A critical question for November’s general election is whether America has reached the point where the hefty entitlement bonds to society and vast handouts have caused the tipping point where a majority of voting Americans favor a progressive “nanny state” instead of a nation where individual accountability, hard work and self-determination are the values that are championed by, drive and inspire America.
That may well be the case, based on polls that now indicate that President Barack Obama is leading the various Republican candidates who are participating in the existing primary. For this reason the best strategic option for those adhering to traditional American values appears increasingly to be a brokered Republican convention this April where a new popular candidate emerges to challenge President Obama. Unless that happens there is a real and present danger facing America’s future stability, national security and solvency.
America is not immune from the nearing ravages and destruction of a blind plunge into the leftist ideology and the futile failed policies advanced by President Obama and his administration.
sounds like someone is afraid of getting this country back on its feet after the political faction that he supports destroyed it. why would any american support a candidate that approves the bail out of the banking system and Wall Street but says let the auto industry go bankrupt? this is exactly what is happening in the michigan primary next week when the voters tell the republican party, the 1%ers and houston jack to go kiss our heinie!
If the best the GOP has to offer is a religious nut job, a chronic candidate, a disgraced beltway insider, and a geezer who is so far out that nobody can reel him back to reality, then the election of Obama to a second term is a done deal.
Bob Jack - "instead of a nation where individual accountability, hard work and self-determination are the values that are championed by, drive and inspire America."
Where is the individual accountability by the people who sucked $14 trillion dollars out of the American economy? You know, those guys on Wall St. and their banks. People do work hard although you don't seem to think so. Get up early and drive through a poor neighborhood, you'll see low income working class taking public transportation to work. The "nannie state" that exists is giving huge breaks and benefits to people who do nothing but invest to make their wealth. Some of who include a bulk of our politicians who get subsidized government dollars for their businesses and until recently insider trading. When and where does the shrinking middle class get to hold accounts off shore? Which by the way removes more wealth out of our economy. Give reasonable thinking people a break and stop using far right talking points about how horrible the economy is. It's people like you who think liberalism is evil that caused the middle and working class to fail in earning a decent living which put a heavy debt load on working people. Blaming Obama for this mess is idiotic chatter, just as Bush wasn't wholely responsible.
The Republican Tea Party is waging social warfare because they have little to stand on when it comes to economic policies, and the presidential candidates are a friggin joke.
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Hard work and self determination are values widely practiced in America. The extreme right wing myth is that all who practice those values are rewarded with wealth. Far from it.
It is equally mythical that all those who have achieved wealth have done so by hard work and determination. Some have done so, some were just lucky, some pushed ethical boundaries, and some were outright dishonest.
Vernos -BRAVO
"sounds like someone is afraid of getting this country back on its feet after the political faction that he supports destroyed it."
Sounds like Dip loves Obama, the guy who is on pace to double our nation's debt from 10 to 20 million dollars should he get re-elected. Greece here we come. High unemployment, high debt, even lower business investment than now due to our unstable government spend and tax policies My, my. Don't say we didn't warn you. There is a reason why Greece ran off their liberal elected officials during their last election. Greece has an unemployment rate of 20.9%.......what a disaster.
Another dose of hysteria. Jack's solution is (for the Sake of the Nation) we ought to give up on democracy and have the oligarchs pick the Republican Leader in the smoke-filled back rooms of Tampa. Did you enjoy your meal, Esau?
We all need to move this argument down several places in importance in the current environment.
Whether you are Mr. Jack, who is concerned about hard work versus entitlement or Vernos, who is concerned about inequality, if we continue to allow our leaders in both parties to borrow and print the money necessary to do whatever it takes to buy votes, our country is doomed.
I'm at the point now where I am looking for somebody, anybody, that will say the following and then take action: We are spending way more than we are taxing. If we don't put the brakes on that, starting now, we'll go broke. Spending cuts and tax increases will both be required. Here's my plan and it contains both. Let's start the debate here and now. Simpson Bowls said alot of that but little to nothing is happening in that area....... and please R and D lovers, PLEASE don't bother with.... but it's only those nasty folks on the other side.... it's not true, it's old, and I am tired of hearing it.
I'm fiscally conservative, but at this point I'm much less concerned about whether we tax the wealthy or everybody or whether we cut defense spending or change entitlements than I am about us getting our finances under control. If we don't do that, the country will fail and all the stuff I see argued about in the Sun won't matter.
Our leaders are 'buying' us with promises they can't and won't keep and funding it with borrowed and printed money.
If you doubt me, take an honest look at former President Bush's budgets, look at President Obama's budgets, look at the fact that the Senate doesn't even propose budgets anymore, look at the debt ceiling being raised over and over again with zero done about the gap between revenue and spending.
This isn't a one party issue. This is the 'way' it is done in DC now and if we don't get it stopped, we are done. It's an infection that has consumed both parties and we are the only cure.
Michael
'She's' an awfully expensive 'nanny', isn't 'she'? Her salary is 136% of America's net revenue. America should fire 'her' and get someone better at <100% of income, eh? This 'nanny' must have been imported from Greece!
Bob Jack is about as wrong as humanly possible on what has harmed America.
It is corporate America and the rich which have been dealt the massive handouts in the form of legislation that has outlandishly increased their wealth. Fiscal policy has been designed almost solely to keep interest rates at rock bottom in order to pump up the value of the stock markets.
Americans are unemployed not because they are lazy leeches, but because their decent jobs have been shipped elsewhere to maximize the profit and minimize the taxes of the corporations, which then use every trick in the book to avoid paying taxes to America.
Mr. Jack's cruel philosophy, if put into practice, will devastate America, not fix it.
canada; we need more americans that think like you, but as you can readily see, all men are created equal, except for republicans.
"...the best strategic option for those adhering to traditional American values appears increasingly to be a brokered Republican convention this April where a new popular candidate emerges to challenge President Obama. Unless that happens there is a real and present danger facing America's future stability, national security and solvency."
Jack -- I'm always suspicious of the intellect behind anyone who starts off with convenient but thoughtless labels like you did here. "Right good = left bad" is just more herdthink. Let's start with what exactly do you mean by "traditional American values"?
"Where is the individual accountability by the people who sucked $14 trillion dollars out of the American economy? You know, those guys on Wall St. and their banks."
VernosB -- excellent point. But sadly a moot one -- Bush started it, Obama continues on with it. Read somewhere recently the federal regulators basically forgave Wall Street its sins of avarice, against the laws we pay them to enforce. Makes you wonder who's really in charge. Or it's becoming clear the Rule of Law has been replaced with the Golden Rule -- who has the gold makes the rules.
"Hard work and self determination are values widely practiced in America. The extreme right wing myth is that all who practice those values are rewarded with wealth. Far from it."
PISCES41 -- excellent post! You should have taken it a step further with the predatory nature of our government at every level, waiting to take everything one earns.
"...if we continue to allow our leaders in both parties to borrow and print the money necessary to do whatever it takes to buy votes, our country is doomed."
wtplv -- another excellent post. So far the only candidate even close seems to be Rep. Paul. At least he pays more than lip service to Constitutional limits.
"Bob Jack is about as wrong as humanly possible on what has harmed America."
FromBellevilleCANADA -- remind me again why anything you post here is even remotely relevant?
"...we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds...[we will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers... And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for [another]... till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery... And the fore horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression." -- Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816
I'd rather teeter on the brink of a left wing abyss than live in a Tea/Republican Party hell.
All indications show if they get back in power they will do nothing but exact revenge and not lead, but amass more and more wealth...all at the expense of everyone else.
Bodies will be stacked high. And if they are actually properly buried after being killed off from negligence, neglect and indifference, the graveyards will be paved over to make runways for the filthy rich's new corporate jets.
If Romney gets the nod and is afforded the chance to run America like a mega-corporation rather than a country, he'll end up making Pol Pot look like an angel.
People will be denied even a glass of ice water in a Tea/Republican hell world. And if they do, the water will be acquired as a result of fracking.
Gimme a so called left wing abyss any day. Anyone would. We've experienced the other alternative before. And it still stinks.
America needs to keep going forward. Not backwards to the President Bush Junior era, the most horrible Presidency anyone in America has ever experienced in modern times. And that's what would happen. Because none of the candidate flavor the month's they throw out there continually have shown they have any new ideas at all. Just the same unimaginative, "I'm in charge, you're not" crap we experienced for eight years that did nothing but sink America faster than an iceberg did to the TITANIC.
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Bobby Jack will refuse his Medicare and his Social Security with out a doubt. Unless he already has qualified and takes both as we speak.
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Whatever, his agenda is very clear. Tei Pottie boy.
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Ola - Obama is doing a very good job after a somewhat rocky start. The Dems do a good job of looking after the working guy whereas the Republicons do an overall lousy job of everything.
World War II cost $4.1 trillion, in inflation-adjusted dollars, according to a Congressional Research Service study completed last year. (The monetary cost of WWII at that time was $288 billion.)
The Iraq war, summed through 2008, cost taxpayers a total of about $694 billion for just the Military alone but the civilian head count there was more then military. Through 2011 it will be closer to $1 trillion.
The $1 trillion does not take into account (1) interest payments on borrowed money, (2) civilian armies like Blackwater (Xe), (3) civilian contractors and (4) commercial outlays.
It does not take into account (5 rebuilding military equipment, airplanes or ships, nor the (6) retirement pensions, (7) insurance payouts and (8) medical care that will go on for the next 70 years.
(The cost of Afghanistan is not included for political reasons.)
All of these will easily add up to more than $2 trillion, making Iraq the SECOND most expensive war in American history and for what? All of the conditions for the war have been invalidated.
The National Debt created by the Bush War and the thieves in real estate, mortgage and finance that robbed this Country during a time of War, have destroyed our quality of life. These people aren't liberals, they are family values types, religious and are already talking about Iran, for the next round.
Iraq, a third world country cost as much as WWII...but the GOP is still convinced their Religion will save the world. All they need is the US Military to back up their prayers, if they can just get back into the White House.
What Left Wing Abyss?
"I'd rather teeter on the brink of a left wing abyss than live in a Tea/Republican Party hell."
Colin -- amen! Though your Pol Pot bit is extreme.
"Iraq, a third world country cost as much as WWII...but the GOP is still convinced their Religion will save the world."
SunJon -- another good post! Funny how you mentioned the Republican pandering to religious influence -- that's exactly what's happening in the rest of the world with Islam. Let us all never forget the Dark Ages happened mainly because of religion.
"I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in "A," "B," "C" and "D." Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of "conservatism." -- Barry Goldwater, speech to the US Senate (September 16, 1981)
It's funny how liberals can't mention one word on how to resolve our near Greece-like debt and deficit problem. Their only solution? Tax the rich more. The only problem with that is our entitlement costs are what is putting us on a to Greece-like austerity. And ole' Obama just added yet ANOTHER entitlement we can't afford. Liberals want us to be like Europe but that continent and its countries are in tough financial times, worse than our own. Just give us a plan liberals. Our debt is climbing towards 16 trillion. Business investment is down 25% since 2008 and I don't see any reason why they should invest any time soon. CBO has projected our unemployment rate to be stuck above 8% through 2014. How does that sound to those in their 50's who are trying to get a job in order to save for retirement?
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
JahReb- I don't worry about socialism as much like last year. The occupiers did themselves in by shooting themselves in the foot multiple times. People in tents attacking successful people......that's a real winner. LOL
future; stop whining about the high cost of gas and DO SOMETHING about it! the fastest way to lower gas prices is to STOP using it. get on a bicycle , buy a hybrid that gets 50 MPG, or try getting off your fat ass and WALKING. the rest of the world laughs at us for good reason.
I guess we are looking at two different universes. I don't see any of theses failed policies that you are talking about. I do see sucessful policies that have worked. Just because you don't like some of them doesn't mean they are failed. After watching your party throw each other under the bus and promoting their radical agendas they are trying to get us to believe in doesn't mean you are going to get your country back. People don't want to return to your failed policies. They want things like real jobs, like the ones your party sent overseas. I know you don't want to talk about those issues that affect the working class, you would rather talk about lowering taxes, privatizing public schools, taking away collective bargaining from union and getting rid of teachers, fireman, and public employees.
dpfeifer states "I do see successful policies that have worked." Then conveniently doesn't state which policies worked. Of course he then pivots to saying something about the opposing party. This is called pivoting folks. Why do liberals do this? Because 30% of their voting block are liberal thinkers and have no interest in facing and fixing our debt, deficit and job issues. The la-la-land liberal party.....see it here in these posts every day....pivot and ignore the problems....a liberal staple of our lifetime.
RefNV (Re Freeman),
I 'think' you 'may' see what I see.
I am more than willing to admit that former President Bush and the Congresses that served during the time he did were totally fiscally irresponsible. I am also willing to say that President Obama and the Congresses serving under him are totally fiscally irresponsible.
I also understand that you've got to vote for someone so I understand Killerb, Dipstick, Sunjohn, Fosimmons, Vernos and others who will support and vote for President Obama, because they disagree with R philosophy and agree with D philosophy.
Here's what puzzles me.
1) The R's offer no candidate except Ron Paul that really tells you that he would attack the spending, the debt and the deficit and provides any details at all about exactly what he would do. Because of Paul's age, stature, and some of his more libertarian views, he is unelectable. The R's are not happy with any of the other candidates but still seem ready to accept one of them. Where is the big outcry of: 'COME ON!...YOU'VE GOT TO OFFER US BETTER THAN THIS!
2) The D's have President Obama. Many of them are dissatisfied with him because he hasn't done as he promised and hasn't moved far enough to the left. Many others are unhappy because he, like our former President is also fiscally irresponsible, and offers no specific plan to deal honestly with the debt and deficit. Again, most seem ready to accept his poor performance and re-elect him. Where is the outcry: 'COME ON!...YOU'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB THAN THIS!
3) The media. Why is it that on any news show or opinion show 75 % of the time is about politics and your lucky if you get 25 % discussion on issues. Why isn't tye media all over both parties and our leaders about the fact that none of them offer any specific plan to help us turn off the road to financial ruin? Why don't they hammer each and every guest interview with: We are heading toward financial ruin. Why are you doing nothing about it? Do they believe if they did, our leaders would just take there ball and go home and refuse to appear. WHERE IS THE MEDIA AS THE WATCHDOG OF THE GOVERNMENT!
Michael
We have passed the tipping point. According to Harry Reid there is nothing wrong with social security so he works to reduce the funds that support it. The future generations are in for even tougher times than we are dealing with today.
When a liberal suggests the writer refuse his benefits it shows how intellectually vacant their arguments are.
By the way Obama is nothing more than a racist street hustler. Racist Wright proves this unless you buy into the denial that Obama listened to nothing for 20 years.
http://www.pimco.com/EN/insights/pages/k...
The letter should be signed....Bill Oreilly...It is nearly a verbatim repeat of a show he did last week.
Of the 66 trillion in unfunded liabilities 58 trillion comes from medicaid and medicare. They went into affect in 1965. How old was Obama in 65.
Funny how the right wing automatons never mention Italy's devastating debt crisis.
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Is the Right Winger Radical Party of the Simple Minded going to step up and cover the cumulative costs of the Iraq War?
Well past One Trillion and way more as it is absorbed into future generations for them to deal with.
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I think not - they won't confess
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Ola ... some excellent posts pointing out what they really are these Right Winger Radicals ..... Cheerleading Cartwheeling Sarah Palins as simple minded as they can possibly be, indeed. Live in fear that one of these simple minded fools due to celebrity should gain power.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_p...
The argument that the United States is headed for financial ruin is absolute baloney. The United States has a net worth of $75 trillion. We put $15 trillion worth of GDP on the books last year. This is about the same as the entire continent of Europe. In addition because of business overseas domestic corporations are posting some of their best earnings in history and are sitting on trillions in cash.
This country has one overriding problem from a fiscal standpoint of view. Our medical costs are way too high. This is what is causing the bulk of all of the deficit spending. If we would bring our medical costs down to the next most expensive country which is Germany we would save over $50 trillion in the next 40 years.
How about the Latin American debt crisis, the Russian debt crisis, the Asian contagion, the Treaty of Versailles in which Germany was supposed to pay for WW2 . Every region that has gone through a severe debt crisis has emerged much stronger than before. Asia and Latin America are exploding. In the 80s and 90s they couldn't pay their bills.
Micheal well said. Is this the best we have to offer? If you look at the choices for the last three elections you had Bush vs Gore, Obama vs McCain and now Obama vs Someone inadequate.
It is of interest to note the similarities between the methodology of the right wing leaders such as bill o Reilly, Rush limbo etc. and the terrorist organizations like Hezbollah , Al quads etc. They both prey upon individuals who have self esteem issues and or frustrated with there life experiences. Another method shared is how they motivate there base. They will use fear, hate , lies and even pervert there own religions in achieving control of said individuals. And what these people do after these methods have been employed on them are evident in Bob jacks letter, there is a high degree of probability that he believes the content of his letter is his own idea and is not aware he is repeating what was put into his head by Bill o Reilly and company.
Micheal: Or put another way, if you were interviewing these people to run your company which one would you choose? Or would you go back out on the market?
Gee John, I think I'll choose the $1 trillion dollar a year debt loss guy Obama over the prior guy who averaged $500 billion. Plus, I like paying nearly $4 dollars per gallon versus the $2.50 range several years ago. Oh, and love those 12-14 million people out of work with no outlook for business investment to increase during the next few years.....my ex boss with a director level job from a few years ago is now delivering parts for Autozone to dealers and mechanic shops. Unemployment for youths is around 25%. Black unemployment rate around 16%.
Ain't life great!
http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_char...
Houston, we have a problem...
Bob Jack's right-wing rant on the issue of 'entitlements' under the Sun's banner is nothing more (or less) than a crass, half-baked attempt to stir up trouble herein.
The debate concerning Corporate Welfare vs. the likes of enduring, life-sustaining programs such as Social Security & Medicare (programs that hard-working Americans pay dearly for out of every paycheck) deserves more.
In the comments that follow Jack's flawed & false fustian, Vernos & refnv crystallize the chasm betwixt fact & flat-out falderal.
What is corporate welfare gmag39?
gmag misses the point. Under current law workers no longer contribute to social security.
But leaving the silliness behind Obama has done nothing but make things worse.
No one mentions the unfunded liabilites. It was last measured at over 90 Trillion.
Mike, the Italian crisis is the result of liberal policies that the government can no longer afford. Just like Obama they do nothing to minimize this problem except calling Berlisconi names that would make him ideal to lead Nevada.
http://www.pimco.com/EN/insights/pages/k...
66 trillion but who is counting. Almost all medicaid and medicare. I mentioned the liabilities in my 10:32 post.
http://moneyland.time.com/2011/06/01/nea...
There is $150 trillion in medical bills coming due over the next 40 years. With half the country not being able to come up with $2000 it's going to be interesting to see who gets stuck with the bill. If you eliminated programs like Medicare and Medicaid every hospital in this country would go broke over night.
There are currently about 5700 hospitals in the United States. Only about 950 are still making money. Most of those due to plastic surgery and specialty care. All the rest stay afloat because of Medicare and Medicaid dollars. Whether the government can afford it or not they're going to continue to pay the bills. In Germany programs like Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1865. They're still paying the bills today whether they like it or not.
Every country in the world that is light on natural resources and long on aging populations is in a fiscal mess. People hate paying taxes but love entitlements. Governments maintain a low tax environment while providing life-sustaining entitlements. This creates deficits. Debt issues have been around for hundreds of years. People want something for nothing and debt bubbles are a result.
That's life!
According to the CBO, outlays for Social Security/Healthcare during the last 40 years has been 7.3% of GDP and in 2022 is projected to be 12.8%, almost double what it cost today as a percentage of our budget. The average for all other outlays for all federal programs has been 11.4% of GDP and is projected to be 7.8% in 2022. The rising cost of entitlements will slowly each each year start reducing what we can afford to spend in other areas as entitlement costs take up more and more of a percentage of our budget. Taxes will have to rise but it will eat more & more of our personal budget. Fewer dollars, less consumption, reduced business investing, higher unemployment and even higher taxes for those who remain employed.
Since 2001, the Heritage Foundation has presented an "Index of Dependency on Government". The index has grown by 60.7%. Since 1962, the score has grown by 15 times its original amount. Some of the key takeaways are astounding:
21.8% of Americans (1 in 5) rely on the federal government for housing, healthcare, food stamps, college tuition and / or retirement assistance. That's the highest reliance ever in our history. 67.3 million Americans rely on the federal government to subsidize their life.
Most of this assistance goes toward paying for their housing, health and welfare, and retirement
The average individual dependent on the government receives benefits valued at $32,748, which is more than the nation's average disposable personal income of $32,446.
70% of the government's budget goes towards these kinds of assistance programs.
77 million Americans (the baby boomers) are about to retire, which will explode the amount of money "needed" to subsidize their lives.
Social Security and Medicare alone are set to cost $45.9 trillion in unfunded obligations over the next 75 years.
Most of the baby boomers retiring are middle to upper-income Americans who don't need the assistance, but because the program is based on age and not need, they will receive the same benefits as lower-income retirees who actually need the help.
The last two years we've seen Obama present budgets without any of the deficit/debt reduction initiatives recommended by the Bowles-Simpson committee. Is this the guy we want to tackle our deficit, debt and joblessness issues during the next four years?
http://heritageaction.com/2012/02/the-he...
jrtsr (John Thompson),
I think you and a few others here see what I see but there are not enough of us.
I think the R's are going to nominate someone that while different from President Obama in some ways, will share with him the inability to tackle the deficit and debt problem. That person will lose the election to Obama.
Then, after 8 years of Bush not tackling the deficit and debt, we'll get 8 more with Obama.
I knew Americans had short attention spans, were too focused on themselves and their lives and were short term thinkers, but I thought that when the situation became this obvious and this dangerous, they would wake up and damand more leadership, but it hasn't happened.
Now I wonder if we are just going to sit here and watch our country being destroyed from within.
I'd like to know former President Bush and President Obama and understand how they think. If I had been Bush during his Whitehouse years or Obama during his and my performance was as poor as theirs, I would have had a hard time looking myself in the mirror. The solutions are tough and will be unpopular but they were and are there to implement. It's a travesty that both Bush and Obama failed so miserably.
Michael
wtplv; bush failed miserably resulting in the election of Obama. accept your mistakes and learn that this nation needs a Democrat just like 1932 when hoover was thrown out during the great depression, resulting in FDR.
LastThroes,
I don't think Americans trust liberal democrats to come up with any ideas on how to fix our debt, deficit and joblessness. Liberals do not have any ideas and that is plain to see from the dem leaders Pelosi, Reid and Obama. The projected cost in 1965 of Medicare was $12 billion dollars in 1990 and it actually was $120 billion dollars. Social security has an issue in that life expectancy in 1933 was barely over 50 years of age and now it's around 76 years of age, meaning, the cost of that program is much higher than was projected way back in 1933. Same will be with Obamacare. The cost of the new entitlement will be higher than projected because circumstances change and liberals do not have the new ideas to adjust to these changing circumstances. The continued miscalculation of the cost of these entitlement is what's destroying our economy. Liberals want status quo and fiscal conservatives want economic sustainability and growth.
refnv; listen to the words of republican dick cheney, ' deficits dont matter.' you and caster didnt complain then, why are you complaining now?
Chaney isn't running for office Dip. Your next point?
Dennis,
I don't view it as D's or R's failing. To me, it is two men, one man that did occupy the White Hosue and another man who occupies it now, both failing. In addition, our men and women in Congress in the past and in there now have failed and continue to do so.
As I have said often, people should vote for the people in the party that most closely matches their philosophy. However, in my opinion, it is just rock stupid to attach, to either party, the mantle of 'rightous'. Parties are made up of human beings. Some are good, some are bad, some are smart, some are not, etc.
I think it was wrong and is wrong to not attack this deficit spending and debt. Bush didn't do it and neither has Obama. That's just a fact, Dennis. If you choose to ignore it, so be it.
Michael
It also would be of interest to Google; STARVE THE BEAST. A political and financial plan created by the likes of Alan Greenspan and Grover Norquist in the late 70s to intentionally bankrupt the U.S. government to provide cover for conservatives to eliminate public spending programs like public education, social security, and Medicare.
Dennis,
You seem to think I 'chose' not to complain under Bush becaise he was an R and I 'choose' to complain under 'Obama' because he is a D. That accusation fits many people but is way off base for me.
I didn't complain under Bush because I simply did not realize how big the debt and deficit issue was. Now that I do, I am speaking out. I know you won't believe me, but if an R is elected, I'll still speak out.
I'm sorry 'your' guy is in the hot seat when the problem reached crisis levels, but he is. What happened before and the fact the he inherited the crisis does not provide an excuse for not taking action, at least not to me.
Michael
Mike,
Americans don't like to pay higher taxes. They also don't like to be unemployed. Higher taxes in future years will mean higher unemployment in order to sustain the cost of entitlements. Higher taxes remove dollars from our economy and increases joblessness. 98% of businesses employ less than 100 people. There is no national 30 year plan among businesses to increase the cost of entitlements. The entitlements costs were just miscalculated and we aren't adjusting to the miscalculations. Liberals want status quo. Fiscal conservatives want to put us back on a path to sustainability and growth economically. The unemployment rate according to CBO will be above 8% through 2014. Liberals simply do not have a plan to fix our debt, deficit and joblessness issues. Businesses will not invest in a fragile economy. Period. Those 50 year old's who want a job to save for retirement are stuck.
Traditional values are the ones that many of us grew up believing in, the ones that guided and inspired us--the belief that we could move up by applying ourselves. That study and hard work would pay off. That God is the foundation of society--and that there was no shame in saying so.That when another country threatened our way of life that it was expected that after trying to change things through negotiation, that it was the best policy to fight back with the military. That American values all mixed together were special and exceptional, and that it was good to tell others we were proud of this country because it was special. There are many traditional values,but hopefully these give you some idea--because it is clear that the leftist koolaid drinkers who have posted above, including the one from Canada, really have no clue. These are the values that this current president undermines, and attempts to destroy, not because he is evil,but because he adheres to a secular, progressive ideology which I believe will ultimately destroy the essence of these traditional American values.
The sad truth is that no politician who wishes to be elected can possibly come up with a solution to our financial mess that will even head us in the right direction. The public, no matter their politics, will not accept changes to either social security or medicare willingly.
Harry Reid is proof of that. Not only did he distort what Angle supported he stated that "there is nothing wrong with social security". Just what the electorate wants to hear.
wtplv; not even voting for sharron angle will pull your chestnuts outta the fire. the republicans offer nothing but more destruction and in the words of houstonjack, elimination of ' traditional values'.
What, and traditional values don't include caring for the sick and the elderly? The vast majority of people that get government assistance are low-wage service sector workers, laborers and the elderly. Many of these people either work or have worked very hard in their lives. Just because someone can't afford $50,000-$100,000 for a cancer drug like Avastin or $50,000 a year to go to college doesn't mean they're not a hard-working productive person.
I would argue that laborers and service sector workers are some of the hardest working people in our society. None can afford a hospital bill.
The reality is you're going to continue to have deficits until people are willing to pay for their entitlements through much higher taxes. Currently people want maximum entitlements coupled with minimum taxes. This produces deficits.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/02...
Corporate profits at 60 year highs, corporate taxes at 40 year lows. Half the country pays no income tax.
People scratch their heads as to why we have deficits.
"Many of these people either work or have worked very hard in their lives."
Where is your data to support this claim Gerry? My ex-girlfriend currently works in a government and family services office in a northeastern state. I can tell you that about 1/4 of those entering her building where she works are Hispanic, many do not speak english. Where are your figures and in the meantime I'll see if she has any data as well.
Gerry,
We are on this same page. Tax reform is needed to close individual and corporate tax loopholes. Tax reform was passed twice last year in the house but failed in the do-nothing Harry Reid senate.
http://budget.house.gov/SettingTheRecord...
http://www.gop.gov/republicans/paulryan/...
zippert1...
Gerry, you 'get it.'
Right on.
All due respect but you don't have to speak English to work hard. I spent over 40 years in California. If you go to the farming communities in central and northern California you will find thousands of people working in the fields 12 hours a day for about 50 bucks a day. Just because these people don't speak English doesn't mean they're not working hard. If these people get sick or injured they should be helped just like any other worker in this country.
Without these people we would be paying more for a head of lettuce then a gallon gas.
There are about 300,000 Walmart employees that get some type of government assistance. Go into any Walmart at around midnight and you will find people stocking shelves. Tons of merchandise being put on the shelves by hand. Hard work, you bet!
"Corporate profits at 60 year highs".
Gerry, is your statement about profits based on a pure dollar figure or is it as a percent of GDP?
http://seekingdelta.files.wordpress.com/...
But Gerry, all due respect, you don't have data to prove your original premise. It was conjecture. Unless you have data to support your premise.
"Gas price are up to $4 a gallon at the pump and Obama is ecstatic."
he is? can you put my onto his quotes showing his ecstasy?
interesting point -- prices for a barrel of oil are at a 9 month high, right? then why are prices at historic highs now? hmmm, couldn't be the oil barons who don't like Obama taking out their anger on the little people? Nah --- that'd never happen. not in this great country.
"Every $1 increase cost consumers $140 billion in disposable income. Consumers must use all of that temporary payroll tax rollback to get to work."
Yes --- this is exactly what Obama wants --- to choke out the recovery that's going now. exactly.
but at least the Koch Brothers will have more money to pour into the morons of their choosing for elected positions.
that's good for America, right?
"Without these people we would be paying more for a head of lettuce then a gallon gas."
Not true!We educate, medicate and otherwise support these illegals( I assume u make the case for forgiving lawbreakers) The social costs are enormous.
Zipper, you do know all those field workers do have the right to health care thru our system. They can not be refused care at a public hospital. These people get care then the hospital writes off the bill after they never pay it, and of course the people who do have insurance pay $5 for an aspirin so that takes care of the ones who do not pay. I have a buddy who has never had health ins and never paid for it, though he could afford it at one time, he has had health care for free, me, I have paid over 60k in health ins prems plus all the co pays and out of pockets over the years. It is shame those farm jobs are not done by American workers, I wish Pres Obama would do something about that! But unfortunately he does nothing about anything as he is just ineffective, that is the reason to replace him, time for someone else to step in and try to run the country. Many who voted for Obama will not make the same mistake again and those who expected a check in the mail after he got elected are kind of disappointed though he did spends wads of cash.
I want to thank Dipstick and Zippert for proving my point that no politcian who wants to win an election will support any entitlement reform that will deal with the core problems
All that is offered is more senseless comment that does nothing to point our economy in the right direction.
pete; they wont be as disappointed when they find out the republicans cant win in november. happy days!
ace; its time you and your pal fritz start facing some hard facts. santorum lost his last election by 700,000 votes as an INCUMBENT US senator ( still an american record ). romney MAY lose the primary where both his parents are buried and his father was GOVERNOR for six years. newt and paul? dont ask.
Let's break things down a little. There are about 150 million people getting some type of government assistance. About 60 million of those are the unemployed and elderly. By definition many getting government assistance work for a living. I realize Americans are bad at math but this is an easy one.
In terms of our migrant workforce they tend to be healthy, robust, and need very little medical care. If you're not in good physical condition you can't do manual labor 12 hours a day six days a week. In terms American workers doing migrant farm work give me a break. People in this country are so out of shape and obese that the folks in the community in which I live use their cars to drive to the mailbox even though the mailbox is only 100 yards away from the front door.
Non-migrant worker illegal aliens are in fact burdening emergency rooms. Everyone is burdening emergency rooms. 70% of emergency room visits result in no payment.
In 2010 there were 123 million emergency room visits. Only a handful of those visits were illegal aliens.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/ervisits...
Wow Gerry, you show a link to emergency room visits. Most states provide many other programs besides health(emergency visits) such as mental health, protection(child abuse, adoption, foster care,etc) and other assistance(child care, child support, health insurance for children, youth transition to adulthood, etc). I wasn't expecting you to have the data to all government services. Did you know that some immigrants have one identity for work and another for home so they can double dip with a working income and government assistance? They rarely get caught. My ex-girlfriend's neighbor was doing the double-dip with work income and gov assistance. it's easier for immigrants and more difficult for US citizens because the gov has better records on us.
By the way, corporate profits as a share of GDP has ranged from 4% to 10% of GDP for nearly 60 years now, nothing news worthy there. It was around 10% in 1951 as it is today.
LastThroes, I know you want immigrants to continue getting free stuff. That doesn't surprise me one bit.
Yeah..give me a link to some states that allow for participation in the above programs. Most require picture identification, SS card, and tax returns before you can even apply.
"...I understand Killerb, Dipstick, Sunjohn, Fosimmons, Vernos and others who will support and vote for President Obama..."
wtplv -- I neither support nor will I ever vote for Obama. Where you understood this is not from me.
"The enormous abuses of the banking system are not only prostrating our commerce, but producing revolution of property..." -- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Richard Rush, 1819, from "The Works of Thomas Jefferson" Vol. 12
Predatory capitalists the folks who brought you the RINO/DINO combined party.
We need a Teddy Roosevelt; what we have now in either the RINO or DINO parts of our effectively one party system is NOT Teddy.
We have a spending problem not an income problem.
We have predatory capitalists with control of the regulators who are supposed to control them and a true monopoly on law and policy.
Gary Hageman
Well done sir, You took on multiple conservative commentators and crushed them with reality based facts.
Dennis,
To your comments about my vote for Sharron Angle, I will simply point out the following: Senator Reid continues to say SS is fine and requires no changes while the actuary for SS says the program is not financially sustainable. I will also point out that Senator Reid routinely uses his political clout to unfairly enrich and advantage himself, his family and his friends, the latest example being his son for Henderson DA. He's a fine choice for our Senior Senator, isn't he....
Michael
wtplv; this is reids' last term. be thankful there were enough people in nevada with some common sense. angle couldnt win an election as dog catcher in her hometown. social security will get funding because i dont see any politician worth his salt to say it wont. any politician that supports the elimination of SS better start looking for a new job!
I agree with rusty57. Below is what I know of Obama's plan to reign in debt and deficit spending:
"........................................................"