I can't grasp having an ugly fat wife that is a spendthrift!
A beautiful, thin spendthrift totally plausible.
And just so you understand WTF, the poor husband in this parable is Ronald Reagan. And the ugly wife represents the big spending politicians especially the ones who came after the Clinton administration. Like Bernie Sanders. Originally Posted by TinyThe spendthrift sure sounds a lot like Ronnie! Spending all that money meant SS savings and leavinga bunch of IOU's! And then you and Paul Ryan can cut SS benefits because of their unsustainable costs!
Have you read the Stockman article I provided? Do you understand just what Hayek is talking about? Originally Posted by WTFI read Stockman's book, although it was many years ago. I recall him being frustrated with the system, and resigned to the fact that politicians in general are spendthrifts. His frustration wasn't directed at Reagan in particular.
And then you and Paul Ryan can cut SS benefits because of their unsustainable costs! Originally Posted by WTFYou're pissed off at Reagan for increasing social security contributions and you're pissed off at Ryan for cutting SS benefits. Do you think money grows on trees?
You're pissed off at Reagan for increasing social security contributions and you're pissed off at Ryan for cutting SS benefits. Do you think money grows on trees?I'm disappointed that so many seemingly bright folks are not able to follow the money.
Oh yeah, I forgot, Bernie Sanders has possessed your soul. You do think money grows on trees. Never mind. Originally Posted by Tiny
I'm disappointed that so many seemingly bright folks are not able to follow the money. (Quite an amusing statement, given that it's from someone with apparently very little ability to "follow the money!").
I followed Reagan promise to save SS with a tax increase. I then followed him taking the money and buying tanks with it. The bugger did leave a promissory note.
Yes! Really irresponsible for Ronnie to have initiated the practice of consolidating general revenues with Social Security current surpluses in order to make headline deficits appear smaller. Thanks for pointing out that he pulled off that sneaky sleight-of-hand maneuver. Most people apparently still think the prez who did that was Landslide Lyndon way back in 1968!
I then followed Paul Ryan try and take the promissory notes and want to buy stocks with them and guarantee each person that bought stock that they could keep the gains and the government would make up any losses.
I can help you too to follow the money if you'll take the first of twelve steps and admit where the problem started!
Is there a 12-step program for people who continually post links to articles from dishonest left-wing hacks like Dean Baker, and who incessantly argue about topics they don't even make the most rudimentary effort to understand? (Asking for one of our Houston friends.)
Originally Posted by WTF
. (Quite an amusing statement, given that it's from someone with apparently very little ability to "follow the money!"). I've followed the money well enough to know not to argue that Reagan's Kickstart of debt to gdp ratio ,rising from 30% to 120% was a great economic accomplishment!
Originally Posted by Texas Contrarian
.Yes , it is a well known fact LBJ hid the cost of Vietnam. Why? Because back then debt and deficits mattered. My argument is that Reagan taught some of you boys that deficits and debt does not matter and the evidence is borne out in your continued denial and the actual debt to gdp ratio.
Yes! Really irresponsible for Ronnie to have initiated the practice of consolidating general revenues with Social Security current surpluses in order to make headline deficits appear smaller. Thanks for pointing out that he pulled off that sneaky sleight-of-hand maneuver. Most people apparently still think the prez who did that was Landslide Lyndon way back in 1968! Originally Posted by Texas Contrarian
.Is there a 12-step program for people who continually post links to articles from dishonest left-wing hacks, and who incessantly argue about topics they don't even make the most rudimentary effort to understand? (Asking for one of our Houston friends.)Your Houston friend seems not to be liking that huge left wing hack who was Ronnie's budget director
Originally Posted by Texas Contrarian
I've followed the money well enough to know not to argue that Reagan's Kickstart of debt to gdp ratio ,rising from 30% to 120% was a great economic accomplishment!You would understand this issue much better if you were to go back and read all the previous posts, at least if you took a moment to think them through and try to comprehend them.
Math whiz, are you? Well, since you fancy yourself as someone who is so good at "following the money," maybe you'd like to tell us what percentage of the nation's debt accumulation during the last forty years occurred under Ronnie's watch?
Yes , it is a well known fact LBJ hid the cost of Vietnam. Why? Because back then debt and deficits mattered. My argument is that Reagan taught some of you boys that deficits and debt does not matter and the evidence is borne out in your continued denial and the actual debt to gdp ratio.
I have not denied anything, and merely pointed out that after all the angst about deficit spending in the early '90s, we had an easy path back to sustainability -- and took it!
I'm not the one accusing you of being hoidwinked....the actual numbers are!
If anyone has been "hoidwinked" (whatever in the fuck that means!), it's you!
Your Houston friend seems not to be liking that huge left wing hack who was Ronnie's budget directorkicking his ass at every attempted slight[sic] of hand.
The others you linked (such as Dean Baker) are the left-wing hacks. We already discussed Stockman. You didn't pay much attention, did you? He misrepresented and mischaracterized the policy debates of the early 1980s, since he became bitter and vengeful after being told to leave. He also had a book to promote and doom porn to peddle!
Originally Posted by WTF
Tiny, I started a thread that is showing all the evidence points to Reagan administration as the starting point of the mentality of debt and deficits do not matter. The numbers do not lie....just look at the graph! Originally Posted by WTF
Reagan started this mentality of deficits not mattering... Reagan started the mentality of it not being a problem.... Reagan was the impetus. The numbers do not lie. Just look at the graph. Originally Posted by WTFSure thing, why don't we just look at a graph that goes all the way back to George Washington's day, shall we?
You think tax cuts are the answer... You got that from Ronnie! Originally Posted by WTFNaaahh!
But the numbers have been in on Reagan and his astute economic policies and they're not good... Originally Posted by WTFAwww shucks! There you go again!
Here are but a few of the good things that happened to the economy between Jan. 1981 and Jan. 1989:
1. Inflation (CPI) slowed from 12.5% to 4.2%.
2. Unemployment dropped from 7.5% to 5.4%.
3. Total employment increased by over 16 million.
4. Employment among African Americans rose by 25%.
5. Real GDP expanded by a cumulative 31%.
6. Real per capita disposable income went up by 18%.
7. Federal tax revenues swelled by 76%.
8. The prime interest rate fell from 21.5% to 10.5%.
9. The national average price of a gallon of gasoline dipped from $1.36 to $1.00.
10. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 135%. Originally Posted by lustylad