The Great Debate - Free College For All

[sanantone]

Well, if anyone read the CBO's report yesterday, all of this "free" (taxpayer funded) stuff is going to go the way of the dodo bird anyway, as they're going to have to stop most programs, welfare, everything, and raise taxes, to pay for all of the "free" stuff we've given away in the past.  

"In 2019, the debt held by the public is projected to amount to 78 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product, compared with 35 percent in 2007. That number is set to increase to 92 percent by the end of next decade, as well as 144 percent by 2049, the report says."

So the point is moot.

Yes, it makes no sense that our deficit is growing while the economy is doing well. This usually happens during recessions and depressions when taxes are cut and spending goes up to stimulate the economy. The most recent tax cut did very little to improve an already health economy, and it increased our deficit. If Congress doesn't let the tax cuts expire (which they probably won't because it'd be politically unpopular), then that 144% number will increase to 219%!

Everyone, even liberals, should be fiscal conservatives when it comes to spending.  If money is wasted on stupid stuff, and if we spend more than we take in, there's no money for the things that YOU think are important.  We can't help the downtrodden when we're drowning in debt, it's just a fact.

I'm all for cutting wasteful military spending with the exception of the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is the most important branch for homeland security and intercepting drugs, but they receive the least funding. Not too long ago, the current administration wanted to cut their funding even further. With the other branches, defense contractors are gouging taxpayers. At the state level, a lot of money could be saved by reducing the prison industrial complex and ending tax breaks for multi-billion dollar companies. State tax breaks are the reason why Netflix and Amazon paid $0 in taxes last year.