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Sequester madness simply baffling
Why are we allowing the sequestration? I’m truly baffled. We don’t know how much harm to the weak recovery it will cause, but an $85 billion spending reduction in one year will certainly cause more than a hiccup.
The Republican case: The federal government is experiencing “runaway spending” so its spending must be “brought under control.”
The problem is, there is no runaway spending. Mr. Obama’s four years have seen federal spending increase 0.6 percent and that’s not adjusting for inflation that would make it even less. (www.cbo.gov/publication/43904).
Maybe it’s not federal spending. Perhaps the Republicans are right in resolutely refusing any “revenue enhancements” because they are unfair. But the enhancement Mr. Obama is seeking is not a tax increase. He wants to cap deductions for the wealthy at 28 percent of income, an idea originating with Mitt Romney. Is such a plan terribly unfair if it was seen as fair three months ago?
And look: There’s something fishy in a position that demands spending cuts but the party that is demanding them can’t even point to one specific program to cut (other than Big Bird).
No, I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason is some mix of these three:
1. The Republicans are up to their usual act – protect the wealthy, even from such moderate actions as a deduction cap. Sock it to the middle class, which receives the main benefits of spending.
2. They hate Mr. Obama so much that anything he proposes they will certainly oppose.
3. They hate “government” so much that any meat ax cut is seen as good. Recall that Rep. John Boehner said, “I got 98 percent of what I wanted. I’m pretty happy.”
The Republicans often charge the Democrats with creating “uncertainty,” while their continual kamikaze attacks on the government make for the greatest uncertainty of all.
How sad. People will lose jobs. Businesses will lose sales. Defense will be weakened. The recovery will be harmed.
I just don’t get it.
Jack Batson
Fairfield
Discussion | 38 comments
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freemanMarch 08, 2013 - 7:41 pm
You are absolutely right, Jack: You just don't get it, to quote you. You are obviously hoping to get your name out there as much as possible and work as hard as you can to please your DNC bosses so that they might reward you with support when you run for some office. What you don't get is that the more you expose your shallow grasp of reality and your sophomoric means of expression, the less the likely it is that you will succeed. Or maybe it might be good if you did run again so that we can thump you again.
Reply |rlw895March 12, 2013 - 12:53 pm
So, freeman, what is "reality." Stick your neck out there like Jack did. Mike and I, and perhaps others, will be happy to pull the cord.
Reply |freemanMarch 16, 2013 - 6:11 pm
rlw: Batson didn't stick his neck out, it was more like he showed his fanny!
Reply |rlw895March 16, 2013 - 9:53 pm
fm: You're a riot too! But don't change the subject. What's "reality" to you?
Reply |G-ManMarch 16, 2013 - 10:24 pm
Bet you fun seekers liked that..
Reply |FDCMarch 08, 2013 - 7:46 pm
Mr. Batson: you are a liar, plain and simple. Your three points just are not true. Keep your simplistic and puerile political hit pieces to yourself.
Reply |G-ManMarch 12, 2013 - 4:46 am
Since all my posts are reviewed..just ditto me to the prior two critizising this Batson's drivel.
Reply |Al CoholicMarch 12, 2013 - 9:05 am
Kind Sir, Is it your habit to just call people names with no refutation of their argument(s)? Personal attacks do nothing to enhance dialogue, especially when they are not backd up with evidence.
Reply |G-ManMarch 12, 2013 - 9:28 am
I get reviewed for that.....it's just look at the numbers man..what part of trillion don't you understand?..
Reply |Mike KirchubelMarch 12, 2013 - 10:32 am
Al, that's all he's got.
Reply |G-ManMarch 15, 2013 - 5:59 am
Kirchey is prob ably right..Al Coholic probably payed the rest in burdensome and predatory taxes.
Reply |rlw895March 12, 2013 - 12:58 pm
FDC: Same response as to freeman above, except instead of telling us reality, you can tell us "truth."
Reply |pornacMarch 12, 2013 - 7:08 am
Instead lets cut Medicare and Social Security. Also need to tax mooching poor people and seniors.
Reply |Mike KirchubelMarch 12, 2013 - 8:26 am
Jack, as you can see from the responses, the nation's poor and middle classes have, to a large extent, been sucked-in and mentally enslaved by the all-pervasive mainstream propaganda machine of the wealthy. They are too intellectually lazy to do any research on their own so all they can do is parrot slogans they've heard on the radio and TV and feel smug about whipping those who dare speak out against their master. I'll thank you for them. Thanks for chipping away at their chains. Harriet Tubman freed a thousand slaves. She said she could have freed a thousand more, if only they had known they were slaves.
Reply |Mike KirchubelMarch 12, 2013 - 8:26 am
Jack, as you can see from the responses, the nation's poor and middle classes have, to a large extent, been sucked-in and mentally enslaved by the all-pervasive mainstream propaganda machine of the wealthy. They are too intellectually lazy to do any research on their own so all they can do is parrot slogans they've heard on the radio and TV and feel smug about whipping those who dare speak out against their master. Thanks for chipping away at their chains. Harriet Tubman freed a thousand slaves. She said she could have freed a thousand more, if only they had known they were slaves.
Reply |G-ManMarch 12, 2013 - 9:05 am
Mine still in review..and yet Kirchubel gets two....it's all pretty much unraveling now anyway...there's always a day or reckoning
Reply |rlw895March 12, 2013 - 4:23 pm
The way to deal with the deficit and not harm the economy further during this slow recovery is to reinstitute a more progressive tax system that taxes wealth and high income and not consumption. Now, I'm not in favor of mindless consumption, it's a plain fact that consumers drive our economy. For a more progressive tax system, we need more income tax brackets over the ones we have now, a lot more. Each bracket should tax higher income more and more, maybe up to 70% on income over $5 million per year. Higher estate taxes and excise taxes should also be part of a more progressive tax system. To have a discussion, we need to start with the same facts. View this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM. I picked it up in the comments section, and I consider it an apolitical presentation of facts. If you don’t have these facts, then it’s pointless to talk about how to deal with our fiscal problems in this country. Or choose to be blissfully ignorant and get angry at people who want to burst your bubble for the good of the country.
Reply |Mike KirchubelMarch 17, 2013 - 5:41 pm
RLW, I got the link via an email a few days ago. It must be making the rounds - which is good. You and I appear to agree about this and the only way I can see to fix it is to tax progressively and aggressively, both on earnings and at death. Any other solutions?
Reply |G-ManMarch 17, 2013 - 10:01 pm
Buy a shirt
Reply |rlw895March 18, 2013 - 12:11 am
Mike: If by "it" you mean the deficit, then we could also end certain spending that does not help stimulate the economy. Stuff like corporate welfare and crony capitalism come to mind. It should be surgical and not across the board. The sequester is plain nuts, so nuts it was never supposed to be implemented. I blame the Republicans in congress for that, but naturally they blame the Democrats. And there are no peacemakers out there, or not enough of them who are willing to buck their party for a compromise solution. I'm not engaging in false equivalency here. There are far more moderates among the Democrats than Republicans. The Republicans are the problem. If by “it” you mean income and wealth disparity, then it’s basically the same answer, plus a recommitment to organized labor as a necessary and fair equalizer; social programs, such as health care, education, clean air, water, food, and living space; and infrastructure, that add to the well-being of Americans generally regardless of income and wealth. But as for income and wealth, it’s “after tax” income and wealth disparity that matters. I have no real problem with before tax income and wealth disparity as long as after tax the numbers look more like the “ideal curve” in the link, and the tax money is spent on the right things, such as the ones mentioned, to benefit all Americans. Did you read my basketball team analogy below?
Reply |G-ManMarch 18, 2013 - 2:57 am
What?..you don't think spending tax dollars on studying Moroccan Pottery..andwhy Lesbians are fat are wise expendituresof your tax dollars?
Reply |rlw895March 13, 2013 - 2:22 pm
The way to deal with the deficit and not harm the economy further during this slow recovery is to reinstitute a more progressive tax system that taxes wealth and high income and not consumption. Now, I'm not in favor of mindless consumption, it's a plain fact that consumers drive our economy. For a more progressive tax system, we need more income tax brackets over the ones we have now, a lot more. Each bracket should tax higher income more and more, maybe up to 70% on income over $5 million per year. Higher estate taxes and excise taxes should also be part of a more progressive tax system. To have a discussion, we need to start with the same facts. View this link: youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM. I picked it up in the comments section, and I consider it an apolitical presentation of facts. If you don’t have these facts, then it’s pointless to talk about how to deal with our fiscal problems in this country. Or choose to be blissfully ignorant and get angry at people who want to burst your bubble for the good of the country.
Reply |G-ManMarch 14, 2013 - 12:55 pm
Someone should let RlW in on the fact that the rich are quite adept at hiding their cash...that's how they got rich..taxes ain't the answer never have been never will be..1.5million to study Morroccan pottery making?..DC doesn't know how to spend the tax dollars they get why give them more?
Reply |rlw895March 16, 2013 - 11:17 am
Agree. Taxes are only part of the answer, but we won't know how big a part until we try it. So what's the rest of the answer? Actually, to define "answer," we have to frame the problem. I'm actually not trying to end income and wealth disparity. What I'm trying to do is make it work for the country--the country that encourages wealth creation like none other. An analogy: If I'm on the same basketball team with Shaq, I don't want him to be any less a superstar. But as I'm on the team, I expect to get the bonus checks and rings for all the championships we will win from me supporting Shaq and the rest of the team to victory. I don't expect just a living wage while Shaq takes home all the benefits he arguably earned. I expect Shaq to be a team player too, and not insist on that. Fortunately, I understand Shaq is a pretty good guy, so he would take care of the team while still doing very well for himself. We're all happy. We keep winning.
Reply |rlw895March 14, 2013 - 2:53 pm
There you go, two posts saying the same thing burp out of the sysem a day later. Sorry about that. Read only one, but be sure to view that link. I would appreciate any comments on it.
Reply |rlw895March 13, 2013 - 9:18 pm
Has this site stopped taking comments? I'm having no luck.
Reply |JonesyMarch 13, 2013 - 9:57 pm
Gee Man...Go Figure...
Reply |rlw895March 13, 2013 - 10:02 pm
I try resubmitting, but get an error message that I've already submitted that--that which hasn't been posted. Sometimes it posts a day later, so I wait. If I try again, changing as little as one character, it will accepts but still not post. Then it posts all versions at once. Dumb system.
Reply |G-ManMarch 14, 2013 - 4:08 am
Try working this site on a phone..AND having every post reviewed for lewdness,violence,and erudite comments...I guess DR likes mediocrity..Jonmesey and Kirchubel along w/ characters like Batson and RLW should thrive here
Reply |rlw895March 14, 2013 - 11:21 am
You're a riot. I'm going to wait another day and try to post again. Who knows, it might just pop up at any time.
Reply |G-ManMarch 14, 2013 - 11:30 am
Well that could certainly be embarrassing.
Reply |Guess who?March 14, 2013 - 1:35 pm
We can count on you Gary to contribute to Mike's campign...Operation Enduring Socialism...Correct?.....We need money for the TV ad campign outreach. Maybe we could swing the contract for all the print media to your evil friends as a reward for a very vey very Large contribution. And NO you can not have Mike's Belly Dance All Star Harem.
Reply |Weird Al Yankovich: Pretty Fly for a Rabbi LyricsMarch 14, 2013 - 1:49 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flcnIVDCnFA
Reply |StRMarch 14, 2013 - 1:53 pm
Should have said as a reward for a very very Oy vey iz mir large contribution.
Reply |rlw895March 15, 2013 - 3:47 am
The silence is deafening.
Reply |???March 15, 2013 - 5:04 am
The suspense is boring.
Reply |rlw895March 16, 2013 - 11:19 am
Did you view the link?
Reply |rlw895March 16, 2013 - 11:53 pm
The silence is still deafening. And the suspense is getting boring too. In a Nation of Virtue, there is a "reading public" that is always trying to learn. I'm not sure our reading public is large enough anymore.
Reply |