Should we really have as a goal the lowest level of federal spending since Eisenhower?

[dsc]

In 1960 we had no Medicare, no medicaid, no civil rights laws, no epa, no department of education, and a whole host of other things. If we reduce our spending to 1960 levels then what are we willing to cut that existed then and exists now if we wish to keep the list I have above. On edit: This is the goal that David Plouffe is touting on the Sunday News Shows.

On further edit

In 1960, the last year Ike was in office, we spent 18.48 percent of GDP on the federal budget. In 2010, we spent 23.82 percent of the GDP on the federal budget. To cut down to Ike levels we would see a massive decrease in spending. Every one percent of GDP is equal to $145 billion so that cut would be $774.3 billion.

[Pab Sungenis]

1. Depends.

Can we get the level of taxation we had under Eisenhower, too?

[abelenkpe]

2. Particularly foolish goal

If we aren't also returning to the tax rate under Eisenhower.

[walerosco]

10. why not?

with 2 wars going on, not even the middle class deserves a tax cut. But remember, increase govt revenue wouldn't increase the GDP, so even with increase tax revenue, they cannot spend anymore money on the economy.

I say bring it on

[ProSense]

3. It

depends.

Krugman: "Mr. Obama...has done more to rein in long-run deficits than any previous president."

Reducing health care cost would reduce spending levels, and that's a really good thing.

[dsc]

4. I am not saying that all reductions are bad

but there is no way, no how, that we will cut federal spending on health care to levels lower than 1960.

[MiniMe]

5. I don't have a problem with it, as long as the taxes are the same

You can't fix it using just one side of the equation

[MH1]

6. If the people refuse to accept the necessary tax rates on the wealthy, then YES

This is a democracy. You may think your fellow citizens are clueless and are driving this country into a ditch, but they showed up to vote in bigger numbers in November than people who agree with you.

On the other hand, if this were a dictatorship and I the dictator - no.

[high density]

7. Just in December we had plenty of money to vote in tax cuts for the rich

Now in April it is time to reduce a half century of domestic progress...

Yesterday I got multiple mailings from Democrats (including Obama) begging for my money.

[Exilednight]

8. Here's the problem

Government, both Congress and the Presidency, do not how to solve for x in a basic mathematical equation. If x represents taxes in the following equation, 4+x=8, Obama and Congress believe that x=1.

Unless we convince that taxes need to be raised to 4 to equal spending, then we're never going to get anywhere.

[dsc]

9. kick