The President administers the government. Congress establishes laws and creates a budget. Congress has no enforcement power. A budget doesn't demand the money be spent. A budget limits the way money is spent.
A hard nose President can make congress pass a balanced budget. When a budget has a deficient, it means more money is allocated for spending than there is revenue. A hard nose President instructs his chosen Secretary of the Treasury to not write checks if there are insufficient funds.
Having a budget allowing spending the check writer must decide which items in the budget don't get their checks written. Having insufficient funds to meet all obligations you don't write checks to pay congressional salaries. Still can't meet obligations don't write checks to pay congressional staffers salaries. Next step don't pay for reimbursement or office expense for these individuals.
Now not paying congress will not make a dent in the month's deficit, so move on to pet projects of the congress. Earmarks are the obvious choice. Although rare, some earmarks can benefit the nation. As the administrator, use discretion and fund those projects.
These decisions are probably a cup of water in a five gallon bucket. The next step is to keep the American people on your side. So don't pay out money to the UN or any foreign nation except leases on military installations. The various ethnic groups usually have enough animosity against one another they will not join forces to form meaningful opposition.
Still lacking funds, stop paying National Public Radio, AMTRAK, or any of the nearly four dozen independent agencies (not under a Cabinet Secretary). Of course you do want to pay the Secret Service, Department of Defense, and Treasurary Cabinet. And, absolutely don't touch Social Security.
It is my opinion this approach would result in passage of a balanced budget.
No comments:
Post a Comment