Why is the US cutting spending on social services?
537881
see... asmul8ed is the typical example of why we are cutting and why we have social programs in the first place...\n\nConservatives preach that it should be left up to private companies and people to give to chairty, yet when it actually comes time for these people to give... they say things like asmul8ed said "I don't quite have it and how do I know where it's going?"... excuses, excuses... they never have enough money to justify giving some of it away\n\nSimply put, the majority of the rich don't want their money to go to anyone but themselves, through taxes or through donations. Granted there are some who generously give, but they appear to be the vast minority. Consider how many trillions are made every year, yet many are still in need. Clearly many are not giving and don't care too (and never will)\n\nSo if it wasn't for these programs, many of the poor would simply die in our country... if your a Christian, you should understand that blessed are the poor and we should all try to help them any way we can... \nI do think that our welfare system needs much more oversight, and a work for food program would be great, but eliminating program is simply taking a step back to a third world mentality where the poor die in the street and the rich barely care enough to step over them...
380177
We are spending way too much money on other countries and not enough helping our own people. There are many homeless and illiterate people in our own country who I would rather give my tax dollars to.
379120
On both sides yes!  The $$$ spent will be much less than what we're spending on schooling, healthcare, legal system,...etc.\n\n\nThen, abolish welfare and those lazy @@d Americans would have no choice but to work!
612
Lots of work, but don't count on lot's of clients, as you know, jobs are going over seas, leaving only retail and service workers in the state, who have no insurance, therefore, cannot afford your services. isnt trickle down economics great!!!!!!!!!!
439143
If we "shut down welfare" then we should demand that politicians lower our taxes by a like amount. Then, you would have no reason for not giving to churches, and the churches relying on volunteer help will do a better job of helping the truly needy then the governmental bureaucracy ever could.\n\nHowever, I see both the working poor and the non-working poor in WalMart all the time. I'd say both groups could do with a little less feeding as they are really a bunch of wide-loads.
495137
The US is not cutting funding to Puerto Rico.  It is just saying that the free ride the Puerto Ricans have been getting due to their commonwealth status will end and they will have to pay their taxes soon if they do not vote for statehood.  Puerto Rico is a very heavily subsidized part of the United States and will never be cut off from funding.  It is strategically critical for defense reasons.
1153642
Because US is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. People are living a good life compare to the rest of the world. They have education, health care, basic services, advance technology, a largely advanced military, free media, etc.\n\nYes, the US govt is borrowing lots of money, but consumer spending is unbelievable. One of the richest countries in the world, and yet lack of education in finance. Most of these people don't know how to save.\n\nIn economical sense, the value of the dollar is constantly fluctuating. You need to understand Monetary Policy and Fiscal Policy to understand it.
749297
They raise taxes because they won't deal with the spending. \nBefore raising taxes they should first cut programs. This country and the states can't keep giving way to the poor, they can't keep having high out of control immigrants to add to a already problem that is only going to continue. \n\nOnce you give someone a benefit it is hell trying to stop it. That is just human nature. So until they rain in spending, I'm not holding by breath they will or can, taxes will continue to raise until there is no more that can be taken from the middle class. Which is not to far in the future. \nRemember the wealthy will never let poor come into power to tax them. That you can bet on.
445649
Social Security is a socialist program.  It does not work.  It must be abolished and US citizens given the right to invest that money in our own retirement plans.  The baby boomers are going to start retiring in the next ten years and they are going to bankrupt Social Security.  There is currently 7 working people paying into the SS system for every 1 person drawing benefits.  In ten years there will be 2 people paying into the SS  system for every 1 person drawing benefits.  Let's say that an individual gets $800 a month for their SS benefit currently each individual is responsible for $114.29 each per month.  Now in ten years each individual will be responsible for $400.00 each per month.  It can not continue to function like this.
956779
By taking away layaway they are reducing costs. A drag for us but a cut back for Walmart.
143087
The government has already made it clear that the burden of responsibility for your financial future is on you. This started back with the creation of the 401k and other defined contribution plans.\n\nAmericans need to wake up! We have a pitiful savings rate as a country. It just turned Negative!! Social Security should be privatized and saved, but no-one should make the mistake of thinking that their social security retirement benefits will be enough.
829963
Republicans have always wanted to cut veterans benefits, and to cut social security benefits for our war veterans, our war handicapped, and the families of our war dead. It is simply too expensive.
345610
What you are describing is the politics of greed, supply side economics is one of the main factors. Giving tax cuts to the very rich while cutting programs to the poor is a symptom of this greed. \n\n I look at it this way, if you have a pile of three boxes setting on the floor and you want to move them if you lift the top box that is the only one that moves. But on the other hand if you lift the bottom box all three move. \n\nOk, the top box represents the rich and very rich, the middle box represents the middle class and the bottom box represents the poor. Our government, lead by president Bush has lifted the top box and left the other two behind and that is what is wrong with the "me" politics of the repuglican party. It is time for a change starting in November. We need more democrats in the house and senate to provide a check and balance to the politics of greed. \n\n No person or family in the United States legally should be without the necessity's of life. Food, shelter and health care.
263425
Well, there is no such thing as a utopia, thus, it's only stating facts that we would have homeless people.  Besides, our society has an economic class system (ever heard of the term middleclass?)  It's good that the government spends money trying to promote .... whatever they are trying to and has obviously failed, at least at the moment.  \n   However, I don't think they should just stop the fundings altogether, but instead they should cut down on those and take care of our national deficit and debts first.  Or, even better, build a better healthcare system ... \n   Now, wouldn't that be grand?
1039171
Why in the world would we liberals want to be a part of a welfare system that perpetuates poverty and dependency?  We are saying help those who can't help themselves, with schooling and health care and a host of dozens of other programs to improve the quality of life for many AMERICANS, you dumb ass.  We want to give them a hand up, not a hand out but you bastards keep cutting the programs.  These programs also EMPLOY many Americans so when you cut them you cut jobs, you ignorant prick.
166207
Yeah I know whatcha mean, for instance some people are against President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security but that plan he wants for Social Security already exists in Chile and it's working real good too cause loads of retired Chileans are nowadays very rich and thus have plenty of retirement money to support themselves with.\n\nAs it stands right now on average 1 Social Security check is funded by 4 people  and it use to be several more persons funded 1 single Social Security check which means we are getting to the point where Social Security will go broke and so will the Government unless we start privatizing more things.
484789
we need to limit spending to bare minimums askall federal employees in these tough times totake a temporary pay cut till we balance the budget and get things under control .--like they do with airlines and auto manufactureres union members take pay cut in order that the company can make it thru hard times all federal and state employees should have to give back a little in tuff times .after all its the working man who pays the taxes and dont give me that crap about big co.paying taxes they just collect it from working people in inflated prises. its time 1/3 of this country ease up a bit on what there getting i doubt many government workers are without health care our retirement 20 yrs and 80% retirement then go work for a government contractor. still on the government payroll and good pay and more retirement.the backs of the workers in america cant afford this much longer.--so i suggest some pay cuts and reduced benifits the government is not the place to work and get rich its a place to serve.its a start local taxes pay for all services localy. no federal matching funds or grants to cover bad government by local communittys federal highways only and military  all other programs paid with income tax ended make it optional to pay additional taxes for nasa or cancer research all the places tax dollars go  we need to cut government to the bone.most congressmen are rich no salaries for life or benifits   in and out with a check like  a painter or carpenter would do   --when the job is over so is the money find more work .as some one who works for a living i am ticked off at the benifits we have to pay to people in pulic service lets put service back in it and take the self service out of it .