You fix the budget

[hymnia]

The NY Times has an online game where you can choose what spending to cut or taxes to raise in order to balance the US Federal Budget: Fun for the whole family! XD

I fixed that sucker in less than 15 minutes. OH, IF ONLY IT WERE REALLY THAT EASY!

Joie

Comments

[major_dallas]

so don't keep us in suspense, what did you cut? What Taxes did you raise?

[hymnia]

I mostly raised taxes--did away with the Bush cuts and selected a lot of the other taxes that were listed there. I cut farm subsidies and some defense spending, and raised Medicare and Social Security age to 68.

Joie for President!

[tibbycat]

I'd vote for you...

...if I could.

[warrioreowyn]

Wow, that's handy! I got it fixed too.

Spending: end farm subsidies, reduce nuclear arsenal and space spending, reduce Navy and Air Force fleets*, cancel or delay some expensive weapons programs, reduce US military presence in Asia and Europe**, reduce troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to 60,000 by 2015, enact medical malpractice reform, increase Medicare eligibility age to 68, reduce social security benefits to people with high incomes.

Revenue: Return estate and capital gains taxes to Clinton-era levels, allow Bush tax cuts for people making over $250,000 to expire, modify payroll taxes to once again include 90% of all income, put 5% surtax on income over $1 million, eliminate tax loopholes, reduce mortgage-interest tax deduction, and tax banks based on size and riskiness of holdings.

*Fun fact: the US has as many operational aircraft carriers as the rest of the world combined.

**Europe is quite capable of defending itself.