The Blue Board

Well, yeah. But it doesn't sound good any other way.

Try this: "These government programs worked successfully for a long time, but haven't adapted due to political obstructionism, a refusal to acknowledge changing circumstances, and general bureaucracy. If people compromise and work together, we can come up with modern solutions and either fix/create new programs to address modern issues."

It's just wildly disingenuous to imply that all of these programs have just been consistent failures from Day 1.

Shhhh, you're messing with the narrative! All people who receive government aid are lazy, poor, worthless leeches! Get it right!

Seriously. Businesses would riot if the USPS disappeared and we had to pay FedEx/UPS rates for basic letters.

Alot of your examples are based on preconceived political opinions and not the facts.

USPS - isnt "heavily subsidized" most of their money came from 1st Class Mail (Internet and PDF files have hurt that revenue stream) An unsustainable pension system enforced by, ironically, a Republican congress is also hurting them.

Social Security (can be fixed by adjusting the payouts or moving the eligibility age up.)

Fannie Mae and Freddie, are just one of the dozens of variables that led to the collapse. Fannie and Freddie didn't create an unregulated market to sell Credit Default Swaps and Options.

Obviously Medicare and Medicaid are in trouble, but setting up State-Insurance exchanges to purchase private insurance isn't a model similar to Medicare.

AMTRAK - you got one right.

War on Drugs - you got that right

Stimilus bills havent been as productive as they are in theory, but I don't think you have analyzed any econometric data that can confirm they show "no sign of working"

Cash For Clunkers - even "American cars" are mostly produced in Mexico and other countries, not sure that was designed to be a "buy American policy"

No Child Left Behind - you got another right.

Fair Housing Act - not sure how a law passed in 1968 had any role in the 2007 crisis. Financial markets are completely different animals these days. A mixture of over and under regulation created the financial crisis.

Federal Reserve - don't need a "reserve with backing" when you have a fiat currency. So not sure what you mean there. They played a role in the Financial crisis though.

I think NASA had a pretty good run of things as well. Man on the moon, lots of inventions that worked into daily lives, etc... FDA is nice to have as well. After all, I like not having to wonder if the steak I am buying at the supermarket is safe to eat or not. I can just take it for granted that it is. The whole clean water to drink thing is kind of nice too. Thank you EPA.

I'm not getting into this argument, and I'm not bashing NASA, but I really have a hard time putting a value on Neil's walk on the moon.

So we are going to raise your taxes and if you manage not to die before you are almost 70 you will get some of the money back, assuming of course you were never successful in life.

I agree these things need to be done to save SS, but it kinda gets to the point of, what are we "saving" here? A program in which we take money from people their whole lives of which they will only receive a portion back and for many this will be for maybe the last 5-10 years of life if that? What the hell is the point?

Also Democrats have been claiming for years that SSI is in fact Insurance, if means testing comes into effect it becomes nothing more than another entitlement program.

Agree here. The Europeans do a much better job at keeping food safe and clean and healthy... horse meat scandal aside, lol.

The fact that it is actually a chore to find healthy food, particularly at restaurants, in the US is pathetic.

That fact that fast food can sell hamburgers that have very little true beef in them is ridiculous too.

We need to get more serious about food regulations. Fake food being sold as the real thing should be illegal.

I am not so sure that it wouldn't be permanent, once this becomes the new way of doing things and people get used to it, once the baby boomers are gone the government is likely to take any future surpluses, this time not in the shadow of massive long term liabilities, and use them elsewhere. The temptation to keep the money piling up for the feds will be too great IMO.

You still have to outlive both the age requirement and your contribution before you get more than you paid in. It's all pretty macabre, it's the government relying and hoping that x number of people kick the bucket in order to keep what amounts to a ponzi scheme afloat.

If it is truly Insurance it should be optional. The existing pay in-pay out system can be left in effect for those that want and others should be able to take their money elsewhere if they can stomach the risk.

The USPS isn't government ran anymore... And aren't they tied still to government salary requirements but don't receive taxes?

Shouldn't have the benefits in first place, pensions suck the life out of corporations

That's cool and all, but that doesn't change the fact that the law is fvking retarded.