All the conflict in Congress over budget this, and budget that, got me thinking. Would it be possible to break down all the budgetary items and have two main categories: a budget for the operating costs of the Federal government (salaries, operating overhead, etc.), and a separate budget for discretionary spending, capital investment (infrastructure, weapons systems, etc.)? This seems, on the surface, to be a logical means for We The People to see where it is our money goes. Additionally, it would serve to cut down on those pesky “earmarks” and “pork” and the like. Both these budgets would, by law, have to be balanced, and their due dates would be six months apart, so they could truly be separate.
pay a salary : operating budget
build a bridge : capital budget
pay the CIA’s electric bill : operating budget
pay for an “armed conflict” : capital budget
It seems reasonable enough to me. A full audit of the Federal government would be so much more meaningful and clear to the people who earn the money and pay the taxes to run our government. Hey, it is our money. We have the Constitutional right to know where every dime goes; remember the phrase, “ No taxation without representation”? I think we all need to put a lot more muscle behind our Constitution and demand that it be follow more closely than in the past 60 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment