Shouldn't the government be passing 4 or 5 year budgets with a spending plan

[shraby]

in them instead of this short term stuff?
Long term planning is much better and should overlap administrations. That way politics wouldn't play such a big part and the government shouldn't be "down to the wire" almost every year with raising the debt limit.
That should have long term planning too.

[unblock]

1. the budget process looks 10 years out.

the debt limit is like a credit card spending limit, and it needs to be raised whenever we max out the card.

imho, the debt limit concept shouldn't exist at all. if congress authorized spending, treasury should be permitted to borrow as needed to spend as authorized.

the idea that congress can authorize spending and then tie treasury's hands by preventing them from borrowing in order to comply with the spending authorizations is idiotic.

alternatively any spending authorization should also increase the debt limit enough to handle the authorization.


it's stupid. it's like going to a car dealership with only a down payment, saying we want to buy that car, here's our down payment, but i refuse to take out a loan. then just sit there and make angry speeches and fight with your spouse until you finally agree to go ahead take out a loan after all.

[Louis1895]

2. At minimum

I would like to see Congress split the budget in two and pass two-year budgets for each half in alternate years.