I was searching around the web a few days ago and I came across a website called Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW). They have done research on almost 30 different government organizations’ spending. In their list they identify ways that these agencies can cut costs so that ultimately we end up paying less in taxes.The first department I looked at was the Department of Education. In the CAGW’s plan, they claim that by charging interest to people who have federal student loans, while in school, would save the government you and I almost $13 billion over the next 5 years. Another big item I saw was a reduction in federal funding for the “Head Start” program, saving you and I almost $4 billion over the next 5 years. Yet, another $6 billion would be saved by eliminating funding for federal initiatives to reduce class size. With just three of these proposed reductions, the federal government could cut spending by over $23 billion in the next 5 years.
The next department I looked at was NASA. They have a total 5 year savings plan of over $20 billion. I would suggest saving a whole lot more by eliminating all federal funding from NASA by privatizing it. After all, I doubt Mars was on the founding father’s minds when the government was formed.
Then I looked at Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which CAGW boasted over a $58 billion savings plan over the course of 5 years. While I’m glad the people who benefit from HUD have a place to live, there’s no need for this to be a federal program, and in my opinion should be eliminated as well.
Finally, I looked at the Social Security Administration. Once again, their savings plan of over $51 billion is a low estimate, because they didn’t mention the elimination of the program.
Changes in government policy in just 4 departments would save the taxpayers over $152 billion dollars over the next 5 years. Imagine the savings for the 142,687,842 individuals, estates/trusts, and corporations (IRS) that filed a return in 2003. Going strictly on a per-person basis, that would be about $1,065 less paid per-person in taxes over the next 5 years. I don’t know about you but I sure would like to have that extra grand in my pocket.
Keep in mind that this savings is only based on 4 federal agencies. If we were to look at government spending across the board (which I don’t have the time for right now, but I will look at it in the near future) the tax savings could easily be approaching a half trillion dollars or more! If that was the case, we wouldn’t be looking at a measly tax savings of $1,000/taxpayer over 5-years, it would be more like $3,500+/taxpayer over the next 5-years.
“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising them the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.” – Alexander Fraser Tytler (Author of The Decline and Fall of the Athenian Republic – 1776).
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