Yeah, because killing poor people in other countries is much more important than taking care of the poor people in our own country.
I guess he sees it as killing 2 birds with one stone, take away the money from our own poor and let them die while using that money to kill poor people in other countries.

How about we cut the drone program, do we need 30,000 drones over the US?
Since when should the Secretary of Defense make political comments like that?
Seems pretty unusual to say the least specifying where to take the cuts from.
You'd think the heroin sales alone could support the Defense budget.

Or we could reduce his $200,000 a year salary.
What say you America?

Originally posted by xuenchen
I wonder why Panetta is rocking the boat about "entitlements" ??

Very strange comments by the Secretary of Defense.

You find it Strange, that the Sec of Defense, doesnt want more Defense Cuts?
I would find it Strange if he did.

Some things are just Common Sense.

When are they going to do away with the word 'minority' and all that they're entitled to?
Here are a couple of entitlement groups that are being shown favoritism and it should end.
1. Female owned businesses getting bid preference.
I think this needs to end. I used to work for a company that made bids on government contracts. The owner was a man, but he had the business in his wife's name so they could get the best contracts. It would be different if his wife came into the office and did work or attended meetings, but I never once even met her. She never once came into the office. In fact, she lived in New York, while the business was in Virginia.
Besides, let's face it. Women have come a long way and can hardly be considered a minority.
2. Let's stop considering African Americans minorities.
We have a black (who's also white) president for goodness sakes! This goes to prove that anyone of this race can accomplish anything they want as long as they apply themselves and know the right people. Besides, their numbers are too many to be considered to be anywhere near the definition of a minority.
Hispanics should also not be considered minorities.

Honestly, the true minorities are American Indians and albinos.

I also believe that businesses who employ the disabled should get a break, I've been to a couple bakeries that employ only disabled individuals. These people are doing a great service for these unfortuneate people and should be given a break by our government through loan forgiveness and less taxes.

In regards to the military, they need to start spending more money and attention to our returning vets who need help readjusting to civilian life and probably need counseling services, which our government is not providing and should be. Shame on them for not standing up and helping these men and women are trying to overcome the pains of war.

The "entitlements" slice of the pie is so very misleading. It's sad that many do not understand all of the things that are included in those dollars. The fact of the matter is that if we cut those funds, unilaterally, it wouldn't take a month before even the staunchest right wing ideologue would be begging to have the funds restored.

The deficit is a huge problem that is not going to get fixed in a year, or four, or even eight. It is going to require a game plan and one that does not gut any particular spending area... but rather trims the fat from them all.

~Heff

Panetta sex scandal coming in 3....2....1

That is brilliant!!

I mean really as if 50 million on SS,50 million on medicare, 50 million on medicaid and 47 on welfare that account for over 2 trillion a year in federal spending.

No not don't cut those!!

Cut defense that seemingly goes to war every 4 years and has since pretty much since WW2, and then all those jobs created by those corporations who sell those products to those evil defense contractors,.

Who are also aerospace,and other technology sectors that employ millions of people because those materials are used to make civilian goods.

Gut defense and those people end up where?

Oh unemployment,welfare.and ever other program this country has.

Too many mouths to feed.

There are those "intellectual elite in Washington thinking with their heads".

Originally posted by Hefficide

The "entitlements" slice of the pie is so very misleading. It's sad that many do not understand all of the things that are included in those dollars. The fact of the matter is that if we cut those funds, unilaterally, it wouldn't take a month before even the staunchest right wing ideologue would be begging to have the funds restored.

The deficit is a huge problem that is not going to get fixed in a year, or four, or even eight. It is going to require a game plan and one that does not gut any particular spending area... but rather trims the fat from them all.

~Heff

Taxing the rich, (+$250,000/yr) is a ridiculous fix to the problem. The government could take every penny they make and it would fund the government for 2.5 MONTHS.

i agree Leon, so let's start with legislators retirement and health benefit's packages.


who's charging us interest on our debt? let's start with trimming the FED and i think our worries would be over, i mean once you get rid of the loan shark your debt becomes a thing of the past.

Why is it that when people think we need to make some cuts in spending, we must first attack the programs that actually work and help people?

It is nothing more than political self-preservation for Panetta to make these comments and I would not consider Panetta the go-to guy for economic advise.