Health & Fitness
Balance the Budget in the National Best Interest
The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Administrator Mike Mullen, gave his warning that the nation's debt is the biggest threat to U.S. national security.
The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, gave his warning that the nation’s debt is the biggest threat to U.S. national security. [1]
“I was shown the figures the other day by the comptroller of the Pentagon that said that the interest on our debt is $571 billion in 2012. That is, noticeably, about the size of the defense budget. It is not sustainable.”
“It’s a very important message to understand that the best way to get there is together, as opposed to everybody fighting each other. We all have to contribute here to make sure we are whole and well-prepared for the future.”
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On the patch, I see a lot of partisan comments and the usual divide. Posters try to score points and often resort to ad hominems, name calling and the like. It really doesn't add to the discussion and it doesn't really get us any closer to an answer to the fiscal disaster that is our national budget (or lack of a budget). [2]
What I'd rather discuss is how we might solve the deficit problem. This is a tad dated, but the NY Times has a great tool to illustrate the problem of trying to balance spending cuts with taxes in a way that eliminates the deficit both in the near-term and long-term. Go here to begin solving the deficit puzzle: http://nyti.ms/bLo4RF
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When you complete this puzzle, you will see a message that states "You solved the deficit!" and there will be a link to your solution. Go ahead and cut/paste the link to the comments section below so we can see how you solved the problem. Better yet, also send your solution to your congressman. [3]
P.S. Here's my answer to a balanced budget (19% from tax increases and 81% from spending cuts): http://nyti.ms/10M3jg4
References:
[1] The Hill: Joint Chiefs chairman reiterates security threat of high debt
[2] Definition of AD HOMINEM (Mirriam Webster)
- appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect
- marked by or being an attack on an opponent's character rather than by an answer to the contentions made
[3] U.S. House of Representatives: Find your representative
