They actually did it: US automatic spending cuts officially become law after lawmakers fail to avert - Polidicks

[QUOTE=King Tiger;39768317]Why did you just make this up? The executive has no choice in how the money is spent so it;s really dumb to say that it spends money when it is forced to by congress. But that's exactly what this sequester is doing.[/QUOTE] I didn't. We've passed a budget every year until this past decade. I don't see how they suddenly have different standards now. What- we can't hold them to make a budget? They did it for fucking ever. Why not now? Our ideologies have not become more separate- in fact, we're the closest we've been politically since the late 50s and early 60s. The executive still is the one spending. That's the point of the executive. The sequester is making automatic cuts, not gradual.

[QUOTE=willer;39768336] That's because I'm lazy and only watch the daily show; I'm sure there are a ton more controversies fro fox news or something. And what does that statement have to do with anything? I gave you examples of general tom-foolery in the government.[/QUOTE] Because he hates the GoP just as everyone should. But he is giving way too much credit to the Democrats. If there was a party less right of center than them, then we would be calling the Democrats fools as well. Also, The Daily Show is awesome.

Also, just to clarify the controversy bit I meant that there are probably more controversies done by democrats that have been released by Fox news. News channels in America tend to be kind of polarized.

That military spending is just incredibly insane, there is no need to stock up on all that military equipment unless there was an actual major war going on.

Oh no we cut military spending what ever will we do! it's not like we're massively overpaying for shoddy equipment that if we would hold certain corporations accountable for we could easily have a military that's both cheaper and more effective.

[QUOTE=FunnyBunny;39768231]Wow, 6% of the defense budget is huge. Hopefully none of it was from NASA.[/QUOTE] NASA is getting hit hard, they're canceling a bunch of science programs and gutting almost half a billion from the commercial space funding.

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;39768828]NASA is getting hit hard, they're canceling a bunch of science programs and gutting almost half a billion from the commercial space funding.[/QUOTE] This is why we hate politicians.

[QUOTE=Mike Tyson;39767167]Well, it's better than going into even more extreme debt.[/QUOTE] actually no, it isn't. maybe read a fucking book or something.

[QUOTE=zakedodead;39768750]Oh no we cut military spending what ever will we do! it's not like we're massively overpaying for shoddy equipment that if we would hold certain corporations accountable for we could easily have a military that's both cheaper and more effective.[/QUOTE] This is affecting more than just the military.

[QUOTE=ironman17;39767392]Thank god they cut back from military spending; they don't need all that military power abroad anyway, just the means to defend themselves on the home front. However the $11bn cut to medicare does seem pretty painful, and could result in the comparative loss of many lives.[/QUOTE] It also led to the Air Force and Navy having to end their support at air shows and other public events, including the Thunderbirds, and soon the Blue Angels. That's a lot of local businesses losing out on money that came in from the air shows attracting tourists. I'm not saying that the spending cuts are a bad thing, just that there's going to be more changes that people weren't expecting.

[QUOTE=Funky Pickle;39769121]This is affecting more than just the military.[/QUOTE] about half of it is military though.

[QUOTE='[Seed Eater];39768091']Between 14 and 16 per cent.[/QUOTE] Sure its old, but I think herpes is more popular than Congress. Well, it kinda was, back when Congress had a 9% approval rating, something that would get you fired immediately, and unable to find a job.

[QUOTE=thirty9th;39767427]Cause? Unwillingness of anybody and everybody to compromise on their views. To be honest, it takes the Democrats way too long to come up with compromise deals in a lot of cases, but the fact that this new wave of 'never falter, never compromise' Republicans actually has a say in the matter makes things way more fucked up. [B]The fact that their personal 'integrity' or 'values' or whatever you want to call their political persuasions is more important than the greater good of the country is disturbing.[/B] You can all thank our broken primary system where the most radical candidates are the only ones who make it through. I'm looking primarily at the Republican party here, but the Democrats are guilty of it to a certain degree too. This shit is getting out-of-hand and the entire political spectrum of both parties has turned into 'Who can be the biggest poster-child for the party values?' 'Me, me!'[/QUOTE] [video=youtube;mp53DZGPZVg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp53DZGPZVg[/video]

Oh baby it hurts so good~

I think we should release groups of really horny gorillas into the floor of both Senate and Congress, lock the doors, and until they actually pass some real legislation we won't unlock the doors.

[QUOTE=MR-X;39768110]Yeah, but it fucks a lot of people over. I know many people who work civilian jobs for the DoD and they're going to cut their hours so they only work 4 days a week. They're going to lose a few hundred bucks every payday. So a lot of them are really worrying about their futures. This isn't how we solve the debt problem, we don't just "ignore it" so it goes away. Its so sad they couldn't even come up with something after all this time. That doesn't even get in to the programs they're cutting.[/QUOTE] My parents fall into that category; my mom's hours are getting cut. This shit sucks. [QUOTE=JXZ;39768196]For those of you in America, remember to vote in the midterm elections in 2014. You know, that thing where congresspeople are chosen? They also get chosen around the presidential elections. Maybe if you choose good congresspeople, there wouldn't be bad congresspeople. just a thought.[/QUOTE] Is it even that simple? Are there even any good congresspeople, or a significant amount of them? It always just seems like the same old, same old when it comes to Congressional politicians.

[QUOTE=Evilan;39768194]You do realize that the military budget has been dropping (compared to the federal spending and GDP) since Obama took office right? A flat cut right to the military (and every subsequent year as per the sequester) would likely result in the US shoving thousands of hardworking individuals onto the streets. I have a friend who is in college right now, just got out of the marines after serving for 4 years and they are paying him $5,000 every 6 months for tuition. The military is not just "FORCE PROJECTION," it's also a stimulus program for a great deal of people who cannot afford college out of high school.[/QUOTE] It shouldn't be that. You don't need a military economy with a standing army of 1.5 million people, it's a bad basis for an economy. Considering the US is a nuclear power and is utterly secure against invasion, the US military really exists to do nothing but project force on people. That's it's only possible purpose. Not to mention that's just a terrible argument in general. It's entirely possible to have social service/community jobs that [I]aren't[/I] the military, and if the military budget took a huge slashing that money could be put to better use in other federal programs.

[QUOTE='[Seed Eater];39768091']Between 14 and 16 per cent.[/QUOTE] Give it a week, I think you'll see the numbers returning right back where they belong, maybe even lower :v: [editline]2nd March 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Ridge;39768132]Obama had extended those tax cuts. He is just as responsible for them now.[/QUOTE] True, but saying that Obama is the only reason that they were extended doesn't give nearly enough credence to the Legislative, which had a lot more responsibility in extending the cuts than Obama ever will. In the same way, Congress was the one that agreed to the Bush Tax Cuts in the first place. People really need to start giving Congress even more shit and stop blaming the Presidents in full for everything that is at least partially the fault of Congress.

[QUOTE=hypno-toad;39773866]It shouldn't be that. You don't need a military economy with a standing army of 1.5 million people, it's a bad basis for an economy. Considering the US is a nuclear power and is utterly secure against invasion, the US military really exists to do nothing but project force on people. That's it's only possible purpose. Not to mention that's just a terrible argument in general. It's entirely possible to have social service/community jobs that [I]aren't[/I] the military, and if the military budget took a huge slashing that money could be put to better use in other federal programs.[/QUOTE] Or, you know, the military also exists for defense. That is another possible purpose. Also, you can also take into consideration that it is entirely possible to keep the amount of people we have and still make all the necessary cuts. Cutting the amount of civilian contracts that the military has would do greatly to reduce military costs, for one. Another would be focusing on maintaining the things we have now, instead of always seeking hyper advanced new stuff. I really hate that cutting personnel is first on everyone's mind, rather than simply streamlining the system that we have now.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;39774254]Or, you know, the military also exists for defense. That is another possible purpose. Also, you can also take into consideration that it is entirely possible to keep the amount of people we have and still make all the necessary cuts. Cutting the amount of civilian contracts that the military has would do greatly to reduce military costs, for one. Another would be focusing on maintaining the things we have now, instead of always seeking hyper advanced new stuff. I really hate that cutting personnel is first on everyone's mind, rather than simply streamlining the system that we have now.[/QUOTE] By defence you meant pissing off small countries?

[QUOTE=SKEEA;39774254]Or, you know, the military also exists for defense. That is another possible purpose. Also, you can also take into consideration that it is entirely possible to keep the amount of people we have and still make all the necessary cuts. Cutting the amount of civilian contracts that the military has would do greatly to reduce military costs, for one. Another would be focusing on maintaining the things we have now, instead of always seeking hyper advanced new stuff. I really hate that cutting personnel is first on everyone's mind, rather than simply streamlining the system that we have now.[/QUOTE] Yeah going overseas sticking our nose up the asses of situations we dont need to be involved in is "defense" A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[QUOTE=SKEEA;39774254]Or, you know, the military also exists for defense. That is another possible purpose. Also, you can also take into consideration that it is entirely possible to keep the amount of people we have and still make all the necessary cuts. Cutting the amount of civilian contracts that the military has would do greatly to reduce military costs, for one. Another would be focusing on maintaining the things we have now, instead of always seeking hyper advanced new stuff. I really hate that cutting personnel is first on everyone's mind, rather than simply streamlining the system that we have now.[/QUOTE] Or we could cut profit margins to defense contractors instead of being sold ridiculously overpriced "advanced" equipment.

US making military budget cuts? Maybe there still is hope.

I'm going to buy the bit of texas that sticks up into where oklahoma should be and rename it Internetia Everyone on facepunch, 4chan, reddit, etc will move there there will be a 90% off sale for shotguns, assault rifles, and beer just south of the border between us and texas those who leave while that's happening will be banned forever We will join as the 51st state and will have awesome congressmen start saving up, i need funding

[QUOTE=JXZ;39774624]I'm going to buy the bit of texas that sticks up into where oklahoma should be and rename it Internetia Everyone on facepunch, 4chan, reddit, etc will move there there will be a 90% off sale for shotguns, assault rifles, and beer just south of the border between us and texas those who leave while that's happening will be banned forever We will join as the 51st state and will have awesome congressmen start saving up, i need funding[/QUOTE] this would be great because we could just quarantine this zone and let the people that move there kill each other off

[QUOTE=Lazor;39774802]this would be great because we could just quarantine this zone and let the people that move there kill each other off[/QUOTE] they would die out as no sex would be had

[QUOTE=Lazor;39774802]this would be great because we could just quarantine this zone and let the people that move there kill each other off[/QUOTE] in that case the sale will have to happen inside internetia's border

[QUOTE=booster;39774358]US making military budget cuts? Maybe there still is hope.[/QUOTE] The problem with these cuts, however needed, the money won't be put into anything else - and while a massive military budget is stupid, the spending needs to still be there for the cut to be 'good' - this will probably result in contracts between research/production businesses being cancelled/having to negotiate reduced pay, meaning potential job losses, the businesses themselves would be relying on x amount of money, so they won't be able to spend as much as forecast, meaning both the businesses and people getting laid off/taking reduced pay won't be spending as much, continuing the problem.

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;39767420]So let me get this straight. You have 16 TRILLION in debt and you only cut 87 billion? That's like spending being $16,000 in debt and saying you'll cut back by $87.[/QUOTE] boy am i glad you have zero political power take a fucking economics class or something

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;39767420]So let me get this straight. You have 16 TRILLION in debt and you only cut 87 billion? That's like spending being $16,000 in debt and saying you'll cut back by $87.[/QUOTE] You have to start somewhere, this 85bn cuts a lot of (jobs), in my area. Cutting 16T won't happen overnight.