Budget cuts, you're the President.

[TheDarkestOfAngels]

After reading the NASA thread, with most of you complaining about it's budget cuts, what would you all cut. And try be specific and give reasons, not one word answers. Also would you bring in new taxes, cut them, or what?

I personally would cut funding from the war on drugs, it's a total failure and costs a frickin fortune.

I would also bring in a bankers tax on bonuses(if you dot already have it). A way of clawing back some money from their disastrous fuckups.

Also I would bring in a progressive personal tax system. For example in the UK we have £7500 tax free, then 20% up to £35000 then after that it's 40% for £35k and up, then at £150000 and up it's 50%. some hate it, but I think the rich should have some social responsibility or the lowest in the system would suffer and enter poverty. They can afford the tax whereas the lowest earners in society cannot.

We have a progressive tax system here, but thanks to corruption, there are so many loopholes that large companies and rich people can basically get out of paying any taxes at all.

Were I made god-king of America, I would eliminate all of the loopholes in the tax system and raise taxes. I would raise NASA's budget, slash the defense budget, remove US troops from Iraq completely, commit to a campaign finance reform so that elected officials would use tax dollars instead of campaign donations to run for office, enact universal healthcare, extend free education to college instead of just K-12, I would make it illegal for states to enact laws that ban the formation of unions (which is basically a restriction of freedom of speech, among others.) I would strengthen federal environmental and safety regulations (to prevent another gulf oil spill - or at least make it less likely), I would give enormous tax breaks to anyone who wants to start a new business and federal grants to entrepaneurs - especially in the alternative (non-fossil fuel renewable) energy markets. I would also enact a plan to begin replacing coal, oil, and gas power plants with cleaner plants as soon as possible. I would also start making it easier for newer nuclear power plants to be constsructed (though not at the cost of safety!) I wouild arrest and put in jail those responsible for the financial meltdown and put them on trial.
I would strengthen border security and loosen requirements to gaining US Citizenship for all those attempting to become a US citizen legally. I would also provide a pathway for illegals currently living in the US to become citizens.
I would shut down the federal reserve and, if necessary, transform it into a federal agency and not a private one. I would enact sweeping rules for government transparancy - especially in regard to the fed and congress.
I would call a continetnal congress to createa new constitutional amendment effectively abolishing the Citizen's United decision by the supreme court.
I would eliminate all tax and federal breaks for religious institutions.

There are more things, but this is the tip of the iceburg. After all of this and more is done, my final ruling would, of course, be to step down as god-king and allow democracy to resume after retiring to an island paradise surrounded by my harem of super-models and a bottomless supply of beer and internet.