Barry O in 2006……….“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. Over the past 5 years, our federal debt has increased by $3.5 trillion to $8.6 trillion. That is ‘‘trillion’’ with a ‘‘T.’’ That is money that we have borrowed from the Social Security trust fund, borrowed from China and Japan, borrowed from American taxpayers. And over the next 5 years, between now and 2011, the President’s budget will increase the debt by almost another $3.5 trillion.”
“Odd, y’all ALWAYS leave out eight years that finished with fewer jobs and a dead flat GDP, but point to six years with steadily increasing jobs and a steadily increasing GDP as “failure’. COMPARED TO WHAT?”You say steadily increasing GDP, I say pathetically increasing GDP. Obama spent his first two years focusing on bailouts & Obamacare, when it was obvious the middle class was suffering. The middle class drives the economy. Do you realize that? Does Obama realize that?
Obamacare improves the economy, creates jobs, and lowers the deficit, according to the CBO and all independent economists who have looked at the math. Any conservatives who want to repeal Obamacare (and that’s every single elected Republican at the federal level) should be required to specify how they’ll come up with the money. Or is killing 40,000 poor people so important, that we’ll just stick it on the tab, like foreign wars?
If the “Job Creators” would create some long lasting and well paying jobs, not only would the gov’t be paying less in subsidies for the unemployed, but more citizens would be buying goods and services AND paying taxes. If CEOs would be willing to accept seven figure salaries instead of eight figure, workers in the service industries could be paid more and once again, citizens would be able to spend more on goods and services and add to the taxes necessary for gov’t to operate. If companies and individuals would pay the federal gov’t the actual value of minerals, chemicals, and plants being harvested from public lands, especially things like gold, silver, and other things that can’t be replaced or renewed, the gov’t would be operating at less of a deficit. If companies were punitively fined when they mismanaged things so badly that federal dollars had to be used to protect citizens and clean up the mess; or criminally fined for that and incidents where citizens are killed because of mismanagement; if a fine wasn’t an acceptable cost of doing business but was instead something for CEOs and their shareholders to fear like an oncoming tsunami of retribution- the costs to the US budget would be greatly reduced. Lastly, but not finally, if accountants, auditors, and experts in the related fields causing the costs were properly consulted and IF Congressional committees would talk to such experts instead of lobbyists representing donors to political campaigns, thereby dealing directly with problems instead of creating loopholes in which violations can occur with impunity…Do all of these things and a few more, and do them in good faith with a bipartisan attitude that deals with the needs of a nation instead of select groups of supporters,The cost of running this country will be greatly reduced.Repair of infrastructure, upgrading the power grid to protect it from terrorism and natural disasters, etc, etc, etc.Money is simply how we exchange services, a dollar only has the value we give it. If you’re starving and thirsty on a desert island after your plane crashes, what do you want… food and water, or stacks of cash and bars of gold?Respectfully,C.
The congress could actually revise the tax code. It is thousands of pages long and filled with special provisions for a multitude of businesses and interests. Even though the “official” corporate tax rate is one of the highest in the world, the effective tax rate companies pay is in line with most other developed countries. This really does not even take the offshore tax games companies play into account. It is simply ridiculous that we subsidize oil companies and companies like GE and Google can end up paying no taxes and in fact get a tax credit. If you want to fix the deficit you “go where the money is”. You are not going to suck it all out of the middle class who are losing ground.
The real problem is the American people. We are no longer willing to work to get the things we want. We now expect the government to get the things we want for us.
Once we pay our taxes and the money is in Washington, it is no longer real money; it is government money which we think of as inexhaustible. That way we can have someone else pay our way through life.
I thought Obamacare was going to SAVE money?Most people that already had insurance have seen a substantial increase in premiums and now the CBO says that the government will spend over 3 TRILLION MORE DOLLARS BECAUSE OF IT!!!!!
ConserveGov about 10 years ago
Barry O in 2006……….“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. Over the past 5 years, our federal debt has increased by $3.5 trillion to $8.6 trillion. That is ‘‘trillion’’ with a ‘‘T.’’ That is money that we have borrowed from the Social Security trust fund, borrowed from China and Japan, borrowed from American taxpayers. And over the next 5 years, between now and 2011, the President’s budget will increase the debt by almost another $3.5 trillion.”
DoctorUmmmNo about 10 years ago
The debt is out of control, but the real problem is that the economy ain’t growing fast enough. Government give aways aren’t the solution.
DoctorUmmmNo about 10 years ago
“Odd, y’all ALWAYS leave out eight years that finished with fewer jobs and a dead flat GDP, but point to six years with steadily increasing jobs and a steadily increasing GDP as “failure’. COMPARED TO WHAT?”You say steadily increasing GDP, I say pathetically increasing GDP. Obama spent his first two years focusing on bailouts & Obamacare, when it was obvious the middle class was suffering. The middle class drives the economy. Do you realize that? Does Obama realize that?
Francis Lapeyre Premium Member about 10 years ago
He and the Easter Bunny both have long ears, which is where the resemblance ends.
ARodney about 10 years ago
Obamacare improves the economy, creates jobs, and lowers the deficit, according to the CBO and all independent economists who have looked at the math. Any conservatives who want to repeal Obamacare (and that’s every single elected Republican at the federal level) should be required to specify how they’ll come up with the money. Or is killing 40,000 poor people so important, that we’ll just stick it on the tab, like foreign wars?
chazandru about 10 years ago
If the “Job Creators” would create some long lasting and well paying jobs, not only would the gov’t be paying less in subsidies for the unemployed, but more citizens would be buying goods and services AND paying taxes. If CEOs would be willing to accept seven figure salaries instead of eight figure, workers in the service industries could be paid more and once again, citizens would be able to spend more on goods and services and add to the taxes necessary for gov’t to operate. If companies and individuals would pay the federal gov’t the actual value of minerals, chemicals, and plants being harvested from public lands, especially things like gold, silver, and other things that can’t be replaced or renewed, the gov’t would be operating at less of a deficit. If companies were punitively fined when they mismanaged things so badly that federal dollars had to be used to protect citizens and clean up the mess; or criminally fined for that and incidents where citizens are killed because of mismanagement; if a fine wasn’t an acceptable cost of doing business but was instead something for CEOs and their shareholders to fear like an oncoming tsunami of retribution- the costs to the US budget would be greatly reduced. Lastly, but not finally, if accountants, auditors, and experts in the related fields causing the costs were properly consulted and IF Congressional committees would talk to such experts instead of lobbyists representing donors to political campaigns, thereby dealing directly with problems instead of creating loopholes in which violations can occur with impunity…Do all of these things and a few more, and do them in good faith with a bipartisan attitude that deals with the needs of a nation instead of select groups of supporters,The cost of running this country will be greatly reduced.Repair of infrastructure, upgrading the power grid to protect it from terrorism and natural disasters, etc, etc, etc.Money is simply how we exchange services, a dollar only has the value we give it. If you’re starving and thirsty on a desert island after your plane crashes, what do you want… food and water, or stacks of cash and bars of gold?Respectfully,C.
Theodore E. Lind Premium Member about 10 years ago
The congress could actually revise the tax code. It is thousands of pages long and filled with special provisions for a multitude of businesses and interests. Even though the “official” corporate tax rate is one of the highest in the world, the effective tax rate companies pay is in line with most other developed countries. This really does not even take the offshore tax games companies play into account. It is simply ridiculous that we subsidize oil companies and companies like GE and Google can end up paying no taxes and in fact get a tax credit. If you want to fix the deficit you “go where the money is”. You are not going to suck it all out of the middle class who are losing ground.
WestNYC Premium Member about 10 years ago
Watch out ! Those eggs are filled with addictive substances.
Mneedle about 10 years ago
The real problem is the American people. We are no longer willing to work to get the things we want. We now expect the government to get the things we want for us.
Once we pay our taxes and the money is in Washington, it is no longer real money; it is government money which we think of as inexhaustible. That way we can have someone else pay our way through life.
ConserveGov about 10 years ago
I thought Obamacare was going to SAVE money?Most people that already had insurance have seen a substantial increase in premiums and now the CBO says that the government will spend over 3 TRILLION MORE DOLLARS BECAUSE OF IT!!!!!