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You're asking for it. The masters surely do. Chaos is key. After all, as Einstein said... "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result".
I see that with the desire to eliminate social programs that were put in place for a reason. A different (better) result is being expected.
I agree - which is why government pension policies ought to be changed.
We have a budget problem. WE HAVE NO MONEY. Yet government spends more and more and more - and they expect a different result in that the budget problem will go away. Total insanity.
I agree - which is why government pension policies ought to be changed.
We have a budget problem. WE HAVE NO MONEY. Yet government spends more and more and more - and they expect a different result in that the budget problem will go away. Total insanity.
We don't seem to have a budget problem when it comes to taxes, defense spending and wars. So let us not shed crocodile tears about it.
Having said that, there were situations that necessitated social safety nets. Perhaps we're too stupid to remember or consider those now?
Let us hope the Tax Party will be asking to cut Social Security and Medicare, effective immediately because the nation cannot afford to wait any more.
And, I will sit back and watch the show.
The above statement is exactly why we are in the trouble we are in. Politicians have been fearful of doing what must be done, as they fear "retribution" from the voters. Given the desire to be re-elected, they have neglected thier duties and have chosen to throw more and more money at each problem, in the absence of the ability or will to make decisions.
And, of course, the "solution" for the democrats (witness the last four years of the democratic congress) is to spend to the point of insolvency, at which time there will be ZERO money for social programs.
So, Mr. Einstein, can you show us how the debt can be reduced and deficits eliminated in the absence of cuts (or marked increases in the age for eligbility) to medicare, social security, medicaid AND the military? Of course the answer is that the the deficits and debt CANNOT be addressed in the absence of cutting social programs and the military. Liberals, however, prefer to stick thier heads in the sand and wait for insolvency to happen. Quite a "plan".
Please remember Social Security was implemented after the retirement savings of millions of Americans properly taking care of themselves were robbed by the bank collapses the led to the Great Depression. The problem with all the little people behaving correctly by saving for themselves is that money has historically been stolen by speculators every 20 years or so. This happened again a few years ago when small investor 401k and other retirement accounts were wiped out by a “market correction”. The market leaders that sold out early, creating the collapse, kept their ill gotten gains.
Until the private sector wage collapses of the last decade, government employees, particularly town, city and state, were rarely paid more than 70% of the private sector equivalents. These differences were even larger for managerial positions. No government bureaucrat I ever heard of was paid even a fraction of upper management in the private sector. In order to get qualified people generous pensions were offered as an effective delayed wages. The fact that these plans were never properly funded, or the funds were looted in speculative collapses, are not the result of the employees actions. They were caused by irresponsible tax cutting Conservatives and financial speculators.
The pension deals were made by both politicians and employees. Now the politicians want to change the deal “Because we are out of money”. That is a blatant lie as we have unlimited money for our Petroleum Wars and corporate bailouts. The war profiteers do not want to have THEIR entitlements cut but they are willing to eliminate millions of pensions to pay for their Wars.
New England Apple farmers have know for centuries that when a barrel of apples are rotting look to the top for the cause. Our system is rotting because of unscrupulous thieves at the top of both our financial and governmental organizations.
Please remember Social Security was implemented after the retirement savings of millions of Americans properly taking care of themselves were robbed by the bank collapses the led to the Great Depression. The problem with all the little people behaving correctly by saving for themselves is that money has historically been stolen by speculators every 20 years or so. This happened again a few years ago when small investor 401k and other retirement accounts were wiped out by a “market correctionâ€. The market leaders that sold out early, creating the collapse, kept their ill gotten gains.
Until the private sector wage collapses of the last decade, government employees, particularly town, city and state, were rarely paid more than 70% of the private sector equivalents. These differences were even larger for managerial positions. No government bureaucrat I ever heard of was paid even a fraction of upper management in the private sector. In order to get qualified people generous pensions were offered as an effective delayed wages. The fact that these plans were never properly funded, or the funds were looted in speculative collapses, are not the result of the employees actions. They were caused by irresponsible tax cutting Conservatives and financial speculators.
The pension deals were made by both politicians and employees. Now the politicians want to change the deal “Because we are out of moneyâ€. That is a blatant lie as we have unlimited money for our Petroleum Wars and corporate bailouts. The war profiteers do not want to have THEIR entitlements cut but they are willing to eliminate millions of pensions to pay for their Wars.
New England Apple farmers have know for centuries that when a barrel of apples are rotting look to the top for the cause. Our system is rotting because of unscrupulous thieves at the top of both our financial and governmental organizations.
Its near impossible to form an argument. Maybe if Government acted more responsibly in other areas the areas that actually do help people would not be scapegoated.
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68,329 posts, read 54,381,135 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Highhat
Its near impossible to form an argument. Maybe if Government acted more responsibly in other areas the areas that actually do help people would not be scapegoated.
Unfortunately there's apparently no well funded lobby with the average American's interests as its focus.
The above statement is exactly why we are in the trouble we are in. Politicians have been fearful of doing what must be done, as they fear "retribution" from the voters. Given the desire to be re-elected, they have neglected thier duties and have chosen to throw more and more money at each problem, in the absence of the ability or will to make decisions.
Politicians? The "above statement" was about tea partiers. I hope there is a difference?
Quote:
And, of course, the "solution" for the democrats (witness the last four years of the democratic congress) is to spend to the point of insolvency, at which time there will be ZERO money for social programs.
The federal government collected less in taxes in 2009 than it had done in 2001 (in constant 2009). Could this fact be present in the picture you present when speaking of deficits and debt? No?
Quote:
So, Mr. Einstein, can you show us how the debt can be reduced and deficits eliminated in the absence of cuts (or marked increases in the age for eligbility) to medicare, social security, medicaid AND the military? Of course the answer is that the the deficits and debt CANNOT be addressed in the absence of cutting social programs and the military. Liberals, however, prefer to stick thier heads in the sand and wait for insolvency to happen. Quite a "plan".
And having a President who has spoken along the lines hasn't changed your mind. I've spoken along the lines of necessary cuts hasn't changed your mind. To make it worse, you were one of those who had lost his mind on the notion of reduction in Medicare expenses via Health Care Reform.
EG - "Getting it" would require the ability to think rationally. That skill is not apparent.
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