The Deficit Commission’s Trial Balloon: A Few Good Ideas, and Two Horrible Ones that Deserve to Die
Once again the factor that central planners leave out is the fact that people alter their behavior in response to government action. Like you mention, these proposals are a disincentive to home ownership and driving patterns would necessarily change.
No mention of defunding the UN? No mention of defunding most foreign aid? To hell with pay freezes, I want a reduction in federal salaries. Let’s make it progressive. The more you make, the more they cut. Pay cuts for the Rich! Doesn’t that narrative work for liberals in the tax arena?
People at the high end of the pay scale can take a 20% decrease, while those at the bottom of the latter get a small increase, with a sliding scale throughout.
And we just plain have too many federal employees. The military is the last place I’d cut, but there are too many desk jockey Generals and Admirals at the Pentagon, too.
But ultimately, Commissions are formed by cowardly politicians as cover for the actions they secretly want to take, but for which they haven’t the stomach to take the heat for.
Can you say 9/11 Commission? That worked out real well.
