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This is a sub-selection from Greece!

Z80A
Premium Member
join:2009-11-23

1 edit

1 recommendation

Z80A to StevenB

Premium Member

to StevenB

Re: Greece!

This goes beyond cycles. Debt levels haven't been this high since WWII and we didn't have the unfunded liabilities then that we have now so there is little hope of paying it down as we did after WWII.

So we currently borrow hand over fist to cover these massive deficits. Two things happen. We have to pay interest and the interest payments consume more and more of the budget. Two, eventually we can't borrow any more and/or we have to start printing money to fill in the gaps resulting in hyperinflation. That affects ALL Americans.

Just the interest payments on this debt could eclipse a trillion dollars.

You will see it when California files for bankruptcy. You will see it when interest rates start skyrocketing. You will see it when greedy public employee unions demonstrate in the streets like they do in Greece. You will see it when the economy collapses again, harder than ever.

You can't now borrow your way out of debt and debt as a percentage of GDP is hugely important to economic stability and future viability.
tdouglas22
join:2001-09-25
Memphis, TN

tdouglas22

Member

said by Z80A:

Debt levels haven't been this high since WWII
And even then, the country came up out of it. So again, it's a cycle. The sky is NOT falling.

Z80A
Premium Member
join:2009-11-23

1 edit

1 recommendation

Z80A

Premium Member

Again, that is because we didn't have the unfunded liabilities then that we have now. Also WWII was massive TEMPORARY spending. Congress and this Administration are spending like drunken sailors with NO end in sight.

The sky is falling like a rock. The fake recovery will stall and fall backward.
WhatNow
Premium Member
join:2009-05-06
Charlotte, NC

WhatNow

Premium Member

It is the group that spent money like drunken sailors when they were in power at the same time they were reducing taxes to the wealthy. When they get back in power let's see if they curb spending to their friends. The Administration should cut off any discretionary spending to the areas that the Representatives cry the loudest to cut spending. Sometimes you need to get what you ask for.

If I had a magic wand I would say you collect the taxes this year and what you have in the bank is what you can spend next year. I am all for balanced budgets just tell me what you will cut besides your waste and fraud. I hate debt my 30 year house loan will be paid off next year in only 5 years. If more people would budget like that we would not have the problems we have now.

The problem is so much of the budget is to pay for debt service instead of current needs.

Z80A
Premium Member
join:2009-11-23

4 edits

Z80A

Premium Member

Actually the burden (the share of revenues paid) by the highest income earners increased throughout the 2000's. The rich paid more and poor paid less.

»www.irs.gov/taxstats/ind ··· ,00.html

And you are right, the Neo-con jerkoffs ran deficits in the $200B range the entire decade but by 2006 they were decreasing and about $160B when the Pelosi Politburo took over. Then the deficits skyrocketed immediately to $400B. Now it is $1.8T with no end in sight.

Make ALL government spending discretionary.

Cut everything...non-so-so security entitlements, pentagon, eliminate ALL gov't pensions and let them slum it in the So-So security pool with the rest of us. To fix so-so security raise the retirement age to 70 for anyone under 60, eliminate so-so security payments to higher income retirees (anyone making more than $60K/yr) and eliminate the cap on So-so security contributions. Instant solvency for So-so security.

Across the board 25% cut (REAL cuts, not the bullshit Democrat cuts which are just cuts in increases) in EVERY portion of government including defense and social programs and then freeze that spending for 5 years. Strict means testing for ALL benefits. No cost of living increases, no increases period. Cut government worker pay by 15% across the board and no public employee pay increases for 5 years and after that index their increases to those in the private sector. Gov't hiring freeze for 5 years. Let the government roll back like American business and families have had to. Gov't union workers go on strike...fire them and replace them. With 18+% underemployment there are plenty who would love those jobs.

Make all tax increases require a super majority. All new programs with a CBO cost over $200B/yr require a super majority. Make it impossible to create titanic programs or raise taxes unless there is consensus of both parties.

Eliminate capital gains taxes and make those profits taxable as income at the earner's marginal rate, just like other sources of income.

Outlaw the deemed passed bull crap like that just used by Pelosi to get over a trillion without having to actually have a budget.

Lastly pass a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment and get it ratified so that drunken sailors of any party can't get us in this mess again.
« ErrrrWe need more stuff to make »
This is a sub-selection from Greece!