Posted on 11/18/2009 5:01:04 AM PST by John.Galt2012
I concluded the talk by emphasizing that fiscal policy is on an unsustainable path to an extent that cannot be solved by minor tinkering. The country faces a fundamental disconnect between the services the people expect the government to provide, particularly in the form of benefits for older Americans, and the tax revenues that people are willing to send to the government to finance those services. That fundamental disconnect will have to be addressed in some way if the budget is to be placed on a sustainable course.
(Excerpt) Read more at cboblog.cbo.gov ...
This is how we ended up with two Santa's last fall for presidental election.
In fact I heard lib Paul Krugman on ABC saying that Romney care was the model, ‘cover’ everyone first and address the costs later after everyone is hooked. In that case you raise taxes and ration benefits, or means test them (dont forget to repeat over and over 'middle class').
Democrat are really frustrated because many polls will still say voters want free stuff, but other polls show drop in support for what they want to do,.
Cloward-Piven
By the way, this is not just liberals demanding this. Many conservatives here also demand entitlements and tax cuts, in fact look at what GWB did.
I’m not in the elderly category, and the way the world is going I hope I don’t ever belong to that category, but it very much irritates me when the government finger pointing about entitlements is directed at the elderly. Let’s start first by looking at those segments of our population that could work, but don’t. I’m not talking about now, when there is an economic downturn. I’m referring to those who are young enough and healthy enough to make an effort but choose to use the system instead.
Cuts should be made first in the entitlements for those who still have the capacity and time in their lives to make the proper adjustments and responses. A 75 year old man who has worked all his life and saved money and didn’t treat himself to a lot of luxuries, and now needs a hip replacement, shouldn’t have that held from him because Washington spent itself into debt buying votes and appeasing those who could and should provide for themselves.
The massive blue collar industry that rebuilt the world after WWII from 1945-1970 no longer exists. These entitlement programs were conceived and implemented during an age when we were the only people in the world building anything. Everybody had to send us cash for durable goods.
The only thing we export today in similar quantities protected by monopoly are dollars..which the world has to trade for oil. And that is fast coming to an end as well as our ability to project power to protect that monopoly.
People better get get real quickly. The “dislocation trauma” otherwise will fracture the country.
That depends totally on how one defines "conservative."
One can hardly define GWB as a conservative. Personally likable, more "conservative" than the opposition, certainly more honorable, and burdened by the trauma of 9/11, but no way conservative. And in fact could never never never articulate from the bully pulpit what conservatism is, just as on FR so many claim "conservatism," but cannot even say what it is.
Conservatism is being responsible, assuming responsibility for one's own decisions in life and insisting others do likewise. Responsibilities like one's own healthcare, one's own retirement, one's own education, one's own career choice, one's own family planning, one's own sexual behavior, etc. And in fact that is what freedom is. And in fact is why previously millions and millions of immigrants came to the US, not for centralized entitlement which demands centralized subservience, but for the opportunity to live one's own responsibilities.
In religious terms it is called Soul.
Well said.
As a soon to be SS/Medicare receiver, I can say with certainty that neither of these programs is going to deliver what they promise. Not even close.
The numbers don’t work, period.
It’s Bernie Madoff accounting.
My only hope is that Democrats get the “credit” for their failure.
Republicans and many conservatives say that the entitlements are theirs because they ‘ earned it’. Can you see the problem with this? I have also heard ‘the government has an (unwritten) contract with the workers’ or ‘the government made a promise’. But really conservatives turn to socialists on this issue, it's the unborn’s future earnings in payroll taxes, not ours.
Republicans must fess up and start saying entitlements are a lie. And that may mean losing some elections. It conflicts with the "lesser of two evils elect republican at any cost" goal. GWB re-election strategy was Medicare free drugs all on the national credit card. That's how he picked up Florida in 2004.
I am talking about a 50-75% income tax, in addition to all the other little taxes, fees, etc. That’s the reality of the situation. I know right now in the USA, depending on what state/city you live in, most people pay 50% or more, but just don’t realize it. One of the Europeans I talked to not to long ago said they pay a 20%+ tax on automobiles.
...and already pay 60-65% income tax. (left that part off)
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