Stop America's Debt Crisis: We need a "balanced budget" amendment to the Constitution

[Walter Powers]

I know many of you have expressed frustration at the recent government slimdown. In the next few weeks, we'll also be reaching the deadline to raise the federal debt limit.

I, frankly, am tired of all these budget battles. And I have a solution that will end the need for raising the federal debt limit, and seriously address our countries dire money problems.

We need an amendment to the Constitution that requires the federal government spends no more then it takes in to the treasury. As it stands, the federal government is the only entity in this country that can be spending almost double what it takes in. I think that's crazy. This idea has been called a "balanced budget amendment", and it would do just that. It would balance the budget and require the deficit be $0. The only exception would be in the case of a major national crisis, such as World War III, or maybe an eruption of Yellowstone, would we be able to have a deficit.

Of course, most lawmakers would never pass this amendment; it considerably reduces their power. And the few that have have faced ridicule as "radical teabaggers". But what do you think of this amendment, would you support it? Why or why not?

[Sugaree]

>implying our law makers follow the Constitution as it stands now

Seriously? Are you conservatives STILL banging on this issue?

[Cygnus]

That would never EVER get approved, especially not with the compulsive consumerism that gringos have.

[Zenos]

get the democraps and the repubicants out of power then things will be better!

[britishboy]

that won't get passed, not like they listen anyway

[Stronk Serb]

Then salaries in government companies would get cut. I say cut the salaries of the politicians. They rarely do anything productive. Also put incarcerated criminals to do physical labor for the government. That way there would be no major money loss for feeding that rabble. Reduce army size and put it back home where it belongs, not in the Middle East killing children.

[Taryn98]

I'm all for it, but we all know it won't get passed because it would negatively effect those already in power.

[sqishy]

If there wasn't this argument between the Democrats and Republicans, things would be going much more smoothly.

[Vlerchan]

It won't get passed because it's a horrible idea (I think, anyway).

Running a deficit isn't necessarily always a bad thing. There's instances where actions taken by the government that do intentionally end up accruing a deficit are good - I'm thinking specifically Keynesian-styled stimulus' here. Forcing governments to balance budgets could also potentially make things worse in times of recession. When tax revenue drops (incomes decline; unemployment) and spending increases (social welfare; other benefits) rapidly stabilising the economy (raising taxes; cutting spending) in order to produce a balanced budget is only going to pull more money out of the economy, stunt growth further and prolong economic slumps (indefinitely, even). I'm not saying it's a bad thing for nations to aim for a balanced budget here - certainly not; it's a good thing - but rather making it a legal requirement that they're forced into could potentially be very detrimental for the economy.

[Walter Powers]

>implying our law makers follow the Constitution as it stands now

Seriously? Are you conservatives STILL banging on this issue?

What issue? The national debt? That we need to fix our economy before it tears itself apart? This is practically the most important issue of all! Why would you oppose this amendment?

That would never EVER get approved, especially not with the compulsive consumerism that gringos have.

Then salaries in government companies would get cut. I say cut the salaries of the politicians. They rarely do anything productive. Also put incarcerated criminals to do physical labor for the government. That way there would be no major money loss for feeding that rabble. Reduce army size and put it back home where it belongs, not in the Middle East killing children.

get the democraps and the repubicants out of power then things will be better!

If there wasn't this argument between the Democrats and Republicans, things would be going much more smoothly.

But do you four agree or disagree we should amend our constitution so Congress must pass a balanced budget? Why?

It won't get passed because it's a horrible idea (I think, anyway).

Running a deficit isn't necessarily always a bad thing. There's instances where actions taken by the government that do intentionally end up accruing a deficit are good - I'm thinking specifically Keynesian-styled stimulus' here. Forcing governments to balance budgets could also potentially make things worse in times of recession. When tax revenue drops (incomes decline; unemployment) and spending increases (social welfare; other benefits) rapidly stabilising the economy (raising taxes; cutting spending) in order to produce a balanced budget is only going to pull more money out of the economy, stunt growth further and prolong economic slumps (indefinitely, even). I'm not saying it's a bad thing for nations to aim for a balanced budget here - certainly not; it's a good thing - but rather making it a legal requirement that they're forced into could potentially be very detrimental for the economy.

When Obama did his trillion - dollar stimulus it didn't help at all. Evidence doesn't back up your claim here. The bottom line is that America is soon going to collapse under it's debt, and this is my idea to fix it. Do you have another?

And again, I'd make an exception for national emergency - World War 3, major earthquake, ect.

[Sugaree]

What issue? The national debt? That we need to fix our economy before it tears itself apart? This is practically the most important issue of all! Why would you oppose this amendment?


Because they hardly follow the Constitution anyway. They don't represent the people anymore, they represent whatever corporation is willing to pay the highest dollar for their services. Really Walter, you're pretty naive for a conservative.

[Vlerchan]

When Obama did his trillion - dollar stimulus it didn't help at all. Evidence doesn't back up your claim here. The bottom line is that America is soon going to collapse under it's debt, and this is my idea to fix it. Do you have another?
The stimulus helped. Actually take a look at the rate of America's GDP and Growth before and after the implementation of the stimulus. It caused debt levels to rise - sure, I'll admit that; it wasn't meant not to - but it got individuals spending again, money moving around the economy, and ultimately helped in avoiding the Great Depression II - The Great Depression I (1930-ish) was sorted by Keynesian styled stimulus', too. For more modern examples of the Keynesian stimulus in action see: Germany, Europe's most powerful economy, which implemented a similar stimulus package as America, though covered a greater proportion of the spending gaps leading to a stronger recovery.

You also completely avoided my second, more important, point: "When tax revenue drops (incomes decline; unemployment) and spending increases (social welfare; other benefits) rapidly stabilising the economy (raising taxes; cutting spending) in order to produce a balanced budget is only going to pull more money out of the economy, stunt growth further and prolong economic slumps (indefinitely, even). I'm not saying it's a bad thing for nations to aim for a balanced budget here - certainly not; it's a good thing - but rather making it a legal requirement that they're forced into could potentially be very detrimental for the economy." I'll give an example. In Ireland when our housing bubble burst we found ourselves going suddenly from a balanced budget to a budget deficit of 20+ billion, and that's a lot for a nation that takes in less than 40 billion a year. Imagine how much further our economy would've contracted had we been forced to implement 20 billion worth of cuts and tax hikes in one year? A lot, is the correct answer.

America will only collapse under its debt if Republicans continue to be stubborn idiots. Cutting down on expenditure some is necessarily a bad idea either, though, starting with Defence, maybe.

[Stronk Serb]

But do you four agree or disagree we should amend our constitution so Congress must pass a balanced budget? Why?

There is nothing wrong in having a bit of deficit or none at all. I do not mean to lose 3 times more money then you earn a year, but a smaller deficit which can be managed. I am all for cutting the salaries of politicians on the government payroll and finding alternate means to cut government expenses.

When Obama did his trillion - dollar stimulus it didn't help at all. Evidence doesn't back up your claim here. The bottom line is that America is soon going to collapse under it's debt, and this is my idea to fix it. Do you have another?

It's not just Obama's fault. The tax cuts instituted by the Republicans also damaged the economy. I think Obama tried to salvage what could be salvaged, and failed badly. You are facing the same problem like the USSR. You are economically collapsing. The treasury is empty, people don't have jobs, you are in the middle of the economical crisis. None of this is helping.

[Trenton_]

We're fine the way we are and the world is addicted to our spending habit. If we only spent what we collected, all markets would eventually fold because of how much extra we've been spending

[DerBear]

The republican party have actually made this entire shutdown a complete joke. They have blamed everyone from a park ranger to the mass media for this government shutdown. When in fact they had the power to prevent the shutdown but they insisted on getting their own way which led to this shutdown.

Then Marlin Stutzman a republican rep, went and said ""Don't Know What I Want, But I Want Respect"

when he was being questioned on the recent government shutdown. Its evident the republican party want their own way.

[darthearth]

The stimulus helped. Actually take a look at the rate of America's GDP and Growth before and after the implementation of the stimulus. It caused debt levels to rise - sure, I'll admit that; it wasn't meant not to - but it got individuals spending again, money moving around the economy, and ultimately helped in avoiding the Great Depression II - The Great Depression I (1930-ish) was sorted by Keynesian styled stimulus', too. For more modern examples of the Keynesian stimulus in action see: Germany, Europe's most powerful economy, which implemented a similar stimulus package as America, though covered a greater proportion of the spending gaps leading to a stronger recovery.

You also completely avoided my second, more important, point: "When tax revenue drops (incomes decline; unemployment) and spending increases (social welfare; other benefits) rapidly stabilising the economy (raising taxes; cutting spending) in order to produce a balanced budget is only going to pull more money out of the economy, stunt growth further and prolong economic slumps (indefinitely, even). I'm not saying it's a bad thing for nations to aim for a balanced budget here - certainly not; it's a good thing - but rather making it a legal requirement that they're forced into could potentially be very detrimental for the economy." I'll give an example. In Ireland when our housing bubble burst we found ourselves going suddenly from a balanced budget to a budget deficit of 20+ billion, and that's a lot for a nation that takes in less than 40 billion a year. Imagine how much further our economy would've contracted had we been forced to implement 20 billion worth of cuts and tax hikes in one year? A lot, is the correct answer.

America will only collapse under its debt if Republicans continue to be stubborn idiots. Cutting down on expenditure some is necessarily a bad idea either, though, starting with Defence, maybe.


These are good points, in fact they are the points that while at first I supported the Balanced Budget Amendment I don't really now. I haven't heard a good refutation of them yet. Government budgets I think shouldn't be considered exactly like household budgets. What about the investment securities the debt provides? Questions like that. As said above the debt should be controlled and manageable but there does seem to be uses for it. But there are a lot of economic issues that can be discussed here. I would like to see a national dialog that is educational on it. Where both sides can argue their case and respond to the other side's questions and concerns.

If the amendment can be past in some fashion that makes sense, I would like to see it. At least to put a control on outrageous government spending that doesn't need to be.

[tovaris]

We need a new budget moremoney and les debt too,but in the words of a specific person SO WHAT.
What usa needs is a likvidation that would be best for all.