Proposed budget via NY times

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by hi_im_god

you're right that any serious effort to reduce deficits includes cutting defense spending but dealing with entitlements and raising revenues (taxes) also has to happen.

The obvious answer to compromise and do some of each just isn't possible in a poisoned partisan atmosphere. So we'll cut good programs in the 13% of the federal budget that's discretionary and ignore the 87% where the real problems lie.

The one component of the budget that could be saved w/o cutting any programs is the interest on the debt $474.15 Billion for this year. If somehow Dems and Reps could come to agreement that this is where we can save and Reps agree to raise taxes (with the understanding all new Revenue pays down the debt) at the same time Dems agree to cut spending by an equal amount (and again use that money to pay down the debt) we are capable of saving almost $5 Trillion over the next decade. With Medicare/Medicade fraud rates estimated to be 10% there's another $110 Billion or $1.1 Trillion over 10 years saved if its rooted out. One thing that is very evident looking at the budget chart is we don't need a big Obamacare square to try and squeeze in.