Mark Blyth on Austerity

The Little Economic Engine That Could

There's massive trouble in US land -

US economic growth slowed sharply in the first quarter to a 1.8 percent pace as governments slashed spending, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

After the growth hummed at a 3.1 percent pace in the fourth quarter of 2010, the department's first estimate for the January-March period showed weakness in the recovery from the 2008-2009 recession.

A 7.9 percent cut in federal government spending, and a 3.3 percent cut in spending by local authorities, were factors in the slowdown.

Also contributing was the sharp rise in fuel and food commodity prices, which slowed personal consumption growth to 2.7 percent from a 4.0 percent pace in the previous quarter.

In addition -

The dollar has yet to descend into a full-blown crisis but market watchers warn that ultra-loose U.S. monetary policy means that one could quickly materialize if the slide in the greenback gathers pace.

The dollar has dropped to new lows since Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke effectively slapped a sell sign on the currency Wednesday, with the greenback hitting historic lows against the Australian dollar and Swiss franc, and even to a major low point against the euro, which is hobbled by an ugly debt crisis.

The Real Effect
The Federal Reserve has thrown trillions of dollars at the downturn and the best that this has done is slow it down at the cost of making the plunge that much deeper. Proving once again, never underestimate the ability or sheer tenacity of crooks to hang on to their ill-gotten gains.

There are several important points in regards to the GDP. First, note the revision on the preliminary estimate. Second, note that this is an advance number, a guess if you will. Third, prior GDP numbers are being revised downwards. Finally, how many of the 'economic recovery' predictions used in countless government, company and individual balance sheets are now shot because the Feds lied?

No doubt that this will be spun as the recovery running out of steam. Ladies and gentlemen, there has been no recovery.  There is only a corpse of an economy, rotting away and occasionally twitching with the massive stimulus being applied.

Now the Fed is in a real pickle. Note the bottom of the first article which indicates that a "sharp rise" (cough - inflation) in  gas prices and food effected the recovery? This a direct result of the Federal Reserve's Quantitative Easing (Money printing) policy. This drives the economic numbers that we see, but it's now transforming the once bristling American economy into a zombie economy.

With silver and gold hitting record highs daily, the dollar hitting record lows, numerous wars and a government that has run out of maneuvering room watch for the "rules" to be thrown out the window. When survival is at stake, people get kind of weird. Watch for the Feds to begin locking their power down through edicts, regulations and dictates. Watch for states to start asserting authority and sovereignty, giving the Feds all the more reason to lock down further. But most importantly, look for cherished beliefs such as equality and diversity go out the window post haste as everyone makes a mad grab for their slice of the loot.

Ray Stevens - Obama Budget Plan

The MAN Is In!

We definitely need more like him -

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, whose outspoken libertarian views and folksy style made him a cult hero during two previous presidential campaigns, will announce on Tuesday that he's going to try a third time.

Sources close to Paul, who is in his 12th term in the House, said he will unveil an exploratory presidential committee, a key step in gearing up for a White House race. He will also unveil the campaign’s leadership team in Iowa, where the first votes of the presidential election will be cast in caucuses next year.

The Real Effect
As a strong outspoken supporter of not only his 2008 Presidential effort, but also the values that he espouses, I can confidently say that this is a man that we need to support. Ron Paul has shown his unwavering support to the founding American ideal of liberty, even in the face of abject rejection. This is a man that has not only predicted the current economic crisis, he understands what caused it and is committed to ending it. Namely the Federal Reserve.

Police State Cops Kidnap Children from Parents because Government Harms

Enough War Already

For those who think that we cannot cut military expenditures, stop the wars or face certain doom, I present the following chart.

Hijacking Revolution? Muslim Brotherhood wants power in Egypt

China, Not Content to Sit Idly By....

For those that don't think China is, or will be, a VERY big problem -

The NATO-led war on Libya is fuelling a debate in the Chinese ruling elite over its official foreign policy of “non-intervention” in the internal affairs of other countries. While the policy was always more of a myth than reality, China has used it as a convenient means for doing deals with repressive regimes and criticising, when it suited, the military interventions of the US and its allies.

The increasingly blatant use of military aggression by the US and European powers to further their economic and strategic interests, however, is causing Beijing to rethink. The US and European bombing of Libya has put Chinese investments worth billions of dollars at risk, along with the lives of 35,860 Chinese nationals working in Libya.

FEMA CAMP handbook order by US Government - expedited order

Red Alert - S&P Lowers Outlook On US

It always starts small, just like in Greece a year ago -

Standard & Poor's lowered its outlook for the nation's long-term debt Monday, even as it reaffirmed the agency's top-tier rating for the U.S. economy.

S&P maintained its 'AAA/A-1+' credit rating on U.S. sovereign debt, saying the nation's "highly diversified" economy and "effective monetary policies" have helped support growth.

But the ratings agency lowered its outlook for America's long-term credit rating to "negative" from "stable," based on the uncertain political debate around the nation's fiscal problems.

The outlook means that there is a one-in-three likelihood that it could lower the long-term rating on the United States within two years, S&P said.

The Real Effect
Now, as Denninger is quick to point out,  this is the same rating agency that was a day late and a dollar short when it came to the 2008 economic party, so the damage has already progressed far beyond what they are currently noting.

Look for more posturing by the 'Tea Party Express' and the Dems as they pretend to get serious about this situation. Just remember later, when you're eating ramen for the 20th day in a row that they played games while the country burned.

Max Keiser bravely fends off the financial trolls - Ten O'clock live

IMF Notices the US Wall of Debt

I love it when the powers that be not only agree with our point, but even go so far as to use the same nomenclature. Enter the International Monetary Fund -

The world's banks face a $3.6 trillion "wall of maturing debt" in the next two years and must compete with debt-laden governments to secure financing, the IMF warned on Wednesday.

Many European banks need bigger capital cushions to restore market confidence and assure they can borrow, and some weak players will need to be closed, the International Monetary Fund said in its Global Financial Stability Report.

The Real Effect
From September 22, 2010 -

The brick wall has been found as everywhere bad news pours in -

Our dollar is diving and it is becoming conceivable that the once-great US just might not be able to float this much national debt. When this becomes obvious to all, there will be an enormous capitol flight OUT OF the dollar (bonds) and into something else, presumably precious metals. This will leave the government in the position of being unable to fund their debt at choice rates.

It as at this point that great cuts to services will be done (think healthcare/food) in order to "balance the budget." and "Restore fiscal sanity". Needless to say, many of the bureaucrats will keep their cake.

 Now my focus in that article was the Federal debt, but elsewhere (I'm looking for it), I went on to explain that this is not merely a Federal issue, but rather an global systemic debt issue. Namely, we've bled the system dry.

At least some of us don't have to be so alone now that the IMF has proved us right.

Chinese Real Estate Pops

Thereby demonstrating the futility in assuming that someone else will pick up the tab for your foreign adventures -

Prices of new homes in China's capital plunged 26.7% month-on-month in March, the Beijing News reported Tuesday, citing data from the city's Housing and Urban-Rural Development Commission.

Average prices of newly-built houses in March fell 10.9% over the same month last year to CNY19,679 per square meter, marking the first year-on-year decline since September 2009.

Home purchases fell 50.9% y/y and 41.5% m/m, the newspaper said, citing an unidentified official from the Housing Commission as saying the falls point to the government's crackdown on speculation in the real estate market.

The Real Effect
Of course to assume that a huge bubble pop in the Chinese market won't affect us is prudent, right? Or that the Chinese won't seek to start wars, similar to the United States in an attempt to shift focus and secure dominance, right? Or they won't seek alternative economic funding to challenge the United States hegemony. I mean, they're only building new military units at a breakneck pace including aircraft carrier, singular. What could possibly go wrong? You don't think that the same military which was befuddled by a bunch of Saudi terrorists, spread around the globe fighting skirmishes could be surprised by the sudden emergence of not one, but three aircraft carriers and an army to boot? Nah, can't happen.

The Problem With Demanding Respect

Moral hazard asserts its ugly head -

Councilwoman JoAnn Watson is reiterating her call for a government bailout of Detroit, saying the city that built the middle class deserves as much help as Wall Street or General Motors.

Addressing the City Council today during Mayor Dave Bing's budget presentation, Watson gave a spirited pitch for federal funds to help the city whose population declined 25 percent since 2000 to 713,777.

"We are worth it. We are worth at least as much as General Motors or Chrysler or the Wall Street bankers," Watson said. "It was this city that built military vehicles for World War II. It was this city that (invented) the middle class and the five-day work week.

"We should not be in a position to be victims. We are victors. And we should demand respect."

The Real Effect

This is exactly why I have been harping as loud as I have for years now about consistency in property rights. This councilwoman demonstrates her absolute fiscal ignorance in dealing with her city's problems.

Actions have consequences. On the one hand, she is trying to claim the good consequences of the city's actions - "It was this city that (invented) the middle class and the five-day work week." while simultaneously rejecting the negative ones - ""We should not be in a position to be victims. We are victors."

Yes, you have a history as a city. But World War II was 2 generations ago and a lot has happened since then. Namely the consequences of government demanding that private entities behave as they see fit. This happened to the farmers in the USSR during the Bolshevik Revolution. Property owners were systemically removed and the property was given to "more deserving", less productive individuals. If the individuals failed to produce, they too were, removed. Ultimately, this resulted in a collapsed system some 70 plus years later as demand far outstripped supply.

Detroit is on the verge of this same lesson. The answer is not in bulldozing houses, raising taxes, or getting the rich. This is all variation on the common theme of seizing capital. Rather, prosperity lies in the other, less appealing vein. Give the houses away. Whoever wants one, free house. But make the property management the owners responsibility.  Sure, prices will start out low. Crime will be somewhat prevalent. But commerce will commence and as long as people are free to keep their gains, they will protect them and the city will eventually grow.

The councilwoman can demand all the respect she wants. But nobody owes her or that failed experiment called Detroit anything.

Agenda 21 Swings Into Action

If this wasn't so disturbing, we could laugh about it -

Bolivia will this month table a draft United Nations treaty giving "Mother Earth" the same rights as humans — having just passed a domestic law that does the same for bugs, trees and all other natural things in the South American country.

The bid aims to have the UN recognize the Earth as a living entity that humans have sought to "dominate and exploit" — to the point that the "well-being and existence of many beings" is now threatened.

The wording may yet evolve, but the general structure is meant to mirror Bolivia's Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, which Bolivian President Evo Morales enacted in January.

That document speaks of the country's natural resources as "blessings," and grants the Earth a series of specific rights that include rights to life, water and clean air; the right to repair livelihoods affected by human activities; and the right to be free from pollution.

Let me guess, some government figure gets to represent the Earth.

It also establishes a Ministry of Mother Earth, and provides the planet with an ombudsman whose job is to hear nature's complaints as voiced by activist and other groups, including the state.

The Real Effect
Well, well. Go figure. I love how "harmony" with nature is preached, yet no one can quite define what harmony is. The article admits as much by stating "The wording may yet evolve...". I'm sure it will evolve into a system where humans have few, if any rights, "the environment" has slightly more, and the rule makers enjoy the hard labor of coming up with all of these laws.

Yet, look around. In the last year we've had a catastrophic oil spill in the gulf AND a massive nuclear event in Japan. And this doesn't even address the depleted uranium in use, the GMO crops, etc...

No, this is globalists making laws to get around your rights and well, balance your numbers, with natures.
Think about that for a bit.

Large Financial Institutions: Panel at INET's Bretton Woods Conference (6 of 7)

150 Years Later, Federal Bloodshed Continues

To preserve the Union, at all costs -

Americans on Tuesday mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the US Civil War, a bloody conflict that historians say still deeply influences the United States.

"The Civil War is one of the most significant events in American history in terms of the way the American nation was defined," said William Link, a historian at the University of Florida.

More than 500,000 people were killed in the deadliest war in US history when North and South battled over states rights and slavery. Fighting began April 12, 1861, with an attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

The Real Effect
To hold that the Civil War was about slavery is somewhat akin to claiming the attack on the USS Liberty was about the ships attraction to bullets. Ignoring the overarching context of an event is a great way to ensure that it happens again. Repeatedly.

Take for instance the economic crisis of 2008. Holding that it was about "toxic assets" ignores the reality of just how those assets became "toxic" in the first place. Namely the fraudulent actions of the banking class. Trillions of dollars in bailout money later and the banks are still just as underwater as they were before. They just "adjusted" the books to give us a "recovery".

150 long years later and America has still not learned her Liberty lessons. The engine that drives prosperity, the sword against poverty and the guarantor of life is liberty, not indentured servitude to an bureaucratic super class. If we do not learn our lessons soon, we are guaranteed to join the empires of the past in the dustbins of history.

The Natural Consquences of Debt

Detroit sinks into the abyss -

Officers told Local 4 the group of men were sitting in a car at about 2 a.m. Sunday when their vehicle was riddled with gunfire.

The victims called 911 for help, but no EMS rigs were available, according to Local 4 sources.

The men drove to the Detroit Police Department's 12th precinct on West Seven Mile Road, where officers scrambled to help them.

All six victims were taken to Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit. One male, an 18-year-old however has died as a result of the shooting.

The Real Effect
Think long and hard everyone. Money is a medium of exchange. When you use all the money, you likewise run out of goods. This is not 'managable' unless you produce more.  Taking from the rich will only bankrupt them in time and delay the inevitable. Likewise for the middle class and other classes. You can then take from the A-rabs, but sooner or later some country is going to stand up to you, the thief class, and put you in your proper place. Jail.

Cops Say Funny Things

A Tale of Two Freedoms

Chicago exerts its 'authority' over the children -

At his public school, Little Village Academy on Chicago's West Side, students are not allowed to pack lunches from home. Unless they have a medical excuse, they must eat the food served in the cafeteria.

Principal Elsa Carmona said her intention is to protect students from their own unhealthful food choices.

"Nutrition wise, it is better for the children to eat at the school," Carmona said. "It's about the nutrition and the excellent quality food that they are able to serve (in the lunchroom). It's milk versus a Coke. But with allergies and any medical issue, of course, we would make an exception."

Carmona said she created the policy six years ago after watching students bring "bottles of soda and flaming hot chips" on field trips for their lunch. Although she would not name any other schools that employ such practices, she said it was fairly common.

A Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman said she could not say how many schools prohibit packed lunches and that decision is left to the judgment of the principals.

"While there is no formal policy, principals use common sense judgment based on their individual school environments," Monique Bond wrote in an email. "In this case, this principal is encouraging the healthier choices and attempting to make an impact that extends beyond the classroom."

In sharp contrast, look to Texas driving -

The Legislature is considering raising the maximum speed limit to 85 mph, highest in the country.

The Texas House of Representatives has approved a bill that would raise the speed limit to 85 mph on some highways. The bill now goes to the state Senate, the Austin Statesman reports.

Not one to be left out of statist tactics, USA today brings up the alarmist usual hand wringing

Some car insurers, however, oppose the bill

Of course they do, they don't want to think or come up with new policies, so they turn to legislation to strong arm innovation. Further -

On top of safety concerns, speeding increases fuel consumption.

The Real Effect 

Increases fuel consumption, like you care about that with regards to ethanol. Suddenly, you're worried? Of course to maximize shock, they measure the additional usage in cost, not in gallons. (When gas is near it's record cost)




Texas is doing the right thing by raising the speed limit. Raising the limit raises productivity by allocating more time to individuals. This time is used for increases in living standards. I commute 60 miles one way, every day. That sort of increase around here would shave over 15 mins one way for a net saving of 30 mins a day. Projected out it's 2.5 hours a week, and 65 hours a year.

This is exactly what collective thinking misses completely. They have no answers for these problems because they are infinitely complex and cannot be solved. So the problem gets reduced to broad policies enforced at the barrel of a gun, or in the former case, at the cost of your diploma.

To put a fine point on this, the principals in the Chicago region believe their authority is above that of the parents. They state as much in the article. A parent prepares a meal for their child, the school doesn't like it, so it does the 'right' thing and adds to the bureaucracy. In part it is this level of insanity, multiplied out across countless decisions that is leading to the decline of America's competitive spirit and edge. We must not allow the shrill among us to dictate this type of economic constraint on the country if we are to lift ourselves from this economic destruction.

2011 Predictions, Silver Roars to Life By Taking Out $40

Silver takes out $40, just as predicted by moi back in the beginning of the year. Well, I suppose I was off by eight days, but regardless here it stands -

Silver becomes especially difficult to physically source as the Comex cracks and demand goes up. (Perhaps hitting $40 in Q1, then cooling down until winter)

Now, things become quite sticky as we start navigating dangerous waters. As the systems of the world continue to collapse, we enter uncharted territory. Never-the-less, I shall strive to keep you, my faithful reader up to date with relevant predictions.

US losing AAA rating?

Afghanistan - A Civil War Waiting to Happen

Vox notes the inevitable -

It doesn't matter when the "transition" takes place. As happened with the Soviet withdrawal, once American combat forces are withdrawn, whenever they are withdrawn, the puppet regime forcibly installed by it will fall:

The Real Effect
It appears that myopic idiocy is not limited to Democrats, but rather is equally shared among the parties as they seek to share a "save the world" democracy, forcibly with all brown people. It is this inherit lack of faith in one's fellow man, a domineering abuse of power wielded by Donkey and Elephant alike that is resulting in a destroyed economy not only here, but abroad as well.

And to think, I actually had to argue with conservative Christians ten years ago about the wisdom of a militaristic vaunt into the Empire Killer known as Afghanistan. Now, they recognize the fact, they simply refuse to recognize the connection. What is equally entertaining, is trying to argue that our borders protect us from military occupation in the future is a futile and suicidal point of view to hold.

Portugal defaults, America on the waiting list?

Saudi Arabia - Beware the Unintended Consequences

It appears that fragging the Muslims causes, uh...issues -

Reporting from Baghdad, Iraq yesterday, NBC’s Tom Brokaw said the Saudi Arabian monarchy is “so unhappy with the Obama administration for the way it pushed out President Mubarak of Egypt” that it has sent senior officials to the Peoples' Republic of China and Russia to seek expanded business opportunities with those countries.

After remarking on the difficulty of establishing democracy in the Middle East, Brokaw said that Defense Secretary Robert Gates “will face some tough questions in this region about the American intentions going on now with all this new turmoil, especially in an area where the United States has such big stakes politically and economically.”

“And a lot of those questions presumably will come from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia,” reported Brokaw on the Nightly News. “I was told on the way in here that the Saudis are so unhappy with the Obama administration for the way it pushed out President Mubarak of Egypt that it sent high level emissaries to China and Russia to tell those two countries that Saudi Arabia now is prepared to do more business with them.”

The Real Effect
I wonder who would have thought that bombing a religion country back into the stone age would bring said country onboard with all of the rainbow filled hopes and dream of Democracy! Aren't we special?

Like we observed in 2005, commented on in 2005, and further expounded on in 2006. (In relation to Isr
ael) -

For the record, I do believe that Russia and China are very real and deadly military threats and that the last 17 years of diplomacy are nothing more than an attempt to lure the American people an military into a compromised position in order that they may easily secure dominance.

Look for Russia and China to block the U.S. led Iran sanctions leading the U.S. to impose it's own economic sanctions. Yet, Iran is not in any mood or position to be pressured by anyone, let alone the Great Satan. After this will follow some type of provocation that is tied to or directly the result of Iran's actions. This in turn enrages the "International Community" which sees no other option but to 'deal with Iran'.

The problem then becomes that Russia and China, two enormous militaries, are tied at the hip to Iran. They will perceive this as a direct threat and will most likely launch an invasion against the United States and Israel.

Of course, the US pays well for the time being, so it is in the Sauds best interest to hedge its options by securing alternate funding. Look for continued attrition as countries start siding with Russia and China. Yet, these powerhouses are not all they're reported to be, so some good ole fashioned backstabbing will come into play down the line.

CBO - Game over man, game over!

When the government is admitting we're done, it's time to start running -

House Budget Chairman Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said President Barack Obama’s budget strategy is to “do nothing, punt, duck, kick the can down the road” while the debt remains on track to eventually hit 800 percent of GDP. Ryan added that the CBO is saying it "can't conceive of any way" that the economy can continue past 2037 given its current trajectory.

 The Real Effect
2037....hahahahahahaha...try 2020, if not 2015.

Loading Libya: UK red-faced over arming Gaddafi, then rebels

Third Maine town passes food freedom ordinance

A step closer to true liberty, but the power isn't in the correct hands quite yet -

On Saturday, April 2, Blue Hill became the third town in Maine to adopt the Local Food and Self-Governance Ordinance. The Ordinance was passed at Blue Hill’s town meeting by a near unanimous vote. This comes on the heels of the unanimous passage of the Ordinance in neighboring towns, Sedgwick and Penobscot, on March 5 and March 7, respectively. The Ordinance asserts that towns can determine their own food and farming policies locally, and exempts direct food sales from state and federal license and inspection requirements.

Bahrain Police Trying to Run Over Protesters

But I thought government was here to "help" people? Anyone?

Are You Saying Obama Is A Member Of The C.I.A.? Jesse Ventura Interview pt.4

IMF - Time to Face Austerity America

Now that we know that Paul Ryan's cuts are a joke (See here, here and here), out comes the International Monetary Fund to break out that austerity idea that everyone loves -

Economists with the International Monetary Fund say Americans will have to pay more taxes and accept less government-funded health care if the country is to have financial stability.

A new IMF report says the United States faces an untenable fiscal situation because of high deficits and an aging population that needs more government-provided health care benefits.

The report says Americans need to pay more taxes and the government must cut spending on so-called “baby boomers” — people aged between 45 and 65.

It says such steps would go a long way in putting the United States back on a fiscally sustainable path.

The Real Effect
WHOAH!!! NO ONE SAW IT COMING! Just a...you know...few...people -
May 2010 -

There is a fundamental change in the way the middle-class and below of the world view the world. An "enlightenment" if you will. Here is the crux of the problem though. The globalists understood that the sheep would wake up, in fact they anticipated and planned for it by naming it the IMF riot.

January 2011 -

The Muslims are sure getting whipped into a frenzy. Gee, I wonder who's doing the driving? I expect that it will emerge that the U.S. is behind this via some alphabet soup agency. It appears that side 2 and 3 are getting goaded, one of the questions becomes when is side 1 (The Christians) going to receive the same treatment?

 Look for continued unrest with some governments getting overthrown. But as I indicated earlier, the globalists are literally banking on this to occur. We are still not there yet though. More riots need to take place, some shots, some new faces and then, we go to war.

August 2010 -

Irregardless of the specific subject of austerity, from government's perspective, the one who will always pay is the taxpayer. The bourgeoisie view the populace at large as a resource to be harvested and culled as needed in order that they can continue to "do God's work." To the career politician, the only job is convincing the subjects to go along with the haircut and indeed this is exactly how we have arrived at the abysmal conditions that we are subject to today.

It is to this end that we see the hyper increase of scanners, trackers, cages and measuring devices invading every nook, cranny and orifice of our being while slowly being removed from the realm of the elite. They argue that their work is special and sensitive while we cannot be trusted to our own devices lest we accidentally hurt ourselves. It is these concepts implemented in baby steps over time that you end up with tyranny. 

Republicans Continue to Ignore Reality

This is part of the reason we have as many issues as we do in this country -

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) said Sunday that the GOP 2012 budget will exceed even the $4 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade recommended by President Barack Obama's debt commission.

But Ryan wouldn't commit that his new budget would follow the debt commission's lead and end corporate welfare for oil and gas companies.

To summarize, "welfare" is bad when given to those who have little (low income), but when given to corporations, it becomes "necessary". In fact, so necessary that GE paid $0.00 in Federal taxes and even got back money in grants. Let's not even examine TARP. The article continues -

"Not only do we want to cut spending, not only do we want to reform government spending, we want economic growth. We want job creation. Pro-growth tax reform is a key ingredient to getting this economy working again, getting the economy growing again. The way to do that -- and we agree with the direction of the fiscal commission -- lower tax rate and broaden the tax base. And those are the things we'll be proposing."

I agree, the tax base needs to grow, but notice the direction this is taking? When talking of growing the tax base, the phrase "we" is used. While innocuous in itself, when taken together in light of corporate tax strategy, income tax, property tax and other such things, a picture emerges that demonstrates the following:

1. It is primarily the government's job to spend money. They need it especially to help people.
1. The corporations, they need the most money especially to "even the playing field."
2. You need to apply for your money that the government took. It's here to help. Of course, there are strings to getting your our money back you lazy fool.
2. All decisions are becoming "corporate" decisions being managed from the top down. Everyone has a say until an "expert" appointed by the spender forms an opinion, at which point this is now undisputed "fact" and no longer subject to debate. Note the massive increase in "czars". 
3. Any attempts to curtail government spending will be deflected in it's respected political party. Repubs cannot cut corporate, Dems cannot cut poverty programs.
4. The dis-empowered group will lose a small percent of it's spending, but the reigning group will massively increase its pet projects.
5. The one thing that will NOT be discussed (outside campaign promises) is shrinking the government as a whole.

Libya - Former CIA Analyst schools CNN host