Argument About Cutting Spending vs Raising Taxes

Resolved: The United States should prioritize tax increases over spending cuts.

Hello, my name is _______ and we will be arguing against the resolution that the United States should prioritize tax increases over spending cuts. I will begin this argument by defining some key terms. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, tax is defined as a charge, usually of money, imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes. Spending cuts is defined as is a reduction in the amount payed out, and prioritize is to place a superiority in rank, position, or privilege. Now, I will divide my argument in to two main contentions:

1. The problem is that we are being careless with our spending.

2. Tax Increases hurt the economy

Now, as for my first contention, the problem is not that we don’t have enough money. We bring in tons of money, the issue is that we are wasteful with that money. There are countless stories of the government being wasteful with their spending According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, between 1997 and 2003, the Defense Department purchased and then left unused, airline tickets that have a total cost of $100 million. Even worse, these could have been refunded, but the pentagon never chose to do so. Congressional budget-cutters spared the $440,000 spent annually to have attendants push buttons on the fully automated Capitol Hill elevators used by Representatives and Senators. The Pentagon and Central Intelligence Agency channeled some $11 million to psychics who might provide special insights about various foreign threats. (Thomas A. Schatz of the Freeman). Layering of new programs on top of old ones inherently creates duplication. Having several agencies perform similar duties is wasteful. Consolidation is an easy way to cut spending without hurting the American people. Before we even get in to raising taxes, we need to cut this very wasteful spending.

Now, these wasteful spending can certainly add up to be damaging on our...