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Tech CEOs tell US gov't how to cut $1 trillion from deficit

3 points by labboy 16y ago

jranck 16y ago
Seems like a reasonable way to cut the ever expanding deficit. The real question is will the Obama administration welcome the ideas, especially from outsiders? A good idea is a good idea, regardless of where it came from.
- byoung2 16y ago
  The real question is will the Obama administration welcome the ideas, especially from outsiders? I think it's more complex than that. I'm sure the administration will welcome the ideas, but the federal government is like an aircraft carrier while businesses are like speedboats...you can't turn the government around as quickly. It will probably take several acts of congress to get any of these implemented, and senators and representatives will likely fight every one because it will kill jobs in their districts.
  - jranck 16y ago
    Too true, hence the need for more businessmen/women in office. I would think a lot of cuts they're recommending could be accomplished through executive orders as a lot of them are involving federal programs and mandates. If not we could only hope both sides could come to an agreement and pass them through the houses.
pzxc 16y ago
Without getting too political, I can't help but be reminded of Atlas Shrugged. There are so many things wrong with the way our government runs its financial affairs, not the least of which is maintaining a global military empire, massive entitlement programs, endless foreign aid, staggeringly unfunded liabilities... You can go on and on, and Ron Paul seems to be just about the only elected official who cares in the slightest or even grasps where we seem to be headed. Yet in spite of all this, as the tech community we're stilling willing to do our best to keep all those plates spinning as it nears impossibility. The government acts like a teenager with its first credit card, and we do what we can to tell it how it can save a few bucks with a rewards program... I can't help but wonder at what point we're all going to shrug and say, "Who is John Galt?"

3 points by labboy 16y ago

Seems like a reasonable way to cut the ever expanding deficit. The real question is will the Obama administration welcome the ideas, especially from outsiders? A good idea is a good idea, regardless of where it came from.

byoung2 16y ago
The real question is will the Obama administration welcome the ideas, especially from outsiders? I think it's more complex than that. I'm sure the administration will welcome the ideas, but the federal government is like an aircraft carrier while businesses are like speedboats...you can't turn the government around as quickly. It will probably take several acts of congress to get any of these implemented, and senators and representatives will likely fight every one because it will kill jobs in their districts.
- jranck 16y ago
  Too true, hence the need for more businessmen/women in office. I would think a lot of cuts they're recommending could be accomplished through executive orders as a lot of them are involving federal programs and mandates. If not we could only hope both sides could come to an agreement and pass them through the houses.

pzxc 16y ago

Without getting too political, I can't help but be reminded of Atlas Shrugged. There are so many things wrong with the way our government runs its financial affairs, not the least of which is maintaining a global military empire, massive entitlement programs, endless foreign aid, staggeringly unfunded liabilities... You can go on and on, and Ron Paul seems to be just about the only elected official who cares in the slightest or even grasps where we seem to be headed. Yet in spite of all this, as the tech community we're stilling willing to do our best to keep all those plates spinning as it nears impossibility. The government acts like a teenager with its first credit card, and we do what we can to tell it how it can save a few bucks with a rewards program... I can't help but wonder at what point we're all going to shrug and say, "Who is John Galt?"