A revolutionary approach to fixing our many, many Federal budgetary problems, instead of Blame-Storming?

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — 50 years* (1975 – present)

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY-5) — 44 years (1981 – present)

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — 40 years (1985 – present)

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — 50 years* (1975 – present)

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY-5) — 44 years (1981 – present)

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — 40 years (1985 – present)

Lemme see if'n I heard you correctly: You say that you don't understand the point of the OP, yet were able to draw a conclusion about it and share it here.
That about right?

If you do manage to read it and, dare I hope, comprehend the AI1 section, feel free to roll right into the AI2 section, because it might be interesting to know what minor tweaks would fix the items in AI2 section that have been in play for more than 20 years, seeing whereas I might be interested to know if you see any intersections with those facts and these three coincidental facts: Originally Posted by Why_Yes_I_Do

Well I hate to break it to you but in my opinion you’re not the best communicator one could hope for.

As I parse your original post it appears that you are saying.

1: Trump is not the problem Congress is the problem.
2: The proof that congress is dysfunctional is that they can’t manage to control our revenues or our spending.
3: The solution is REVOLUTION!

In response.
A: Trump is as much a symptom as a cause of our dysfunctional political system. He certainly is not helping.
B: The inability of our legislators to deal with our budget effectively is also a symptom of our political divide.
C: The only way to solve our fiscal problems is for both sides to stop lying to their constituents. That the only way to get our house in order is to both raise taxes across the board, Get rid of most if not all tax loopholes, and cut federal spending across the board by about 10%.

What exactly were you trying to say?

But did ya have to post it twice?

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — 50 years* (1975 – present)

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY-5) — 44 years (1981 – present)

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — 40 years (1985 – present) Originally Posted by RX792P

But did ya have to post it twice?

Well I hate to break it to you but in my opinion you’re not the best communicator one could hope for... Originally Posted by txdot-guy

And your proffered solution, that addressed the problems posited, was what?!?

...3: The solution is REVOLUTION!... Originally Posted by txdot-guy

Can you highlight the phrase "the solution" in the OP for me?
That would be great...

...A: Trump is as much a symptom as a cause of our dysfunctional political system... Originally Posted by txdot-guy

So's yer say'n that Donald J Trump, who entered national politics in 2015, is "a cause" of our political disfunction going back some 100 years or more, as opposed to "a solution"?!? Approximately, how did you derive that solution? Regardless, say that to yourself a few hundred more times and report back with your findings...

...B: The inability of our legislators to deal with our budget effectively is also a symptom of our political divide... Originally Posted by txdot-guy

I ask the simple question, as myself and others have pointed out: Given the longevity of many politicians in the system: Does the term term limits ring any bells in the belfry?

...C: The only way to solve our fiscal problems is for both sides to stop lying to their constituents. That the only way to get our house in order is to both raise taxes across the board, Get rid of most if not all tax loopholes, and cut federal spending across the board by about 10%... Originally Posted by txdot-guy

So's yer say'n; the whacking of the pinata will continue until moral improves and that it is the only and exclusive way forward?!? Are you unaware of the equal sign (=) in the equation? I mean; couldn't spending be reduced and budget's balanced, without whacking the Bejesus outta the pinata, for example?!?

...What exactly were you trying to say? Originally Posted by txdot-guy

Two things, in order:

1. The status quo in a No-Go.
2. Whatcha got? Besides whacking the pinata, of course.

Seems we got's to get back to the basics of communication.
I see it as: <hat tip to the good folks at Merriam Webster>

• a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior
• a technique for expressing ideas effectively (as in speech)

Doesn't your Pinata-Whack-a-Mania solution seem a bit dictatorial, even to you, Comrade?

Three pages in and I still don’t understand the premise of this thread.

I give up.

...A: Trump is as much a symptom as a cause of our dysfunctional political system. He certainly is not helping...
C: The only way to solve our fiscal problems is for both sides to stop lying to their constituents. That the only way to get our house in order is to both raise taxes across the board, Get rid of most if not all tax loopholes, and cut federal spending across the board by about 10%.

What exactly were you trying to say? Originally Posted by txdot-guy

2 things:
- Same-same thinking delivers same-same results
- Trump did NOT cause the budget carnage of the last 25+ years

But first: at least you considered a token cut of 10%. Though that was after you raised taxes 3 times.
- Raise taxes
- Boosting SS taxes (other post)
- Reduce tax loopholes

Those are all 3rd rail items, i.e. big and toxic. Besides the systemic Continuing Resolution conundrum of the OP, we also have the UseItOrLoseIt doom-loop. If you've dealt with anything government funded, you would know about it.

Basically, if you had a budget of $xMillion last year and you don't use it all, then in a normal world where you have an actual budget, it would likely be reduced by the amount not spent. Seeing whereas we don't do actual budgets, but continue spending at previous levels +some extra, we get into a loop.

Here's a 2 page example, courtesy of OpentheBooks.

...Here are some purchases we found in the DOD checkbook last September:

$6.1 million of lobster tail
$16.6 million of ribeye steak
$211.7 million of furniture
$36,000 for footrests
$16.3 million on cartons, crates, and toolboxes...

So the simple question is: Do you believe when they created the budget for DoD the last budget year (which would have been 2000) that they included $6.1 million for lobster tail and $16.6 million for ribeye steak or any of the others above?

BTW: This is September now, i.e. the end of the fiscal period and we still have UseItOrLoseIt and endless Continuing Resolutions since 2001.