We've gone around and around on the different philosophies behind getting the debt down, the deficit reeled in, and the bow of this ship sailing to calm waters so many times. Again, party line philosophies will not allow any collective flexibility.... it won't as long as it is "us against them".
I don't think there are too many people in politics that are that concerned with us, "we the people". They have good paying jobs and as long as they keep "kissing the right babies" and "keep fighting for what's right (under party line affiliation, that is" they assume we will keep voting for them. Traditionally, we do. We are bought and sold into believing that "our guy" is "doing what he can and we need more just like him" and it is that mentality that keeps us stuck in the mud.....
How does the left feel entitled to your money? Explain that to me cause that is one point I have never understood. Why praytell does a democrat stand for someone either on welfare or taking your money? I work for the extremely wealthy and many of those people are dems and many are republicans and many of them are independents and nowhere have I ever heard any of them refer to each other in such disrespectful tones. Never. Whatever happened to we the people achieving things together? When and how did it become left vs right? What in gods name is happening to our country.
Wow... typo city!
My last comment was LOADED with spelling mistakes and wording errors. I guess I'm still drunk from last night! Ha, ha;-)
I can't answer that question Teko, you know that. I do not low the party-line. There are things that I agree with and things I disagree with.
That said, as raising taxes only puts a very tiny dent in the deficit, I think I understand the Republicans position. "Half measures availed us nothing", I think is what they're thinking.
I have a feeling that the "raise taxes" argument from the Left is seen as a bandaid (by the Right), so they don't want to concede, as they know that the Left will be knocking on their door a year from now looking for ANOTHER tax increase.
Budget cuts, in my opinion, will have to most profound impact on the deficit, not tax increases.
That said, if it's make the Left happy and get them off my back, I'll pay more taxes, but you only get ONE increase, no more. Increase my taxes, fine, but only do it ONCE, then lets all go to work on slashing spending.
Deal?
But I don't think the Left will agree to that, because as my income goes up, thee Left feels like they are entitled to more of it, and they feel that my taxes should be raised again (because it's not fair that I got a raise and ma making more money, and they're not getting any part of it).
I think we are on the same page el. I would agree to both. Most of us would, so whats with the refusal on the part of the republicans then?
Like I said, lets raise taxes... fine.
But raising taxes ISN'T going to solve the problem completely.
Even you have to be able to see that you'll never be able to raise taxes enough to solve this problem.
It has to be coupled with deep budget cuts.
No?
Simple. For the last several years, under their pledge to Norquist, not one of them want to raise revenue in any way. Remember the debt ceiling debacle? It is time for all those defaults to kick in now as a result and everyone is panicking, yet the republicans still dont want to come up off of any revenue along with those spending cuts. I have not forgotten the history of all of this.
"When do republicans agree to some revenue again?"
I'm not understanding that question. Can you rephrase?
Allow me to point you in the direction of the economists who will tell you el, running the budget for the country is not quite like your household budget. But in answer to your question concerning my household budget. If I find myself in a bind I do both. I quit spending where I can and I raise revenue or take a second job. Same thing the majority of Americans think is needed. So. When do republicans agree to some revenue again?
If your boss gives you a raise, it'll solve the problem in the near-term, but eventually, you'll start spending at a higher level (it's human nature... as we make more, we spend more).
Cutting expenses is the only way our budget is going to get under control & become manageable.
I'm not saying it shouldn't be coupled with an increase in taxes, but I promise you this... if you raise taxes this year, you'll be coming to me with your hand open looking for another tax increase in a year or 2. You'll never be able to tax the wealthy/rich/elite in this country enough to solve our budget issues.
Even if you took ALL their money, we'd still have a budget crisis on our hands. Why? Because our government spends too much money.
I'll say it again... "You've got to start somewhere".
Anyone that thinks the budget can be balanced overnight, or our national debt paid for in a few years, or our budget deficit spending solved in a fiscal year, is delusional.
The debt took YEARS to accumulate, and it's going to take DECADES (more than several) to reign in.
SO, since it's going to take "decades", should we just not do anything about it? Just curious how you think the problem should be solved, if not with proposals like Ryan's.
Yes, raising taxes should be PART of it, but budget-cuts should play an extremely large role in getting our spending under control.
Let me ask you think, Teko: when you get paid, and you do your monthly budget, and you find that you're going to run out of money prior to getting paid again, do you approach your boss for a raise, or do you look at your expenses and decide what's necessary and what's not, and plan to reduce your spending?