2010-02-04, 23:28 | Link #5921 |
AS Oji-kun
Join Date: Nov 2006
Age: 74
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I take it you're basing this analysis on an examination of the actual budgetary figures. If not, perhaps you should start with this.
Most of the budget consists of things that are pretty uncontrollable -- Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and debt interest. That's why there's a division between "discretionary" and "non-discretionary" spending. The biggest discretionary item in the budget is defense, which doubled in size during the Bush administration from about $300 bn in 2000 to over $600 bn in 2008. These four items alone constitute most of Federal spending. If you look at the figures for FY 2009 versus FY 2008, however, you'll see that spending grew $1 trillion over the year. Fully three-quarters of that increases comes from the "commerce and housing credit" line item which includes TARP, Federal Deposit Insurance, and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. I'd like to see defense spending reduced in half or more myself, but that won't happen any time soon. We kept hearing about the "peace dividend" that was supposed to follow upon the fall of the Berlin Wall. I'm still waiting.
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2010-02-04, 23:29 | Link #5922 | |
Senior Member
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Being in Congress was never suppose to be a real job or career. |
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2010-02-05, 00:06 | Link #5923 | |
Senior Member
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If I had the power, I'd phase out Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. But alas, I do not. The Military is a vital and Constitutional part of this country. The other three, not so much. |
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2010-02-05, 00:13 | Link #5924 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: China
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Raising taxes is unpopular. People tend to look for loopholes. There are often tries to make the action into hurting the so-called middle class, families, and businesses; "preventing" this means opening loopholes that people can exploit as well. People also don't trust the politicians to spend the money well but on "pork" projects benefiting their own constituencies instead. A different type of "NIMBY" attitude, in a way. Cutting spending is also not that effective, IMHO. Depending on who is doing the cutting or what is being cut, people are going to be hurt, and replacement on the private sector side may not be there. There are a lot of "sacred cows" out there that people do not want to touch. Again, "NIMBY"; you can cut everyone else's pet project, but don't you touch mine. Boosting the economy is probably the most acceptable to everyone since a rising economy floats all boats. At the moment, it's also the least likely to get off the ground. People talk the good talk with a lot of key words, but words != concrete and successful action. You pretty much have to raise taxes and increase spending, IMHO; the private sector alone won't be able to manage to create enough jobs to drop the real unemployment rate down past 15% or less. The upcoming spending bill, I have doubts over its success. There was also some talk earlier about how the obligation to Fannie and Freddie wasn't being included in the need for money. (1) Interest on the debt issued by the U.S. and (2) possible lower demand on U.S. debt are going to be a worry as well. I wonder if something like the Selective Service for politics, but on an one-time per person only basis, would work better than what is out there today. It's basically a feedback system now; you get elected, you bring money into your area, and you get re-elected. The longer you stay, the more powerful you become, and that means more money and (usually) re-election.
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2010-02-05, 00:32 | Link #5926 |
Senior Member
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More taxes is not going to do anything to help the economy. No way, no how. Not in our current situation. People have already cut back spending as it is. Increasing taxes, will only make people spend even less. Less private spending = less consumption and jobs. There needs to be a huge cut in Government spending. As it is, Government Unemployment is far less than that of Private Unemployment. Add in the fact that the average Government worker makes more than the average Private worker... It's a recipe for disaster.
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2010-02-05, 00:33 | Link #5927 |
AS Oji-kun
Join Date: Nov 2006
Age: 74
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Since 1980, I'd say it's been a little under a year now.
Richard Posner was one of the leading lights in the Chicago "law and economics" movement with close ties to Milton Friedman. Now he writes about How I Became a Keynesian.
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Last edited by SeijiSensei; 2010-02-05 at 01:19. |
2010-02-05, 00:34 | Link #5928 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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It does seem as if one votes on a party to decide which half of "guvmint" you want to blow more money than you have on at the federal level. Both political parties have been completely irresponsible in that regard - even if certain people within each party have tried to effect improvements.
The infrastructure/socialservices side suffers from: 1) rampant inefficiencies 2) privatization without accountability or results. 3) "pork barreling" (interests of one district outweighing needs of the nation) 4) A lack of consensus about just what constitutes a necessary infrastructure. The military side suffers from: 1) rampant inefficiencies. 2) privatization without accountability or results. 3) "pork barreling" 4) An unwarranted tendency to wave the flag to silence critique. BOTH parties are to blame for each item on each list - boondoggles galore.
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2010-02-05, 00:41 | Link #5929 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: China
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You also need to have a set of clear and easily understood goals to work toward, and that has to be done consistently. This isn't happening anywhere to any major degree that I can tell. Damn it.
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2010-02-05, 00:43 | Link #5930 | |
Senior Member
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2010-02-05, 01:14 | Link #5932 | |
Not Enough Sleep
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: R'lyeh
Age: 48
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2010-02-06, 14:59 | Link #5933 | |
Lurker
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New York City
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Man jailed for raping woman, 86, at Bradford care home
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2010-02-06, 15:15 | Link #5935 |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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The last time I saw the world, it was a crazy place. I don't think anything changed in the past 2 years I was in the army.
But we have worse news.... JAPAN HAS 3.6 MILLION HIKIKOMORIS Surprise. But aren't they the ones maintaining the export sector of Japan's economy rather than the salarymen?
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2010-02-06, 16:39 | Link #5936 |
The AnimeSuki Pet kitten
IT Support
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The word "depraved" goes somewhere in there
speaking of... Students swayed by high uni fees Guess you gotta do what you gotta do.
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Last edited by Haruka_Kitten; 2010-02-07 at 01:07. |
2010-02-07, 03:47 | Link #5937 | |
Onee!
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Auckland, NZ
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@Haru: there you go..
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2010-02-07, 06:34 | Link #5938 | ||
The AnimeSuki Pet kitten
IT Support
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2010-02-07, 14:28 | Link #5939 | |
Desensitized
Join Date: May 2009
Location: LV-426
Age: 37
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Connecticut power plant blast 'causes mass casualties'
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2010-02-07, 15:00 | Link #5940 |
Takao Tsundere Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Classified
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In Paris, the customer is not always right
My God, what a bunch of Jerks the Parisian are. If i ever go to Europe, London is where i'm going, at least the British are friendly.
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current affairs, discussion, international |
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