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I think the big assumption is that revenue must stay at 15-20% of GDP, tariffs won't cover that alone. But maybe a smaller government with less revenue is the direction the US is heading in.

Too early to know how Canada will react to the tariffs, I suspect things will just get more expensive in the coming months.

Obviously, I would love a smaller government that absorbs less revenue, but entitlement reform is the only way to make a real dent and that's not even being discussed.

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entitlement reform

True, but the largest single line item is either interest on debt or defense, both of which could be brought down significantly by firing 80% of federal workforce

I don't mean their salaries consume that much, but their actions do.

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Defense is even more of a non-starter than entitlements, though.

The workforce reduction messages from the Trump administration have indicated that there will be increased military personnel.

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Trump administration have indicated that there will be increased military personnel.

Hopefully less wars = less spending

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Medicaid is a handout not entitlement

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A distinction without a difference

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we need to stop using the word entitlement because no one is entitled to any government welfare program

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I agree, but all of those programs are handouts. People are entitled to what they've acquired voluntarily and nothing else.

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Medicare
Social Security
Medicaid
Defense
Interest on debt

Not necessarily in this order

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We can make cuts in Medicaid. For instance stop covering pregnancies. I know Ron Paul delivered babies but Medicaid should not

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I'm on board for any reductions in any of these programs.

I haven't heard any serious proposals to do so, though.

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politically, Medicaid is easiest to cut

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Sort of. It might get replaced by a Medicare for All disaster, but I don't see doing away with government provided health care for the poor.

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vs senior citizens?

The poor have the least political influence

Medicare for all will never happen or it will happen for 6 months and the medical system will collapse

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The poor have indirect political influence through all the virtue signaling liberals.

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in other words, they are pawns and useful idiots, NPCs

Virtue signaling liberals have many annoying traits. One is detest for the poor. Not compassion or indifference but hate