US hits back over 'questionable' IMF comments

yahoo.com ^ | 4/19/06

[paudio]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US government issued a barbed riposte after the IMF suggested Washington institute health insurance for all Americans and balance its budget faster than planned.

Tim Adams, the Treasury undersecretary for international affairs, demanded that the International Monetary Fund get back to its "raison d'etre" of monitoring global currency rates rather than commenting on health care.

He also said an IMF call for the United States to balance its budget by 2010, rather than just aiming to halve it by 2009, would put the global economy in "peril".

"We have been the product of IMF scrutiny for a long time. They don't mince any words or waste any time talking about the US," Adams told a news conference after the IMF released its semi-annual World Economic Outlook.

"In fact it appears ... that they were once again delving into issues that are questionable topics for the IMF to be looking at," he said.

[paudio]

Now, what's the difference between IMF and World Bank, then, if IMF also talk about health, etc? Traditionally, IMF is led by European while WB by American.

[Socratic]

I wonder if the IMF had any comments concerning the unemployment rate in France or other Socialist countries.

[daybreakcoming]

So when did IMF become the new DNC spokesperson?

[mkjessup]

I-gnorant M-other ....[self-edited to avoid being banned]

[mr_hammer]

He that good, got to remember that one for later use.

[Lurker]

How about we quit giving them money. Then they can bad mouth their next sugar daddy.

L

[Roccus]

It seems like every alphabet organization that we sign on to thinks they can take a swipe at our sovereignty

[onevoter]

Our first step should be to cut out all International Aid and cut out welfare - between the two steps we should move upwards quickly! Just as an added bonus, take our death row inmates and give them swift justice and stop wasting time funding all these appeals and housing them.

[newcthem]

And why are we concerned what the IMF says? They may not like us, but that won't prevent them from taking our money.

[Vectorian]

Yes, it regularly criticises EU countries with high borrowing and high unemployment, which is pretty much all EU countries apart from the UK.

[Wurlitzer]

Hmmm! Lets take them up on their suggestion. First stop giving ANY money to ANY organization outside of the USA. No UN, NATO, etc. Take those funds and provide cradle to grave health care./sarcasm

Pi$$ on every ungrateful organization, country that takes our money then complains about the USA.

[KarlInOhio]

The US government issued a barbed riposte after the IMF suggested Washington institute health insurance for all Americans and balance its budget faster than planned.

Ouch, I just sprained something in my head. We should institute the largest federal program imaginable, health insurance for all Americans (which probably really means anyone on this side of the border legal or illegal) and balance the budget at the same time. So we should add upwards of a trillion dollars of new spending and bring in enough taxes to cover it plus our current "drunken sailor" level of spending. Time for some Euro level of taxes.

[04-Bravo]

Every time I see the initials IMF, I think of the "Impossible Mission Force" from the original TV show.

"Good morning, Mr. Phelps..."