Not that Republicans are serious about this balanced budget amendment nonsense, but let's take a look at what it might look like if it had been in effect in 2009. If, as the amendment would require, federal spending could not exceed federal revenue. Federal revenues for 2009 totaled $2.105 trillion:
Mandatory, as in required by law, spending plus interest on the national debt totaled $2.148 trillion: 
That means nothing for Defense, nothing for Homeland Security, nothing for Veteran's Affairs, nothing for Iraq and Afghanistan, nothing for the departments of Transportation, Education, Agriculture, etc. NOTHING. Let's see Republicans run on that campaign promise.
BTW, since the GOP seems to be in an 'amend the Constitution' mood lately, and since they hate deficits so much (when they're out of power) I have a suggestion--a Pay for Wars Amendment. Any time we go to war an automatic 10% income tax surcharge kicks in to pay for it.
Mandatory, as in required by law, spending plus interest on the national debt totaled $2.148 trillion: That means nothing for Defense, nothing for Homeland Security, nothing for Veteran's Affairs, nothing for Iraq and Afghanistan, nothing for the departments of Transportation, Education, Agriculture, etc. NOTHING. Let's see Republicans run on that campaign promise.
BTW, since the GOP seems to be in an 'amend the Constitution' mood lately, and since they hate deficits so much (when they're out of power) I have a suggestion--a Pay for Wars Amendment. Any time we go to war an automatic 10% income tax surcharge kicks in to pay for it.
Oh come on, Des, you know the answer to that. Ignorance is bliss. Unless you don't realize it and you just *think* you know it all.
Kind of like Palin.
Along that line of thinking. It’s a bit off the subject, but if, as the saying goes, ignorance is bliss, why are the Tea Partiers so angry all the time? I don’t understand.
On the other hand, Palin smiles a lot so maybe there’s something to it.
Paying for wars would give every citizen a vested interest in trying to keep out of them.
It would probably piss off armchair warriors who are willing to send our children to fight for their political causes, but they're always pissed off about something anyway. Might as well give them something to bitch about.
You wrote:
Any time we go to war an automatic 10% income tax surcharge kicks in to pay for it.
Yes!
There might actually be some second thoughts about a war if it was clear it had to be paid for immediately.
Interesting post today. I have always been a proponent of a balanced budget amendment. Now I see the flip side.
I agree with the 10% war tax 100%