The Soapbox

Joined: 08/30/2002 Posts: 6853
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A very simplistic view of the world that is not without merit

It sounds like you have passed a high school class that looks at the challenges of the Roman Empire and first-year macroeconomics. Congratulations! Maximizing utility yes. What is the metric for that? Maybe we should just allow citizens to earmark their tax dollars while we're at it

So where do you draw the line? Should the Federal Government get out of the business of running entitlement programs (SS, Medicare / Medicaid) and / or providing for the national defense? Because that accounts for roughly 2/3 of total spending, I believe. I'm guessing debt service accounts for another 10%, but I could be remembering incorrectly. Which leaves somewhere on the order of 20% of the budget to cover veterans benefits, education (mostly provided by the state), transportation and infrastructure (presumably including the FAA, interstate highways, etc.), R&D, etc.

I'm all about having a federal government that spends less than 20-25% of our GDP every year and borrows a ton to do it. I'm also all about having a healthcare system that doesn't chew through a similarly large percentage. But if you're going to limit both spending and the power of the federal government, over time, basing the argument on who should pay for roads and bridges is about as impactful as funding NPR or the NEA. Yes, there is a big infrastructure bill on the table now, so it is a hot topic.

Really comes down to what the people of this country want it to be. You guys keep all your tax money in CA, NY'ers keep theirs, we in the DMV hold onto ours - and we make our own decisions to maximize our own "utility", see what happens to the rest of this place. Hell, why stop at the state level. Why should the people of Arlington, Alexandria or Fairfax pay for a road in bumblefuck Virginia? I think it comes down to the fact that that's just not who we are - the benefits of scale and fairly broad-based prosperity outweigh the inefficiencies of our system.

That said, let's have substantive discussions about taxing and spending, and degrees of Federalism. Always worthy topics. That isn't happening right now, unfortunately. Instead we're talking about "widespread voter fraud" and why people shouldn't get vaccinated (and the other side is presenting plenty of distractions too, they're just not as offensive right now).

And grift will happen wherever the opportunity presents itself. Do we not see any at the state and local level today? Have we not in the past?
[Post edited by Capital City Hoo at 09/22/2021 1:16PM]

(In response to this post by Los Angeles Hoo)

Posted: 09/22/2021 at 1:13PM

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Any predictions for what will happen on 9/27 with the infrastructure bill? -- Wahoos6 09/22/2021 11:22AM

It's the Democrats. They're guaranteed to fuck it up ** -- Fuzzy Dunlop 09/22/2021 2:05PM

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I heard the Orange Asswipists are supposed to storm the Capitol on 9/27. -- ResistHoo 09/22/2021 12:48PM

Need new material maybe? Or wrong thread? ** -- HoodatB 09/22/2021 12:59PM

This board is basically a troll farm now -- wahoo138 09/22/2021 1:16PM

Orange asswipe, is literally Hitler, and that’s different -- DTsBicep 09/22/2021 1:04PM

If you clowns would ever talk about anything else it wouldn't be so easy!!! ** -- ResistHoo 09/22/2021 1:27PM

We have been talking about the 9/27 vote -- DTsBicep 09/22/2021 1:30PM

Exhibit A, DTsGluteus. -- ResistHoo 09/22/2021 1:56PM

Exhibit B -- ResistHoo 09/22/2021 2:09PM

Is it your learned contention that Orange Asswipe is not literally Hitler? ** -- ResistHoo 09/22/2021 1:47PM

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Better yet... -- Los Angeles Hoo 09/22/2021 12:21PM

That was pretty much a winning argument 'til about 1850 when things like -- southdenverhoo 09/22/2021 2:03PM

IMHO, it's only an appealing argument to three groups of people: -- WahooRQ 09/22/2021 3:06PM

Disappointing that it was upvoted by six people on a UVA message board all -- Seattle .Hoo 09/22/2021 3:48PM

You have to remember these guys are officially the troll party. -- WahooRQ 09/22/2021 3:50PM

This is the most stupid post you've ever made and that's saying something. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 09/22/2021 1:33PM

A very simplistic view of the world that is not without merit -- Capital City Hoo 09/22/2021 1:13PM

It was a simplistic post, and that's what I meant it to be... -- Los Angeles Hoo 09/22/2021 1:43PM

Right on cue! first it was utility, now it is nuance ** -- Capital City Hoo 09/22/2021 1:56PM

No shame in not being able to keep up, but... -- Los Angeles Hoo 09/22/2021 1:59PM

As with every post you make, you're big on how things should be -- CMUHoo 09/22/2021 2:19PM

And we were really hoping you'd school all us cretins on the "nuances of -- WahooRQ 09/22/2021 1:47PM

You are correct. 10% budget is debt service; $2,400 per household per year -- HoodatB 09/22/2021 1:20PM

Been posting that last thought for years. Government debt is not like your -- 81_Hokie 09/22/2021 1:32PM

Love the idea/concept of more state ownership of infrastructure -- HoodatB 09/22/2021 1:06PM

That sounds good in theory, or if it was still -- BocaHoo91 09/22/2021 1:03PM

The Articles of Confederation is in the dustbin of history for a reason. -- Chuck Taylor 09/22/2021 12:53PM

Thank you. So called "conservatives" confuse the two documents. ** -- Seattle .Hoo 09/22/2021 1:31PM

Imagine a nationwide hiway network built and maintained that way ** -- WaxHoo 09/22/2021 12:48PM

There are some things that need federal involvement,... -- Los Angeles Hoo 09/22/2021 12:53PM

So then yours isn't a difference of principle -- Beerman 09/22/2021 1:31PM

It is a difference of principle. The federal government ideally... -- Los Angeles Hoo 09/22/2021 1:56PM

Exactly. LA is stuck with an 18th century vision of the country ** -- 81_Hokie 09/22/2021 12:52PM

Re: Grift -- Beerman 09/22/2021 12:43PM

Small town sheriffs never took a gift to look the other way, right?** -- 81_Hokie 09/22/2021 12:50PM

I agree completely, and this is why I would... -- Los Angeles Hoo 09/22/2021 12:47PM

Moving it to the county level would be even better, right? Closer to people ** -- 81_Hokie 09/22/2021 12:51PM

Exactly. You are catching on. ** -- Los Angeles Hoo 09/22/2021 1:01PM

No he’s mocking you. We are a nation interconnected by roads bridges Airpor -- 111Balz 09/22/2021 1:09PM

I know he's mocking me. I just returned the favor. He can't engage... -- Los Angeles Hoo 09/22/2021 1:15PM

Not to mention we've taken Govco's roll well past a national interstate -- Hoodafan 09/22/2021 1:17PM

We’re commenting on lah’s post. He was not advocating any middle ground he -- 111Balz 09/22/2021 1:24PM

Even better every Homeowner should be responsible for building the section -- 111Balz 09/22/2021 12:54PM

And tolls to pay for it. LA's perfect system has tolls every 100 feet** -- 81_Hokie 09/22/2021 12:56PM

And I for one don’t trust that technology stuff, I want toll booths! ** -- 111Balz 09/22/2021 12:58PM

This thread reminds me of the novel "Snow Crash" -- PBCHoo 09/22/2021 1:19PM

Aka Federalism ** -- HokieDan95 09/22/2021 12:40PM

That's assuming each state would be inclined to provide for their people -- Oregon Hoo 09/22/2021 12:28PM

It's not the job of the state to "provide for their people"... -- Los Angeles Hoo 09/22/2021 12:43PM

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Just an example of life in Alabama for you -- CMUHoo 09/22/2021 1:00PM

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I didn't say they were, only that they COULD be -- Oregon Hoo 09/22/2021 1:51PM

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Nah. -- Beerman 09/22/2021 12:00PM

That's true too ** -- Oregon Hoo 09/22/2021 12:04PM

Here's a fun idea -- Oregon Hoo 09/22/2021 12:06PM

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