity”. Everyone knows, Lord, that you either don’t exist or are incapable of doing it on your own. Amen.
:P
The guru!
Governments shutting down? Guess who’s take I wanted to hear on it first… Thank’s Ron Paul. The only one who makes any sense.
While I’m usually very pro-Ron Paul… I can’t believe (or can?) that he’d say: “give Congress time to replace this bill with free-market reforms that put patients and physicians back in charge of health care”…
Uh wow. Our healthcare system is a disaster, with or without Obama’s reform. At least with Obama’s reform there is something rather than what we had before – the poor (a growing majority) having to resort to zero preventative care and emergency room visits when finally their cancer (or whatever) is causing them to throw up blood (or whatever their deathbed symptoms are).
The federal government *had decades* to do something. To expect useful healthcare reform in this time of monumental ineptitude from Congress is absurd at best, deceptive at worst.
The problem is not the government shutdown, the problem is it will not be shutdown for long. Privatize everything that is now shutdown. Fee for service. No more worries about shutdowns.
I cannot believe the American people are so blinded. This man should have been president of the United States. a long time ago. And we would not have been in this economy mess!