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US debt; without a solution, the rest will not matter.........
Ryan's "Path to obscurity" doesn't for see a balanced budget till 2040. So there are no quick and easy fixes and I doubt you have the patience for the long slog ahead.
Balanced budget in 2040? We won't even be finished the neo-con wars in 2040.
Investment in our childrens futures. DUH!
Changing the course of our country from the Fiscal Ruin caused by borrowing $0.40 of each dollar our government spends each and every day. The greed of people spending beyond our means now will ultimately have to be paid for by our grandchildren who will be held as slaves to their Chinese Debtmasters. That is a legacy I refuse to stand quietly by and watch happen as the Fiscally Irresponsible destroy our Country and ultimately turn it into Greece.
Olrockcandymtnroustabout, like Atlas mentioned, addressing the debt and the more immediate disaster of adding to the debt with ridiculous trillion dollar annual deficits is the best investment we can make in our childrens' future. For all of those who would say we need to increase taxes and get more tax revenue to run this country and pay down the debt, I'd offer you this...in 2010, US tax revenues were roughly $3.75 trillion, which is more than the entire economies of every other country in the world except for China and Japan! #justsaying
for republicans? getting obama out of office. at any cost.
What little, insignificant money bills have been attached to the middle class tax cut extension!!!!!!!!!!
the nacsence, reasoning and effects of Citizens United........
Polysciprof, can't tell WHAT side you're o n from y our nonsensical comment. Translation, please.
Lil Debbie.... try google.
He is concerned with the beginning of, the reasoning behind and the future effects of the Supreme Courts decision in Citizens United Vs. Federal Election commission (558 U.S. 08-205 (2010)) in which the supremes held corporations and unions may not be restricted in spending money to make political speech.
What matters most to me is putting 20 million people back to work in middle class jobs. What matters most to me is arming this President with a filiobuster proof Senate (70 + seats) and overwhelming control of the House of Representatives. What matters most to me is getting the Koch brothers, and their TeaPub cronies out of Congress. What matters most to me is stopping the wasteful spending first (like funding a program for equipment that no one wants or needs, consolidating duplicative programs, killing some of the perks enjoyed by Congress), way before we even discuss Medicaid, Medicare, and SS. The rest will take care of itself.
Continued liberal spending without revenues to pay for the programs.
Getting an American in the WH.
Would that mean a teabag pres? How revolting!
It's important to stop the finger pointing and especially the hate talk, people!
Tonglen - When ones opponents have been "hell bent" to make the POTUS a one term president from the beginning of his term, if not even before. Who have opposed everything he has proposed. Who will not concede that anything the POTUS has done is good enough. Not to mention the condescending and hate filled racial epithets directed at the POTUS and his family. Those on the right deserve no respect till they show some. When they stop pointing then and only then will I.
Getting the Middle class back to where we were ,and ridding congress of all the Tea Party radicals,having the 99% get back in control of the USA
Making obama a one-term president.
Morons like you are part of the problem. Uneducated imbeciles who support GOP ignorance, all in the interest of making Obama a one term president. Destroy the country for one simple yet moronic reason.
Mindless simpletons like you shouldn't be allowed to vote.
Dean - Visions of sugar plums dancing in your head? Thats just a dream and ain't going to happen. Obama "Four more Years" 2012!
Derek - Iwould suggest you get your head out of your arse before you make anymore post.
Derek-4157322
Derek, you're making a prime reason why the Progressive movement is what it is! I suggest you become educated, quit listening to the Progressive talking points, and attempt to educate yourself on the issues of the day.
Getting people to realize that, by and large, voting republican is against your own self interests because they have no interest in the common people.
So vote Libertarian? Obviously people like Nancy Pelosi could care less about anyone but herself.
The federal government reduce spending, revise the Tax Codes, reduce government regulations, and getting the hell out of peoples personal lives. We can do these things if we get rid of the "increase taxes" liberal democrats, especially President Obama.
Or maybe you meana the "increase taxes" on the middle class anad poor working and elderly, plus children who ain't rich, the 99 pecent, i.e. you stinking repubs.
Being female the GOP is messing into my reproductive rights, my healthcare safety net, right to marry who I love, medicare and social security. I would be thrilled if the GOP would get out of my personal life!!!
Republicans finding the honor they have completely lost. Nothing has walked modern american soil more unhonorable than a republican.
More like slither, actually! But your intentions are honorable.
Interesting that those with salaried jobs (not paid for overtime) seem to be putting in 50 to 60 hours a week. And they seem to have been doing this for years. Maybe when the job market opens up a little, we will be able to return to a 35 to 40 hour week and the companies will have to hire. Maybe the govenmemt should look at how companies are forcing salaried employees to work these hours and protect these employees from abusive job requirements.
No one is forcing anyone to do anything. You are more than welcome to quit your salaried position if you cannot handle the duties that are included with that position. There are millions of qualified Americans without employment that would be more than willing to fill your vacant position. There is nothing abusive about your job requirements other than your perception of them, so again, be happy to be employed and making a decent wage, otherwise feel free to search for a less "abusive" situation.
I would agree with the Voice, in that people who are salaried and working 50-60 hours per week have time management issues. I am salaried but only ocassionally work in excess of 40 hours of week. If you are managing your time and resources well and find yourself still working excessive hours its time to have a resource discussion with your boss.
My hope would be that we could finally increase the profits of those who make over $500,000 and expand corporate welfare. Raise taxes on the poor and middle class while increasing student loan debt and spending less on public education. Find a way so Walmart could hire more people and continue the belief that if you have a decent job there really isn't a structural problem. Fight to kept government out of people's personal lives while voting against the right to marry. Fail to address the relationship between American obesity, global hunger and terrorism. Find new and exciting places to wage war. Allow weathly elected officials to make insider stock market trades, recieve free health care and make more than the people they lie to for election. To continues to seek answers in the past and fail to prepare for the future.
I think they call that Conservatism. "To the greedy go the spoils."
what matters most to me, more folks seeing that they are being played by the media!
An honest and sensible discussion of our right to life. If our government can trample this fundamental, inalienable right by allowing and protecting abortionists lethal power to kill, it is nothing for the government to intervene in our economic and political rights as well. Let's deal with first things first.
Susie - Kindly, mind your own womb. Trampling a Supreme Court ruling to suit your views is akin to Islamic-Taliban-Fascism. How totally unAmerican!
Amused...agreed!
When I was a teenager my Mom told me if I play, I'd pay. Only women of ill repute had children out of wedlock. Yeah, I know that this is an antiquated view. But it keep me from having as many babies as I could while I could. So to all the Susie's out there-if you are so against abortion, teach your kids the morals that you want them to have. If they keep their pants on-kudos to you & them. If they can't, at least have the common sense to get them protection. amused but not distracted-I usually don't agree with you, but this time I do. Mind your own womb Susie!
You espouse this out of one side of your neck while calling for smaller and less intrusive government out of the other side of your neck. You cannot have it both ways. It is this propoganda (smaller government) which is the LIE TeaPubs propogate, as they surreptitiously do the exact opposite. Case in point TeaPubs elected to create jobs in 2010. Where are the jobs bills? In fact they have defunded Plannedparenthood, passsed stricter legislation regarding already strict regulation on abortion, passed legislation on "In God We Trust", spent 2 days reading portions of the Constitution at an estimated cost of $1M per day, gave themselves more time off and a 3 day work week, passed legislation that required the inclusion of amendments to legislation from the opposing party and THEN IMMEDIATELY violated their own legislation...and the list goes on and on.
And this is the party you want to put back into power? Guess I will never understand why people vote against their own interest and then turn around and bitch about the consequences.
.
Barbara - Thanks for shout out! As I explained to my son, if he was going to have premarital sex, he better be responsible and use protection because all daddy could do was offer to pay for an abortion, if the girl said no, then I said he could kiss college bye-bye because he would be the daddy then, so he would need get a job to support his new baby. Happily and gratefully it worked! Happy Holidays!
Deep spending cuts. Spend within our means.
Simplify the tax code. Lay off bureaucrats.
Use our money to rebuild America. Quit using our money to rebuild other countries.
Balanced budget amendment.
Consolidate government departments and reduce government.
Focus on things most of us can agree on first, NOT the divisive issues first.
Jungleboogie - While your regurgitated list is thought provoking, these are certainly divisive if the right is only allowed to wield the battle-ax. Compromise, anyone? And no the word isn't dirty or lacking in principles!
Why do you turn it into a left/right issue?
Obama has been just as guilty as Bush. Spend, spend, spend.
Americans need better from both parties.
The Republicans and Democrats whining about defense cuts, those should be the first to go. They are in denial!
Jungleboogie - Please don't confuse the progressives with logic. It gives them a massive headache.
For liberals it is their way or no way at all.
Jungleboogie - Because it clearly is a left/right issue. Raising taxes on just about everyone, not in poverty, is required and cuts need to be made to just about everything. Certainly, we do need better from both parties, I'll not argue against that. Until the right understands that compromise is in the best interest of our country and not a defeat to their principles and the left has to get real about addressing our debt and cut from their sacred cows as well. This isn't rocket science but I'm doubting that in the throes of the Presidential and Congressional 2012 elections, anything will be accomplished next year. The American voters need to decide which candidates are willing to work together, rather than dictate the terms for negotiation. As a closely divided political country, its not going to be easy. And our ingrained "winning" makes it even more doubtful.
Joyce - I clearly see no discernible thought pattern in your post. You are confusing progressives with conservatives " the give no quarter at any cost" even when they know their wrong. Try again to post something anyone of average intelligence would care to consider.
Nope Joyce is doing just fine. I saw the word "regurgitated" on the vine a few days ago. Now I see it almost everyday. You liberals don't have a clue. You need to find some other thoughts other then the George Soros mantra put out by his wholly owned Democracy Alliance.
YOU LIBERALS HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS THE BELOW ISSUES SO FAR.
Are you liberals stupid or just flat out lying. NONE of you will address the fact that the NATIONAL DEBT was 5.728 trillion dollars when Bush took office.
None of you will address the fact that Bill Clinton gave his buddy Sandy Weil special dispensation to illegally merge City-corp with Travelers group.
NONE of you will address the fact that the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 was signed into law by Bill Clinton in order to prevent Brooksley Born from bringing derivatives trading under control of her agency
NONE of you will admit that Franklin Raines, James Johnson and possibly Jamie Gorelick cooked the books at Fannie Mae which resulted in several million in bonuses for at least Raines and Johnson.
The democrats have their fingers all over this recession yet you all are either too stupid or too selfish and greedy to admit the fact.
Rick,
You cherry pick your issues... Of course there was a National Debt when Bush took office, and it had increased under Clinton. But, it increased way less under Clinton than under Bush 41 or Reagan. In fact, Bush 43 inhereited a budget SURPLUS from Clinton - which he and the republicans flushed on war and the Bush tax cuts.
amused but not distracted, there can be no compromise on solutions to our problems until we can agree on what those problems are and "compromising" on what those problems are isn't even going to get us to a place where we can address the real problems. Apparently you have a problem with regurgitation so I'll simply direct you to my comment #1.5, there's no need to raise taxes at all, none! Those who use that argument are akin to the same 1% they so adamantly attack, unwilling to give up their even a few of their exhorbitantluxuries and either plunging into extreme debt to hold onto them (as this country is doing) or rampantly seeking to increase their spending power at any and all cost regardless of the damage they cause in the process despite already having more than sufficient spending power to accommodate the kind of lifestyle nearly everyone else couldn't even dream of having.
And what is the difference. YOU ALL STILL FAIL TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. And Clinton with the help of Newt Gingrich had a surplus but it was not anywhere near enough to pay off the national debt. You all are liars.
Rick,
Part of the reason the National debt appeared to be 5.728 trillion under Bush was the fact that Bush cooked the books himself by not adding the war debt to the National Debt.
Voice_of_Reason - We have a difference of opinion in regard to increasing taxes. Our nation has been badly served by both the (D)'s and (R)'s. Are we at least in agreement on that? Taking note of your post 1.5 you use the fact that our country spends more than every nation combined (not including China and Japan)? That's what I understand you to be saying. So, without me doing any research to confirm or refute this presented fact, lets say I agree. What does that have to do with anything? Is this not the greatest country the world has ever seen? Has our standard of living been equaled anywhere in the world? We can certainly agree that no third world country can hold a candle to us, which of course is the majority of the world. A few exceptions may exit, possibly i.e. Monaco, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and a few Scandinavian countries, I don't think they even have all that we have, maybe close. As you stated we need to act to alleviate the debt hanging over our children. Its going to take more taxes, not just on the rich and cutting the Federal budget, not one but both. I know I don't have all the answers or would even know where to start. You and I aren't going to change the course of our nation but discussion can assuage our feelings or angst regarding the respective political parties. This is a job for our elected representatives. This being said, I repeat, with the Pres. and Cong. election scheduled next year, we have another year of paralyse to bear. Wish it could be otherwise. Happy Holidays!
amused but not distracted, we are most certainly in agreement that politicians, regardless of affiliation, have badly "served" this country for longer than any American citizen has been voting. My point in #1.5 was that we spend more than the entire GDP of any single nation in the world except China and Japan and our spending itself doesn't even come close to being matched by anyone.
Essentially, if Germany collected 100% on the market value of every final good and service created in their country and spent every single penny of that money, we'd still have spent half a trillion dollars more than them last year. To further put that into perspective, China has over 1 billion more people than the United States and would have to spend over 63% of their GDP to equal our spending and yet their tax revenue as a percentage of GDP is about 10% lower than ours!
I understand the misconception that we need more revenue, that certainly appears to be the case, but when you look at all the numbers it simply doesn't add up, our tax revenue is astronomical! Therefore, the only reasonable conclusion is that we are burning money unreasonably. We should be able to service all the needs of this country with half of what we spend. In 2010 that would have eliminated the $1.3 trillion deficit and allowed us to pay down nearly a half trillion dollars of our debt and all without raising taxes one cent!
OK! So you weren't saying that we were spending more than the rest of the world(not to include China and Japan), got it! Where you lose me now is your simplistic opinion that we can accomplish with half the amount of revenue the things this nation needs to do. Infrastructure needs hundreds of billions of dollars to restore us to be a first class nation. The military always needs a bazillion to keep us safe from our real enemies and all perceived boogie-men enemies per our military. Social service needs for the infirm and children always need to be funded. Education costs and health care costs continue to climb. I could go on and on(ad nauseam). A first rate nation cannot cut corners, if it wishes to remain first rate. Very few nations cover a land area the size of our country nor do many countries have as large a population. All of this costs something. So I believe additional revenue is needed to be able to address the national debt and maintain our obligations. Happy New Year!
I can talk about the economy, the weather, foreign politics, the environment, health care, my family - all matter enormously. However, I can't talk about improving or fixing or making any of these things better until we eliminate the absolute gridlock in our Congress. When you have people on the extremes of either side so firmly entrenched in their ideology that they cannot forge anything meaningful together, nobody wins, especially not the American people and especially the middle class. I know that our Congress represents the extreme division in the general populace, so I don't know how to make anything change. Our Constitution was specifically written to force our government to find solutions by using that dirty word "compromise." In my opinion, anyone who refuses to listen or consider any solutions except their own is un-American. So, Santa, for Christmas this year, please bring me people in my government for whom "compromise" and "working together" and "middle ground" are not foreign concepts that do not enter their thought processes. Maybe if we start out the year with people who care about the country instead of their own narrow points of view, 2012 can be the beginning of a stronger America that works together instead of being so selfish.
Compromise would require reasonable people. Both sides could use more of those but honestly the pubbies need way more and a total make over. Of course world peace would be great also!
It really isn’t about Bush-Cheney, there is “no reason to kick that dead dog”, but what Bush-Cheney did should be remembered as that is what they want to return to, to install another “puppet” in the White House and once again have them do their bidding as they again “pull the strings”. Actually it isn’t even about Republican v Democrat, hell they would put their money, power and influence behind a Democrat just as quick if they thought it would serve their purpose. It isn’t even about “conservative” versus “liberal” as that is just the hype used to excite and con the people. What it is about, plain and simple, is money and their insatiable appetite for “more”, it is about aggressively feeding their “more” mentality. Don’t doubt it, as it completely explains every crime, fits every action and completes the picture in all of it ... and then it is evident in the results that always financially favor them, with responsibilities totally ignored, subterfuge unconscionably being the standard, intimidation and coercion aggressively done on their own and in our experiencing the constantly growing gap between the very wealthy and everyone else. It is literally the one logical answer that is totally apparent when loyalties, biases and emotions are set aside. Can’t see that, then be ready for “more of the same”, Bush-Cheney style, and the continuing catastrophe for the majority.
The most important issue has never changed with ordinary Americans. It's the economy stupid. Obama waited until his now to focus like a laser on the economy. Obama is like the baby boomer who waited and waited to have a child until all other goals had been exhausted only to find that their clock had run out. Obama is out of time with just 11 months to go.
The realization that we will never again be what we once were. We have blown it and we don't hurt enough to change.
The environment. I have been 1st hand tracking field changes to the life forms in the environment for decades. To support investments in real estate & in stocks & bonds. What's important is what changes & the rate of life form change. My conclusion - 95% panicsville.
More tax cuts for billionaires ! They just don't have enough money and if they have a few billion more they will hire more illegals to cut their mansion's lawns so that will help employment.
Lets not forget the poor children, who can clean their toilets for micro minimum wages(bread and water)!
Hey - I can clean my own toilet and pick my own fruit. Is that a problem "amused?"
If criminal illegal aliens want higher wages maybe they should refuse to work in the US and return to their wonderful Mexico? LOL
Joyce - Good for you! Hopefully, you remember to wash your hands before you eat. You are so funny! Sure all illegal aliens do is demand higher wages in that other dimension and universe you live in. In this universe, employers know low wages are all they have to pay them, because they have no rights. Is logic something you ever deploy before commenting. BTW, would we have so many illegal aliens if "W" did his job?
For Boehner, and the GOP members of the House and Senate suddenly get a conscience, and work towards creating jobs programs now, and rebuilding our economy instead of blocking all legislation in the vain hopes it will cause continued suffering, and allow them to win in 2012. In other words, America and its people first.
Without ears that listen, nor senses that spot trouble spots and closed minds that are married to an ideology that does not represent the country there is little hope. Until all campaigns are financed by public monies, PAC monies and any outside donations prohibited under rule of law, will there be an equal playing field established for voters. Term limits and a balanced budget certainly needs strong consideration and a response from the public. Lobbying in all forms needs to be considered legally as subversive and catering to the corporations and special interest groups. Elected officials are to engage in weekly community meetings to hear the pulse of this country and respond to the greater need and not to any selfish and self centered ideology. Tax reform should begin at once to allow for more incoming monies to the treasury than going out the door. Oversight committees report directly to the public with complete transparency. Pork barreling stops by using the line item veto. Our military needs to be reigned in, yet maintained effectively. The country has infrastructure difficulties that need addressing at once and monies spent putting people to work is a good beginning. A strong tariff system needs to be imposed against those countries wishing to play by their rules and not adhere to fair trade policies. Immigration reform, a strengthening of our borders and deportation of those here in this country illegally. Our prison system needs to be farmed to other countries and we can rid ourselves of prohibitive costs for the criminals by shipping them to countries that can support a prison base for less than 15k a year. Lastly, the elected reprs of our country need to come before us as leaders of a country undivided. Congressional salaries to be cut in half and frozen with diminished staffing and Congress should not have greater medical benefits nor pension benefits than the Americans they serve.
Nicely done- I would say also that conflict of any interest be grounds for removal...
finding objective reporting in this day of grossly biased journalism, such as NSNBC, CNN, NPR, and Fox. So dependably slanted, almost not worth reading. Truly disgusting, reporting the truth in a biased, slanted fashion stops people from believing journalists, who used to have a creed to live by.
I will Vote for anyone but Romney. Think about it.
Guess you won't be voting in the 2012 Pres election. I also won't vote for Mitt, but I will vote for the POTUS.