Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Trumps Budget Proposal
Date:	3/13/2017 12:09:32 PM

I see that Trump intends to carry out his campaign promise of cutting the size of government, forseign assistance, etc.  But I have to admit that I am a little leery of this big plus up of Defense.  I believe in a strong defense and I suspect that we have a lot of equipment needs having spent the last 10 years at war.  At the same time, I have this vision of plans for the next generation F-35, with even more bells and whistles being designed.  I would love to see what they have in mind as to how this money will be used and I hope it won't be spent on frivilous things, but on upgrading some of the equipment we already have. 

In my opinion, the Pentagon staff has as much bloating as any other agency.  Too many special assistants, Schedule C, poliitcal appointees.  Not everyone that belongs to the Senior Executive Service has that designation that goes with a particular job; that is to say you can be appointed to the Senior Executive Service without a particular job attached or you can end up as a special assistant with no particular assigned duties.  I hope the big uptick in budget, does not preclude getting rid of some the existing bloat. 

But we don't want to become another North Korea where all of the money is spent on the military to the detriment of other things that need funding too.  I hope he makes good on the infrastructure spending.  Understand that Democrats in Congress have already said they will fight and it will be interesting to see what House and Senate Republicans can stomach. 

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Trumps Budget Proposal
Date:	3/13/2017 1:50:12 PM

last year Obama allocated $100 mill in foreignaid to mexico

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Trumps Budget Proposal
Date:	3/13/2017 2:38:38 PM

The bridges in the D.C. area are so rusty that I cringe when I drive under them.  Memorial Bridge that goes from the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetary is in such bad shape that tour buses are not allowed to cross it in fear that it would buckle under the weight.  I am for an infrastructure bill so long as the money is used to make real repairs.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Trumps Budget Proposal
Date:	3/13/2017 8:34:04 PM (updated 3/13/2017 8:45:28 PM)

Given the corruption in the DC government, if they turn it over to them to do the contracting, there'll be no improvements or they will be done so poorly that it won't make a difference.  You have to ask yourself how things go so bad... becasue they kept kickiung the can down the road. 

I guess I just worry that the Pentagon will get a bunch of money and waste it.  I don't know what scenerios they are working off of now.  They really need to think if the military is organized to fight the next war and the one after that.   

Obama also gave $600 Million to Africa and i'm sure that wasn't all he gave them.  You have to be careful about foreign assistance.  We need to have good training programs for friendly foreigner military.  Joint exercises, classroom training  is a good bonding opportunity between our military and theirs.  Why is that important?  Because it reinforces the value of democracy, and our logistic planing.  I still don't see why we continue to give Egypt $1.3 billion every year under the Camp David Accords and Israel gets $1.8B.  Everytime you see a President, President's wife, or the VP go somewhere overseas, there is always a "pot sweetner" of goodies that will be left behind. 

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Trumps Budget Proposal
Date:	3/13/2017 10:18:18 PM

Other than the Memorial Bridge, the ones showing severe corrosion are in Arlington County, Virginia.  They seem to have money to provide free poop bags and containers for dog droppings but no money for sandblasters and paint.  Must be run by liberals.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Trumps Budget Proposal
Date:	3/14/2017 9:33:27 PM

I think it is.....