The U.S. Can't Deliver On All Its Promises

Real Clear Markets ^ | 6/22/09 | Robert Samuelson

[FromLori]

Raised in an individualistic culture, Americans dislike the concept of the "welfare state" and do not use the term. But make no mistake, the United States has a welfare state, and its future is precarious. The true significance of General Motors' bankruptcy lies more with this welfare state than with the battered condition of American capitalism.

[The_Media_never_lie]

The U.S. Can't Deliver On All Its Promises

Obama's solution: Health Care for all Americans.

[Islaminaction]

So let’s spend more money.

[hoosierham]

GM and other companies ,forced by a federal government in collusion with radical unionists ,acceded to demands for wages and benefits that simply could not be justified .Naturally the company management thought if workers receive $80,000 annually for 2000 hours labor then mangers must receive more.

It was nothing more,nor less, than greed which has ruined the American economy for many of our fellow citizens.

Does anyone really believe a career putting bumpers on cars should entitle the worker to own,not one,but two homes,plus a motor-home,plus pay for college education for the children,plus many other toys;nor the executive his McMansions,ski vacations,and European vacations.Yet this level of compensation is what a couple generations grew to expect and demand.

[freedumb2003]

Anyone under 50 who thinks they will see a dime of SSI is nuts. SSI is NOT a part of my retirement planning — if it is there I will use it like a windfall and buy hats or something.

[Arkinsaw]

These politicians will be gone when the tsunami hits. They only care about printing enough money to bribe the voters for the next election cycle.

I have about come to the conclusion that the only way to resolve the situation is to let this pig eat itself to death.

Just one more wafer thin mint for monsieur?

[FromLori]

Does anyone know how to photoshop and put obamas picture on that fat pig guy after all its his pig now.

[ClearCase_guy]

Pass a balanced budget amendment.
Repeal the 16th amendment, ending income tax.
Pass the Fair Tax.

That's a start.

[Arkinsaw]

Anyone under 50 who thinks they will see a dime of SSI is nuts. SSI is NOT a part of my retirement planning — if it is there I will use it like a windfall and buy hats or something.

If it's not there, your other plans won't be worth much due to the riots.

[Frantzie]

We are being bankrupted by illegal aliens, unions, lib politcians, envirofacism and hedge funds.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

The system that works is the system that ties people's success to their efforts, and that protects and celebrates individuality. That the left continues to ignore this in the face of mountains of evidence is tragic.

The solution is failry straight forward. Less spending overall. Selective government spending, and targeted tax breaks to support innovation and the development of new American industry. A greater emphasis on education and preserving American competitiveness in the world. A rebirth of American pride and loyalty. Very, very strict term limits for all elected officials. Immigration reform that emphasizes the immigration of those who bring skills and who want to meld into the melting pot of America. The beginning of no holds barred, non-PC national debates on important issues. The end of MSM propagandizing.

[servantboy777]

No kidding.

Same with baby Bush.....Rx benefit program to the tune of billions.

These people in government (dems and pubs) have no concept of the word....budget cuts

[Nosterrex]

The fault lies with the American voters who wanted something for nothing, and with the government that sought political power by making promises that they could never keep. I would also lay this at the MSM’s feet that deceived the public by supporting its own political agenda.

The federal government was never intended to provide people with jobs, health care, education, or retirement income. Until someone has the political balls to stand up and say to the American people, it is not the government's job to provide for all your needs, nothing is going to improve.

[FromLori]

Agree DEPORT DEPORT!

http://www.americanpatrol.com/

Helena (Montana) Independent Record
American citizens should be leaders’ main priority
Health care costs in the U.S. have skyrocketed for many reasons. However, Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee leading the charge for health care reform, should warn Congress that the U.S. cannot achieve fiscally responsible health care reform..

Devvy Kidd — NewsWithViews.com — Merlin, Oregon
Every “law” Obama signs brings us closer to........
Removing this usurper from office. How, you ask? — Those not walking around in a self induced coma are aware of the 38 lawsuits regarding Barack Hussein Obama aka Barry Soetoro aka Barry Obama aka Barack Dunham aka Barry Dunham, over his false citizenship claims...
Daniel Weintraub — Sacramento Bee

The Conversation: Immigration & America
As California struggles to wrestle its budget back into balance, an ever-louder chorus of critics suggests there is an easy answer to the state’s troubles: End all services to illegal [aliens]. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger waved away these concerns June 5 when he told the Bee editorial board that it is a “myth” that illegal [aliens] are to blame for the state’s budget problems...

Prison Planet — Austin, Texas
Proposed law allows AG to block gun sales to millions of Americans
New Jersey Democrat senator Frank R. Lautenberg plans to introduce legislation designed to cancel the Second Amend rights of well over a million U.S. citizens this coming week, according to the New York Times. “Mr. Lautenberg plans to introduce legislation on Monday that would give the attorney general the discretion to block gun sales to people on terror watch lists,” the newspaper reports...
New York Times

‘Charlatan in Chief’ reneges on important campaign promise
During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised that once a bill was passed by Congress, the White House would post it online for five days before he signed it. — “When there’s a bill that ends up on my desk as president, you the public will have five days to look online and find out what’s in it before I sign it, so that you know what your government’s doing,” Mr. Obama said...
Jim Kouri, CPP — NewsWithViews.com
Government report faults US gun owners for Mexico’s violence

“[This report may be] used in a phony attempt to show that the ban is needed. It even may be used as part of an outrageous attempt to argue that Americans have to give up some of their Second Amendment rights to an international authority so that international trafficking in firearms...” [See Gun Grabber Watch]
Nashville Tennessean
ICE won’t detain non-U.S. drivers in Nashville
The federal government will no longer detain illegal immigrants caught driving without a license in Nashville. — Instead, the federal system wants to use its bed space to house and deport the most dangerous offenders. — The change is good news to advocates who have complained from the beginning, in spring 2007...
Palm Beach Post Editorial
The illegal vs. the hospital
Nine years ago, a drunken driver sent an illegal [alien] to Martin Memorial Medical Center, where he ran up more than $1 million in bills. — Today, Luis Jimenez, a former landscape worker who was left with the IQ of a 10-year-old, lives with his mother in a Guatemalan village...
Brenda Walker — VDare.com

‘Hate crime’ hysteria ignores the real victims... Americans
Since the Obama administration has had little success in fixing the economy, it is using a diversionary tactic of crushing free speech—particularly against the stubborn majority of American citizens who want immigration to be legal, controlled and reduced...
Los Angeles Times

“MEChA-Boy” Villaraigosa’s future, once bright, now tarnished
Days from the start of his second term, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has earned tepid job approval ratings from city voters and a plurality opposes his entrance into the upcoming race for governor, according to a new Los Angeles Times poll....

[nascarnation]

Personally I want Democrats in the Presidency, and control of congress when Social Sec and Medicare belly up.
They deserve to be there for the retribution.

[servantboy777]

Uh, I guess I could go with that, but I kinda wish they’d all just like....evaporate from the planet.

[Frantzie]

Illegal aliens, unions, environmental facism, junk lawsuits and liberal politicians have bankrupted California.

[Just another Joe]

Social Security and Medicare -- programs for the elderly -- represented the biggest share: $1 trillion in 2008. Most Americans don't consider these programs "welfare," but they are.

Give me all the money that has been taken from me in the form of SS payments to the gov, I won't even ask for interest, and I promise, in writing, that I will never ask for a SS payment or Medicare when I retire.

[marsh2]

All you get from term limits is government by staffers. It takes more than a year for a newly elected official to become oriented to the playing field. By the time they become competant and hit their stride, their term is up.

What we are seeing now is carpetbaggers who go from one district to another by planting a mobile home in some field and calling it a residence.

The only power and leverage rural areas can have is the advantage of longevity. Term limits skews power to the urban areas by force of sheer numbers.

[Jack Black]

How interesting. A very sober, simple article by a well respected economist laying out the basics. Zero response by Freeper-dom. Weird.