Borrow and spend for “consumption,” and you get “bad debt.” Borrow for things that increase future economic growth, and that is “good debt.” Public investment in infrastructure and jobs is essential.
But for more than five months, the new House Republicans have tried to impose their radical, right-wing agenda on the American people under the simpleton dumbed-down fallacy that all debt is bad debt.
A 70% cut to clean energy. A 25% cut in education. A 30% cut in transportation. Cuts in college Pell Grants that will grow to more than $1,000 per year. That's what they're proposing.
The GOP says if our roads crumble and our bridges collapse, we can't afford to fix them. If there are bright young Americans who have the drive and the will but not the money to go to college, we can't afford to send them. And the GOP is saying America can't afford to keep the promise we've made to care for our seniors. Yet the GOP wants to keep tax cuts for multi-millionaires and the corporatist elite.
So now the Republican Party, after converting huge surpluses into huge deficits during the Bush era, after opposing deficit-reducing health reforms, student loan reforms and big-bank taxes during the Obama era, after continuing to clamor for trillions of dollars in deficit-expanding tax cuts while gutting House pay-as-you-go rules to make it easier to expand the deficit, has somehow managed to re-brand itself as the party of fiscal responsibility? It’s a remarkable propaganda achievement.
Republicans are behaving perfectly rationally. They haven’t yet paid a political price for hypocrisy or irresponsibility in the past, so why shouldn’t they threaten to force a default and the destruction of the American economy unless President Obama adopts their agenda?
Why shouldn’t the GOP hold the full faith and credit of the U.S. government hostage, if voters will blame Obama for the results?
Why shouldn’t they give pious speeches about the tragedy of the debt they created themselves?
Deficits present a grave threat to our way of life -- except when Republicans are in power, at which point deficits are deficit-neutral.
The GOP's deep and abiding concern with deficits under Democratic administrations stands in sharp contrast to the GOP's utter indifference to jobs for the unemployed, whose "whining" is really annoying to lawmakers who want to get on with the real business of cutting budgets, and who have more important things to worry about than people who, for God's sake, can't even keep a job now, can they.
If we can’t create a political atmosphere where lying and irresponsibility is punished, the GOP falsehoods and irresponsibility will continue. Let's put an end to the GOP's mindless and dangerous demagoguery and hold these jerks accountable.
only a drop in the bucket.
close to half of the current deficit is the bush tax cuts (and set to increase as the economy recovers)
the 2 wars are closer to 20%. Libya doesn't even register.
So what about the Bush administration? Are we just going to ignore that? If Republicans are so concerned about out-of-control spending, why didn't they take any action back when they had the power to? But no, back then, it was all, start a couple of wars, who cares how we pay for them.
I don't disagree with the basic notion that spending needs to be reigned in, but I'm just saying, why couldn't they have done something when it would've mattered? And don't bring up the Democrats, either - they supported both the wars and the Patriot Act, so I don't see how it would've been too difficult to get them on board with whatever agenda the Republicans wanted to push.
Which explains why the biggest boom to our economy was in the 50's when we had no taxes! Oh...wait....
Income tax was 22.2% up to $2000 and 92%over $200,000 from 1950 to 1956 at which time it dropped for the top bracket all the way down to 91% until Kennedy dropped it in the 60's.
TRY again
The fact that Republicans walked out of the budget talks, is because they are not leaders. Cantor is already in trouble in VA with his constituency, and abdicated his responsibility by deferring his decision to the House Speaker. A clear sign that this nothing more than political football to them, and not any real attempt to actually fix anything. The 6 months these new House clowns have been in office, and their steady sinking approval numbers makes this new group the biggest failure in American politics.
If the last 2.5 years haven't proved this to folks, nothing will. There has been an unprecedented campaign of obstruction, political warfare, and economic sabotage. Some folks would call this economic treason.
Rush Limbaugh stated what Republicans feel, in wanting the President to fail. Of course, with that comes the economical demise of our country, but as long as Obama fails, that's not an issue.
The scary thing is, I could see someone making that exact argument with a totally straight face. Which, I could almost understand, almost - yeah, we need to be looking at what's going on now, but more importantly, we need to look at how we got here, and realize that the same people who took us down this path are the ones now claiming they can fix everything, despite their total failure to act when they had the chance.
Just out of curiosity, is your cost of living the same as it was in 2000? No? Why not?
The amount of tax dollars the federal government takes in is irrelevant unless one ALSO looks at the growth of its expenditures. Conservatives keep whining about government spending but they always ignore the REASON federal expenditures have gone UP. Specifically, UNFUNDED mandates implemented by Republicans and the Bush Administration (i.e., BOTH wars, expansion of Medicare Part D AND the Bush tax cuts) combined with the interest on the deficit Dick Cheney claimed was irrelevant. Don't even get me started on the economic costs of "free trade" (free, my ass) or deregulation of the financial services industry.
Republicans and conservatives have some serious chutzpah complaining about our deficit when YOUR ilk made it possible. Since you keep forgetting this fact, WRITE IT DOWN.
Try researching the sources of our deficit. Spending doesn't have a damned thing to do with it. The federal government has a REVENUE problem!!!!
cababika states that the top 1% of wealthy are in a better position to create economic growth and jobs.
On what evidence do base your belief? In the last 10 years of having those Bush tax cuts in place our US economy has not benefited from wonderful job creation from those you say are in that position. And many small businesses are still begun by mom and pop shop start up shops who are middle class entrepreneurs.
"...when those independently wealthy individuals just move their money and business elsewhere..."
Um, "when?" really? you write as if this hasn't already been the problem. Have you heard of China? Where do you think our furniture and other goods are being manufactured? And tax breaks and the "trickle down" economic philosophy that started with Reagan and has only continued to grow more corporate friendly since DOES NOT support your claims.
so why are we standing by in Africa? Why don't we save everyone from everything? if were gonna go to war in libya at least call it a war, state your goals and ask for permission. and what's so ironic about what you just said is that we have most likely killed more civilians by drones than we have the enemy. ironic and inaccurate, nice going.
Not how it works, they creats the purse, but the other two have to sign off on it. And if holding America hostage over your ideology is okay, I question your love for this country. Let them run us into the ground, watch how fast the republican party collapses.
If however you want jesus and more religious stupid then you can imagine up your ass and a preachers hand in your wallet, the political/religious right has just the thing for you...
Why are you whacking off over Obama. Ask what you and your fellow citizens are willing to give up before you worry about what Obama is going to cut. I know it feels better to be able to blame the President (as if he is a king or dictator) but that's highly irrational.
I'd greatly disagree with most of that statement, esp considering taxes are at a all time low. Less regulation for small businesses, more for the larger. They got us into the mess, they proved they cant be trusted.
Libya may not matter economically because hey what's another billion wasted right? but from a moral stance obama supporters should be pissed off that their anti-war candidate started a new war and doesn't even have the spine to call it a war.
tcbishop12Jun 24, 2011Buried
Borrow and spend for “consumption,” and you get “bad debt.” Borrow for things that increase future economic growth, and that is “good debt.” Public investment in infrastructure and jobs is essential.
But for more than five months, the new House Republicans have tried to impose their radical, right-wing agenda on the American people under the simpleton dumbed-down fallacy that all debt is bad debt.
A 70% cut to clean energy. A 25% cut in education. A 30% cut in transportation. Cuts in college Pell Grants that will grow to more than $1,000 per year. That's what they're proposing.
The GOP says if our roads crumble and our bridges collapse, we can't afford to fix them. If there are bright young Americans who have the drive and the will but not the money to go to college, we can't afford to send them. And the GOP is saying America can't afford to keep the promise we've made to care for our seniors. Yet the GOP wants to keep tax cuts for multi-millionaires and the corporatist elite.
So now the Republican Party, after converting huge surpluses into huge deficits during the Bush era, after opposing deficit-reducing health reforms, student loan reforms and big-bank taxes during the Obama era, after continuing to clamor for trillions of dollars in deficit-expanding tax cuts while gutting House pay-as-you-go rules to make it easier to expand the deficit, has somehow managed to re-brand itself as the party of fiscal responsibility? It’s a remarkable propaganda achievement.
Republicans are behaving perfectly rationally. They haven’t yet paid a political price for hypocrisy or irresponsibility in the past, so why shouldn’t they threaten to force a default and the destruction of the American economy unless President Obama adopts their agenda?
Why shouldn’t the GOP hold the full faith and credit of the U.S. government hostage, if voters will blame Obama for the results?
Why shouldn’t they give pious speeches about the tragedy of the debt they created themselves?
Deficits present a grave threat to our way of life -- except when Republicans are in power, at which point deficits are deficit-neutral.
The GOP's deep and abiding concern with deficits under Democratic administrations stands in sharp contrast to the GOP's utter indifference to jobs for the unemployed, whose "whining" is really annoying to lawmakers who want to get on with the real business of cutting budgets, and who have more important things to worry about than people who, for God's sake, can't even keep a job now, can they.
If we can’t create a political atmosphere where lying and irresponsibility is punished, the GOP falsehoods and irresponsibility will continue. Let's put an end to the GOP's mindless and dangerous demagoguery and hold these jerks accountable.
Now would be a good time.
HaarackJun 26, 2011Buried
Instead of rasing taxes, how about cutting all funding for our growing amount of needless wars all over the Middle East.
countess666Jun 26, 2011Buried
only a drop in the bucket.
close to half of the current deficit is the bush tax cuts (and set to increase as the economy recovers)
the 2 wars are closer to 20%. Libya doesn't even register.
rocknogJun 26, 2011Buried
So what about the Bush administration? Are we just going to ignore that? If Republicans are so concerned about out-of-control spending, why didn't they take any action back when they had the power to? But no, back then, it was all, start a couple of wars, who cares how we pay for them.
I don't disagree with the basic notion that spending needs to be reigned in, but I'm just saying, why couldn't they have done something when it would've mattered? And don't bring up the Democrats, either - they supported both the wars and the Patriot Act, so I don't see how it would've been too difficult to get them on board with whatever agenda the Republicans wanted to push.
cosmicsurferJun 24, 2011Buried
Which explains why the biggest boom to our economy was in the 50's when we had no taxes! Oh...wait....
Income tax was 22.2% up to $2000 and 92%over $200,000 from 1950 to 1956 at which time it dropped for the top bracket all the way down to 91% until Kennedy dropped it in the 60's.
TRY again
http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html
skews13Jun 25, 2011Buried
The fact that Republicans walked out of the budget talks, is because they are not leaders. Cantor is already in trouble in VA with his constituency, and abdicated his responsibility by deferring his decision to the House Speaker. A clear sign that this nothing more than political football to them, and not any real attempt to actually fix anything. The 6 months these new House clowns have been in office, and their steady sinking approval numbers makes this new group the biggest failure in American politics.
chilidogsJun 26, 2011Buried
No you.
Without any citation you look like a retard.
novenatorJun 25, 2011Buried
If the last 2.5 years haven't proved this to folks, nothing will. There has been an unprecedented campaign of obstruction, political warfare, and economic sabotage. Some folks would call this economic treason.
anomaly100Jun 25, 2011Buried
Rush Limbaugh stated what Republicans feel, in wanting the President to fail. Of course, with that comes the economical demise of our country, but as long as Obama fails, that's not an issue.
kaegroJun 26, 2011Buried
Why not do both?
AntiKoolaidJun 26, 2011Buried
Eric Cantor's salary for doing nothing while Americans suffer: $193,400
rocknogJun 26, 2011Buried
The scary thing is, I could see someone making that exact argument with a totally straight face. Which, I could almost understand, almost - yeah, we need to be looking at what's going on now, but more importantly, we need to look at how we got here, and realize that the same people who took us down this path are the ones now claiming they can fix everything, despite their total failure to act when they had the chance.
eraptorJun 26, 2011Buried
Just out of curiosity, is your cost of living the same as it was in 2000? No? Why not?
The amount of tax dollars the federal government takes in is irrelevant unless one ALSO looks at the growth of its expenditures. Conservatives keep whining about government spending but they always ignore the REASON federal expenditures have gone UP. Specifically, UNFUNDED mandates implemented by Republicans and the Bush Administration (i.e., BOTH wars, expansion of Medicare Part D AND the Bush tax cuts) combined with the interest on the deficit Dick Cheney claimed was irrelevant. Don't even get me started on the economic costs of "free trade" (free, my ass) or deregulation of the financial services industry.
Republicans and conservatives have some serious chutzpah complaining about our deficit when YOUR ilk made it possible. Since you keep forgetting this fact, WRITE IT DOWN.
Try researching the sources of our deficit. Spending doesn't have a damned thing to do with it. The federal government has a REVENUE problem!!!!
crosstime_saloonJun 26, 2011Buried
cababika states that the top 1% of wealthy are in a better position to create economic growth and jobs.
On what evidence do base your belief? In the last 10 years of having those Bush tax cuts in place our US economy has not benefited from wonderful job creation from those you say are in that position. And many small businesses are still begun by mom and pop shop start up shops who are middle class entrepreneurs.
"...when those independently wealthy individuals just move their money and business elsewhere..."
Um, "when?" really? you write as if this hasn't already been the problem. Have you heard of China? Where do you think our furniture and other goods are being manufactured? And tax breaks and the "trickle down" economic philosophy that started with Reagan and has only continued to grow more corporate friendly since DOES NOT support your claims.
zirchxworldJun 27, 2011Buried
so why are we standing by in Africa? Why don't we save everyone from everything? if were gonna go to war in libya at least call it a war, state your goals and ask for permission. and what's so ironic about what you just said is that we have most likely killed more civilians by drones than we have the enemy. ironic and inaccurate, nice going.
JonathonFishenatorJun 25, 2011Buried
Not how it works, they creats the purse, but the other two have to sign off on it. And if holding America hostage over your ideology is okay, I question your love for this country. Let them run us into the ground, watch how fast the republican party collapses.
HotDamnItJun 24, 2011Buried
what can you expect from a party that institutionalized using religious ignorance, bigotry and fear?
But ignorance, bigotry and fear?
If you are looking for reasoning, rational adult answers in the GNOP you are sorely misguided...
http://www.gallup.com/poll/27847/majority-republicans-doubt-theory-evolution.aspx
If however you want jesus and more religious stupid then you can imagine up your ass and a preachers hand in your wallet, the political/religious right has just the thing for you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPzsklL0hLE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDlrR_gWqHg
not good enough, read their own minds, its all there....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDlrR_gWqHg
f**k the political/religious right and the ignorance, lies and frauds it stands on.
AntiKoolaidJun 26, 2011Buried
Why are you whacking off over Obama. Ask what you and your fellow citizens are willing to give up before you worry about what Obama is going to cut. I know it feels better to be able to blame the President (as if he is a king or dictator) but that's highly irrational.
JonathonFishenatorJun 25, 2011Buried
I'd greatly disagree with most of that statement, esp considering taxes are at a all time low. Less regulation for small businesses, more for the larger. They got us into the mess, they proved they cant be trusted.
zirchxworldJun 27, 2011Buried
Libya may not matter economically because hey what's another billion wasted right? but from a moral stance obama supporters should be pissed off that their anti-war candidate started a new war and doesn't even have the spine to call it a war.