Even though automatic spending cuts by the US government have yet to go into effect, defense contractors in Massachusetts are already laying off employees, freezing salaries, and putting new projects on hold because of uncertainty over the federal budget.
Business executives said the local defense industry is in a state of paralysis, unable to make basic decisions because political leaders in Washington have so far been unable to agree on a budget compromise that would head offsome $46 billion in automatic spending cuts to military programs this year that are scheduled to start taking effect Friday.
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liberals are getting what they have dreamed of: reduced defense spending, and a smaller potential military conservatives are getting what they dreamed of: instantly, "smaller government" Of course the average Joe who works in the defense business is going to get screwed. Maybe it will all work out for the better....but no one knows. Z
Zots: Evidently you missed the part in the article about how the wars are winding down? When wars "wind down", there is less demand for military hardware. The taxpayer has no obligation to just keep stockpiling military gear so "average Joe" has a job. That is known as a "jobs program". He is not getting "screwed".
It is the same as if "average Joe" was working in VHS cassette industry, there is no demand, hence no job.
I am a conservative, I see no reason to keep spending on the military unless there is a clearly defined need.
The "Only Cut" is to the automatic funding increases! Anything that got money in the past, like TARP relief, gets an increase whether needed or not! It's the greatest deceit purported on the taxpayers ever!
thank you, Buckospal, for exposing the public to the REAL meanings of "sequester", places the administration's theatrics where they belong--on top of the fertilizer pile.
"Baseline Budgeting" is still alive and well. Jouse Republicans want to end the practice, Harry Reid doen't allow a vote in the Senate. And the Globe NEVER tells you about Baseline Budgeting.
Are the EBT crowd getting their "benefits" cut?
And..did you see that Obama is letting out CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS out to terrorize the citizens?
I would think that releasing criminals into the publics domain due to the lack of a constitutionally mandated budget is grounds for an obstruction of justice charge and a cause for impeachment!
So at least two reactionaries get back into their bunkers.
When The Obama Gang starts withholding essential services to bring pressure to bear on the American people, it is time for Congress to step in and decide where the cuts will take place. Like roads that start nowhere and go to nowhere. Three are many, many programs that can be trimmed back. The federal budget has risen 75% in 10 years, yet there has been virtually no inflation. That increase has gone to bloated federal programs, the wars, etc.
The claim that we need to change SS, Medicare and those kind of programs is BS. They may make up a large percentage of the budget, but the bloat has come in all the other programs the government has inflated and the wars.
The Obama Gang announced they wanted to "fundamentally change America". They are attempting wholesale "social engineering".
BTW, anyone see any articles in this paper about Congress and Obama suspending our 1st amendment rights? Now, anywhere someone goes (not just the prez) with Secret Service can be declared a "free speech zone", violations are a felony.
Evidently our government leaders are not capable of understanding the first words in the 1st amendment:
"Congress shall make no law ......"
How can we expect them to run the country?
Pardon my waxing waggish, but I think the problem is that they can't seem to get past those first five words of the First Amendment, and have given up all attempts to legislate or otherwise engage in the process of good government. ;-)
We're witnessing their attempts to ru(i)n the country. They are also working themselves into a froth over "We the People" and "infringe".
Defense contractors will establish manufacturing facilities in other countries, because laws on the books that prevent them exporting weapons technologies. Though more than likely China will fill the weapons void.
defense spending is more than all nations on earth comined. time to cut this nonsense big time !
Im really disappointed that the Globe has failed to fully researched this subject but appears to be using White House talking points as the sole source of information. I expected the leading New England newspaper to provide a critical assessment of the claims and to put the consequences in perspective - That has been missing from the coverage and I'm hoping it will seperate the bluster from the fact. If in fact, this will result in a 2% reduction in funding its of far lessconseuence than the 2% cut in ordinary incomes that resulted from the Social Security tax increase.
You are overly generous in your descriptions of the globe's prominence as well as its perspectives.
Before we could be assured of getting government contracts with Kennedy and Kerry in the seante, but with the nitwit in there, forget it. She's too busy trying to overthrow the banks...
Interesting.
To ensure that the readers only get the Whitre House talking points, the Globe almost exclusively uses the Administrarion's Propaganda (the AP) as its news source. The Globe doesn't even trust the Washington Post or the Globe's parent, the NY Times.