Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

[WeWantMore]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

But to your point, why would be elect a Congress that promises to make the budget situation worse (extending all of Bush's tax cuts)?

Why would people elect a Congress that promises to make the health care system worse?

I mean, you believe that extending the Bush tax cuts is a bad idea, however you also seem to be under the impression that that is a universal view, it clearly is not.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Why would people elect a Congress that promises to make the health care system worse?

It would cut down on our social security commitments...

Just sayin'.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Why would people elect a Congress that promises to make the health care system worse?

I mean, you believe that extending the Bush tax cuts is a bad idea, however you also seem to be under the impression that that is a universal view, it clearly is not.

You're basing that on cost I assume? Cause it already is the costliest Health Care System on the planet.

So, you apparently are in the insane crowd cause extending them without cutting something else is, quite frankly, insane.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

You're basing that on cost I assume? Cause it already is the costliest Health Care System on the planet.

So, you apparently are in the insane crowd cause extending them without cutting something else is, quite frankly, insane.

Um, what? What did I say to indicate that? I'd love across the board cuts. Deep cuts. Cut cut cut.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

I'd love across the board cuts. Deep cuts. Cut cut cut.

Say B = N + D is the budget (non-discretionary plus discretionary spending) and R is anticipated revenue.

S = B - R is the budget shortfall.

Solve for c (a percentage, not a absolute number, and so lowercase), the percent discretionary spending would have to be cut across the board to reduce S to zero.

If my math is right, c = S/D. Right?


2011 budget figures:

B = $3.8T
R = $2.6T
S = $1.2T

Say N is 56% of the budget.

N = $2.1T
D = $1.7T

c = 1.2/1.7 = 71%

Easy, peasy, and suicidal.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Um, what? What did I say to indicate that? I'd love across the board cuts. Deep cuts. Cut cut cut.

I'm basing it on the rhetoric. The ones promoting the Bush Tax Cuts for the most part do not have a corresponding cut in entitlement or military spending. The two biggest government costs.

It's no wonder Bush was so popular. He managed to cut taxes and pay for entitlements all at the same time.

 

[unofan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Why would people elect a Congress that promises to make the health care system worse?

I mean, you believe that extending the Bush tax cuts is a bad idea, however you also seem to be under the impression that that is a universal view, it clearly is not.

It's a universally bad idea to anyone who actually wants to balance the budget rather than score cheap political points.

A balanced budget will require a combination of tax increases and spending cuts; essentially paying more for less, at least until the debt is under control and interest payments fall in real terms.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Say B = N + D is the budget (non-discretionary plus discretionary spending) and R is anticipated revenue.

S = B - R is the budget shortfall.

Solve for c (a percentage, not a absolute number, and so lowercase), the percent discretionary spending would have to be cut across the board to reduce S to zero.

If my math is right, c = S/D. Right?

I thought the whole point of creating this turnover was electing people that would change the laws to cut N and not just D

 

[unofan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

I thought the whole point of creating this turnover was electing people that would change the laws to cut N and not just D

Considering most people of my generation assumes Soc. Security is going to go the way of the dodo bird anyway, I say yes.

The only thing we honestly can't cut are the interest payments on the debt (even then we could technically default on the debt, but only try that if you want to see a true financial meltdown worldwide). Medicare and SSI payments are non-discretionary in theory only, Congress is always free to change those payments.

 

[MinnFan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

It's a universally bad idea to anyone who actually wants to balance the budget rather than score cheap political points.

A balanced budget will require a combination of tax increases and spending cuts; essentially paying more for less, at least until the debt is under control and interest payments fall in real terms.

If you hold spending in check (or even cut it) you shouldn't need tax hikes.

Balancing the budget

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

It's a universally bad idea to anyone who actually wants to balance the budget rather than score cheap political points.

A balanced budget will require a combination of tax increases and spending cuts; essentially paying more for less, at least until the debt is under control and interest payments fall in real terms.

You better tell that to Congress then, where they had the votes to extend all the cuts last week, but Pelosi wouldn't bring it to a vote. This includes 47 Democrats. Which is the point I'm making, Rover seems to think this is some arch-conservative plot, and it clearly is not.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

I thought the whole point of creating this turnover was electing people that would change the laws to cut N and not just D

It depends on how "N" N is.

There are certain things we can't not spend 100% on. We can't default on debt payments, for example. Contracts have to be honored -- you can't pay the lawn guy 29% of what you owe him for doing the lawn last week.

Everything else, though, IMHO, should be on the table.

Increasing R would help a lot, too, but the guy who panders the lowest tax rate will always win the election (see WWM's last post).

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

If you hold spending in check (or even cut it) you shouldn't need tax hikes.

Balancing the budget

I can see restricting growth in discretionary and military spending. But, how do you cut entitlement spending in that manner? And isn't that the largest piece of the pie.

That's the great fallacy (lie) about holding spending in check, is it not? Entitlement spending is growing (Baby Boomers don't you know) and it's a runaway train.

 

[Rover]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Why would people elect a Congress that promises to make the health care system worse?

I mean, you believe that extending the Bush tax cuts is a bad idea, however you also seem to be under the impression that that is a universal view, it clearly is not.

Its a universal view amongst people looking to balance the budget, but if you're one of these "tax cuts on the rich pay for themselves" dinosaurs, I see why you'd think that way.

On health care, the GOP platform is "repeal and replace". Replace with....what exactly? Not sure they ever got around to mentioning that.

 

[MinnFan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

I can see restricting growth in discretionary and military spending. But, how do you cut entitlement spending in that manner? And isn't that the largest piece of the pie.

That's the great fallacy (lie) about holding spending in check, is it not? Entitlement spending is growing (Baby Boomers don't you know) and it's a runaway train.

My suggestion would be to link future growth to GDP growth (instead of income) as a way of slowing down growth while you make larger cuts in other areas. Considering much of entitlements is supposed to be insurance against living too long we should start to raise the retirement age for future generations. The long-term solution is to let younger people opt out and have their own accounts.

 

[Rover]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

You better tell that to Congress then, where they had the votes to extend all the cuts last week, but Pelosi wouldn't bring it to a vote. This includes 47 Democrats. Which is the point I'm making, Rover seems to think this is some arch-conservative plot, and it clearly is not.

Its a dumb idea, I don't care who's pushing it whether its wussy Dems or corrupt Republicans. I didn't vote for Obama so he could pass gimmicky tax breaks for GOP campaign contributors. Regardless of who controls Congress, he'd better veto such idiocy because its what's best for the country.

The irony is the people pushing this on this message board have a better chance of seeing God than they do of being affected by tax breaks for those making over 250K a year.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

On health care, the GOP platform is "repeal and replace". Replace with....what exactly? Not sure they ever got around to mentioning that.

The only thing I heard they liked all weekend when this was discussed was the part about not being dropped, and not being denied for preexisting conditions.

But, AGAIN, they never explained how that new entitlement is funded.

Both sides seem to be all about entitlements but not funding them.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

My suggestion would be to link future growth to GDP growth (instead of income) as a way of slowing down growth while you make larger cuts in other areas. Considering much of entitlements is supposed to be insurance against living too long we should start to raise the retirement age for future generations. The long-term solution is to let younger people opt out and have their own accounts.

That doesn't fix the problem. We'll be bankrupt cause we already promised it to the Baby Boomers and they're retiring now. It's too late.

You need to have the balls to cut grandma's check now, OR you don't balance a thing.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others." - Ayn Rand

"There are two novels that can change a bookish 14-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other is about orcs."

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

I'm basing it on the rhetoric. The ones promoting the Bush Tax Cuts for the most part do not have a corresponding cut in entitlement or military spending. The two biggest government costs.

It's no wonder Bush was so popular. He managed to cut taxes and pay for entitlements all at the same time.

That's some excellent logic there. I say "I want cuts." You say, "Clearly you don't want cuts."