# Bushco..in order to pay for our war... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 6, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602 "2005-02-06T02:38:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/1 "2005-02-06T02:38:53Z")
We will have to cut health programs. We know you will understand. The Iraqi populace is much more important than you are. > **[Bush Budget Calls for Cuts in Health Services (Published 2005)](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/05/politics/bush-budget-calls-for-cuts-in-health-services.html)** > > Pres Bush's budget for 2006 cuts spending for wide range of public health programs, including several to protect nation against bioterrorist attacks and to respond to medical emergencies; cuts are part of attempt to control federal deficit, while... > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 - President Bush’s budget for 2006 cuts spending for a wide range of public health programs, including several to protect the nation against bioterrorist attacks and to respond to medical emergencies, budget documents show. What is going on??? ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/2 "2005-02-06T02:42:59Z")
Addiction…your addiction. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/3 "2005-02-06T02:45:10Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > Addiction…your addiction. So you think this is a good thing? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/4 "2005-02-06T02:48:57Z")
[Here’s a link for people who don’t like to register](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=avIIWJahlbVc&refer=top_world_news). ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/5 "2005-02-06T02:50:37Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > [Here’s a link for people who don’t like to register](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=avIIWJahlbVc&refer=top_world_news). Many thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/6 "2005-02-06T02:52:38Z")
Didn’t you say you’re not a hater? Don’t the 20 billion Bush bashing threads you’ve started kind of disprove that? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/7 "2005-02-06T02:53:48Z")
That’s a one sided presentation **Reeder**. The linked article contains instances where health related allocations are increasing. Unfortunately, that’s not grist for your mill, so it escapes mention by you. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/8 "2005-02-06T02:58:13Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > That’s a one sided presentation **Reeder**. The linked article contains instances where health related allocations are increasing. Unfortunately, that’s not grist for your mill, so it escapes mention by you. Waiting for you to break it all down. all I see is that Bushco wants to cut programs that are needed for their programs. prove the story wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/9 "2005-02-06T03:04:51Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > So you think this is a good thing? When trauma centers here in California close on a monthly basis because it could not operate on a budget, then nobody gets served. NOBODY. I would gladly take 90%+ of something rather than 100% of nothing. Your addiction to Bush could be 90% cured now, instead of 0% cured at a later date. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/10 "2005-02-06T03:15:00Z")
> [@Yeticus Rex](#): > > When trauma centers here in California close on a monthly basis because it could not operate on a budget, then nobody gets served. NOBODY. I would gladly take 90%+ of something rather than 100% of nothing. > > Your addiction to Bush could be 90% cured now, instead of 0% cured at a later date. Huh??? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/11 "2005-02-06T03:21:30Z")
I’ve got to echo **Reeder** ’s “huh?” there. How does reducing a budget make it easier to operate under? Recent experience in British Columbia suggests that reduced healthcare budgets tend to result in increased hospital closures. I know, it sounds crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/12 "2005-02-06T03:26:20Z")
Yeticus Rex is an idiot. Forgive him for he knows what he says. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/13 "2005-02-07T20:03:11Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Yeticus Rex is an idiot. > Forgive him for he knows what he says. Forgive Reeder, for he does not know what I do. Reeder, I run a business that is contracted (indirectly) with the state of California to provide first line services for the developmentally disabled. For the last 13 years, I have operated with the funds that have been paid by the state. In some cases, the contracted rate has not been adjusted since I began in August of 1992, at the height of the double-dip recession. Our first payment for providing a whole month of service provided that month was going to be paid in warrants (IOUs) in mid-September. We almost closed that following month had it not been for Pete Wilson and Willie Brown to stop wanking each other off and finally reaching a budget 72 days AFTER it was supposed to be in effect (July 1st). The rates that we have operated under have been frozen except for a 5% cost of living adjustment about 3 years ago. Lately though, there has been some cutting (by the Dept. of Social Services) done that takes the 5% back and then some. So in actuality, I am operating with rates that are pre-1992. I had to find better ways to save money in certain places to make up for the cuts. My other option was to shut down or sell which is a disservice for all involved - 60+ employees and 150+ clients. So, when I tell you it is better to run at 90%+ (reflecting the medical services budget that you best friend Bush left intact) instead of going broke by spending at 100% as if the cuts didn’t have to apply, you will eventually go broke or shut down. The state’s trauma centers that couldn’t adjust to waning funding/income (usually to mismanagement or poor account receivable collections), they went belly up. So when you cry over a reduction that is around 10% of last year’s current budget (which I would love to have that happen to my contracted rates rather than being frozen for 10+ years)…and your whiny attempt to point out a great social injustice of shifting funds around to ADAPT to the current events like the war or bolstering stockpiles of vaccines and drugs is beyond naive. My point is - Learn to adapt to the budget or die. At least the budget issues are being addressed by Bush are being done BEFORE they go into effect, not after (which is California’s problem). Then you would understand my point of view. This “idiot” has done it (adapting) for 13 years so far. Your “Huh?” confirms your inability to grasp this. Your return to the old habit of spewing great numbers of Bush Bash Threads[sub]TM[/sub] furthur supports this. Again, go seek counseling for your addiction. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/14 "2005-02-07T21:54:04Z")
**YR:** \* […] shifting funds around to ADAPT to the current events like the war […] Learn to adapt to the budget or die.\* But you can still **complain** about the budget, can’t you? I mean, I thought that’s all this thread was about. After all, it’s not as though Bush has **no choice** except to cut healthcare budgets. He could rescind some of his lavish tax cuts, for example. I know that there are no easy solutions in dealing with a heavily unbalanced budget like ours, but considering how recklessly Bush went around in his first term demanding drastic revenue cuts and launching an expensive war, I’m not all that inclined to be sympathetic when he then turns around and says he’s got to cut domestic healthcare. The fact that he **could** be mishandling the national finances even worse than he is does count for something, true, but IMO not very much. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/15 "2005-02-07T22:37:24Z")
Put me down for fuck the Iraqis, and anyone else we’re helping at _our_ expense. It’s time we concentrate on ourselves. We DON’T have unlimited resources. Maybe once we get our act together we’ll be in a better position to help others. /reality //bah! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/16 "2005-02-07T22:41:22Z")
BTW, before people start jumping on my back, let me say clarify, because you can read into that last statement a number of ways. I think we _should_ help people, but as of late I wonder if we’re spreading our money too thinly, and if the return is worth the investment. I feel we’re not investing in ourselves as much as we should/could. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/17 "2005-02-07T23:26:02Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Put me down for fuck the Iraqis Sadly, we’re in a position now that if we _don’t_ fix the mess, it will cost us more down the line. Bush needs to retract his tax cuts. I’ll go with reduced services if the government at least acts fiscally responsible. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/18 "2005-02-07T23:33:44Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > Sadly, we’re in a position now that if we _don’t_ fix the mess, it will cost us more down the line. Bush needs to retract his tax cuts. I’ll go with reduced services if the government at least acts fiscally responsible. I’ll go with reduced aid, because as we both know, fiscal responsibility ain’t coming anytime soon. In many ways I wonder if it will cost us more down the line if we stay in. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/19 "2005-02-08T00:44:58Z")
What I _love_ :rolleyes: these days are the quotes from Bush where he blames the budget problems on “runaway government spending”. It’s like Lance Ito blaming undisciplined judges for turning high-profile cases into media circuses. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602/20 "2005-02-08T00:53:52Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > We will have to cut health programs. Yes, but he found over [a quarter of a **billion** dollars to _promote marriage_](http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2006/hhs.html). I would like one of our strict constructionist conservative Dopers to show me where in the Constitution it says the promotion of marriage is a legitimate function of the government. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushco-in-order-to-pay-for-our-war/288602.md?page=2)