Cliff Diving, Part II

[Solo_LTSurvivor]

While everyone has been focused on falling over the dreaded fiscal cliff as of late, most people have forgotten about how this dreary situation came about to begin with.  Last year proposals were made to slash things across the board in order to balance the budget, to rein in this out-of-control spending.  These sequester cuts were originally set to take place on January 1, 2013.  There is still a possibility that HIVers could be affected if some of the following cuts still take place, as all of the attention was concentrated on avoiding the fiscal cliff situation:

-The CDC HIV Prevention program, which researches prevention strategy outcomes and provides materials, support, and technical assistance to AIDS service organizations, among other valuable services, is projected to lose $64 million
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-The Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which provides care to low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS will lose an astounding $196 million
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-The AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which has seen an a huge decrease in the number of people on the national ADAP waitlist, thanks to an increase in funding from President Obama, will lose a disheartening $77 million. Some experts predict that this decrease in funding may lead to 12,000 new people being placed on the national ADAP waitlist
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-The Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA), which delivers housing and related services to nearly 80,000 households, is set to lose $27 million
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-The National Institute of Health’s AIDS Research program, which works on vaccines, medications, and behavioral interventions, will lose $251 million in funding
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A cool $615 million is projected to be cut from domestic HIV/AIDS services and programs. In more tangible terms, Harbor Health Advocacy projects that under these cuts, the States’ capacity to meet the needs of PLWA will be devastatingly reduced. Massachusetts, for example, will lose $573,043 in HIV prevention grants and perform 14,326 fewer HIV tests.

Additionally, PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS (for 2012, so far the U.S. has paid $837 million of the total $1.3 billion we have pledged).

While these cuts are not guaranteed, people living with HIV/AIDS, AIDS advocates and activists will certainly have a fight on their hands should new avenues or agreements fail to be reached.

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[mitch777]

great post Solo.

the repubs will not care.
cut,cut,cut the budget until America bleeds to death.
so sad.

[WindySkies]

great post Solo.

the repubs will not care.
cut,cut,cut the budget until America bleeds to death.
so sad.

How sustainable is borrowing 45 cents of every dollar it spends? If you look hard you will see that America is already bleeding to death, trillions of dollars of borrowing every year.

There is plenty to be cut, and only cutting 1% per year would lead to a balanced budget in just 8 years.  1% is just 1 penny from every dollar it spends.

At some point the gravy train will run out of fuel, and those on it will have to find another way to get around.  If the tough choices continue to be put off, things will just get worse.  Even the big deal that was just signed to avoid the fiscal cliff is estimated to grow the deficit by 3-4 trillion dollars over the next 10 years.  So when they tell you they are saving money, it's pretty much safe to know the exact opposite is true.

Once they fix the real problems, then they can afford to spend money on programs it wants too.

[mecch]

How sustainable is borrowing 45 cents of every dollar it spends? If you look hard you will see that America is already bleeding to death, trillions of dollars of borrowing every year.

There is plenty to be cut, and only cutting 1% per year would lead to a balanced budget in just 8 years.  1% is just 1 penny from every dollar it spends.

At some point the gravy train will run out of fuel, and those on it will have to find another way to get around.  If the tough choices continue to be put off, things will just get worse.  Even the big deal that was just signed to avoid the fiscal cliff is estimated to grow the deficit by 3-4 trillion dollars over the next 10 years.  So when they tell you they are saving money, it's pretty much safe to know the exact opposite is true.

Once they fix the real problems, then they can afford to spend money on programs it wants too.

My early morning coffee hasnt kicked in so maybe Im not reading clearly.

You are calling spending on health care and sickness prevention "the gravy train"?  Hello?

One of the most advanced, richest, and most democratic countries in the world can't afford to care for people with chronic diseases?   Hello?

How about Obama and the dems figure out a way to tax the rich and corporations FAIRLY on par with other advanced industrialised countries with national health care.  And we cut the goddamned immoral expensive and unpaid  for wars and the miltary budget.  And just take care or real priorities.  Like health, education, infrastructure, and a living fucking wage.