Pick your target for government cutbacks

[cleareyed2]

We all know the money isn't there like it was. So let's make a list of the top three or four targets YOU would have for cutbacks.
I might go for arts programmes, community groups funding, defence forces off to chad etc.,

[Pidge]

Defence forces and Aer Arann subsidies both spring to mind.

I would also like to see dramatic cutbacks in the fields of happiness, joy and the twinkle in a baby's eye.

[Universal_001]

EDIT

[Universal_001]

The entire arts budget.
Every TD, Senator and Ministers salary cut to the average industrial wage.
Every single cent spent on private medicine and education (if we HAVE to have it let it be totally private not propped up by public funds at the expense of the public system)

[Akrasia]

We all know the money isn't there like it was. So let's make a list of the top three or four targets YOU would have for cutbacks.
I might go for arts programmes, community groups funding, defence forces off to chad etc.,

You think community groups should be cut back? Do you have any idea how little these groups actually get and the enormous amount of good they do?

In terms of value for money, community development is up there with a guaranteed winning lottery ticket.

The cost of early intervention, after school programs, drugs task forces, employment services etc provided by the community and voluntary sector are a pittance compared with the cost of dealing with the consequences of allowing these things to get out of hand.

[FutureTaoiseach]

There should be the long-overdue cutbacks in bureaucracy in the HSE. The creation of the HSE and the abolition of the health-boards should have been an opportunity for such trimming of bureaucracy but the govt caved into the unions. We should also merge other state-agencies to save money in similar vein. I also agree that cuts in Defence spending would seem the most likely to happen, despite the fact that we need a better equipped military like other small neutral countries, not least to intercept narcotics coming into our country. I think the public-sector should accept a pay-freeze too, and that privatisations would be most welcome as a way of getting the dead hand of the State out of the economy where it only acts as a force for monopolism and rip-off merchantism. The high prices charged by the monopolies in both the public and private-sector are damaging the economy.

[cleareyed2]

We all know the money isn't there like it was. So let's make a list of the top three or four targets YOU would have for cutbacks.
I might go for arts programmes, community groups funding, defence forces off to chad etc.,

You think community groups should be cut back? Do you have any idea how little these groups actually get and the enormous amount of good they do?

In terms of value for money, community development is up there with a guaranteed winning lottery ticket.

The cost of early intervention, after school programs, drugs task forces, employment services etc provided by the community and voluntary sector are a pittance compared with the cost of dealing with the consequences of allowing these things to get out of hand.

Good points: early intervention yes, after school programmes if they are specifically focussed and do not lead to dependency; some of the others may be met already from state resources. Is there duplication?

[joemomma]

The entire arts budget.

You're happy to see the Abbey, National Museum, National Gallery etc. close down?

Every TD, Senator and Ministers salary cut to the average industrial wage.

Do you think people would still want those jobs?

Every single cent spent on private medicine and education (if we HAVE to have it let it be totally private not propped up by public funds at the expense of the public system)

I'd actually prefer to see private medicine and education banned - removing subsidies would just make them even more elitist.

[Eddiepops]

I'd increase income tax. Sorry if that sends people into an apopleptic rage.

[EDIT}And I'd slash TDs, ministers and senators pay. They are not civil servants; if they are there due to the pay rather than a commitment to their vision of public service then I'd rather they weren't there at all. Next target would be the most egregious subsidies, such as those to internal flights.

[Universal_001]

You're happy to see the Abbey, National Museum, National Gallery etc. close down?

Yes.
But they would easily exist on donations from rich arts coinissuers and funding from charges.
There are many such places in the USA that survived on gift shop sales alone when public funding was pulled.

Do you think people would still want those jobs?

Would they want the power and prestige of being a government minister? I think so yes.
...and ye know...theres an odd few that come around once in a while that are not in it for the money and as a bonus they would not be so detached from reality.

I'd actually prefer to see private medicine and education banned - removing subsidies would just make them even more elitist.

Exactly, but public services are not in vouge anymore, and think of the amusement you'd get seeing middle class people realize that they were not rich afterall and having to send their kids to the local public school because they can't afford the private one, it would be priceless, and knock them down a peg which is what many of them need