No one wants to cut entitlements and no one wants to reduce the already crushing deficit. So that leaves tax everyone even more and risk destroying the fragile economy. We are going to have to make some hard choices now or face the consequences once our borrowers wake and decide to take away our credit card.
What baffles me is the constant drumbeat over high taxes, when they have been reduced tremendously since the 1980's, and are at the lowest level in decades. Any suggestion of restoring any federal tax is met with howls of derision and accusations of socialism. I suggest that there is something else at work in all of this, and it has nothing to do with taxes.
Oddly enough, I found that rather informative. Now I know what the DNC is doing with its time: coming up with silly (if amusing) gimmicks, instead of actually addressing the issue.
Neither of these two jokers have a real plan to balance the budget, much less work in reducing the real 100+ trillion deficit (unfunded liabilities, pensions, SS raiding, Medicare).
The only three solutions is either: 1) A MASSIVE tax increase which will cripple the economy. 2) A MASSIVE series of cuts across the board (entitlements and military especially) 3) MASSIVE printing of federal reserve notes, causing rapid inflation, which might cause the collapse of the dollar.
Economically, this nation has painted itself into a corner, but neither party wants to admit that. Telling the truth is a sure way not to get elected.
It is much like a fat man. He didn't reach 500 pounds overnight, and he can't fix it overnight either.
The only viable solution is a balanced and gradual approach that addresses the problem from both sides. Some tax increases and some cuts in spending would make gains and improve the debt situation as the economy recovers. They wouldn't need to be drastic abrupt measures to have the desired effect.
Just as cutting off all food to the fat man would quickly kill him, so would shutting down the federal government quickly kill the US economy and result in social upheaval in the process.
Neither of the two factions of the business party want to see the budget balanced (even though one side claims it, in order to obtain political support of its constituency) nor want to increase taxes over capital gain (same case, opposite side). These shenanigans are there just propaganda to make people conform with plunging wages and lost of rights, which are the result of electin either of the two candidates.
@ Anonymous:3) MASSIVE printing of federal reserve notes, causing rapid inflation, which might cause the collapse of the dollar.
The first part of this is happening. It's called QE-1, QE-2 and QE-3. And the ECB is doing similar stuff. Oddly, the second part is not happening. And hasn't happened despite enormous fear mongering about it.
Too add to that @ andrew: face the consequences once our borrowers wake and decide to take away our credit card.
Did you know the vast, vast, vast majority of borrowers are American banks and Americans (through their pension funds)? China is not the majority buyer of American debt. Also, Japan has been financing 20 years of lackluster growth with debt to its own people. Works fine (selling debt to its own citizens, not the growing part).
My problem is that all this fuzzy money-printing has not had much result. Shouldn't the FED, ECB and US and EU governments be trying something else?
I totally agree re the captchas, but have no control over them because they arise from the bloghost, Blogspot. I tried turning them off in the template, but immediately the blog was flooded with spam.
I like it better than Obamas plan.
ReplyDeleteNo one wants to cut entitlements and no one wants to reduce the already crushing deficit. So that leaves tax everyone even more and risk destroying the fragile economy. We are going to have to make some hard choices now or face the consequences once our borrowers wake and decide to take away our credit card.
ReplyDeleteI plan on voting for Romney but I still found that funny.
ReplyDeleteI also agree w/ the first two comments.
What baffles me is the constant drumbeat over high taxes, when they have been reduced tremendously since the 1980's, and are at the lowest level in decades. Any suggestion of restoring any federal tax is met with howls of derision and accusations of socialism. I suggest that there is something else at work in all of this, and it has nothing to do with taxes.
ReplyDeleteWho is blowing dog whistles and now.
DeleteOddly enough, I found that rather informative. Now I know what the DNC is doing with its time: coming up with silly (if amusing) gimmicks, instead of actually addressing the issue.
ReplyDeleteNeither of these two jokers have a real plan to balance the budget, much less work in reducing the real 100+ trillion deficit (unfunded liabilities, pensions, SS raiding, Medicare).
ReplyDeleteThe only three solutions is either:
1) A MASSIVE tax increase which will cripple the economy.
2) A MASSIVE series of cuts across the board (entitlements and military especially)
3) MASSIVE printing of federal reserve notes, causing rapid inflation, which might cause the collapse of the dollar.
Economically, this nation has painted itself into a corner, but neither party wants to admit that. Telling the truth is a sure way not to get elected.
Truth hurts, doesn't it? But all anyone wants to do is claim that lowering taxes will fix everything.
DeleteIt is much like a fat man. He didn't reach 500 pounds overnight, and he can't fix it overnight either.
DeleteThe only viable solution is a balanced and gradual approach that addresses the problem from both sides. Some tax increases and some cuts in spending would make gains and improve the debt situation as the economy recovers. They wouldn't need to be drastic abrupt measures to have the desired effect.
Just as cutting off all food to the fat man would quickly kill him, so would shutting down the federal government quickly kill the US economy and result in social upheaval in the process.
Interesting analogy, Paul. I'm glad you brought it up. He also doesn't fix his problem by eating MORE food. :)
Delete@Tim &Paul
DeleteBut it sure will make him happy.
Neither of the two factions of the business party want to see the budget balanced (even though one side claims it, in order to obtain political support of its constituency) nor want to increase taxes over capital gain (same case, opposite side). These shenanigans are there just propaganda to make people conform with plunging wages and lost of rights, which are the result of electin either of the two candidates.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, the majority still votes for them.
@ Anonymous:3) MASSIVE printing of federal reserve notes, causing rapid inflation, which might cause the collapse of the dollar.
ReplyDeleteThe first part of this is happening. It's called QE-1, QE-2 and QE-3. And the ECB is doing similar stuff. Oddly, the second part is not happening. And hasn't happened despite enormous fear mongering about it.
Too add to that @ andrew: face the consequences once our borrowers wake and decide to take away our credit card.
Did you know the vast, vast, vast majority of borrowers are American banks and Americans (through their pension funds)? China is not the majority buyer of American debt. Also, Japan has been financing 20 years of lackluster growth with debt to its own people. Works fine (selling debt to its own citizens, not the growing part).
My problem is that all this fuzzy money-printing has not had much result. Shouldn't the FED, ECB and US and EU governments be trying something else?
PS The captchas are becoming impossible.
I totally agree re the captchas, but have no control over them because they arise from the bloghost, Blogspot. I tried turning them off in the template, but immediately the blog was flooded with spam.
DeleteI thought this was a clever gag, and I'm sure there could be similar ones applied to oppositional political positions.
ReplyDeleteFunny is funny despite the political affiliation.