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Late Friday evening, President Barack Obama signed an order – as required by the “sequester” legislation – to enact broad cuts to federal spending, according to a White House release.
Those cuts will now officially go into effect at midnight Friday.
The low-key statement, unaccompanied even by a White House-authorized photo of the signing, comes after weeks of finger-pointing with little urgency from Democrats or Republicans to avert the cuts.
In the week leading up to Friday’s deadline, Obama administration had warned of the consequences of the sequester, with Cabinet officials taking to the airwaves and the president hitting the road to highlight the measure’s effect on jobs, education, and even delays for air travelers.
On Friday, Obama acknowledged that while the cuts will be “painful,” they won’t be completely catastrophic.
"We will get through this," he said. "This is not going to be an apocalypse, I think, as some people have said. It’s just dumb. And it's going to hurt."
Related: As meeting yields no breakthrough, Obama blames 'dumb' cuts on GOP
Leave a Comment:
"It's just dumb."
Well, you should have made smarter cuts.
This is not trial and error time. This is our livelihoods. As president I expect much more than this. "It is going to hurt, but it won't be apocalyptic?" Are these the things a true "leader" says? Your stock has just plummeted, Mr. President.... But you are still rich. Your kids are still rich. You truly do not care...
The president is not responsible for our livlihood.
Stuff like this hurts the Red States folks more than anybody else because they rely on more hand-outs than they pay taxes yet they still keep electing these dumbasses to high office...
You have nobody but yourselves to blame...those folks you elected could care less, they have healthcare, a big check and food on the table..and you, nothing!
Walk it off
I hated the posturing by Democrats on this more than the Repubs and I recall them predicting an apocalypse or close to it, including Obama.
However, to be fair, I have to say that White House did have some logically thought out cuts that for one reason or the other got rejected by the vested interest in Congress (both sides). It is not easy to get an agreement on anything when local politics and the primaries take priority over interest of the nation.
Isn't this what the Republicans wanted?
I think you meant blue states there Doc.
I would like to see massive cuts to foriegn aid if we are going down this road. Start will reeling back the 60 million that is on it's way to Syria. Get out the red pen to every foriegn country until this gets resolved and keep all the cuts to terrorist nations going forward.........
The cuts have to happen!
Enough of this bull@!$%# we made 10 billion in cuts over the next 3 years but on the flip side they fail to mention the additional 15 billion in spending. BOTH side are guilty of this....
Let the cuts happen and see what happens. Remember there is A LOT of theater in politics. I'm sure it being over dramatized by both sides to make the other look bad.
He will continue to feed the same programs simply by raising taxes. This will be signed in next week. Wait for it... Wait for it... Boom.
alan,
Red states take more federal dollars than they pay into the system. Cuts to federal aid to states for local projects, relief, and other forms of assistance will hurt red states more.
98 percent of what republicans wanted if I recall correctly.
Hah! Hah! all you Teabagging, NRA and Ted Nugent "Gun-Nut" types.
It's all going "According to Plan".
Not only did we get our Kenyan-born Muslim/Marxist candidate
on into your sacred White House for this most important Second Term,
we can now Blame the whole Sequester debacle and "Going over the Financial Cliff" on you Republicans!
Pretty clever of us Socialists, I mean us Dems, now wasn't it?
Our Socialist/Democratic/Worker's Utopia Paradise is now Realized on the Planet you once called Earth,
in the Country you once called America. The "Transmutation of America" is Now complete!
All Hail "Obama the Merciful", Ruler, Master, Overlord and King of all you Republicans and Teabaggers
for the next FOUR very-very-very-very, long-long-long-long YEARS.
I hope all you Republican and Teabagging Clowns learned your "Lesson"
that you should of Never have Voted in your "Villager Idiot" George Bush,
and his intellectual superior Dick "Darth Vader" Cheney, on in for that Second Term.
Paybacks are H#LL,
now aren't they?
I can't wait till Obama stacks the Supreme Court of the United States with as Many
Socialists aka Dems, Marxists, Leninists, and some good old-style Soviet-era Commies as He can.
And those Judges are in for Life!!!
That should be Fun for the Rest of your Lifetime.
arf. arf.
ps. Is this a Great post,
or what?
We need to give Republicans credit for their sincerity about putting the nation's fiscal health in order. Not long ago, even Rand Paul, the Tea-sick Darling, argued for cutting defense.
I feel at least some of them are genuine in their pursuit of fiscal sanity...this might be because they realize that the President was re-elected and is thus out of reach even if some of these Republicans still want to continue to bully the President.
The problem might be that some of the potential GOP presidential candidates for 2016 have started to position themselves, demonizing compromises to score political points.
Good. Cut it. Republicans wanted it. They got it.
RepublicansforObama Hahahah!
cont. from #1.13
I mean...some of the 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls have already been trying to position themselves for their primary voters who are more partisan...even including some grenade-throwing extremists. These GOP leaders are less likely to make compromises now ... with the President.
No, alan_static, Doc means red states. Red states generally receive far more each year in federal spending than they pay into the federal government in taxes.
pootermin, the President offered smarter cuts but demanded that rich people pay their fair share of taxes, a balanced approach of cuts and revenue increases, but Repubs would rather destroy our economy rather than have their rich patrons pay an extra dime.
----------------------------------
alan_static, he was right when he said that the red states are more dependent upon federal spending. Blue states get far less back from the feds than they send to the feds. With the red states, that's reversed- red states live off of the federal government.
-----------------------------------
ixrls, the sequestration law allows no discretion. That is why the President rightfully called the republicans stupid (not exactly his words, but that's what he meant).
What are the rich's fair share of taxes? They pay more than you and most Americans and yet it still isn't enough. What is the number or the percentage that would make you happy? It will never be enough because the rich don't make enough to support 52% of the American population and all that the government spends.
The rich will leave when it no longer suits them to stay here and then who will pay your debts?
Republicans, Teabaggers, and you crazy-beautiful NRA and Ted Nugent "Gun-Nut" types
are now FLOCKING on over to my World-Famous and Award-Winning post #1.12, just above this post.
In my post #1.12, just above, I Explain the Psycho-Political and "Spiritual Reasons"
Obama had to be Elected for this all important Second Term. ps. hint: It was a "God-Thing"
As Night follows Day, the Universal Energy and Intelligence had to, yes had to,
give a Complete PSYCHO/POLITICAL/ENEMA to the Body/Politics
to PURGE the TAINT of the previous BUSH/CHENEY War-Criminal REGIME.
I'm surprised you Cons didn't Realize all this!
Of cours it didn't hurt that us Dems made up all those Lies about Mitt Romney having
all those secret hidden Swiss Bank Accounts for all the Money he stoled from all those Factory workers
after Laundering that stolen loot through his phony Cayman Island Shell Companies,
and then RETIRING RETRO-ACTIVELY from Bain Capital to ADVOID Felony Charges.
Remember Post #1.12 just above, and do leave your thoughtful "comments", ok.
Oh NO....
Last year Mr. Obama's folks told the DOD contracters to NOT WORRY about the sequester and to NOT hand out pink slips (BREAKING FEDERAL LAW).
Now, the truth comes to light. Mr. Obama did not want to "make any deals" and wanted the "sequester" to take effect.
How do you feel now......folks who are getting services cut and folks who are getting pink slips ?
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The Progressives are continuing their CLASS WARFARE. Guess that is in preparation for Mrs. "Benghazi" Clinton's campaign run. Wow, sounds like a broken record. At least they are not saying "It is Bush's fault" since everything which has happened for the past FOUR YEARS is Mr. Obama's fault. It is not going to look good on his resume having TWO U.S. DOLLAR DOWNGRADES during his term(s) in office.
BTW: Progressives, just where is the National Budget for the past four years which is leading up to the Continuing Resolution next month ? And, do you really want to eliminate Congressional procedures on increasing the National Debt Limit ? SHOCKING I tell you.....just SHOCKING.
The GOP-TP will pay for this in 2014 and 2016, they shot themselves in the foot !!!
Republicansfor Obama
I hope your rational is correct. I disagree. Tax hike on the way, I believe. But I am for whatever benefits this country and the citizens of it. Time will tell...
Alan - You are wrong. The Red states suck at the public trough. Look it up!
I'm glad there are finally going to be some cuts. Sure, they could have been better cuts, but both parties wanted this to happen so they could wash their hands of it and blame the other side. Everyone wants cuts, but no one wants the responsibility, so this is what we get.
And don't forget the sequester doesn't come close to fixing our fiscal woes. People would faint if they only knew how much we really need to raise taxes and cut spending to get back on sound footing. This is nothing.
Who's running this Country, the President that we elected or the crazy Tea movement ???
The Republicans' goal was to prevent the sequester by passing smarter "cuts".
Obama's goal was to send us into the sequester and then blame it on Republicans.
Obama got his way.
He's a petulant narcissist, who sees an opportunity to grasp more federal power in every single crisis.
A great campaigner - and a TERRIBLE leader.
Suckerrrrrrrrrrsssss!!!
How can such a SMALL REDUCTION result in MASSIVE CUTS? A 2% reduction should result in a 2% cut.... UNLESS, Barry has decided to take his loss out on only certain areas to get back at Republicans.....
Obama the great leader...... NOT.... more of a spoiled child that can't stand being wrong.....
Next, because of the monopoly's caused by republican deregulation(Reagan, Bush), we'd like to see all personal and corporate profit(basically stolen from american workers) stashed in foreign tax free accounts, be seized(estimated 30 trillion) and used to pay off the US fiscal deficit of 16 trillion and the rest distributed as a pay raise to the 98 percent.......like that will ever happen.
Here's another fine mess they've gotten us into. Both parties are showing us their irresponsibility. Good job congress.....good job executive branch.......not!
This is a sad day for America.
With President Obama on the economy, jobs, unemployment...you name it...the list is endless, in good faith the Republicans have refused to negotiate. The GOP's allegiance is to Grover Norquist. Yes, Norquist is the right-wing's Commander-In-Chief. The people that voted for these slimy treasonous Republicans cannot now deny the lack of loyalty that these "protectors of the 1%"have to the citizenry! At the voting booths in 2014 and 2016, remind the GOP of the repeated economic turmoil that they have dumped on America - VOTE THE GOP OUT!
Mr. Obama's Cabinet members have probably been told "quietly" to implement the budget cuts in such a manner to create HAVOC within their departments with emphasis on PINK SLIPS.
That way, he and other surrogate Progressives can blame the Republicans for the high unemployment rate which will probably top 14%.
For all YOU Progressive SURROGATES:
1. Where is this administration's National Budget for the past FOUR YEARS ?
2. Where is this administration's SPENDING cuts ?
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Progressive Maxine Waters (CA) seems to be the spokesperson for the Liberals when she stated that 170,000,000 jobs would be lost because of the sequester. That is almost like Mr. Obama saying he visited 47, no 48, and on to the next one, 49 States during the 2008 campaign.
Gotta love the Progressive mentality:
Deny....Deflect....Distort.....Blame
BTW: This is a sad day for the Progressives since their spending umbilical cord has been cut.
STOP THE PRESSES! STOP THE PRESSES!
obama signed a document without firing up Air Force 1 and heading out to Slumsville, Michigan; South Sharkstooth, Florida or some other town hall meeting place for his photo op? Has anybody checked to see if it was legal for him to sign a document in the D.C. area?
Is Chicken Little Obama relenting on his position of apocalyptic devastation to his economy?
What many people are missing is that obama initiated this "sequester" and signed it into law. Then he rants about how dumb it is. He didn't have to sign it into law nor did he have to sign it into action. He has harangued the republicans about how stupid it is and tried denying any culpability while parading around the country. Now that he is forced into action he can say that the repubs made him do it and that the impacts to his social programs are all the republicans fault. He is hoping that his followers are too ignorant to realize that it is just as much the dems fault since it was a bipartisan committee that drafted a bill that he proposed.
Too many people buy in to the Tea Party mentality about not taxing the rich. The rich have their money at the expense of the poor in this country and we can only DREAM about them packing up and leaving! They're addicted to cash and we have their fix.
Exactly Jakrabt_Oxford MS!!! The rich have had their lowest taxes in recent history since the Bush tax cuts. As a result, they have been stockpiling cash ever since, slowly sending our ecomomy into the abyss. Higher taxes on the rich will force them to invest in their businesses and purchase tax deductible items to avoid the taxes. This was a formula Clinton used to drive the economy during his tenure. More spending by the rich will jumpstart the economy, but they have absolutely no incentive to spend. The GOP's logic of lower taxes on the rich will spur investment that will get it moving is nonsense. It hasn't worked for several years and has, on the contrary, been detrimental to our country.
Yes.
The GOP's nonsense of the "Trickle Down Theory" is an abject abysmal economic failure. Since 1981, we the American People have heard this fairy tale. The wealth that is created in this country, by the wealthy is disproportionately grabbed and snatched up. "Trickle Down"...the gilded have not allowed the cash to drip down the economic ladder. Their attitude is: forget the majority! The unpatriotic greed of the favored has been an obstacle to true wealth being circulated through the economy.
we must now find a way to cut 85,ooo,ooo,000 from a 3,500,000,000,000 budget, heck just triming waste and fraud will do it in a second.
Taxes went up and spending went down. What the @!$%# is everybody pissing and moaning about? We got just what we needed!
Living - we got about 10% of what we need. And the pols on both sides are wailing like three year olds.
Congratulations Mr. President!
I know the last few weeks have been dreadful as you and your cabinet secretaries criss-crossed the countryside warning us of the impending sequester “cataclysm”. Maybe being exposed to real working people who have managed to deal with the 2% CUT to their income you imposed on them at the start of this year inspired you. Or maybe being outside the Washington trough made the shrill squeals from the bloated Washington sows less deafening. In truth we know it was because the adults in the House told you you weren’t getting any more candy, but that’s ok.
Despite a few temper tantrums you did sign the order slowing the rate of INCREASED federal spending $85 Billion from a $3.6 TRILLION budget. I realize the meager reduction may not be legacy inspiring but like your first baby step it is a beginning. Enjoy the day. Next item on the agenda is the continuing resolution, or as some might phrase it, potty training.
The problem with "fiscal health" is always the same. When you cut spending, you cut the economy. Someone loses a job, goes on unemployment. If there are enough such someones, the person who sells them stuff also loses their job. And it keeps on going in a vicious cycle. These current cuts will cost something like 700,000 jobs. Next year, these people won't be paying taxes. That will increase the deficit, which is the exact opposite of what everyone says they want.
The only real solution is to grow the economy, which is the exact opposite of spending cuts. Under such a situation, we will never be debt-free, but then, we don't need to be, we just need to get to the point where the debt that is a small and shrinking part of the economy and the GDP as a whole.
Create an infrastructure that is more efficient, and it allows businesses to exist that could not exist before. Republicans claim to be pro-business, but they are only pro-current business. Current business does not want competition. If you were a CEO, would you want a competitor to come along, do things better than you, and take away your cash cow?
Beyond that, deterioration of infrastructure does not hurt current businesses. They just raise their prices, not just to cover their own costs, but also to make a profit on the increased costs. The end-consumer ends up paying more this way than if they had just directly paid the government for the infrastructure, and also suffers from the reduced competition, as it is harder to start a business with a poor infrastructure.
That is why there are so many poor in 3rd world countries. The total lack of infrastructure makes it difficult to start a new business. Whereas, in the US, we have the exact reverse.
But in order to create a better infrastructure, we would have to borrow money. If we borrowed money and put people to work, our deficit would go down, but it seems that a lot of people would prefer that we do the exact opposite...they want us to shrink the economy so that the deficit goes up and the debt gets even worse.
Eventually, there will be just one guy sitting in the White House, with no way to collect taxes, and no way to pay off the debt, and then Grover can come along and drown him in a bathtub.
While you are having a lovely time chuckling over this, remember that there are actual projections, made by real liberals.
From http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57571850/sequester-will-mean-lost-jobs-and-less-growth/
Real people will lose real jobs, and the real deficit will increase as a result. With the sequester, we are now literally begging for another recession.
Really? The Left and Progressive wants to grow the economy, put people to work, get them to pay taxes and reduce the deficit and eventually the debt. The Right and the Regressives want to shrink the economy, put people out of work, and claim to want to reduce the deficit and the debt. Yet every single action they take gives the lie to that.
Or do you expect us to be really impressed because you use words like 'petulant' and 'narcissist?' In that case: gosh. golly. wow.
OMG..... I opened my eyes this morning and found out the world really hadn't ended. So I dressed and drove over to find Starbuck's was still open. Its a f#@**-n miracle..........! Thank you Mr. POTUS! I just knew you would would work the long hours through the night to save U.S., !!
It's not a problem for you, right? You haven't lost a job...so who cares if other people lose their jobs, they are not you. You have your coffee.
Besides they were all lazy moochers anyway, so they deserve to be tossed out. Let's round them all up and forcefully sterilize them before they breed like rabbits and make more lazy moochers.
You people might laugh, but it's true. Jesus won't come back till we round up the last lazy moocher. He almost came back but then you unfaithful ones elected Obama for President. Not once, but twice.
Repent! Vote Grover for President! Or at at least, Wayne la Pierre. See the error of your ways.
What this debate proves is that left to Obama or Democrats no spending cuts will ever happen. The Harry Reid led bill added to the deficit according to the CBO. Income fell 3.6% in January, and our Federal government can't find so much as a dime to cut. Every time Obama claims that he has cut spending, he is talking about future reductions in planned spending increases. So far not a dime has been cut by Obama, just promises that may or may not ever materialize. Congress has proven yet again that they are simply incapable of working in the best interest of the country, and it is time for a balanced budget amendment to force the issue. The massive debt Obama is amassing represents the greatest threat to this nation, and he tours the country trying to panic the nation over a paltry 85 billion dollar cut. Obama certainly isn't displaying any ability to lead.
I don't hear the Teabag movement saying they will take a cut in their salaries or benefits !!!
Byron Raum - its called sarcasm. Yes I do know what its like to lose job(S!). Difference is that I was brought up to pull my own weight and take care of my responsibilities..... so I've never sat around feeling sorry for my a$$ - I just went out and got another. Yes, I'll have my coffee - I EARNED IT without governments help!
Now the real trick is trying to keep earning my coffee with governments interference.
This president is a joke. It seems like he always wants to make the Rep look bad no matter what it does to our economy. Now he is blaming them for this mess just like his first four years where all he did was blame Bush this guy cannot stand on his own two feet. He wanted a mother tax hike, I thought you were not going to raise the taxes on anyone in this troubled time Mr. Obama just another lie, and why is it that you want America to fail so badly is it because you ate dog when you were a kid? Or was it that your Stepfather went to work for an oil company and left your mother. So now when you think of oil it brings up the pain your mother went through. It is all pretty clear to me that you will not be happy until you succeed in turning us from a free nation to an enslaved nation again.
The median wealth of a House member is $765,010... For a senator it’s $2.38 million. Yet, incredibly, they still enjoy all of this:
Being a member of Congress is the most lucrative "Public Service" job in the world. Really, are these people that out of touch with real America? Should Congress live like the rest of us? Should voters be asking why we keep sending these same people to Washington?
Free Food also
Congress was never going to work on this, they kicked the can down the road just far enough from the 2012 elections where they lost, they think people stupid and we don't remember, this move is to make the democrats and the president look bad and this will not work into the republicans favor. This kind of switch and bait is bad for this country and the people who are in charge of this country should do everything to keep this country moving forward, not backward! This is the shame of america and we are looking bad in the eye's of the rest of the world!
My Government reminds me of when I stirred up that big ant hill, but even them their little critters are finished restoring..Hee Hee you know what I mean..I
I
just
want
it
to
be oover
with
Do what your going to do so we can you know.?
Poor Barry.... the poor guy's not sure if he's a Christian or Muslim, says Kenya's his home but then decides Hawaii is home, recently he's not sure if he's a Jaba the Hut or a Vulcan, he says the Republicans wanted the sequester then finally admits he signed that bill.... now he's confused about which cuts he should make..... can someone help this poor guy?
One thing I'm sure he knows is how to nationalize America bit by bit. Obamacare (nationalized health care), Banks (stimulus nationalized them), Auto Industry (GM = natiionalized) Energy (a failure because every energy company he invested in with our money failed). Bit by bit he's attempting to nationalize everything..... can someone stop this poor fool?
Kelly, I read today that Obama's brother George, in Kenya, is running for Governor of one of their states! No one is questioning his nationality and he is hoping his candidacy gets some support from his brother. Vote for George Obama 2013 (if you're Kenyan that is)!
Republicons, the party of stupid. Austerity has never worked and that is exactly what they are giving us. A broken economy......again.
Republicons...........stuck on stupid.
Hey...! Will miracles never cease. Obama actually followed the law by signing whatever the law said he should sign. Wasn't sure he was going to. No real reason to believe he would follow the law since we've seen no evidence that the law means anything to him. Not sure why he was required to. But it is miraculous that he did. I guess, if nothing else, that goes to show that he was glad that his sequestration plan panned out.
@witchrunner: The "sequestration" was the Presidents plan, agreed to in order to move forward, and although he could have vetoed this legislation, and avoided these cuts, he had agreed to it and therefore he went ahead and signed it.
In the end he was surprised that not only did the Republicans refuse to budge...his own party also refused...even after the republicans gave in on the tax increase! I think many democrats believed he would go back on his word and find a reason to veto it.
Now in exchange for cuts to the Pentagons budget (no more $600 toilet seats) most every domestic budget item takes a hit...from PBS and big bird to and aid to the arts!
kenn the dem: Nice to see a dem who admits that this was Obama's plan. With all the spin that's been going on, it's nice to see someone honest enough to admit it. Even though spending will still go up, I guess it's better to cut the increase through these little games than not at all. Well, at least in theory anyway. Because the fact is that this was a non-starter from the beginning. It was an attempt by Obama to see if he could bully the repubs into caving yet again. So far, he's been very successful at it.
The fact is that this was just a side show. The real show comes at the end of this month when the debt ceiling is reached yet again. I'd like to think that this is a sign that the repubs might finally grow some gonads and stop rolling over. But, the fact is that the parties agreed to not agree on this and make what political hay out if it that they could. Whatever so-called problems either party sees from this will be addressed in the debt ceiling debate. Personally, I'd like to see the repubs propose yet another plan, but one that really addresses the debt issue rather than playing with nickles and dimes. Pass such a plan in the House and then stand firm. Of course there will be the usual blather about repubs wanting to kill grandma, starve kids, etc. Heck, that happened when talking about just $44 billion, so imagine what it would be like when talking about $500 billion or more. And the fact is, that spending can be reduced that much very easily.
Like you say, knock off those $600 toilet seats. Actually, I'm pretty sure that there are so many $600 toilet seats that the government could actually run just fine without raising the debt limit. There really is that much waste, pork and other things the government doesn't need to be doing. But, that would severely limit the politicians ability to buy votes with all their pet projects.
It's fun to watch as liberals throw temper tantrums like 3-year-old girls because they didn't get their way.
OH... too bad little liberals... can't take more of my money to fund your welfare state... what a shame.
Now we freeze the debt ceiling and cut another trillion from the budget and we are on the right track again.
Well... I mean cuts spending 1T more... we don't actually HAVE a budget because Obama doesn't feel the law applies to him.
I am still trying to figure out why conservatives think that everyone is lazy and wants to collect a free living. 95% of people just want a job, a decent living and the dignity that comes with it. I am so tired of this idea that people are lazy if they aren't Republican. So, I guess the rich that sit on their ass doing no labor, living on the procedes from other's labor is somehow better? GET REAL!!!!!
@witchrunner: I think the inability of congress to make concessions and agree really begins after the 2010 elections when so many Blue Dogs (I'm a Blue Dog) lost their seats in congress, many of them due to their support of the healthcare reform act (as brought on by the pressure of the progressives and Nancy Pelosi). Prior to this those Blue Dogs were the ones crossing the aisle to make things happen. Strangely enough many democrats wanted the dogs out...purify the party...that kind of thing. Well they got what they wanted and lost control of the House as a result.
The republicans should see this as a victory...in exchange for cuts to a military budget that was due to be down sized anyway as a result of the reduction of personnel on the ground, they got some cuts in programs they have wanted for decades.
President Obama's ever expanding use of drones will continue to carry the war to the Taliban, even with reduced personnel on the ground (you do have to give him credit for that). I remember several years ago he ordered the "droning" of a al Quaeda leader and then "droned" those attending his funeral the next day ..... you'll have to agree that even President Bush hadn't done that!
Google "Blue Dog Coalition" to get an idea of what I and many other democrats believe.
Well gee Wayne... if there were more rich people living on the proceeds of others, that would mean more people would have jobs... which would mean more people contributing to the system rather than taking from the system... so yeah it IS BETTER. That is what capitalism is built upon. Join the REAL WORLD.
And yes, only 50% of people actually pay taxes. Only 50% of Americans actually CONTRIBUTE.
And since 97.75% (in 2009, probably higher now) of all taxes paid are by the top 50% of taxpayers, that means 25% of the nation pays for 98% of all taxes.
The 50% of people that don't pay taxes and the bottom 50% of taxpayers equates to 75% of the nation. And that 75% of the nation pays 2%. That seems fair. I'm glad we are in "this" together.
So it isn't a stretch to think that the top 25% that pay for 98% feel entitled to keep a little more of what they EARN instead of having it redistributed to the lazy. Conservatives don't think you are just lazy. We think you are complacent and lack duty, honor and integrity. You don't see a lot of inner city people standing up for flat tax rate or true equality. Just more complaining about "unfairness" because they didn't pay attention in school, and prefer rapping to reading, and welfare to working, and government dependency to personal achievement and responsibility.
Yes, and the reason that they do is because it's in those "red states" your farmers grow your food and your military creates your defense, so removing either so as to "equal the slate" would be the end of our food and our liberty. Too, the outlay of cash also includes retirement, which will be a growing number as the baby boomers retire, many of them preferring to live out their final days in a more relaxed warmer southern climate than in the cold North (if their savings affords them that ability).
So yes, because certain things are taken care of in certain states and those things vote along a certain party line, the presumption is "the blue is paying for the red" but the reality is, do away with either, and the game is over.
So much for all of your fear-mongering Mr Obama.... just stop jetting off to play golf & have Michelle buy off-the-rack & we'll all get through this together......
@ Rick-3416939,
I asked you before and there was never an answer. Was the Medicare Advantage elimination of $716 fraud and waste an entitlement cut or savings? Your GOP Party (Paul Ryan) can't seem to decide LMAO. Any elimination of spending on a specific expenditure is a cut. In this case, it was an enititlement cut of waste/fraud. Not a cut in benefits to beneificiaries (Seniors). The GOP seems to have difficulty wraping their heads around the concept a cut doesn't necessarily mean cut in benefits to Seniors for Coporations/Insurance companies to pocket looking the other way. It can mean cut in expenditure. You seem to continually pontificate, as you select your favorite points and exclude others. Your entitled to your opinion. But not your own set of facts without the entire picture.
And to all other CONSERVATIVES trying to ding Obama for the sequester, 201 Republicans and 150 Democrats voted for it. Only the 150 with Obama sought a less painful sequester in exchange for spending cuts and coporate tax loop hole reforms to pay off our federal deficit. And the GOP chose the more painful sequester with purely spending cuts on the middle class/poor to pay off our Federal defcit.
You all need to get real. It will be a balanced approach at paying off this Federal deficit we all created...........Put down your Ann Rynd science fiction novel and look around you.
So you don't accept what Bob Woodward wrote and said the last two weeks? Either a lot of posters are only marginally literate or too bigoted to discern the truth.
For once we are proud of our President and Congress. This is a long time in the making and hopefully a sign of good things in the future, perhaps like a slashing of 1/3 of the Federal budget.
How about raise taxes and hold Americans accountable for debt, stop bailing out people because they have a million kids, refuse to work, and want to write everything off. President Kennedy said it best when he said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country! Good, honest hard working civil servants are losing money because of politics not because they are looking for handouts!
Will never happen..... The president and members of his staff and/or administration will use the state run media to cast blame, lie or tell half truths, or simply tell them to report on something trivial to divert the low informed and uneducated sheep.
What's a state run media?
Bring on the cuts, the only problem is the cuts are about 100 billion short of what they should have been.
alan_static wants to go back to the stone age, without your automobile and your iPod. Fanta_static.
Fanta_static ... if that's what you really want. You have the freedom & you can move to the moon to live in the stone age ... and ... to be the first pioneer in Newt Gingrich the Lunatic's lunar colony.
Good luck.
Newt Gingrich's Lunatic's lunar colony hahahahah!
This will impact 2.4% of the budget and I have already been notified that I will be impacted by 20% (one day per week of furlough) but I am thankful for it. It is long past due. Now if only the social programs and all of the other pork is cut from the budget it will be worth it. What will piss me off is if the repubs cave and allow more tax increases before the dems and the entitlers "pay their fair share".
I find it fantastic that Boehner had the stones to take the red ink pen out of obama's hand and make obama put the overdrawn national checkbook away.
Slash the budget...let's start slashing the budget by getting rid of the huge and unneeded oil, agricultural and tobacco subsides to the cash-soaked millionaires and billionaires.
Hey 25Walker, Let's start slashing the budget by getting rid of the crazy TeaBaggers in the house and on the hill, what a waste of tax payers money !!!
If Democrats had not killed every attempt to pass a balanced budget amendment over the past decades, it is reasonable to assume this country would not be on a path toward bankruptcy.
I've never been so ashamed of a President in my adult life as I am with the current guy occupying the White House....!
Rick.....................The last Presidents to pay down on the national debt were Presidents Clinton and Carter. They also created more jobs per year than your Saint Reagan.
You republicons created this mess with your stupidity and now you expect us to believe your lies.
Oh, look!
Here's another Obama 'achievement':
“The problem is, is that the way Bush has done it over the last eight years is to take out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our children, driving up our national debt from $5 trillion for the first 42 presidents – #43 added $4 trillion by his lonesome, so that we now have over $9 trillion of debt that we are going to have to pay back — $30,000 for every man, woman and child. That’s irresponsible. It’s unpatriotic.”.
-Barak Hussein Obama
Chief Executive Liar and Hustler
The funniest part to all this is to try and think how you would handle it if it were your own household facing the fact that you have "x" in income and "x + y" in debt.
In your own home you have a couple choices:
1.) Decrease your debt footprint so that you can actually get to a point where you're generating revenue again (or in the governments case, chipping away at the debt).
2.) Work another job or two (or find more income somehow) to allow yourself to continue to shop in the manner that has put you into this financial quagmire.
3.) A hybrid approach (however you can best orchestrate it).
So I have to ask...are you asking the government to do what you would do in your home were you faced with the same situation? In my house, we're downsizing so as to make sure that our financial footprint stays on the positive even through the recession, and I would ask our leaders to do the same.
Anyone else asking the government to follow the same ideology that you would for yourself or are you conflicted in what THEY should do vs. what YOU would do?
Not a coincident this happened on a Friday. People can now play blame drinking games while they watch news networks push their views in their local bars. I don't think anyone wants to stay sober through this government's latest failure pertaining to an issue that divides the nation.
Failure? This is a cause for celebration. I'm driving down to the river and breaking out the fireworks! It's National Pig day and also National Solvency Day!
Alan, you really don't understand the severity of this do you??? Go have another beer and crawl into your hole!
People who work pay taxes, they just axed 10% of the work force and crushed a frail recovery. F is the grade......
Hey, alan_static (#3.1)
.
Why are you so excited about this Pig Day, oink! In this, I am the only uncontroversial candidate to be celebratory. but you are welcome to share the joy.
Happy Pig Day, everyone.
fanta_static
Wheere is the Fisting Redhead in all of this? Is she give lip service directly to o'bummer?
Art - You don't understand the numbers. 1300 billion deficit - 85 billion sequester = 1215 billion deficit
Art... The severity of the US taking a *tiny* step towards living within its means, so to speak, rather than having a party on borrowed dollars? However "severe" this seems to you, it'll be far more drastic and - actually, not like Obama has been saying - catastrophic fall if the US doesn't start to cut its spending now to be more in line with what it can actually afford before the rest of the world says "ok, you're cut off." Tough times a coming? Not a fraction as tough as they'll be if you don't start to accept that your country cannot afford many of the things you're used to and you're going to start losing them sooner or later. Sooner will be far, far easier than later.
the thinker-318752 - we don't need to here from the stupid red head. Then again since I have her on ignore - I never have to read her 0-blamer talking points.
The issue dividing this nation is that liberals believe compromise is giving Obama what he wants. Or he takes to the airways with a blame and excuses tirade. If liberals would hold Obama accountable like they think Republicans should be, then maybe Congress would feel the need to start working for us again.
When pelosi was asked her view as she left o'bummer's office she said she would have to read any bill before she would decide. Wow! She didn't need to read the welfarehealth act before she drove that through.
The deficit has been going down for three years while unemployment has also been going down.
This is what republicon stupidity is trying to stop.
I had pork chops tonight, I love Pigs, they are delicious...........
Obama says this is not the apacolypse as some people were making it out to be. Well him and his staff were making it out to be an apacolypse. The world was going to end today, but we're still here! Remember what Janet Napamaltono said, with sequestor the terrorists are coming, the terrorists are coming. This despite her budget being larger then it was last year!
Obama is a fraud.
At least you can say the Republicans are pretty out front about being stooges for the rich and corporations.
The Democrats are just as bad but pretend to be for the "little guy".
Obama and the Democrats wanted to cut the budget as much as the Republicans, just in different ways.
But his "smart cuts" were dumb, too. (sneaky cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid)
This will start us on the path that Europe has been going down the last 5-6 years. "Austerity". Have you taken a look lately where that's gotten them?
12% unemployment rate in the Eurozone with some countries with depression levels of unemployment, 25%.
Both corporate/1% funded parties wanted to slash the budget because that's what the corporations and 1% wanted.
This is their way of making the middle class and poor pay for their swindling the economy off of a cliff in 2008.
Redhead Ranting: What are the rich's fair share of taxes? They pay more than you and most Americans and yet it still isn't enough. What is the number or the percentage that would make you happy? It will never be enough because the rich don't make enough to support 52% of the American population and all that the government spends.
The rich will leave when it no longer suits them to stay here and then who will pay your debts?
Redhead Ranting:
Your head may be red on the outside but inside you're all blonde.
The rich are paying some of the lowest taxes they've ever payed but they are now getting so much of the nation's wealth that it looks like they pay a lot (they pay a very low amount of taxes on an even bigger share of the nations wealth)
Not that you care, but here's the graphs:
Top income bracket tax rate:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5OGpm1XLu14/UJ06yJ0K0DI/AAAAAAAAVPE/TI5XLXO40V0/s1600/TopTaxRate.jpg
And that graph over estimates what they pay in taxes because it just measures income tax when in fact many rich people connive a way to get their income as capital gains which is only taxed at 15%.
Share of national income going to richest 10%:
pload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Chart_of_US_Top_1%25_Income_Share_(1913-2008).svg/640px-Chart_of_US_Top_1%25_Income_Share_(1913-2008).svg.png
Don't worry your red head about the rich, they will always do just fine. They have a ferocious sense of self-interest (they really don't care about anything else) that's why they're rich!
This goes back and forth like a children's see-saw. Let's let it play out. Maybe some pork will get cut too. Let's wait and see how many staff consultants, staff travel, staff conventions, staff parties get cut in this process. If the pork were removed then sensible re working of what projects actually NEED funding gets done we'll see a much improved financial picture.
I am not personally in favor of our public servants engaging in playing with the economy, by the way. If our public servants would stick to 'providing for the common defense' and leave it at that we would also have a better country. The internet could make or break many idiots who let greed rule their business dealings.
No, I believe this sequester thingy is the best thing since sliced bread. I say keep THEM sequestered until they do their jobs as americans expect them to do.
Arch-
You're right, I don't care about your graph. I have no problem paying my fair share of taxes and I suspect most rich people don't either. I do care about how the government has no real concept of money and therefore wastes it like a child in a toy store. Cut all their waste before you start asking the hard working, the innovators and the most productive members of society to contribute more. I am sure when you cut all that waste the rich would be happy to give more of their hard earned money. As it is now most people don't want to give their money away so someone else can piss it away.
You are also right that the rich will do just fine. They work harder, are more innovative and take a hell of a lot more risk than most of the population - that's why they are rich. Tell me why they should pay for someone who is just as able bodied as they are?
Oh and BTW the rich give a lot more to charity than other demographics. They also almost single handedly support the arts.
The rich are paying lower taxes than at just about any other time. Raise them - but raise them on everyone. That's what's fair.
Unlike you I believe that most people are smart enough to take care of themselves. That most people can and should pay taxes. Everyone needs some skin in the game. I think we should have safety nets but only in cases of emergency. Most people who are receiving some kind of gov support do so for far too long and aren't truly in crisis.
Um - actually Red, most people are rich because they INHERITED the money. The US has one of the lowest mobility factors of all western nations. That means that if you are born poor - you stay poor. The myth of the self-made rags to riches American is just that, a statistical myth in the US. Remember, the odd exception does not disprove the general rule.
DC math.... anytime an increase is not as much as it COULD have been.... it's a reduction...
According to Forbes.... "Only 6% of those surveyed earned their money from inheritance alone. 69% earned their wealth mostly by trading time and effort for money, or by working.”
So much for your "inheritance" theory.... most people without money believe the only way to have money is to inherit wealth or win the lottery... check your family tree, anything up there?.... and the lottery, 1 in 35,000,000 odds.... yep, you're on your way to wealth....
Good, old-fashioned, WORK is what creates wealth... that & educated spending...
Read Clason's book, "The Richest Man in Babylon"... you gain a lifetime of knowledge
The first cuts should be the salaries and perks of the Republican and Democratic numb nuts in Washington. Then see how fast they resolve things!
I couldn't agree more... the first cuts should be the salaries, healthcare, expense accounts, and other perks of the Senators and Representatives. If that were the case, new records for legislative speed would undoubtedly be set!
@shandiekat...
Unfortunately, more than half of congress (pretty much even across party lines) are already millionaires.
http://money.msn.com/investing/latest.aspx?post=70cc8f98-07b4-4e4e-923e-5569bd82627d
Cutting their pay just means less tips for "the little people" who wash their Jaguars.
"This is not going to be an apocalypse, I think, as some people have said.
*************************************************************
"Some people".............you mean "YOU" and your minions......................
This is very sad...the reason the sequester was even thought of was to keep our elected leaders from screwing us over...well, it looks like pride and political agenda has hurt the American population once again. The sad part is that so many civilians that are the stability to our military stateside while we fight wars for other countries are going to be losing income; and these are NOT rich people, they make on average $25-30K a year. Our government is suppose to stabilize us, not lead us to another civil war.
How did the government screw its people over. You look like a military guy from your photo. You should know how much money they waste on overpriced, uneeded weapons systems while leaving the soldier with crappy body armor.
Oh, I know how much money is WASTED, and it is STUPID! I was even a card holder FORCED to WASTE money. But, only some cuts are coming from that pot. How about the millions spent on protocol and security so that the president, vice president etc can play golf? I'm just saying that our elected leaders need to protect the people that are working for our government in the grades of GS-3 to GS-9 and not worry about people the people that refuse to work so we give them cell phones and the people that refuse to better themselves so we provide them with food stamps so they can spend it on gum, candy, valentines day chocolates, and Dr. Peppers!
you will see the impact of our consequences over the next few months...
Impact of concequences?
Art Ayala,
You are somewhat misinformed. Go to the FCC's website, and search for free phones. Someone lied about the program, and it spread across the Internet.
Add that to the consequences of raising taxes on January. These consequences have a tendency to hit between 6 & 8 months.
Reference the Bill Clinton tax increase on the rich August 1993. The tax was written into the 1993 income tax tables. The rich began paying them in April 1994 and the unemployment rate stopped dropping by Feb 1995 and jumped up .5% and then stayed stagnant for 16 months.
The congress authorizes the budget. John Boehner has work to do....
When is the Senate going to work on and pass a budget?
The Senate will pass a budget when something comes out of the house that isn't loaded with so many poison pills it would choke limburgh
Oh, it's dumb alright.
Now in a week or two, after Obama pees his pants because his party will be failing, he will have to backtrack.
The conservatives got it right this time.
I will pay if need be for a "REAL CHANGE".
Don't hold your breath on that.
About time....quit spending money like drunken idiots get used to not spending then set priorities for future spending. Please oh please, just do the responsible thing and set real budgets like the majority of the rest of us have to do.
It's about damn time!!!!! It is way overdue to start dealing with our fiscal out of control debt so my two year old little girl won't be left to deal with even a higher burden.
Mike-1228637,
I'm sorry to say this but you don't know what you're talking about and your two year old daughter is going to suffer for it a lot more than for our debt.
National debt is not the same as family debt. When your debts are demarcated in your own currency you can have large deficits for years with no ill effect. As a matter of fact it's beneficial if you are trying to get out of a recession or depression as is our case.
Because of the recession we have a debt to GDP ratio of around 100%. Japan has a debt to GDP ratio of over 200%, over twice ours and they have an unemployment rate of under 5% (ours is about 8%).
Their debt to GDP ratio has been over 150% for more than ten years and they haven't exploded or melted or turned to salt.
Here's the graphs:
http://www.financialsense.com/sites/default/files/users/u121/images/2012/japanese-debt-gdp-1980-2010.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B7bSes0OqMM/SZJV8R2tjvI/AAAAAAAABIs/lavboWFIPIw/s400/Japan+unemployment+rate+since+1999.png
On the other hand Europe is doing what you say we need, slashing spending. They've been doing this for 5-6 years and their economies have gotten worse not better. Unemployment in the Eurozone is 12% and in some countries, Spain for instance, it is at depression levels, over 20%.
http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/50698112eab8ea5053000018-590/eurozone-unemployment-is-at-a-record-high-114-percent.jpg
Don't listen to the bought and payed for economists and talking heads in the corporate media.
They didn't see an $8 trillion housing bubble back in 2007!
Would you trust a doctor if he couldn't see a splinter in your hand that was a big as a 2x4?
President Obama seems to be evolving more quickly in his second term. Last week the sequestration cuts were going to be the end of the world. The cuts are dumb.
Today President Obama signs the order;
"As some people have said." Really?!
Stop your whining, Washington, the cuts aren't nearly large enough--measly 85 billion dollars against a deficit more like 1100 billion dollars. This is like a morbidly obese person giving up a couple twinkies. Far, far bigger cuts are needed.
1100 billion? Do you vote?
Tommie - obama's deficit of $1.101 Trillion for 2012 is the same as $1101 Billion. Some people are too dumb to realize the difference between billion and trillion and only focus on the numbers 85 and 1.1 so Earthling put it into terms that even still confuses some. Most, however, do recognize the scale of difference - 85 out of 1100.
The only people this is going to effect is Gov't employees and people on unemployment, there's other Americans a lot worse off, suck it up and deal with it.
It is going to affect more than just federal employees. Please do a little more research on the nation-wide impacts.
Um not exactly. This will reach into the private sector because it will affect Government contracts and also pay to Government employees. This means there will be less money being spent, not much but some, and that will translate into contraction in the economy.
We will probably see unemployment go up a few tenths because of this immediately and it will increase as more of the cuts are enacted over time. The full range of cuts will not take place until 2014.
So because we fear the consequences we shouldn't do what is right? That's messed up.
Doing what is right is getting rid of everybody (Republicans and Democrats) and starting again with leaders that care what is best for our nation not their political parties.
america first-489930,
So if a Government employee has less money to spend, it only effects them?
Wow
Well, over 800,000 government employees will lose about 20-25% of their salaries each week, which means less money for saving, investing, paying mortgages, paying higher health care premiums, buying stuff, paying less local taxes, etc. etc. etc. Not to mention significant cuts in federally funded programs, fewer food inspectors, fewer borders agents, fewer TSA agents, fewer FBI agents, etc. etc. Also, decreased military operations, training, readiness, support to Wounded Warriors, etc. etc. .... BTW the cuts do not apply to our elected politicians or the political appointees.
800,000 government employees? What are they doing all day? Cut that number in half!
I have 12 that work for me that make sure that 37,000 trainees a year receive their entitlements and make sure that they don't get screwed on their contracts/benefits when they enlist in the military so that they can watch guard over our nation...I would say that is pretty damn important.
Keeping the DOD running Alan.
I've been around the government and military enough to see that 1/3 or more of government employees don't do much all day while the best 1/3 do the work of two people. Thus the problem with government, lazy people can keep their jobs because it is much more difficult to fire them, even in the military.
And so your response is that the 1/3 of people that do the job of two should lose as well?
Cut out the bottom 1/3. Everyone else will be happier and more productive.
The bottom 1/3 work in the White House and are members of Congress and Senate.
Merely collecting their checks from those locations is work?
"work" connotes showing some level of productivity.
When I was in the military, it was funny to hear civilian DOD employees sitting on their asses complaining about high taxes and the government. These guys were not too bright.
Please explain to me how anyone can do the work of two people. If one person can do it, it must be the work of one person, unless it takes twice a long to do it. If two people were doing it before, then one of them was not needed.
Bingo Ernie!
Mr. Obama, you could have called an emergency session of Congress, required all congresspeople from both houses to be there, then had the military lock the doors and not let anyone out until an agreement was reached. You could have done that. You failed, and as such, you own the sequester as of right now. Not them, YOU. You had the executive power and did not use it. Your fault, Mr. Obama. You don't deserve the title of President, not after going after gun control when you could have been relentlessly going on about the economy. Your fault.
Fault? You can blame me if you want, but I'll take it as a credit.
Um, the, the president is not a king and can't tell congress what to do or force them to do anything.
John Boehner is the leader of the US House of Representatives, who have made no secret for four years that this is what they wanted. Well, they got it now and can take FULL responsibility. Oh, but wait, they're republicans, and republicnas NEVER take responsibility for anything. Too bad, we are onto the GOP.
What the sequestor really is, it's a reduction in an increase in spending. Like if you reduced the amount you overcharged your credit card by $85, from a total of $1000. Good news, it's a start, way to go Obama!
The President cannot lock Congress in the capital
Alan, that is a lie. DOD budget is being cut $45 billion over last years budget.
Alan, you must have a poster of President Obama, I saw calling him King Obama...wake up! Don't get me wrong I voted for him the first time around believing in his "Change" approach. I don't blame him completely for the travesty happening in our nation but walking out of a meeting one hour in on the day the sequester is implemented is irresponsible and a failure to take ownership for this country as president.
It would be really easy to think that there was more of a deal cut between the Democrats and the Republicans than we know, like rather than publically making tough choices they could let it fall as a package and thing resurrect whatever they really need. Of course it would be cynical of my to think that, but it sure is hard to add it up otherwise.
Our federal government has big, long term financial problems. It is absurd to think these problems can be cured without painful spending cuts/restraint and at some point higher taxes and other costs for just about all Americans. The sooner we take the necessary steps, to include things that will not become effective for a number of years, the better off everyone will be.
Peter good job.
So what are the Republicans bitching about then?
The Republicans are bitching because Democrats aren't actually cutting as they agreed to.
As the allegedly constitutionally-savvy Mr. Obama fully understands with the best of his legal ability, his statement to the press -
"We will get through this," he said. "This is not going to be an apocalypse, I think, as some people have said. It's just dumb. And it's going to hurt."
Is an admission of intent to harm another.
Mr. Obama willingly, recklessly, and with intent signed into law a bill which is injurious to the American people.
Do you think he was set up?
Do you believe that he might be impeached for this?
They all did. Both sides are equally responsible for the lack of compromise.
No. He's too smart for that.
There's nothing here that fits the definition of an impeachable offense.
As opposed to vetoing it and letting the Congressional bashing continue and flood over into the debt ceiling debate? No, signing it into law was the only correct choice to show the country why austerity will never work without sending a country into a depression. It is also a good move to get Republican voters to badger their representatives to deal when they find out just how much these cuts will affect their own lives.
It is a failure of our current American psyche; as long as it does not affect someone directly they will be for or against it even when there are good reasons to have the opposite view. When the effects of the cause hit home then they realize they were wrong and are more willing to do something about it.
Plus a veto would have been just kicking the can down the road, again. This will force us to come to terms with the fact that austerity can never work.
Austerity does work, it is a forced reduction in the size of government and forces the government to be more efficient with available resources (money). Runaway spending is controlled. One negative side effect is higher unemployment.
Austerity does NOT work. In European countries exercising austerity, their GDP is shrinking, their unemployment is increasing and their tax base is shrinking. The austerity measures are actually making matters worse. So, no, they don't work.
For people who say its about time...MY Family WAS affected by this (1 lost job) SO before you sit back in your fat rocking chair with a drink and watch Football MY Family will Have to cut back because of FAILURE of Congress and Senate not willing to come together. SO your saying its MY fault that the cuts happened and MY family Will be suffering as a result of the failure of this congress and senate
SO before you go on here and post your comments TRY putting yourself in MY shoes!
Some of us in the private sector have been laid off already, because of distortions caused by the government choosing one industry over another.
The rest of us who work in the private sector have been in your shoes for 4 years now. As Obama said elections have repercussions. Good luck on finding a new job like most of us had to do.
Some things I do know.. My hometown entered a depressed state of economy within 90 days of Mr. Obama taking his first oath.. and is just now beginning to dig out of that mess. Up and down my street good hard working families have lost their homes. I had to close my business and now commute over 500 miles for work staying away from my family for 4-6 weeks at a time and I am certainly NOT the only one doing it. What little economic recovery my hometown has managed has been hard fought and painful. I am sick and tired of hearing it was Bush's fault... that is history now. Bush had his hands full then... Obama has HIS hands full now.. Bush took his licks... Obama side steps and blames. Ask yourself these questions... What if 9-11 would never have happened?? What if it happened today? How would this President handle it? Real easy to tuck your tail and come home decrying every past decision as foolhardy...
I believe Mr. Obama used the statement "The buck stops here!". Well... it does... It's well past time that the bloated spending of this Government is brought to heel. I have no empathy for those that must tighten up and live as my neighbors and myself have had too since the very start of this sitting administration.. we have adjusted and know we must endure another 4 years of mediocrity. Now, let the pain begin.
This is good news people! We are finally going to BEGIN to cut spending. Everything will be fine; stand by....
And through it all, Congress comes out without any consequence as they get to go on vacations while the fates of hundreds of thousands of jobs hang on the line. Good going, Congress...good going.
Can we cool it on the hyperbole, the overly dramatic language, and the pseudo-doomsday nonsense. In the real world that is a lot of money. Compared to a budget that is in the trillions, it is pocket change. Most people will not be able to see any difference between before and after. it is not the same as when Gingrich faced Clinton over a government shutdown. People were whining and complaining that they could not get passports renewed, or that SS took too long to answer questions. That was then, this is now. Don't like it, then why did you turn the House of Representatives over to Tea Party zealots. Payback is a bitch.
Yea a huge cut of 2 cent on the dollar....
Much more needs to be cut.
Oh the horror!!! Downsizing of the Government. Every Libs nightmare. I guess Odumbo finally had a 2 point take down by the Tea Baggers. You welfare slackers had better get out there and apply for a job before all the Gubment people hit the streets and your benefits get cut off. Oh the horror!!! Oh the responsibility!! Oh the horror!!! Suffering!!! The painnnnnnn!!!! Damn you Boehner!
uh well yeah because we all realize that this is going to add to unemployment, slow our economic growth, and cause tax revenue to drop leading to the need to do even more cuts. Austerity is a never ending cycle on the way to a depression or worse. As each round of cuts is inflicted jobs are lost, income to the Government is lost, budgets over run, more debt is added, and the health of the economy weakens.
The only way to deal with debt issues is to make more money. To do this you use a combination of tax increases, economic recovery (more jobs to send in more taxes), and some limited cuts to programs that will not directly affect the economy.
Only cutting spending without other measures to increase revenue gets you no where but to an early grave.
Apparently you have no idea what is getting cut. It's not entitlements or welfare like you wanted it is military downsizing and cuts to DOD contracts. Lots of liberal stuff like that!
Enjoy
Conservatives expanded all levels of government, not just state/local:
GW Bush's 2 unfunded wars...Prescription drug benefit to expand welfare... NCLB - to interfere in education powers of state/local governments
Reagan's Star Wars (SDI) to compete with Russia & EITC (earned income tax credit) to expand welfare state.
.
Each party has expanded government as it has seen fit.
.... and your point is?
Pig open your eyes. Which party has been in control of Congress most over the last 50 years? Democrats
Why don't they take credit?