Trimming the fat

Following the State of the Union address (in which Obama pointed fingers and blamed others for his personal failures, sorry but it didn't kill the 1950's-style disenchantment of the youth), some of the proposed budget cuts have been released. From AOL.com, here are some of my favorite and least favorite:

Yay:
-The Social Security Administration could save $150,000 next year by allowing applicants to make appointments online.

There's this thing...called the Internet...works really well for communication.

-The Air Force could save $2 million in 2011 by tailoring more than 12,000 cell phone plans to actual usage.

No, the generals do not need unlimited texting, especially since it's long after their generation.

-The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates $2 million in savings next year by allowing veterans to keep their medications instead of throwing away leftovers when they are discharged from the hospital.

Do you really think that by throwing the meds out, you're cutting back on drug dealing when hardcore addicts have no
shame when it comes to dumpster diving [just ask Stan Smith]?

-The Treasury Department sees $2 million in annual savings by eliminating paper pay stubs for more than 100,000 workers.

But what will the Treasury daycare center use to make paper chains that they use to decorate the Alexander Hamilton
statute?

-A program that pays states to clean up abandoned coal mines that have already been cleaned up. Savings: $115 million next year and $1.2 billion over 10 years.

Unfortunately, that means that someone will now have to go out and get a job that they will have to show up at and actually
do something for, which is so incredibly wrong as it will prevent them from staying onto of their soap storylines. Why,
America, WHY?!?

-A $5 million Forest Service economic development program that funded, among other things, "a water musical festival."

Dammit. Singing an operetta about a snowflake's journey to the ocean just doesn't have the same effect at a desert spoken
word festival.

-A $120 million program that allows low-income people to get their Earned Income Tax Credit in advance. About 80 percent of those receiving early payments were later found ineligible.

Why are they trying to prevent people from spending money that they don't deserve prematurely? How else will people like
Frank the Entertainer be able to afford video cameras so that they can apply to be on reality show?

Nay:
-An $18 million program to clean up and redevelop "brownfields" -- abandoned, idled and underused industrial and commercial facilities in urban areas.

Fewer abandoned areas = fewer areas for meth labs and other criminal activities. Basically it keeps places from turning into
Detroit.

-A $761 million reduction in spending on construction of housing for low-income elderly and those with disabilities.

Seriously? Kicking the old and disabled to the curb is okay? They're even more defenseless than children over the age of 10.

-Two National Park Service programs to restore historic buildings and promote heritage tourism, for a savings of $30 million.

As a person with a degree in history, I find this incredibly offensive. We've already lost so many historical buildings that
pretty soon, all we'll have are the occasional reprinting of a picture that's been lost forever, and future generations will have
a serious disconnect from their ancestors.

-Grants to sites related to the Underground Railroad.

Same response as the one to the NPS cuts.