Solve the deficit yourself! (Cool New York Times program)

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Soliloquy

So, I just ran across this cool little "puzzle" at the New York Times. It basically gives you all the proposals made for fixing the U.S. deficit, and lets you pick and choose between them until you have successfully closed the budget gaps for 2015 and 2030.


I tried to keep my own poorly-conceived plan from increasing taxes in risky ways that would harm the economy (I don't think increasing the taxes on big banks is the best idea in the world, for instance), and also tried to avoid cutting too much funding, either.

You can look at my plan here.

I am worried about what possible effects capping medicare growth might cause, but otherwise I'm decently pleased with what my ideas are.

What are your guys' plans?
 
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Soliloquy

Ah, so you're more of a tax-raising, military-cutting type of guy, eh?

Maybe I'm a little too much on edge with the situation in North Korea, since I don't feel safe cutting military too much these days. It could be all irrational thinking on my part, though.

I stand by not wanting the banks to be taxed more, however. As much as I feel it's their fault the economy is this way, taxing them would just make them more reluctant to give out loans, and we kind of need the banks to loosen their purse strings a bit if we want the economy to recover.
 
Dave

Dave

Staff member
Here's my plan.

I think that we need to leave the military alone because of necessary and looming threats. I believe that raising the age levels for retirement, social security and medicare is a must mostly due to our advancing ages.

I solved the deficit in the short run and have a big surplus in the long term. But it'll never work. Washington sees that money and instead of planning towards the future sees what frivolous things they can spend it on.

---------- Post added at 06:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------

I could go line by line but I think some of the choices are just naive. Like the Bank tax. Sure, it can be enacted, but they'll just turn around and screw the people so it's not a good choice in the least.
 
Krisken

Krisken

See, I was worried about raising the social security age due to the problems we're already facing with unemployment. Imagine when all those baby boomers hit retirement age and all of the kids of their kids need jobs... egads.
 
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