Expanding the Military

Bush Supports Bigger US Military for Long Ideological Struggle
By Al Pessin 20 December 2006

So the real question is how to pay for this???

Yes we are at war and should be giving the military what ever it needs, but building up new units takes a long time and is expensive. Its not like buying a ship or tank, you have to pay the people and that is still the biggest cost of the US military.

Well here are some ideas on how to pay for a bigger military without raising taxes or increasing the debt. Other ideas? Please comment (and let me know I'm not talking in an echo chamber).

1. Cut Congress' pay by 20%

2. Eliminate the defined pension for all members of Congress, give them a 401K with matching.

3. Eliminate medical care for former members of Congress, let them rely on Medicare like the rest of us when they reach 65.

4. Cut Congressional staff by 20%, let the members open their own mail.

Ok, I know doing that will feel good but won't save much money so here are some real money saving ideas:

5. Eliminate ALL farm subsidies. If one wants to farm or ranch, you take the risks. Also eliminate quotas on the amount of crops farmers can grow. Yes this will lead to fewer farmers but that is capitalism.

6. Eliminate all federal funding for roads, rail or airports execept for the interstate highways and that is only funded by the federal gas tax, no more bridges to no-where paid for by the federal government.

7. Eliminate federal funding for education K - 12 and eliminate federal education mandates. Its the State's job so let them do it. Also States will be forced to compete for jobs and companies by offering better schools. Also eliminate federal requirements for K-12 education, again that is a State function. If a State wants everyone to learn PC only garbage, the voters can change the State's mind or move. Allow the States to compete on education as well as on other things.

Other ideas?