The figures I've seen actually point to the fact that the stimulus did little to revitalize our economy. The Tax cuts can't and shouldn't last forever. However simply ending the tax cuts won't solve our economical woes.
Originally Posted by DTorrchia
Revitalizing I don't think was necessarily the point, keeping us out of a full blown 1929-style depression was. The facts are the stimulus did pump $200 billion in to our economy and if you believe the CBO added 3.7 million jobs. No, we wont be able to pay back the entire National debt by ending the tax cuts alone, but we won't get there ANY other way without ending them in addition to making cuts in some key areas. My vote for key cuts: defense, subsidies, foriegn aid, and Army sponsorship of NASCAR for starters.
Key changes: raise the pay-in cap on Social Security as Robert Reich and a few others have suggested, and raise taxes on capital gains.
"A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office shows the Recovery Act has increased the number of workers by between 1.2 million and 2.8 million. The CBO also projects that 3.7 million jobs could be attributed to the stimulus by the end of September."
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-mone...ted-job-growth
http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/default.aspx
If he had pulled the troops out as soon as he took office it would have been disastrous for both Iraq and Afghanistan's population. It's arguable whether we should care about that or not but that's for another debate. The Iraq draw down was handled responsibly in my opinion and was done as quick as was possible taking into consideration the safety of our troops and the population there.
Originally Posted by DTorrchia
Agreed, but you do recognize this as spending right? Spending these so-called conservatives are jumping up and down screaming about and blaming Obama for!
Here's what I'd like to see from Obama or ANY President. Stop being afraid of the "C" word. We continue to be China's whipping boy when it comes to trade. It's time to put an end to that. http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html
We need to penalize U.S. Companies that leave the U.S. and offer more incentives for them to remain in the U.S.
Originally Posted by DTorrchia
Agreed, and agreed. Tax the shit out of any company sending jobs overseas and offer
reasonable tax incentives for them to hire within our shore.
My personal opinion is that the Health Care Plan could have waited. It averted attention from more important matters, it polarized the Congress, Senate and the American people even more than they already had been and it was an expense that we simply didn't need at this point.
Originally Posted by DTorrchia
You may be right, but people have polarized over every single little thing he's done so far. He's just a black man breaking new ground in an elitist white man's world.
As far as the Stimulus, I believe certain Banks and certain Companies should not have been bailed out.
Originally Posted by DTorrchia
Don't confuse Obama's stimulus with Bush's TARP and the auto bailouts. Other than that, AGREED...caps intended. We to put an end to corporate welfare, period. End of story.
I would like to see a President try to lead the House and Senate in passing a Balanced Budget Amendment. THEN I'd be glad to do my part in contributing more taxes.
Originally Posted by DTorrchia
Agreed. A REAL balanced budget ammendment, not some flimsy Tea Party ruse that includes a Prop 13 bullshit back door to keeping the Bush tax cuts in place.
Thanks for having an adult conversation!
