Is a balanced budget amendment realistic?

Why isn't it? It is not that hard to do. Adjustments will need to happen yearly, and sacrifices will need to be made.

Also, where in the Constitution does it give the Federal Government the power to have social services?

It is theater because it will never pass. It is also bad policy. The last Clinton Budget was balanced. When George Bush came into office the US was attacked on 9/11 and the Bush Administration pushed through tax cuts. We couldn't have responded to the attacks and had the tax cuts if he was required to balance the budget.

A balanced budget amendment is a terrible idea because there are times during national emergencies or an economic crisis when spending will have to exceed revenues or huge tax increases would be necessary. If Republicans thought the amendment had any chance of passing they would never propose it in the first place.

@the Taxpayer misses the point...Does he have a home mortgage? Then he has debt doesn't he? Could he have purchased his home without borrowing the money? Then for that year at least he spent more then he had didn't he? Deficit spending isn't bad, it allows every household to make large purchases on credit like buying a home or financing a car purchase. The government is the same, a pay as you go system of government, especially at the Federal level is a bad idea. Under certain circumstances some debt is good!

No, not realistic, because it prevents the government from acting quickly in an emergency.

Remember the tornadoes in Joplin? Cantor said there should be cuts before any financial aid could be released, and he was vilified for it.

But under a BBA, that would be standard procedure. The government would have to find cuts in other programs before any emergency relief funds could be allocated. So, Congress would have to meet, go through the budget and find the cuts; then the House bill and Senate bill would have to go to conference, then the conference would pass a reconciliation bill, then both Houses would have to vote on it; then the President signs it.

And then, the money for emergency assistance could be released.

A BBA is not realistic, or practical, or economically feasible. It is, essentially, a Republican scheme to cut spending on social services they don't like.

EDIT: Under the current bill being debated, with spending capped at 18% of GDP, every single one of Reagan's budgets would have been illegal. And he is the conservative savior.

A BBA is realistic, if structured correctly.

It needs to allow flexability to deal with various crisis that may arise, but then also enforce balanced budgets when things are OK, or even paying down some debt.

You don't think the social services will take a hit when paying interest on the debt consumes a very large portion of our tax receipts every year, and we are forced to crank up the printing presses resulting in hyperinflation?

Take some medicine now to avoid a major disease later.

49 of 50 states have it.

Its not hard. We just need to get the self serving politicians to give up on their irresponsible power and money game.

Our aim in our house is to not have expenses be greater than income. Why shouldn't we ask the same of our government?

I'm against tooling with the constitution.

Yes it is very realistic.

We must continue eroding our social services with more and more cuts that need to be made. with no tax increases until eventually be no need for soc services. that is the ultimate goal of the Republicans. To kill all need for social services and government economic safety nets being abused and frauded by 90% of all the receipents.

Try this go to craigslist and search "enfamil" and see all the welfare people selling their government baby formula for cigarettes and drug money.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/search/?areaID=7&...

Michigan Welfare Allows Multi-Million Dollar Lottey Winner to Use Food Stamps

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/2m-michigan-lottery...

Welfare Money Spent on Cruise Ships and Vegas

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-welfare-20...

1 in 2 Household Receive Government Assistance

http://www.gilroydispatch.com/opinion/268954-numbe...

Food Stamp Recipients Up 28% in 2009

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTR...

Boost in Welfare Rolls Sees New Voters

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07/22/boost-in-w...

Welfare Check and Voting Card

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/opinion/10tue1.h...

Welfare Agencies See Wave of Voters

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100722/UPDATE...

Welfare Agency Out to Register New Voters

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Welfare+agency+out+t...

Most People Ever Receiving Government Assistance

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article...

Libs will NEVER go for it.

And that speaks volumes.

No.

It's also not practical.