Tick. Tick. Tick........

WAM. So you're going to watch and do nothing. Ok. At least we know where you stand. The rest of us will try to save the country for you.

Monkey? Are you serious? You really are childish! Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

I do not try and make water run uphill but knock yourself out if you are so inclined Captain Marvel.

There are candidates willing to do all that, but the MSM has told us they're "unelectable" before they even start campaigning. And God Forbid they should try to get in a debate! We aren't represented, we are controlled.

I know, WTF. You'll just watch and pretend you're smarter than those of us who want to avert disaster. Play with you're little fuc'ing friends. And by all means, stay cute. The girls like it.

Just to be clear, do you support ending the Bush-era tax cuts for all taxpayers, or just those in the top 2% of the income strata (roughly corresponding to households with incomes over $250K), as many Democrats propose. (Rescission of the tax cuts only for the top 2% wouldn't raise much additional revenue.)

Yes, almost all Republicans pledged fealty to Norquist's anti-tax organization, but you will note that Democrats have pretty much painted themselves into a corner, too, by promising to not raise taxes on anyone whose income is less than $250K/year.

With regards to the overall budget and the deficit, there isn't much difference between those two positions. The "Buffett Rule" is one of the silliest political gimmicks I've seen in a long time.

I favor fundamental tax reform. We need a tax system that looks like it was designed on purpose, not junked up with more crap every year for 25 years. Originally Posted by CaptainMidnight

let the 01-03 tax cuts sunset ... Period.

then pass permanent tax legislation favoring economic growth from the middle class ... they sustain the economy not Buffett/Gates et al.

and get out of the mid east

do those and a very large percentage of our troubles vanish off the spread sheet

I know, WTF. You'll just watch and pretend you're smarter than those of us who want to avert disaster. . Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

Most everybody wants avert disaster....just not all of us run around like Henny Penny crying about the sky falling.

What ever happens, happens. Certain people will do better than others depending on the skill sets society deems useful at the time.

If you think being the modern day Chicken Little will help your lot in life than keep on doing wtf you are doing but don't dog me for laughing at ya.

let the 01-03 tax cuts sunset ... Period.

then pass permanent tax legislation favoring economic growth from the middle class ... they sustain the economy not Buffett/Gates et al.

and get out of the mid east

do those and a very large percentage of our troubles vanish off the spread sheet Originally Posted by CJ7

I'm not sure how large a percentage of our troubles those measures alone would eliminate.

According to most estimates, rescission of the Bush-era tax cuts for all income groups would eliminate about 25-30% of the deficit, if you assume that it otherwise would remain at current levels.

That still leaves entitlements, especially Medicare, on an unsustainable trajectory -- since costs will explode upward in very dramatic fashion if no fundamental reforms are undertaken. The tax system required to pay for all the associated spending would crush prospects for sustained, robust economic growth.

And even if such reforms are not forthcoming, we'll still be left with structural deficits exceeding 5% of GDP as far as the eye can see.

That's why I favor fundamental tax reform and a comprehensive, far-reaching approach to all the drivers of our deficit, of which there are many.

No more sacred cows!

I'm not sure how large a percentage of our troubles those measures alone would eliminate.

According to most estimates, rescission of the Bush-era tax cuts for all income groups would eliminate about 25-30% of the deficit, if you assume that it otherwise would remain at current levels.

That still leaves entitlements, especially Medicare, on an unsustainable trajectory -- since costs will explode upward in very dramatic fashion if no fundamental reforms are undertaken. The tax system required to pay for all the associated spending would crush prospects for sustained, robust economic growth.

And even if such reforms are not forthcoming, we'll still be left with structural deficits exceeding 5% of GDP as far as the eye can see.

That's why I favor fundamental tax reform and a comprehensive, far-reaching approach to all the drivers of our deficit, of which there are many.

No more sacred cows! Originally Posted by CaptainMidnight

I will vote for you Captain!

Some people prefer pictures on debt and who's responsible for it. It's not just the POTUS but congress who is responsible for our plight.

Financially savvy people aren't "henny penny", BTW. We just plan accordingly and hedge our bets/investments.

Some people prefer pictures on debt and who's responsible for it. It's not just the POTUS but congress who is responsible for our plight.

. Originally Posted by Can I Play Too???

If you need a picture then you better have someone else planning your retirement.

Financially savvy people aren't "henny penny", BTW. We just plan accordingly and hedge our bets/investments. Originally Posted by Can I Play Too???

I think when I said I would stick to the Adam Smith school of planning , I thought that would be a big enough clue as to how I plan to invest. (Hint, it does not include bitching about politics)

Sorry I can't draw you a picture but I have told GOG all along that there is nothing you can do about the government end of the problem. I made it perfectly clear that there was much hay to be made on our end if planned right and luck holds out.

Some people prefer pictures on debt and who's responsible for it. It's not just the POTUS but congress who is responsible for our plight.

Financially savvy people aren't "henny penny", BTW. We just plan accordingly and hedge our bets/investments. Originally Posted by Can I Play Too???

The graph says it all. We're screwed. Retirement planners like to show the miracle of compound interest to people who are just beginning to save for retirement. It's amazing how getting paid interest on interest grows money. At the beginning of saving for retirement your savings grow very slowly but then towards the end, in the last few years before retirement the growth is amazing.

Unfortunately, compound interest has a dark side. When you live beyond your means and borrow every year to make up the difference, including borrowing to pay the interest, your debt explodes. We're paying interest on interest instead getting paid interest on interest. That's what the graph illustrates so well.

And Gov. Christi is about right on this one.............

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local...146927125.html Originally Posted by Whirlaway

Christi is absolutely wrong about this.
(People waiting on the couch for their next Government check. Maybe some do, but most don't, coz you simply can't live on that Government check.)

I know from experience now ............. having no regular job since the start of 2011. I don't want a job but I have to do a minimum of 3 "work searches" per week and keep a log of that.
That's 67 weeks so far so that makes 201 "work searches".
Actually I did over 250.
And the sad results? I have had 1 (yes 1) invitation for an interview and that was not even related to my resume.
As a sales guy for life insurance, only on commission basis

And why did I get no interview invitations?
I think when a possible future employer reads my resume and sees that my college degree dates back to 1978, then my resume lands in the paper destroyer.

That is the sad truth, not Christi's words.

And, can anyone imagine how it would be living in California of a Government check of $415 per week?
That would take care of renting a 2 bedroom apartment and 1 meal per day.
But you would have nothing left for more food, travel or buying a stamp to send a resume for a possible job.
So waiting on the couch for that check would soon lead to being homeless.
Thank you Christi, the way you care about people. You must be a Republican. No doubt.

Unfortunately, compound interest has a dark side. When you live beyond your means and borrow every year to make up the difference, including borrowing to pay the interest, your debt explodes. We're paying interest on interest instead getting paid interest on interest. That's what the graph illustrates so well. Originally Posted by joe bloe

That is exactly right.

Finally , you are starting to get it!

Now riddle me this:

If SS and Medicare have run a surplus all these years , what do you think the culprit is?

Do you think it is this mantra of lower and lower taxes or do you think it is the inability to not pay for Defense spending or a combination of the two.

Remember, SS and Medicare have not caused one red cent towards this compound interest problem.

Remember too that SS, Medicare and Defense take up the vast majority of government spending. Now let us not forget which one's are fully funded. Can you repeat after me? ... SS and Medicare have been so far.

The only way someone would not agree with Joe on this is if they have not seen the overwhelmingly powerful data that supports him.

It would be impossible to think anything else if they were properly informed. Originally Posted by LovingKayla

Now do you still agree with joe blow?

Christi is absolutely wrong about this.
(People waiting on the couch for their next Government check. Maybe some do, but most don't, coz you simply can't live on that Government check.)

I know from experience now ............. having no regular job since the start of 2011. I don't want a job but I have to do a minimum of 3 "work searches" per week and keep a log of that.
That's 67 weeks so far so that makes 201 "work searches".
Actually I did over 250.
And the sad results? I have had 1 (yes 1) invitation for an interview and that was not even related to my resume.
As a sales guy for life insurance, only on commission basis

And why did I get no interview invitations?
I think when a possible future employer reads my resume and sees that my college degree dates back to 1978, then my resume lands in the paper destroyer.

That is the sad truth, not Christi's words.

And, can anyone imagine how it would be living in California of a Government check of $415 per week?
That would take care of renting a 2 bedroom apartment and 1 meal per day.
But you would have nothing left for more food, travel or buying a stamp to send a resume for a possible job.
So waiting on the couch for that check would soon lead to being homeless.
Thank you Christi, the way you care about people. You must be a Republican. No doubt. Originally Posted by waverunner234

So..........................
Who has the guts to react?

I think we can divide the world into 3 groups of people:

1. People that don't survive and just die!
2. People that have enough money to live off.
3. People that don't have enough money to live of.

And of course in most countries it is very nice to have a Government Job.