Official October 2005 Budget Thread

[CheeseWhiz]

I hope I'm not out of place in asking this, but what does the Health and Human Services Department do exactly?  I just wondered because it's what we're spending the most on.

[CheeseWhiz]

I hope I'm not out of place in asking this, but what does the Health and Human Services Department do exactly?  I just wondered because it's what we're spending the most on.

Medicaid and Medicare.

Thanks John!

Now, let's abolish it

[CheeseWhiz]

YAY!  Go Daniel!

P.S. It was stupid of me to challenge you   If I win PB's seat, we can become great allies in the senate!

[CheeseWhiz]

Me, plotting?  No...  You must be mistaken *quickly puts super-secret world-dominating plans behind back* We're not plotting anything!

[CheeseWhiz]

Increase taxes.

That's should be the very last thing we do, IMO.

What do you think of the cuts already proposed?

[CheeseWhiz]

Thank you, I didn't know that   Are you trying to exclude me because I wasn't elected?

Hmmm...  I'm not really sure.

I don't usually talk about politics with people, so I dunno.

First off, I really can't stand these "less fortunate" speeches, but I'll answer it anyway.  If I see a homeless person, first I'll talk to him and see if he really wants to make something better of himself.  If he does, I give him my guess room for free.  I'll help him find a job, and an apartment.  Not sure if this is exactly right, but: "Give a man to fish, you will feed him for a day.  Teach him how to fish, and you will feed him for a lifetime."  I'm really not a big believer in medicines and doctors, anyway, but privately funded medical research can help her, no reason the Feds should be involved, IMO.  How long he's working and how many kids he has can't be changed by the government, so I don't understand why you're bringing it up...  Unless he's only making minimum wage or something, in which case I still don't understand.

Um...  You can't, (or shouldn't,) force people to pay for things they don't believe are right.  I know this may sound extreme, but I hate funding medicine and doctors when I believe they're wrong.  I'm sure I'm not the only one.  Why don't we create a program that helps pay for peoples firearms, so they can protect themselves?  Where is the line drawn, hugh?  Um, I don't understand what you're talking about with education and China ()

Okay, fine, do that.  Like I said: in my opinion this is a great bill.

Um, why would I laugh at the policies I support?

Many Atlasians won't be...  What?

[CheeseWhiz]

To Peter:  Um, I guess I didn’t make my point clear.  I think Hughie was saying that if we cut these programs, people lose.  My point was, if we keep these programs, a different group loses.  Minority rules is not what I think at all, my point is that there isn’t any winning with a situation with this.  One way, people don’t get the medicine they need, or free education.  The other way, the Government could go bankrupt.  Whatever you do people are going to be upset, I was just trying to point out the other opinion.

In my opinion, heath and education aren’t the Government’s place.  That doesn’t have to be your opinion, but it is mine.  This is what democracy is all about, different opinions.  I never meant to say that somebody couldn’t have something because a smaller percent didn’t like it.  In Atlasia, majority rules, not minority.  I realize we must be mindful of the minority, though, since one day we might find ourselves on that side.

[CheeseWhiz]

I thank my fellow Atlasians for their support. It's something I feel quite strongly about.

You know, they aren’t senators, either   I don’t mean to sound rude, but I am quite saddened by this bias.  When I express my opinion you say “you’re not a senator,” like I’m not suppose to be here.  But, when other non-senators post and agree with you, you thank them.  All I wanted to know was if you had any ideas that would help the budget besides the ones that had already been proposed. All you’ve said so far is that you would support cuts in Health Care and Education that wouldn’t affect the quality of those programs:  Do you have any specific ideas?

I’m not blaming you for being vague or saying that you’re not helping and I can totally see your reasoning for opposing these cuts.  Now, I’m saying that even if we do raise taxes, we need some major cuts.  How many of the proposed cuts do you not agree with?

[CheeseWhiz]

Could you all calm down right now, please?

I’m calm, did I not seem calm?  Are you calm?  Do we need to be calm?  Who's not calm?  Are you not calm?  Is somebody not being calm?  Do we need to be calm right now, or would a little later do?

[CheeseWhiz]

Could you all calm down right now, please?

I’m calm, did I not seem calm?  Are you calm?  Do we need to be calm?  Who's not calm?  Are you not calm?  Is somebody not being calm?  Do we need to be calm right now, or would a little later do?

The debate was starting to get more than a little heated and more than a little personal (and this applies to everyone involved; no one is being singled out) and that's not really a good thing. Maybe I should shout "Order! Order!" in future

By right now I mean right now although if you could all stay fairly calm that would be great as well.

I know, I was just messing with you, Al

Yeah, you're right, we all need to calm down a bit, even me

Hmmm...  I'm not sure which one's better.  "Order!  Order!" sounds more firm and professional, but less calm than "can we all calm down?"

[CheeseWhiz]

Thanks for calling me a smart bloke, but in the area of economics, I'm not

If I could, I would try to find a compromise, but I'd first need a list of what's going where exactly.  I figure I'll unfortunatly have to leave that to others, since they know far more about the issue.

In your opinion, not having free health care and education for the poor is bad for Atlasia.  In mine, taxes and Big Government are bad for Atlasia.  It's all a matter of perspective.

What would happen if we cut and didn't make tax increases?

[CheeseWhiz]

I'll try and keep this polite by not responding. I'm afraid it wouldn't be terribly pleasant if I did.

FWIW, I'm sorry if anything I said upset you, that wasn't my intent

[CheeseWhiz]

Wow I didn't know making money cost so much

I support this.

[CheeseWhiz]

Okay, and I respect that, but what do we do then?  We have to cut this deficit, what do you suggest we do?  I’m just looking for alternatives.  If the Insane Chainsaw Bill doesn’t have the support of the Senate, then something else must.

I believe so far that three senators are for the ICB, while two are against.

[CheeseWhiz]

There's an idea, lets just print half a trillion dollars.

Yeah!  I like this idea

[CheeseWhiz]

Axe the department of transportation.

I like having roads, thanks.

Regions can maintin roads too.

I like this idea.  If the Regional Governments can cut back their programs, (and I don’t mean you have to do it to the extreme I took it to, although that would be preferable, ) then the Regions could maintain the roads, which I think would be more efficient then the Feds doing it.  But, I have to agree, it might be a good idea to let the Regions get out of their deficits first, but then if they don’t do that soon this effort won’t really matter…

[CheeseWhiz]

Aye on this, after much consideration.

When do new Senators get sworn in BTW?

This Friday.

Yes, right before an all new episode of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis, at 8:00 and 9:00 PM EST, only on Sci-Fi.