Hi. Dumbfuck here.

Our spending would match our current tax revenue if we cut our spending levels back to the Dark Dark Days of... 2001. Surely you remember back then, there were no roads. The military was holding bake sales just to buy fuel for the B2 bombers. Senior citizens were starving in the ditches (they couldn't starve in the streets; there weren't any in 2001. Remember?) It was FUCKING ANARCHY!

The federal budget needs to be gone through with an axe, not with a scalpel. DoD, DoE, the other DoE, HUD, Medicare, Medicaid, SS, DEA not a one of them should be off the budget cutting table. There is No federal agency that couldn't operate today at 2001 budget levels and still have plenty of fat that could be trimmed.

If we go back into Ancient American History (the late 1990's) we even had a modest budget surplus (discounting the looming implicit debts of the soon to be retiring Baby Boomers).

Why do you believe this is an undesirable goal?
Was the Federal Government emaciated then?
Were American citizens getting good value for their tax dollars then? Are they now?

Peter

I guess your imagination isn't very good.

Sometimes protecting your stuff is the same as protecting people.

Generators sprout legs and walk away around here when the power goes out. Should I let someone carry off my generator that powers my water well and my refrigerator? I know! I'll feed my kids with my Moral Superiority!

When you're stealing my property, you're stealing the fraction of my life that I worked to acquire that property.

Peter

Because the author of the article wasn't terribly imaginative.
Your bank, Walmart, MS, or Apple could issue a currency backed by stock in their company, products, or nothing at all. It would be just as valid as any of the other fiat currencies in the world today. Would you be interested in an Oklahoma State Bank Dollar, or a Wal-buck, or a real M$, or iCent? Probably not, but you wouldn't be required to. US Dollars, backed by nothing but promises that they're worth something, are a similar financial fiction that only works because we agree to pretend like they're worth something. Hell, company gift cards are damned close to being corporate currencies already. Currencies backed by ounces of gold, gallons of gasoline, cups of coffee, kilowatt/hours of electricity, M&Ms, would be possible.
There would likely be some very bad currencies created. (Stay away from Pyro_Peter's_Pesos, for example) But other currencies might be very good. Some might be better than the US Dollar and maybe our government and the Fed would work to keep the Dollar good too.

Peter

touché

Peter

The Free Competition in Currency Act is not about returning to the gold standard. It is about putting some more competition into the currency market with the expected result that good currency will drive out the bad. By not allowing competing currencies people are forced to do business with dollars backed by nothing but the full faith and credit of the US. (Which, ain't what it used to be) Ideally, the Dollar would be the good currency and be made better by the competition.

True. But what are the odds of a 5,000,000 kilo gold asteroid falling into Lake Michigan or the sudden invention of a machine that cheaply transmutes aluminum into gold compared to the Fed cranking out another few trillion of paper money?

Fewer per period of time or just fewer? We haven't been off the gold standard that long and we've had a few whoppers. But, once again, the Free Competition In Currency Act isn't about returning to a gold standard.

Nothing except the Secret Service

Less than 5% inflation is HUGE. Over your lifetime it is crippling to anyone who saves money. Small percentages compounded over decades grow to large percentages very quickly.

Never said it was. Frankly, from an investing point of view I think gold is a terrible investment, little better than hiding a stack of dollars in a shoebox. However, the dollar could be made better. Which would benefit many of us.
Peter

Troll? Really? Asking your congressmen to act responsibly with your money is a Troll?

Peter

The real counterfitters that we citizens need to be worried about is the Fed and Congress inflating the value of our money away. If you haven't had your congressman's ear recently telling them to knock it off then now is a good time to do so.

The Free Competition in Currency Act and Federal Reserve Transparency Act are good places to start. Talk to your congressman today and ask them to sober up.

Peter

That's why I've listed my address as 1060 West Addison, Chicago IL for about 30 years now...

Peter

So, I selected below 60F now, but it'll be above 100F soon enough. Peter

I can't believe you still use the word 'surf'.

You can still use it, but only in moderation.

Pyro

People think, "nobody's out to get me."

You must be new here.

Peter

If there ARE any problems or clashes onboard a Mars vessel, outside of the simulator, all they have to do is have one guy dedicated to saying "Guys, we're on our way to MARS!" and poof! Problems solved.

That works for road trips to Mardi Gras also.

Peter

So, would that be a Jick Doke?

Peter

For the last decade at least, the UK and the rest of Europe has had diesel cars the size of an Accord / Aura / Fusion which could average 42mpg (50mpg Imp.) in mixed driving - at least it was never a problem for me - urban driving reduces the mileage of course.

Presuming that you're attempting to limit CO2 emissions your 42mpg diesel emits as much CO2 as a 36mpg gasoline powered car.

Diesel has 2778 grams of Carbon per gallon while gasoline has only 2421. (Source: The EPA.

There are a fair number of 36mpg cars on the road today.

Peter

* Human Resources, Legal and Staff -- people named "Peter"

You're in luck! I'm available for hire right now!

Peter