I assume this is satire, but it’s really tough to tell!
All kidding aside, I don’t understand what the conservatives are waiting for? Band together and start disrupting. You don’t need a leader to do that, just balls and a bit of a plan. It’s very sad to see ‘leaders’ act like headless chickens.
I think it can be safely stipulated that the GOP will retreat no matter where they are.
Moderate Washington Insider Republicans secretly (and not so secretly love and admire Obama)- they’d love nothing better than to lick the sweat off his ‘taint.
Facts are that for the most part, economic data is being massaged to support the establishment message that we are in an economic recovery and all that must be done is to maintain an upward path to a growth level that will solve all of the country's problems.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The data generally available is being manufactured by government stooges. Although a cottage industry in data analysis is developing, it is expensive and their output is available only to subscribers who are buying it because they are making bets in the financial markets.
Facts further are that unemployment is increasing; true Gross Domestic Product has been decreasing. Capital and income are fleeing the country as rapidly as tax lawyers and accountants are able to find exits.
And by the way, even if we were in an economic expansion; and even if the forecast economic expansion numbers came in in line with incredibly unrealistic favorable estimates, the national government is still bankrupt--nothing that is presently on the table works no matter how favorable your numbers, even if it happens which it won't.
Current tax receipt numbers are distorted by the fact that most sophisticated owners of capital engaged in a significant effort to recognize as much income in 2012 as possible; to anticipate and realize 2013 income in 2012 to avoid the higher tax rates in place this year.
And tax rates are in fact much higher in very significant places--the 3.8% Zerocare bill Medicare tax on investment income; the unlimited Medicare tax rates; the additional 5% on Capital Gain income in excess of the limit (total 8.8% combined with the Zerocare tax) to name a few.
The US has become one of the least favorable economic jurisdictions in the world. Much better to own your capital in a Bain Capital fund in the Caribbean where it is invested in 12%+ cash on cash deals in telephone companies; utilities; internet; and other developing activities in parts of the world that are productive and can afford to buy the services, than in the US; take the money out at Capital Gain rates only when you really need it to spend.
As long as economic activity and Capital in the US are exposed to the demands of the non-productive freeloaders, there is a severe disincentive to invest money and effort in creating economic enterprise here. That will continue until America wakes up.
Republican's? What it takes is political leaders who are willing to step up in public and tell the American people exactly how bad the situation really is. Personally, I don't think that involves much political risk--the people generally prefer candor.
i would love to have the job as congressional chiropractor. i could have a second career with all the free time.
Satire is only funny if it’s based in truth, but becomes tragedy if too close to the truth.
This has become tragedy.