Why do dems/journalist refer to the possible spending cuts as "meat axe" approach?

[MobFather]

lol

It's a 3% cut. 3%.

I think this horrible spending cut that will "destroy social security" and Medicaid, make people go hungry could be accomplished by purchasing less staplers.

"House Democrats have proposed substituting the $85 billion "meat-ax" approach to deficit reduction with a mix of spending cuts and tax hikes, although they acknowledge it is not clear if that will be embraced by President Barack Obama."

Dems solution? ANOTHER tax hike on the "rich". Didn't they just get one?



Will the media continue to help the dems buy covering up it's a 3% cut, and allowing them to claim Armageddon against the GOP?

[Far Fallen]

I think the term 'meat-axe' stems from the butchers trade. You've heard of 'trimming the fat', and that comes from when butchers were a thing, but for some (i would imagine) who did not have enough money to buy the whole piece of meat, the butcher would take his 'meat axe' and trim away some of the good meat in order to make the meat weigh less so that the costumer could afford it.

I may be wrong though

[HaterPolice]

1) People on both sides of the aisle are unhappy with the current cuts planned - its not just 'dems/journalists'
2)The term meat axe is a reference to the one size fits most approach of these cuts rather than a more targeted plan.

Take off your blinders...

[YB Logical]

IDK.
Democrats could frighten more of their constituents if they would liken the proposed spending cuts to using a chain saw for heart surgery.
It is also worth noting that Democrats are taking advantage of the ignorance of the American populace with their fear mongering.
The cuts are not related at all to current spending.
The cuts are to be applied to the proposed amount of rises in future government spending, meaning that if a government program is expecting a 7% rise in funding, it will only receive a 4% rise.
The amount of government spending will still increase, but at a slower pace.

[Falstaff]

3% of Billions of dollars is enough to extinguish some programs and place others on permanent life support.

Meat axe is evocative of the truth. that's why they use it.

[Mr. Hamilton]

When you want to sway public opinion on a subject you use the scariest words you can think of that relate to the subject. So since Dems are against the cut they call it a "meat axe"...because it refers to cutting...but you envision a slaughter instead of a budget line item, which instantly makes you offended by the imagery and against the now called "meat axe" cut. Its the same thing with the recent gun ban...notice they call their weapons ban a ban on "Assault weapons", but in reality they are banning not only semi-auto rifles but certain brands of shotguns and handguns. But the words SOUND scary, which sways public opinion. Liberals are better than conservatives at this because they can spread the word farther and faster due to media monopoly (minus FOX of course), but still.

Example: Look at Falstaff...he swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.
@Falstaff... your SS taxes increased from 4.2% to 6.2% which means an additional 2% of your income is now gone. Did that feel like a "meat axe" to your wallet? No it didn't feel like someone cleaved off a large chunk of your arm...it felt like ~$20 missing which means you don't get to buy a morning latte anymore...but rather just get regular coffee.