Just a Game

The U.S. budget super committee is still struggling to agree on a plan for budget cuts.  While the super committee has been debating this issue, American Public Media has been creating an online “game” so that the American public can attempt to balance the national budget based on what they believe to be most important in terms of spending and taxes.  The game is called “Budget Hero” and it is even being used by university classrooms to help teach students about how the government really operates financially.  http://budgethero.publicradio.org/widget/widget.php

Binge Spending

Typically a “binge” of any sort is considered unhealthy for the individual in question and those around them.  The Boston Globe published today a commentary written by Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts that refers to Washington’s “binge spending habits” (to see the full article, visit http://tinyurl.com/4ggc9n4). 

Not only has federal, state and local spending been (for some time and continues to be) at a level that can easily qualify as “binge spending,” but it has also become a habit.  One could argue this is no more than a “bad habit” that we can take some time to “try to work on” or that it is a self-destructive addiction that requires immediate intervention.  It seems the majority of individuals seeking an honest evaluation of our fiscal health recognize that the latter of these two interpretations is, in fact the truth.    

Cost Cutting

While our country needs more fiscal conservatism there are always limits to the amount of cost cutting a family, company or our government is able to manage and still remain healthy. 

At the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington ideas were a dime a dozen when it came to cutting budgets and deficits.  Many have promise yet others are rather extreme- getting rid of the IRS and the EPA were two head-turners.   

While Republicans determine how to fulfill a campaign promise to reduce the budget by $100 billion, some of these ideas likely won’t make their cut.  See http://tinyurl.com/6dvo9qb for more information.