SS dies in 2017??!

[Partha]

So says you.... more revisionist history. Tell you what... I'll match you program by program. And since you think I've run away from this before, I'll start. You foloow.

My first department for elimination is the IRS. What's yours?

Oo, look! Pink fairies and unicorns! I can play too!

First department for elimination in MY scorecard is the Department of Defense. I think we save a bit more that way.

[Ariannda Kusanagi]

Congress

[Kulaf]

The facts are that since the tax cuts went in in 2003 that federal revenues have increased
...
Therefore the solution is not to repeal what is working

I have no desire to rehash old arguments, but I can't let this slide. Revenues have not increased so much that their was no lost revenue from the tax cuts. Tax cuts have a cost, and while the cost isn't 100% of the cut, across the board cuts like the ones Bush and the Republicans passed do not pay for themselves.

I'd also disagree that Bush's policies are 'working'. Corporate income tax revenues spiked while individual and other revenues were stagnant. In other words, corporate profits were high and wages were stagnant. Also, that was from 2003 - 2006. I doubt things could still be considered to be 'working' now.

To do what you are suggesting right now could very well knock the wheels off the cart.

That's nothing but hyperbole. Bush's own numbers show the economic stimulus from his income tax cuts is negiligible. Allowing his cuts to expire isn't going slow the economy.

From the CBO:

Had revenues grown at the same rate as the overall economy between 2003 and 2006, federal receipts would have increased by only $373 billion. The other $252 billion of the actual increase in revenues represents growth in excess of GDP growth.

How can you sit there and say the tax cuts had no effect? Have you looked at the graph of tax receipts before and after the cuts? You may not want to "rehash" it......but if you want to claim it you better have some data to back it up.

[Lurker]

How can you sit there and say the tax cuts had no effect? Have you looked at the graph of tax receipts before and after the cuts?

Yeah, I've seen the graphs showing a sharp increase in revenue starting in 2003. Are you claiming a direct corrolation between the 2003 tax cuts and the increase in revenue? Bush's own numbers (not his rhetoric, but the actual numbers his economic advisors calculated) disagree with you.

You can't claim causation between tax cuts / increased revenue without looking at other factors any more than you can between CO2 increase / warming. We both know the climate scientists aren't only looking at the two data points. You seem to be though.

[Kulaf]

Be more than happy to read your sources. I am not however going to do the work for you.

[Lurker]

Fair enough. It's been awhile since I looked but I'll try to dig them up again.

[Lurker]

From the most recent CEA report (pdf)

The Treasury Department estimates that if the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 were made permanent and paid for by reductions in future government spending, economic output would increase by 0.7 percent in the long run.

However, the benefits to the economy might be offset if the extension of the tax cuts results in additional government borrowing or future tax increases, rather than spending cuts. The Treasury Department also estimates that if the tax cuts were made permanent but offset by other revenue raising tax measures in the future, then economic output would decline by 0.9 percent in the long run. The concern about long-term financing for the tax cuts is particularly important because of the likelihood of rising spending pressures in the future.

So, his own economic advisors conclude two things. (1) The tax cuts do not pay for themselves, and (2) the economic stimulus, even under the rosy and completely unrealistic scenario that we offset the tax cuts with equal spending cuts, is a scant 0.7 percent.

[Lurker]

Oh, and I see Chatty Cathy has dropped out of the discussion without telling us where the hundreds of billions in spending cuts are coming from.

[Embar Angylwrath]

Oh, and I see Chatty Cathy has dropped out of the discussion without telling us where the hundreds of billions in spending cuts are coming from.

There is no debating with you Lurker. You refuse to stay on topic. When you asked me what programs I'd cut, I said I'd trade you program for program. You dodged when it was your turn. It really doesn't look like you wnat a debate... it seems more like you just want to bitch and moan some more.

When you are ready to play by the rules you want others to play by, I'm happy to debate you. When you continue to engage in a monologue, while trying to couch it as a debate, well... what's the point?

[Lurker]

Again with the projection. Stop whining and just answer the question, Embar.

You are the serious, well thought out, fiscal conservative. Please enlighten us with your real world answers to our budget woes.

Also, you have as much to learn about debates as you do about fiscal realities. A debate isn't making an absurd statement and then hiding behind a 'lets take turns' game when asked to back it up.

[Kulaf]

From the same source:

A recent study projects that the introduction of the 2003 tax cuts resulted in an immediate increase in GDP in 2003. But because the cuts are temporary, they will have less impact on decisions that generate payoffs far in the future than they would if they were permanent.

Cause......effect.

The concern about long-term financing for the tax cuts is particularly important because of the likelihood of rising spending pressures
in the future. The Office of Management and Budget projects, for example, that under current law total noninterest Federal spending could reach
25 percent of GDP by 2080, compared with 18.2 percent today. The breakdown of projected spending in Chart 5-4 shows that the main driving
force behind this increase is the growth in spending on entitlement programs, primarily Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which could reach
approximately 20 percent of GDP by 2080. The benefits of making the tax cuts permanent might also be offset if the tax cuts are financed by a reduction
in efficient government spending (spending whose benefits exceed both the direct cost to the taxpayer and the deadweight loss).

So once again we stare at the big white elephant in the room. Who wants to take him out back and shoot him?

[Embar Angylwrath]

Again with the projection. Stop whining and just answer the question, Embar.

You are the serious, well thought out, fiscal conservative. Please enlighten us with your real world answers to our budget woes.

Also, you have as much to learn about debates as you do about fiscal realities. A debate isn't making an absurd statement and then hiding behind a 'lets take turns' game when asked to back it up.

The answers are simple. It's the resolve that fails.

The answer is to not pass budgets with deficit spending (actually, that's not completely true, deficit spending can be countenanced in some circumstances, but not as a matter of policy). Cut unfunded mandates. Eliminate "earmarks". Increase economic efficiencies by merging and/or eliminating redundant agenices (do we really need an FBI/CIA/TSA/NSA.. can't we have just ONE "security" agency?) Streamline the tax system (fair tax.. flat tax... hybrid of the two). Eliminate the IRS. Eliminate the ATF. Eliminate the Education Department (it should be a state issue, and most of the educational funding comes from the states anyway).

Here's a list of positions and offices in the US governemtn (2006 I think). Surely there's a way to merge and consolidate to realize greater economic efficiency?

*** Crap.. the post was over 5x larger than what the board allows (345395 characters in the post.... only allowed 60000) That should tell you something about the size of the federal government. Anyway, I'll just put in some of them



This compilation is a list of government agencies, offices, commissions, bureaus, foundations, divisions, directorates, departments, bureaus, institutes, administrations and "services", many of them redundant, overlapping or unnecessary. When I first started building this list, I thought it would be much shorter than this. As I look into it more and more, the sheer size of our government has become tragically humorous. After exploring the structure and organization of one department after another, there seems to be no end in sight.

Most of these entities perform functions that should (according to the U.S. Constitution) be left up to state or local governments, or to private industry, churches or charities. Several of these agencies perform functions which overlap corresponding agencies at the state level. There is no constitutional authority for the creation and maintenance of most of the offices in the list below. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to matter any more. The limitations of government spelled out in the Constitution are no longer under consideration, either in Congress or in our public schools. The few of us who still care are called extremists!

One obvious trait seen in this list is the number of offices and agencies dedicated to career advancement for certain people based on their gender or ethnicity. Every facet of the government seems to include an office for the promotion of workplace diversity, equal employment opportunity, minority resources, civil rights, or disadvantaged business utilization. You may notice that in some cases a single office is in charge of equal employment opportunity and workplace diversity, even though it is logically impossible to implement diversity without discrimination. But the topic of workplace diversity, politically correct discrimination and better-than-equal opportunity is covered on another page.

Similarly, many of the larger agencies have their own offices for safety issues, environmental concerns and education, probably overlapping the functions of other federal agencies. The two agencies with the most unexpectedly complex structures are the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture. I may never exhaust all the hallways and sidetracks in their organizational labyrinths.

Anyway this is by no means a complete or exhaustive list, nor is it necessarily shown in alphabetical order. The various branches of the military have numerous subdivisions, which would take weeks to categorize, and there are probably many agencies — especially in the Department of Defense — which are not openly discussed on the internet. One Defense Department web site has 25 pages of links to various departments. Intelligence agencies are beyond public scrutiny (and thus can never be completely listed here) as are certain other agencies like FEMA. That's why the CIA occupies only a single line on this page.

Updated 6/7/2006:
I just spent a few days exploring the organizational charts at the FAA, and was able to find hundreds of people high enough in the organization to have an office or a title. The Department of Transportation seems to occupy a large portion of this page, but that may just be because that's where I've been able to get the most information.

Updated 6/9/2006:
I have just added over 200 lines to this page to include the details of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Updated 8/20/2006:
While I have made an effort to include the Chiefs and omit the Indians, keep in mind that the average compensation for federal civilian workers last year was $106,579.* Not everyone on this list makes that kind of money, but most of the people on this list have above average incomes.

Updated 10/04/2006:
After spending a few hours exploring the structure of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, I have added about 240 lines to this list. And it seems that I have only scratched the surface of the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration. It continues to amaze me that the federal government has so many layers of departments and bureaus, many of which seem to be only marginally necessary at best. This page may have to be split into smaller pieces if the list gets much longer.

This list is provided as a service to those of you who wonder why taxes are so high, and I hope that includes most of the people who vote. Personally, I'd rather have a little extra money in my paycheck every week, and I think we could all get along just fine without the African Development Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, etc.

In fact, if I could take home my gross pay, with no "contributions" extracted by the government, I could find a way to get by without Social Security, Medicare, and almost all the cabinet-level departments on this list. There's a lot to be said for self-reliance.

Added 9/24/2006:
The Budget Graph shows the relative size of various government departments (in dollars) as well as some of their largest projects.

Updated 3/14/2008:
By exploring the structure of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly the National Bureau of Standards), I have expanded this list by 598 entries. While I was at it, I corrected a few dozen typographical errors and misspelled words.




Executive Branch


Executive Offices
White House Offices
The President of the United States
Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff
Deputy Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Cabinet
Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
...and Director of the National Economic Council
Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel
...and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Assistant to the President and White House Press Secretary
Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary
Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Assistants to the President and Deputy Chiefs of Staff
Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor
Counsel to the President (White House Counsel)
Senior Advisor to the President
Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Cabinet Secretary
Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President
Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Counselor, Communications
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director,
...Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs
Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
...and Deputy Director, National Economic Council
Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs
...and Deputy National Security Advisor
Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Senior Adviser
Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Staff Secretary
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Advance
Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director,
...Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Global Communications
Deputy Assistant to the President for Management, Administration,
...and Oval Office Operations
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Public Liaison
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Scheduling
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director,
...Office of Strategic Initiatives
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of
...the White House Military Office
Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs (House)
Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs (Senate)
Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Press Secretary
Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary
Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Advance
Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director
...of Communications for Planning
Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs
Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director
...of Communications for Production
Special Assistants to the President and Deputy Directors
...of Public Liaison for Presidential Personnel (2)
Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Speechwriting
Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives
Special Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Correspondence
Special Assistant to the President for White House Management and Administration
Special Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs
Special Assistants to the President for Legislative Affairs (House) (5)
Special Assistants to the President for Legislative Affairs (Senate) (4)
Deputy Assistant to the President and Assistant to the Senior Advisor
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Speechwriter to the President
Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary
Special Assistants to the President and Associate Directors
...for Presidential Personnel
Special Assistant to the President and Associate Counsel to the President
Associate Counsels to the President (9)
Office of Administration
Special Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Administration
Chief Operations Officer
Director for Equal Employment Opportunity
Director for Security
Director, Management Controls and Communication
General Counsel
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Information Officer
White House Fellows
White House Commission on Remembrance
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Director of National Drug Control Policy
Chief of Staff
Executive Secretary
Deputy Director
Deputy Director for Demand Reduction
Deputy Director for State and Local Affairs
Deputy Director for Supply Reduction
Associate Director, Planning and Budget
Associate Director, Legislative Affairs
Associate Director, Management and Administration
Communications Director
General Counsel
Director, Counter-Drug Technology Assessment Center
Associate Director, Intelligence
Associate Director, National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
Director, High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program
Administrator, Drug-Free Communities Support Program
Council of Economic Advisers
Chairman
Members (2)
Chief of Staff
Council on Environmental Quality
Chairman
Chief of Staff
Associate Director for Congressional Affairs
Associate Director for Public Affairs
Associate Director for Agriculture, Public Lands and Coastal Affairs
General Counsel
Deputy General Counsel
Associate Director for NEPA Oversight
Associate Director for Sustainable Development
Associate Director for Natural Resources
Associate Director for Environmental Policy
Associate Director for Global Environmental Affairs
Associate Director for Toxics and Environmental Protection
Office of Policy Development
Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy
Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy
Special Assistants to the President for Domestic Policy (5)
National Economic Council
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
...and Director of the National Economic Council
Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director
...of the National Economic Council
Special Assistants to the President for Economic Policy (5)
Domestic Policy Council
National Security Council
Members
The President
The Vice President
The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
Statutory Advisers
Director of Central Intelligence
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Standing Participants
The Secretary of the Treasury
U.S. Representative to the United Nations
Chief of Staff to the President
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
Officials
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
...and Deputy National Security Adviser
Executive Secretary
Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives
Office of National AIDS Policy
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Director
Associate Director for Science
Associate Director for Technology
Executive Secretary for the National Science and Technology Council
Executive Director for the President's Committee
...of Advisors on Science and Technology
President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board
White House Military Office
Presidential Airlift Group
White House Medical Unit
Camp David
Marine Helicopter Squadron One
Presidential Food Service
White House Transportation Agency
Office of Management and Budget
Director
Deputy Director
Deputy Director for Management
Executive Associate Director
Administrator, Office of Federal Procurement Policy
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Assistant Director for Administration
Assistant Director for Budget
Assistant Director for Legislative Reference
Associate Director for Communications
Associate Director for Economic Policy
Associate Director for Human Resource Programs
Associate Director for General Government Programs
Associate Director for Information Technology and E-Government
Associate Director for Legislative Affairs
Associate Director for National Security Programs
Associate Director for Natural Resource Programs
Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management
General Counsel
President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency
Office of the United States Trade Representative
United States Trade Representative
Deputy U.S. Trade Representatives (Washington) (2)
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (Geneva)
Special Textile Negotiator
General Counsel
Chief Agricultural Negotiator
Associate U.S. Trade Representative
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Administration
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Southeast Asia, Pacific,
...and APEC Affairs
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Economic Affairs
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Environment and Natural Resources
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Mediterranean
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Industry, Market Access
...and Telecommunications
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs
...and Public Liaison
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for North Asian Affairs
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Monitoring and Enforcement
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Policy Coordination
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Services, Investment,
...and Intellectual Property
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade and Development
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade and Labor
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for World Trade Organization (WTO)
...and Multilateral Affairs
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Americas
Press Secretary
Trade Policy Staff Committee
Office of the Vice President of the United States
Assistant to the President, Chief of Staff to the Vice President,
...and Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs
Assistant to the President and Counselor to the Vice President
Counsel to the Vice President
Principal Deputy Assistant to the Vice President
...for National Security Affairs
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Assistant to the Vice President for Legislative Affairs
Assistant to the Vice President for Domestic Policy
Executive Director of the National Energy Policy Development Group
Executive Assistant to the Vice President
Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for Operations
Assistant to the Vice President and Chief of Staff to Mrs. Cheney
Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for Scheduling
Director of Correspondence for the Vice President





Cabinet-level Executive Agencies

Department of Agriculture
Budget: $19.1 billion
Employees: 109,832

The Department of Agriculture awarded $3,624,814,076 in federal contracts in fiscal year 2005. [Source]

Secretary of Agriculture
Deputy Secretary
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
Deputy Under Secretary
Administrator, Farm Service Agency
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service
Administrator, Risk Management Agency
Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
Deputy Under Secretary
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service
Executive Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Under Secretary for Food Safety
Deputy Under Secretary
Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
Deputy Under Secretary for Forestry
Deputy Under Secretary for Conservation
Chief, Forest Service
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics
Deputy Under Secretary
Administrator, Agricultural Research Service
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Administrator, Economic Research Service
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Under Secretary for Rural Development
Deputy Under Secretary
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Administrator, Rural Housing Service
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service
Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Deputy Under Secretary
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration
Assistant Secretary for Administration
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Chairman, Board of Contract Appeals
Judicial Officer
Chief Judge, Administrative Law Judges
Director, Office of Civil Rights
Director, Office of Ethics
Director, Office of Human Resources Management
Director, Office of Operations
Director, Office of Outreach
Director, Office of Procurement and Property Management
Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Chief Information Officer
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
General Counsel
Deputy General Counsel
Inspector General
Deputy Inspector General
Director, Office of Communications
Chief Economist
Deputy Chief Economist
Director, Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis
Chairman, World Agricultural Outlook Board
Director, Global Change Program Office
Director, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses
Director, National Appeals Division
Director, Office of Budget and Program Analysis
Director, Office of the Executive Secretariat
Director, Sustainable Development and Small Farms
Rural Development
Rural Housing Service
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Rural Utilities Service
Business Enterprise program
Business Opportunities program
Cooperative Development grants
Cooperative Opportunities and Problems Research
Cooperative Services program
Economic Development loans
Intermediary Relending
Technology Transfer program
Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Agricultural Marketing Service
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Administrator
Civil Rights Enforcement and Compliance Staff
Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Animal Care
Regional Offices (3)
Biotechnology Regulatory Services
Office of the Deputy Administrator
Deputy Administrator
Associate Deputy, Emerging and International Programs
Associate Deputy
Assistant to the Deputy Admin.
Agriculturist
Office of Science
Science Advisor
Biotechnologist
AAAS Risk Policy Fellow
Policy Coordination Programs
Director
Assistant Director
Secretary
Regulatory and Environmental Analysis Branch
Supervisory Policy Analyst
Environment Protection Specialist
Biotechnologist
Bio Scientist/VMO
Regulatory Analysts (2)
International Policy Branch
Lead Agriculturalist
Program Analyst
Communications and Capacity Building Branch
Supervisory Biological Scientist
Agriculturalist
Writer/Editor
Outreach and Communications Specialist
State Liaison
Environmental Risk Analysis Programs
Director
Secretary
Plants Branch
Supervisory Biotechnologist
Biotechnologists (4)
Animals Branch
Supervisory Biotechnologist
Biotechnologists (3)
Biotechnologist, Fish Biology
Plant Pests and Protectants Branch
Supervisory Biotechnologist
Biotechnologists (3)
Regulatory Operations Programs
Director
Program Assistant
Compliance and Inspection Branch
Supervisory Biological Scientist
Field Operations Officer
Western Regional Biotechnologist
Senior Regulatory Specialist
Eastern Regional Biotechnologist
Program Support Assistant
Western Regional Biotechnologist
Senior Regulatory Specialist
Staff Assistant
Support Assistant
Document Management Branch
Supervisory Management Analyst
Management Analyst
Regulatory Permits Specialists (2)
Regulatory Specialist
Permit Assistant
Regulatory Permits Specialist
Regulatory Specialist
Document Control Officer
Resource Management Programs
Supervisory Administrative Officer
Resource Support Services Branch
Program Specialist
Student
Management Analyst
Program Specialist
Technical Services Branch
IT Specialist
Visual Information Assistant
Technical Information Specialist
Program Specialist
International Services
Plant Protection and Quarantine
Deputy Administrator
Associate Deputy Administrator
Assistant to the Deputy Administrator
Professional Development Center
Resource Management Staff
Chief of Staff
Western Region Director
Eastern Region Director
Executive Director, Plant Health Programs
Assistant Deputy Administrator, Emergency and Domestic Programs
Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
Veterinary Services
Deputy Administrator
Secretaries (2)
Chief Information Officer
Special Assistant to the Deputy Administrator
Assistant Deputy Administrator, Planning and Strategy
Management Support Staff Director
Associate Deputy Administrator, Regional Operations
Regional Directors (2)
Associate Deputy Administrator, Emergency Management and Diagnostics
National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management
National Veterinary Services Laboratory
Center for Veterinary Biologics
Associate Deputy Administrator, National Animal Health Policy and Programs
Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health
Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health
Center for Veterinary Biologics
Eastern Regional Office
Information Technology Services
Management Support Staff
National Animal Health Policy and Programs
National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management
National Center for Animal Health Programs
Aquaculture, Swine, Equine and Poultry
Ruminant Health Program
Surveillance and Identification Program
National Center for Import and Export
Office International des Epizooties
Sanitary Trade Issues Team
Technical Trade Services Animal Products
Technical Trade Services - Animals, Organisms and Vectors, and Select Agents
National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Professional Development Staff
Western Regional Office
Wildlife Services
Deputy Administrator
Associate Deputy Administrators (2)
Secretaries (2)
National Aviation Safety and Assistance Coordinator
National Wildlife Disease Coordinator
National Rabies Coordinator
Wildlife Initiative
Operational Support Staff
Director
Staff Assistant
Secretary
Technical Support
Staff Officers (6)
Program Analyst
Administrative Support
Deputy Director for Administration
Secretary
Budget Analyst
Administrative Analysts (2)
National Environmental Policy Act
National Environmental Manager
Administrative Support Assistant
Environmental Coordinators (6)
IT Support Center
Director
Program Assistant
Senior Applications Developer
Applications Developers (5)
IT Specialist
Computer Specialists (5)
Eastern Regional Office
Eastern Region State Offices (38)
Western Regional Office
Western Region State Offices (21)
National Wildlife Research Center
Field Stations (10)
Legislative and Public Affairs
Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services
Administrative Services Division
Contracting Team
Engineering and Property Services Branch
IT Contracting Branch
NLSC Kansas City Warehouse Team
Procurement, Policy, and Systems Branch
Printing, Distribution and Mail Branch
Property Team
Purchasing Team
Realty Team
Employee Services Division
Conflict Prevention and Resolution Branch
Facility and Conference Services Branch
Ft. Collins Customer Support Services
Raleigh Customer Support Services
Minneapolis Customer Support Services
APHIS Security Branch
Office of the Director
Director
Administrative Functions
Administrative Officer
Special Projects/Program Assistant
Safety, Health, and Employee Wellness Branch
Training and Development Branch
Riverdale Restacking
Workplace Violence
Financial Management Division
Minneapolis Financial Services Branch
Accounting and Payments Team
Debt Management Team
Billings and Collections
Riverdale Financial Services Branch
Financial Systems and Reporting Branch
Financial Systems and Accounting
Budget Execution Support Team
Financial Services Branch
Travel Services Center
User Fees Team
Agreements Services Center
Review and Analysis Branch
Washington Financial Services Branch
Human Resources Division
AMS/GIPSA Employee Relations Branch
APHIS Employee Relations Branch
Enhancement Branch
Employee Misconduct Investigations Branch
Hearing and Appeals Branch
Human Resources Operations (Minneapolis)
Human Resources Operations (Riverdale/Washington)
Labor Management Relations Branch
Office of the Director
Assistant HR Officer
Admin Asst
Assistant HR Officer
Personnel Management Specialist - HQ Program Development
Information Technology Division
Applications and Information Management Branch
Customer Services Branch
Forecasting & Planning Services Branch
Forms, Issuances and Records Management
Technology Resources Management Branch
Investigative and Enforcement Services
Regional Offices (3)
Enforcement Services
Information Services
Investigative Services
Policy and Program Department
Deputy Administrator
Budget and Program Analysis
Environmental Services
Policy Analysis and Development
Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring
Business Practices Team
Regulatory Analysis and Development
Risk Analysis Systems
Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration
Administrator
Executive Resources Staff
Civil Rights Staff
Information Technology Staff
Public and Congressional Relations Staff
Deputy Administrator for Federal Grain Inspection Service
Office of International Affairs
Compliance Division
Field Management Division
Technical Services Division
Deputy Administrator for Packers and Stockyards Program
Regional Operations Division
Industry Analysis Division
Policy and Litigation Division
Food Safety
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
Food and Nutrition Service
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
Farm Service Agency
Administrator
Associate Administrator for Programs
Associate Administrator for Operations & Management
Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs
Production, Emergencies, and Compliance Division
Price Support Division
Conservation and Environmental Programs Division
Tobacco Division
Aerial Photography Field Office
Deputy Administrator for Farm Loan Programs
Program Development and Economic Enhancement Division
Loan Making Division
Loan Servicing and Property Management Division
Deputy Administrator for Field Operations
Field Operations Staff
State Offices (51)
County Offices (2400)
Deputy Administrator for Commodity Operations
Commodity Procurement Policy and Analysis Division
Warehouse and Inventory Division
Kansas City Commodity Office
Deputy Administrator for Management
Management Services Division
Budget Division
Kansas City Administrative Office
Human Resources Division
Information Technology Services Division
Financial Management Division
Office of Civil Rights
Office of External Affairs
Office of Business and Program Integration
Commodity Credit Corporation
Risk Management Agency
Foreign Agricultural Service
Administrator
Associate Administrator
General Sales Manager
Deputy Administrator for Commodity and Marketing Programs
Deputy Administrator for International Cooperation and Development Programs
Deputy Administrator for International Trade Policy
Overseas Offices (102)
Research, Education, and Economics
Agricultural Research Service
Area Offices (9)
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Economic Research Service
Office of the Administrator
Administrator
Associate Administrators (2)
Civil Rights Director
Central Operations Staff Director
Food and Rural Economics Division
Director
Associate Director
Deputy Director for Research and Product Coordinator
Deputy Director for Staff Analysis and Communication
Deputy Director for Food Assistance Research
Diet, Safety, and Health Economics Branch Chief
Food Assistance Branch Chief
Rural Economy Branch Chief
Food Markets Branch Chief
Branches
Diet, Safety, and Health Economics
Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program
Food Assistance
Food Markets
Rural Economy
Information Services Division
Director
Deputy Director for Communications
Associate Director
Applications Development Branch Chief
Information Technology Services Branch Chief
Publishing and Communications Branch Chief
Branches
Application Development
Information Technology Services
Publishing and Communications
Communications Staff
Market and Trade Economics Division
Director
Deputy Director for Research and Program Management
Deputy Director for International Programs and Policy Analysis
Deputy Director for Market Analysis and Outlook
Global Agricultural Markets Branch Chief
Assistant Director for Communications
Animal Products Branch Chief
Asia/Western Hemisphere Branch Chief
Europe/Africa/Middle East Branch Chief
Field Crops Branch Chief
Specialty Crops Branch Chief
Branches
Animal Products
Asia/Western Hemisphere
Europe/Africa/Middle East
Field Crops
Global Agricultural Markets
Specialty Crops
Resource Economics Division
Director
Associate Director
Deputy Directors (2)
Data and Survey Coordinator
Agricultural Structure and Productivity Branch Chief
Farm Household Well-Being Branch Chief
Farm Sector Performance Branch Chief
Production Economics and Technology Branch Chief
Resource, Environmental and Science Policy Branch Chief
Branches
Agricultural Structure
Farm Sector Performance and Well-Being
Production Management and Technology
Resource and Environmental Policy
Resources, Technology, and Productivity
Staff (439)
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Administrator
International Programs Office
Civil Rights Director
eGov Program Manager
Standards Officer
Security Officer
Deputy Administrator for Field Operations
Associate Deputy Administrator, Budget Administration
Budget Administration Services Office
Field Offices (21)
Associate Deputy Administrator, Training and Career Development
Training and Career Development Office
Field Offices (24)
Human Resource Services Office
Deputy Administrator for Programs and Products and ...
Chair of the Agricultural Statistics Board
Marketing and Information Services Office
Census and Survey Division
Information Technology Division
Computer Security Technical Leader
Computer Security Policy Officer
Research and Development Division
Statistics Division
Natural Resources and Environment
Forest Service
Field Offices
Regional Forester (10)
Research Stations
Forest Products Laboratory
North Central
Northeastern
Pacific Northwest
Pacific Southwest
Rocky Mountain
Southern
State and Private Forestry Areas
Northeastern
International Institute of Tropical Forestry
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Headquarters Leadership
Chief
Associate Chief
Regional Assistant Chiefs
Deputy Chief for Management
Deputy Chief for Programs
Deputy Chief for Science and Technology
Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment
Deputy Chief for Strategic Planning and Accountability
State Offices (52)
Local Service Centers (61)
National Centers
Information Technology Center
National Employee Development Center
National Business Management Center
National Cartography and Geospatial Center
National Design, Construction and Soil Mechanics Center
National Geospatial Development Center
National Plant Data Center
National Soil Survey Center
National Technology Support Centers
National Water and Climate Center
National Water Management Center
Agro Forestry Cooperating Scientists
Air Quality Cooperating Scientists
Grazing Land Technology Institute
Natural Resources Inventory and Analysis Institute
Social Sciences Institute
Soil Quality Institute
Watershed Science Institute
Wetland Science Institute
Wildlife Habitat Management Institute
Graduate School, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Director
Deputy Director
Associate Director
National Agricultural Library
Director's Office
Director
Deputy Director
Special Assistant
Public Affairs Specialist
Tours and Exhibits
Administrative Officer
Facilities Manager
AgNIC Secretariat
Civil Rights Manager
Associate Director for Information Systems
Information Technology Branch
Head
Current Awareness Literature Service
ISIS Coordinator
OCLC Coordinator
Webmaster
End-User Support
End-User Support
Systems Administration and Networking (3 positions)
Associate Director for Public Services
Document Delivery Services Branch
Head
Access Services Librarians (2)
Contracts Librarian
Interlibrary Loan/Borrowing
Loan Renewals
ILL Billing - NTIS
Document Delivery
Special Collections Program
Head, Special Collections Program
Collections Management Librarian
Information Research Services Branch
Head
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Animal Welfare Information Center
Food and Nutrition Information Center
Food Safety Information Center
Rural Information Center
Technology Transfer Information Center
Water Quality Information Center
Electronic Information Services Center
Research & Reader Services
Associate Director for Technical Services
Thesaurus Specialist
Acquisitions & Serials Branch
Head
Gift and Exchange
GPO Depository
Monographs and Selection
Serials
Cataloging Branch Head
Head, Serials Section & CONSER
Head, Support Staff Section
AGRICOLA Database
Searching - Service Desk
D.C. Reference Center


Department of Commerce
Budget: $5.8 billion
Employees: 40,000

The Department of Commerce awarded $1,898,047,028 in federal contracts in fiscal year 2005. [Source]

Secretary of Commerce
Chief of Staff
Counselor to the Secretary
Assistant to the Secretary and Director, Office of
...Policy and Strategic Planning
Director, Office of White House Liaison
Director, Executive Secretariat
Deputy Secretary of Commerce
Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Chief Information Officer
Deputy Chief Information Officer
General Counsel
Deputy General Counsel
Assistant General Counsel for Administration
Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation
Assistant General Counsel for Finance and Litigation
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration
Director for Security
Deputy Director for Security
Director, Office of Budget
Deputy Director
Director for Management and Organization
Director, Office of Civil Rights
Deputy Director
Director for Executive Budgeting and Assistance Management
Director for Financial Management and Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Director for Human Resources Management
Deputy Director
Director for Administrative Services
Deputy Director
Director for Acquisition Management
Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
Director for Legislative Affairs
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade Legislation
Director for Intergovernmental Affairs
Inspector General
Deputy Inspector General
Assistant Inspector General for Auditing
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Assistant Inspector General for Systems Evaluation
Assistant Inspector General for Inspections and Program Evaluations
Assistant Inspector General for Administration
Director, Office of Public Affairs
Deputy Directors
Press Secretary
Director, Office of Business Liaison
Deputy Directors
Bureau of Industry and Security, formerly the
...Bureau of Export Administration
Field Offices
Export Enforcement (10)
Export Administration (2)
Under Secretary
Deputy Under Secretary
Under Secretary for Industry and Security
Deputy Under Secretary
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration
Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Administration
Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
Bureau of Economic Analysis *
Economic Development Administration
Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Regional Offices (6)
Economics and Statistics Administration
Under Secretary for Economic Affairs
Deputy Under Secretary
Associate Under Secretary for Management
Associate Under Secretary for Communications
Chief Economist
Director, Bureau of the Census
Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis
Under Secretary for Economic Affairs
Executive Assistant
Secretary
Associate Under Secretary for Communications
Economic Information Officer
Government & Public Affairs Specialist
Associate Under Secretary for Management
Program Analyst
Correspondence Program Specialist
Program Assistant
Senior Program Analyst
Chief Information Officer
Director
Information Technology Specialists (9)
STAT-USA
Business Information Analyst
Director
Marketing Analyst
Information Technology Specialists (3)
Telecommunications Specialist
Business Information Analysts (2)
Program Assistants (2)
Office of Finance & Administration
Management Analyst
Program Analyst
Budget Analysts (2)
Deputy Under Secretary
Bureau of the Census
Director
Deputy Director
Policy Office
Assistant Director for Marketing and Customer Liaison
Associate Director for Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Administrative and Customer Services Division
Acquisition Division
Equal Employment Opportunity Office
Human Resources Division
Administrative and Management Systems Division
Comptroller
Budget Division
Finance Division
Associate Director for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Computer Services Division
Telecommunications Office
Information Systems Support and Review Office
Systems Support Division
Associate Director for Field Operations
Technologies Management Office
National Processing Center
Field Division
Regional Offices (12)
Associate Director for Communications
Congressional Affairs Office
Public Information Office
Census 2010 Publicity Office
Associate Director for Economic Programs
Assistant Director for Economic Programs
Economic Planning and Coordination Division
Economic Statistical Methods and Programming Division
Center for Economic Studies
Company Statistics Division
Service Sector Statistics Division
Foreign Trade Division
Governments Division
Manufacturing and Construction Division
Associate Director for Decennial Census
Assistant Director for ACS and Decennial Census
Decennial Management Division
American Community Survey Office
Decennial Statistical Studies Division
Assistant Director for Decennial Information Technology and Geographic Systems
Decennial Systems and Contracts Management Office
Geography Division
Associate Director for Demographic Programs
Demographic Surveys Division
Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division
Demographic Statistical Methods Division
Population Division
Associate Director for Methodology and Standards
Computer Assisted Survey Research Office
Statistical Research Division
Planning, Research, and Evaluation Division
Bureau of Economic Analysis *
Chief Economist
Secretary
Special Assistant
Office of Economic Conditions
Director
Deputy Director
Economists (4)
Statistician
Office of Policy Development
Director
Deputy Director
Senior Policy Advisor
Commodity Industry Specialist
Economists (7)
Industry Economist
Secretary
Export Administration Review Board
International Trade Administration
Deputy Under Secretary
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration
Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance
Assistant Secretary for Trade Development
Assistant Secretary and Director General of the
...U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service
Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration
Chief Information Officer
Minority Business Development Agency
National Director, Minority Business Development Agency
Deputy Director
Office of the Director
Deputy Director
Associate Director for Management
Office of Administration and Management
Office of Support Services
Office of Information Technology Services
Associate Director for Programs
Office of Market Access
Regional Offices (5)
Office of Financial Access
National Marine Fisheries Service *
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
Chief Scientist
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Service
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services
...and Coastal Zone Management
Assistant Administrator for Environmental Satellite,
...Data, and Information Service
Assistant Administrator for Weather Service
Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service
Centers for Environmental Prediction
Fire Weather Information Center
National Hurricane Center
National Weather Service
Headquarters
Office of Hydrologic Development
Office of Climate, Water, & Weather Services
Office of Operational Systems
Office of Science and Technology
Office of The Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Office
Office of Chief Information Officer
Strategic Planning and Policy Office
Executive Affairs (Staff) Office
National Centers for Environmental Prediction
Hydrologic Information Center
National Data Buoy Center
National Operational Hydrologic Center
Telecommunications Operations Center
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Training Center
NWS Public Affairs
Regional Headquarters (6)
Administrative Support Centers (4)
River Forecast Centers (13)
Regional Climate Centers (7)
Aviation Weather Center
Climate Prediction Center
Environmental Modeling Center
Hydrometeorological Prediction Center
Ocean Prediction Center
Space Environment Center
Storm Prediction Center
Tropical Prediction Center
National Severe Storms Laboratory
Spaceflight Meteorology Group
Climate Diagnostics Center
Hydrologic Research Laboratory
National Climatic Data Center
International Tsunami Information Center
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Alaska Aviation Weather Unit
Office of Meteorology
River Forecast Centers
Volcano Ash Advisory Centers
World Summit on Sustainable Development
Office of Global Programs
Oceanographic Data Center
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
National Ocean Service
National Environmental Data Index
National Geophysical Data Center
National Ice Center (Icebergs)
National Oceanographic Data Center
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Southeast Regional Office
Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Southwest Regional Office
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Northeast Regional Office
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Northwest Regional Office
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Alaska Regional Office
Intergovernmental and Recreational Fisheries
Research Laboratories
Aeronomy Lab
Air Resources Lab
Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Lab
Climate Monitoring & Diagnostics Lab
Environmental Technology Lab
Forecast Systems Lab
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab
Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab
Pacific Marine Environmental Lab
Severe Storms Lab
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Chief Counsel
Associate Administrator for Spectrum Management
Associate Administrator for Policy Analysis and Development
Associate Administrator for International Affairs
Associate Administrator for Telecommunications
...and Information Applications
Associate Administrator for Telecommunication Sciences
Assistant Secretary
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Office of Spectrum Management
Office of International Affairs
Office of Policy Analysis and Development
Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
Office of Policy Coordination and Management
Office of Congressional Affairs
Office of Public Affairs
Office of Chief Counsel
Patent and Trademark Office
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property
...and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
...Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Office of Public Affairs
Commissioner for Patents
Inventor Assistance Program
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy
International Liaison Staff
Manual of Patent Examining Procedures Staff
Office of Patent Legal Administration
Office of PCT Legal Administration
Inventor Assistance Center
PCT Legal Affairs
PCT Special Programs
Office of Petitions
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations
Patent Examining Groups
Design Patents
Plant Patents
Office of Patent Publication
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Resources and Planning
Office of Patent Planning and Capacity Analysis
Office of Patent Resource Administration
Office of Search and Information Resources Administration
Office of Patent Automation
Office of Patent Classification
Scientific and Technical Information Center
Commissioner for Trademarks
Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy
Office of Post Registration
Petitions Office
Trademark Assistance Center
Trademark Program Control
Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations
Office of Intent-to-Use
Office of Pre-Examination
Office of Trademark Publication
Trademark Law Offices
Trademark Services
General Counsel
Deputy General Counsel for General Law
Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual Property Law and Solicitor
Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
Office of Enrollment and Discipline
Administrator for External Affairs
Office of International Relations
Office of Congressional Relations
Office of Enforcement
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer
Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Comptroller
Office of Corporate Planning
Office of Finance
Office of Procurement
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Office of Human Resources
Office of Administrative Services
Office of Civil Rights
Administrator for Space Acquisition
Chief Information Officer
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Executive for Systems Development & Maintenance Services
Executive for Customer Information Services
Executive for Architecture, Engineering, & Technical Services
Executive for IT Operations & Customer Support Services
Patent Public Advisory Committee
Trademark Public Advisory Committee
Technology Administration
Under Secretary for Technology
Deputy Under Secretary for Technology
Commerce Science and Technology Fellowship Program
Office of Space Commercialization
Office of Public Affairs
Office of Congressional Affairs
National Technical Information Service
FedWorld Information Network
Federal Job Announcement Search
Office of Technology Policy
Office of Technology Policy
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Director
Deputy Director
Boulder Laboratories
Director
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
Office of Applied Economics
Building Environment Division
HVAC&R Equipment Performance Group
Mechanical Systems and Controls Group
Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Group
Computer-Integrated Building Processes Group
Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Group
Fire Research Division
Fire Fighting Technology Group
Fire Metrology Group
Analysis and Prediction Group
Integrated Performance Assessment Group
Materials and Products Group

[Ddrak]

http://www.thebudgetgraph.com/ is a better place to start if you're looking for the big ticket items.

Dd

[Ariannda Kusanagi]

Christ Embar must have won the award for LONGEST POST EVER !

[Partha]

What I want to know is which posts in that post Embar wants to eliminate, why, and how much we'll save doing so.

[Embar Angylwrath]

What I want to know is which posts in that post Embar wants to eliminate, why, and how much we'll save doing so.

The point I'm trying to make, and you continually want to dodge, is that... why don't we try not spending first, before we knee-jerk raise taxes everytime there's a budget issue.

Will streamlining government, cutting staff, merging departments, cutting earmarks, and taking other cost savings solve all the problem? Maybe, maybe not. But why not give it a shot? Businesses do it all the time as a legitimate response to cash flow issues.

[Ariannda Kusanagi]

Businesses are NOT the government, and it'll never happen for the same reason a Socialized Health Care will happen, because there's too much investment by individuals and big business to want to cut anything. Take away lobbyists as a start and how much money will big companies lose, how much money will congressmen lose, how much money could be SAVED if the same amount of money that went into bribes went into the government for the people to do more change for them ?

Thats the real question, but sadly it's one that will never be answered.

yeah I know "Thank you Captain Obvious"

[Embar Angylwrath]

Indeed, business is not government, and vice versa. But they share many things in common. Businesses have budgets, as do governments. A business is required (if its going to stay in business) to have a balanced budget, and, hopefully, turn a profit.

Government doesn't have to turn a profit. And they STILL can't balance the budget, because the people who pass the budget spend more than what tax revenues provide. Without reduction in spending (which means eliminating programs, staff, entitlements, etc), the ONLY way to balance the budget is to generate MORE tax revenue.

Now, let me ask you Ari... are you prepared to help balance the budget by giving more of your cash to the government? Or would you prefer they take a shot at seeing what they can do to curtail spending?

[Ariannda Kusanagi]

Currently they take none of my money, but I've never had a problem paying my taxes. But also keep in mind my tax bracket is the lowest so I get all my tax moiney back PLUS some.

Frankly I don't mind paying more in taxes if it means better programs for my kids, but I suppose thats not fair either. As my father has recently started drawing SS I'd prefer them to be able to live. he;'s faithfully paid his taxes for the pst +50 years and he deserves to live out his retirement and not supplement it with part time work, where he's paying MORE taxes and still not getting anything in return.

The government could cut spending, but then they'd be doing without. Lets put government salaries in check. How much does the President make, and why does he need to make very much money ? His house, food, servants, everything are paid for. It's not as if Mr President walks to the flower shop and whips out his credit card to buy his wife a dozen roses now is it ? Heaven forbid non essential spending be funneled back into the budget in and of itself. Kind of like those millions spent on the hand held computers for census takers, that aren't ready yet. Do it the old fashioned way and i'm sure it'll be just fine, AND you just saved millions of dollars. A million saved is a million earned

besides you know as well as I do and everyone else does that the government will never curtail it's spending because they're dealing with intangible numbers. Billions and Trillions of dollars don't seem like real amounts because they're not tangible by anyone

[Ddrak]

Lets put government salaries in check.

Actually, government salaries tend to be significantly lower than private sector salaries. Even the President doesn't actually make that much money. The problem with cutting salaries even more is you increase corruption and make it more difficult to retain good people in government positions. A Senator earning $40k/yr is far more susceptible to bribes than a Senator earning $200k/yr, and by offering good wages you're more likely to get a competent Senator.

Cutting government wages really isn't likely to do much at all. Like I said - check out the budget graph and you can quite easily find spots to cut back if you want to eat a little political flak. Personally I think the US could happily halve military spending without too much effort. It means you'd have to throw out the "2-and-a-half-wars" doctrine as well as firming up a bunch of alliances while being a lot more discerning about where and how to station troops overseas. Probably want to be a bit smarter at picking fights too, but that's another debate.

Dd