Cal Thomas - Where would you cut?

PAUL BUTLER, HOST: Today is Thursday, September 16th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Paul Butler.

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: And I’m Myrna Brown.

Moderation used to be a virtue. Not anymore—especially when it comes to government spending. Here’s commentator Cal Thomas.

CAL THOMAS, COMMENTATOR: Some moderate Democrats are troubled by the massive $3.5 trillion spending bill that would forever transform America into a debtor nation. In response, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked, “Where would you cut?”

Her question carries with it a conceit held by many contemporary politicians that every government program is sacred and must not be touched. Even suggesting a decrease in the rate of spending increases can get a member trashed by those with vested or ideological interests in big government. Every government program inevitably attracts lawmakers with personal or political interests in maintaining it. The programs become like barnacles on a ship—useless, but difficult to remove.

But I accept Pelosi's challenge. Gladly!

In its 2021 Long-Term Budget Outlook, the Congressional Budget Office gave the country its lowest ranking ever—20th in the world in overall economic freedom. It said the reason was a dramatic decline in fiscal health. We are worse in that ranking, CBO said, than 150 other countries. The CBO concluded that because of overspending, the national debt has already eclipsed the size of the economy. If it continues, we will reach 202 percent of GDP by 2051. If ever there was a case for "we can't go on like this," this is it.

The Heritage Foundation also released a report on the national debt. It noted, “The primary drivers of the increases in spending are unsustainable entitlement programs, which require significant reform not only for the sake of the taxpayers, but also to allow better results for Americans in need. Unless substantial reforms are implemented, Medicare's Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be exhausted in 2026. The Social Security Trust Fund is projected to be depleted by 2032, which could cause across-the-board benefit reductions for all retirees just 11 years from now.”

In 2009, Brian Riedl of Heritage listed 50 examples of government waste. The list was not exhaustive and arguably has become longer in subsequent years. But cuts could begin with those spending programs to build public trust.

Included are billions of dollars in improper government payments. Those totaled $72 billion dollars in 2008. We could cut another $92 billion dollars in corporate welfare. And government auditors spent five years examining all federal programs and concluded that 22 percent of them failed to show any positive impact on the populations they served. Together those cost taxpayers $123 billion dollars a year! Then we have unused or vacant federal properties. Those cost $25 billion dollars a year to maintain.

I could go on. But even this short list answers Pelosi's question about where to cut. Many of the things bloating our federal budget are not even the federal government’s responsibility. Before going on another spending spree, lawmakers should be required to read the 10th Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

I’m Cal Thomas.

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