Sequester in Perspective

[Crusader05]

Where are the real cuts Obama promised to be part of a balanced plan? Instead, we get more taxes. He doesn't want to cut anything, except perhaps cut the Bill of Rights.

What a LIAR.

Yeah, I've been in since 2005 and things are getting worse and worse. My year group has been continually cut, multiple 'reductions in force' (i.e. layoffs of military) all while supporting more and more deployments. We're all being spread more and more thin.

We've had a civilian hiring freeze at our unit for over a year. Now let me make something clear, our civilians are essential to our mission. They are scientists, engineers, intelligence specialists; true experts in their field which we just can't replace. Around 40% of our medical personnel are civilians as well.

I'll be the first to admit that the Air Force hasn't managed many of its acquisition programs very well (see the F-22 and F-35) but it's all coming at the expense of people and core mission.

National defense is one thing the government is supposed to do; not administer a healthcare network, a retirement program or bailout banks.

 

[Steve Petersen]

US Defense budgets have been INCREASING for over a decade:

File:U.S. Defense Spending Trends.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

File:U.S. Defense Spending - percent to Outlays.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Yeah, I've been in since 2005 and things are getting worse and worse. My year group has been continually cut, multiple 'reductions in force' (i.e. layoffs of military) all while supporting more and more deployments. We're all being spread more and more thin.

We've had a civilian hiring freeze at our unit for over a year. Now let me make something clear, our civilians are essential to our mission. They are scientists, engineers, intelligence specialists; true experts in their field which we just can't replace. Around 40% of our medical personnel are civilians as well.

I'll be the first to admit that the Air Force hasn't managed many of its acquisition programs very well (see the F-22 and F-35) but it's all coming at the expense of people and core mission.

National defense is one thing the government is supposed to do; not administer a healthcare network, a retirement program or bailout banks.

I absolutely agree. We should be cutting unemployment benefits (after 2 years, it is past time), not cutting defense.

 

[JCSr]

Would you prefer that workers in the welfare offices lose their jobs instead of your friends and co-workers?

National defense is one thing the government is supposed to do; not administer a healthcare network, a retirement program or bailout banks.

I guess that answers my question. Do you know how much the government spends on administering the military healthcare network? Do you think that healthcare network should not be administered by the government?

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Ronald Reagan .. "Government is the problem" - YouTube

 

[[serious]]

Yeah, the sequester was an idea from the administration, they manufactured the crisis.

2011 Document Shows Boehner Selling Sequester To GOP | TPMDC

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

2011 Document Shows Boehner Selling Sequester To GOP | TPMDC

Obama "Sequestration will not happen"

Sequestration - YouTube

 

[Crusader05]

2011 Document Shows Boehner Selling Sequester To GOP | TPMDC

"Ultimately, the solution came from White House National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling, who, on July 12, 2011, proposed a compulsory trigger that would go into effect if another agreement was not made on tax increases and/or budget cuts equal to or greater than the the debt ceiling increase by a future date. The intent was to secure the commitment of both sides to future negotiation by means of an enforcement mechanism that would be unpalatable to Republicans and Democrats alike. President Obama agreed to the plan. House Speaker John Boehner expressed reservations, but also agreed." Woodward, Bob. "The Price of Politics" Simon and Schuster, 2012. Page 215

Budget Control Act of 2011 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

"Ultimately, the solution came from White House National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling, who, on July 12, 2011, proposed a compulsory trigger that would go into effect if another agreement was not made on tax increases and/or budget cuts equal to or greater than the the debt ceiling increase by a future date. The intent was to secure the commitment of both sides to future negotiation by means of an enforcement mechanism that would be unpalatable to Republicans and Democrats alike. President Obama agreed to the plan. House Speaker John Boehner expressed reservations, but also agreed." Woodward, Bob. "The Price of Politics" Simon and Schuster, 2012. Page 215

Budget Control Act of 2011 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Well, that certainly pins the blame on Obama for sequestration. No wonder the GOP is calling his bluff. When this happens, and it will, Democrats will get swept out of office in 2014 by a larger wave than the one that hit post-Obamacare in 2010. But, in the mean time, our national defense will be compromised, and we'll entertain another lovely recession. Gee, thanks. We may later realize that 1979 was a good year for America by comparison.

 

[MachZer0]

Obama "Sequestration will not happen"

Sequestration - YouTube

The funny thing is that Obama "voted" for sequestration before he "voted" against it.

 

[Crusader05]

I guess that answers my question. Do you know how much the government spends on administering the military healthcare network? Do you think that healthcare network should not be administered by the government?

$52.8 billion in 2011. The military health network is there to ensure the readiness of the armed forces, we have doctors because we need them on the battlefield. I hope you see the difference between that and Obamacare.

Saving taxpayer money on Tricare - Washington Post

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

The funny thing is that Obama "voted" for sequestration before he "voted" against it.

Yes, he signed the law into effect. Obama did it.

 

[Merope]

Yes, he signed the law into effect. Obama did it.

Oh I was unaware that laws originate in the Executive branch.

 

[variant]

Oh I was unaware that laws originate in the Executive branch.

I wasn't aware that Obama can stop the sequestration if Republicans are set on going through with it.

 

[GarfieldJL]

I wasn't aware that Obama can stop the sequestration if Republicans are set on going through with it.

Obama can propose alternative cuts...

However, Obama is dead set on hiking taxes and spending more money that we don't have.

 

[variant]

Obama can propose alternative cuts...

However, Obama is dead set on hiking taxes and spending more money that we don't have.

I am just saying that Republicans are in position to force the issue.

 

[Merope]

Obama can propose alternative cuts...

However, Obama is dead set on hiking taxes and spending more money that we don't have.

It is what he was elected to do after all.

 

[Chris81]

I am just saying that Republicans are in position to force the issue.

Let's be fair here, Republicans were eventually willing to comprise on tax increases on the first part of the fiscal cliff negotiations. I think it is time that the President and the democrats now work with the republicans on a compromised alternative set of cuts.

 

[variant]

Let's be fair here, Republicans were eventually willing to comprise on tax increases on the first part of the fiscal cliff negotiations. I think it is time that the President and the democrats now work with the republicans on a compromised alternative set of cuts.

Essentially the Republicans want to remove the military cuts and keep the cuts to social programs, since there not offering anything in return it's not a good idea to bargain.

The idea of the sequester of course is to get the two sides of the table to negotiate, but if they can't do so what is the point?

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Oh I was unaware that laws originate in the Executive branch.

Nice dodge, but Obama had to sign it to make it law.