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Once again the country is facing a financial problem with a congress thats only interest in their personal finances. Why are they on vacation again? They will spend 8 days in session this month and get paid their regular salary. Here's and idea lets just divide their salary by 31 days pay them for 8 and use the rest to start paying off the debt. From now on they get paid when they are in session. NO SESSION , NO PAY. The President seems to work 365 days a year , most other people who have jobs work as many as they can or two jobs if their lucky to make ends meet. What gives the congress the idea they are so special they don't have to work or listen to constituents???????????
..."another" credit down grade coming up!
Lets talk about the PTC extension! what did it really do? who cares anymore?
We need to force the Republicons to play their hand .... WE SHOULD NOT NEGOTIATE! and we should make sure that the Teaparty takes responsibility for their actions too.
What the hell has happened to America?
I'm just thankful I could make my orthodontist payment today. Next goal is paying December's rent.
When the topic gets back to gun control, we need to mention one thing: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We can't afford to put guards at every school, mall, theater and house fire, but regulating weapon sales and manufacturing is possible.
Just as with other government regulation, conservatives insist that the only way to deal with a problem is to let it happen and try to react to it fast enough to minimize the damage. They just can't understand the value of prevention, which is the only way the damage can be brought to zero.
I get annoyed with the rhetoric about "balancing" spending cuts and revenue increases. Those two things have the same effect on the deficit, so they don't balance each other--they're in the same pan of the scales.
I think the American public understands this issue quite clearly. Anyone who votes to default on our debt obligations has motives that are not consistent with those of a responsible member of the house or senate. I think there is about zero political risk in taking it down to the very last minute broadcasting that simple message louder and longer as the day approaches. I believe those who wish to use the debt ceiling as leverage will blink first.
That said, always have a mitigation strategy to reduce risk, and a contingency plan in the event it occurs anyway.
re FAIR AND BALANCED.
Anytime someone says they don't watch MSNBC, because it doesn't represent both sides. It sounds to my ears they want to have both lies and truth.. Because this would truly represent both sides. If you don't know which side is lying, I'm sure no amount if discussion would change that.
And I agree, if Obama can act like a democrat, then he should do whatever it takes (executive order, etc). He should challenge the GOP.
It looks to me the GOP, screws people and the economy, because democrats don't have enough seats.. But somehow successfully transfers the blame to obama.
Perfect example, all our taxes just went up. When the super rich should have footed the bill (since trickling money up to the top is what caused this mess in the first place). But Obama will take the blame for a generation for raising taxes (no matter the GOP forced it to be necessary. I funded wars for one thing.
Yeah, the conservatives through media like Rush Limbaugh are scaring people into believing Obama is going to bankrupt the country. Oh, hurry, don't spend money and don't raise the debt ceiling. The focus is on the wrong thing, to decrease debt you have to either lower spending or increase income. We have through the last 10 years decreased spending to every program we could think of without ever making the ultra rich 1% pay more, without stopping subsidies to the oil companies (who themselves say they don't need it), without re-thinking farm subsidies among others, and letting big corporations rule our government, which is also not what our founding fathers had envisioned. We, the People, do not have a voice as long as money rules.
Déjà Vu Strategy, Tactics...
or, reading the tea leaves this picture of what's going on:
1. The "Rush to Austerity" is being pushed onto the American agenda in similar manner as was "The Rush to War". Lots of lies, disinformation, a duplicitous corporate media trying to box our policy choices into a place where we can only either choose Austerity or Die.
2. The republican tactics are all aimed towards their most important objective of seizing power. Expect their behavior, actions and inactions are only towards taking control of the senate in 2014. That was the real reason for the Susan Rice controversy, the result of putting Kerry's seat in play now. That's what's going on now with their obssession with The Budget and preserviing high unemployment: try to create enough dissatisfaction with Obama that the 2014 election will give them a senate majority.
3. If the republicans do seize the senate in 2014, expect a no-prisoners approach towards the Impeachment of Obama. Also expect the senate to only approve Supreme Courtesan appointments that meet their ideological and political agendas. A frenzy towards a constitutional convention is also not out of the realm of possibility.
The public doesn't understand...the debt ceiling should be replaced with 'our credit card debt', already incurred.
Yes, Obama should go around the Tea Party and mint platinum coins and he should NOT negotiate with these economic terrorists, aka Tea Party Members.
Wars costs money....no tax increase to pay for them has come home to roost.
Thanks I will try I don't know if I get US PBS up here but I will look. I was in Scottsdale AZ when I saw it. Did you check out the "Alberta boom" piece?
I have to say I watched MSNBC and Fox News well I was down there I though they where talking about two different countries. They couldn't be further apart talking about the same thing. I guess there is three sides to the news Fox, MSNBC and the truth.
I agree with you JOHNGUTTA.
I have said for over twenty years that minimum wage needed to be increased by more than just inflation.
In my opinion todays economy demands a national wage of no less than 16.00 per hour; some states like N.Y. or California, where the cost of living is even more, would need to be higher.
People from those states would have to vote to get their own min. wage set.
It is simple economics; what gets me worked up is when large companies like, Wal Mart, Home Depot who make billions of dollars per year say that they can't afford to pay higher wages...sounds like poor buisness practice to me...CEO's, CFO's TAKING 6 and 7 figure salaries just so they can have 2 Benz's, a Bentley, and a Yacht... Meanwhile those who are actually doing the work can barely make ends meet.
I wonder what others on here will say about this. My wife and I are both working middle class people. Combined we gross just over 38k. We make it work, but in no grand way are we contributing consummers beyond basic needs. And if one of us were to become ill or lose our job...We could make it for a couple of months, but after that it would be game over.
Kend,
All forms of income, including capital gains and dividends, would be taxed as ordinary income; - but under the graduated rate structure that I proposed the home sale and investments of low income seniors in your examples would be taxed at a lower average rate than they are now.
A fair living wage in America must be an hourly living wage or it would not be fair. No-one in a country as resource and asset rich as ours should have to work more than 40 hours a week to support themselves and their family.
Ken Ware,
I believe that it is our responsibility as citizens to propose and discuss solutions to national problems, not complain endlessly about their symptoms; - so what, if anything, did you disagree with in my proposed solutions, and Why?
Ken Ware,
I believe that it is our responsibility as citizens to propose and discuss solutions to national problems, not complain endlessly about their symptoms; - so what, if anything, did you disagree with in my proposed solutions, and Why?
Ken Ware - Unfortuately, you are right. Obama's oppositon to the public option in the healthcare bill, his support for free trade deals with slave wage nations, and his recent brokering of a $4 trillion dollar gift to the ultra-rich proved that just like Bill Clinton, he is a flat-taxing, free trading traitor to his class and to his country.
I apologize for those of you that have had to endure my mug shot for the last four comments today. Normally I try not to comment on one comment after another, but I wanted to share the article in the L.A. Times from Jan. 6, 2013.
If Obama can side step Congress and he doesn't then he's part of the problem...again.
Reprint from comment on Jan 6th. I wanted to make sure you read my apology - johngutta - Golly gee whiz; I am so honored to be in the presence of such a great mind and thinker. I cannot even begin to put into words how blessed we are, the simple Americans that comment here, to receive such enlightenment from such an esteemed and self-important scholastic as yourself. Man, and to think we had the answer to all our fiscal problems right here in the good ole' U.S. of A. and did not realize it. I guess the lazy and penny scrimping sloths that we are just did not have the capacity to understand your wisdom you have been sharing here on this Blog! I cannot believe all the economists and politicians haven't gotten together and adopt everything you have said! I guess that just shows how a whole nation could be so stupid as not to have realized your genius and the simpletons that we are had the answer to our problems all this time. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and opinions on this insolvable fiscal dilemma that has pitted the ignorant Dems and Repubs against each other. With great haste I will copy and e-mail your wisdom and answers to the President, Senate and House and hopefully they will have the insight to recognize your infallible economic plan to solve all or our debts. Thank you from a sincerely humbled heart and next time I will make sure I am addressing your comments with the proper respect. How foolish of me to use the word analogy, when addressing your comments on how to solve America's fiscal crisis and possibly the answer to World's present economic woes. I should have stated your, Economic Theory or your Hypothesis on resolving the fiscal problems facing America. I guess that will teach me to be more accurate when addressing, a person so well versed in economics! Sincerely and Humbly Yours, Ken.
Kend - I do not watch Fox entertainment channel or MSNBC the left wing channel for my news. I suggest you try the PBS News Hour. They are truly fair and balanced in their reporting. They have BOTH sides represent the views of the left and right. The show usually airs at 6p.m. and 7p.m. on public TV. Just a suggestion for news viewing.
If anyone still thinks the President and his policies are for the good of the American Public, just read the comments posted on the Affordable Health Care Act. Obama caved in by only raising the Capital Gains Tax by 5% and allowed the 2% payroll tax cut to expire. This guy is more interested in his Legacy he will leave behind than he is in creating legislation with the Democrats that is actually good for the American People and to me more precise the middleclass working class, poor working class and the downright poor Americans. I am just a simple American with an average intellect, but it was not hard to see he would sell us out and allow the wealthy Americans to skate away almost entirely clean of any real tax increase. His touting that he will make sure the wealthy pay their fair share and no increases in the taxes we pay was just another lie from his lips to our ears. He gave away the only bargaining card he held, so of course the Republicans will hold the economy hostage in order to cut out the Social Security and Medicare our retirees and sick depend on for their very life. The Billionaires and Millionaires probably will, “laugh all the way to the bank with the cash they will not have to pay out they should have been made to pay," the 38.5% that would have gone into effect on Jan.1, 2013. And, please do not tell me how many jobs they, the RICH have created, I have already heard enough of that lie last year! So I do believe Obama, who I believe is a Republican in a blue suit, will sell the American Public on his so called compromises he will make with the Repub's. Just remember he said that Social Security and Medicare was not on the bargaining table and he would make sure our elderly, sick and retired Americans who depend on these two very important programs. And as far as I have read Social Security is SOLVENT for many years to come and the Presidents health bill already cut 700 billion from Medicare. The frigging Republican CONservatives will not be happy until Wall St. gets its dirty hands on the Trillions in the Social Security Fund and everyone else on S.S. ends up in a soup and bread line at the nearest mission!
Reprint from Jan. 6 Did any of you that voted for Obama and supported his Health Insurance Bill, I believe it is called the Affordable Health Care Act, happen to see the L.A. Times article today. If you’re not from Southern Cal you probably missed the front page. Well, it now appears that this Act to make healthcare more affordable has some serious LOOP HOLES. It appears there is a loop hole that will affect small businesses and those who are buying their first healthcare insurance here in California. Here in So. Cal. the major insurance companies are going to be able to rise or I should say they are petitioning for an increase of between 20% and 32% in the cost of providing health care insurance to these groups. I have to assume Cal. will be a testing ground to increase rates all over the U.S. Right, who would have guessed? Obama admitted there needed to be changes in the initial bill and he would take care of it in his second term. Talk about ego, his must be as high as Mt. Wilson, that is high ground here in So. Cal., it is where many towers are located for TV. and various communications towers. Any way it appears he did not bother to address these problems when he had the House and the Senate. So now those who will get either higher costs for healthcare insurance or pay a yearly tax or penalty are screwed once again by this President. Once again this President and I hate addressing him with that title has either purposely allowed these loop holes to increase the ability of the insurance corporations or it is another of his screw ups. This President I believe has conspired with the Insurance Industry to allow them to increase their revenue, just like the loop holes for the big pharma corporations that handle Medicare Part D. This guy is a frigging Repub in a blue suit. So I guess the Repub's might have seen this coming or they just opposed any bill that would help the poor or the middle class with their healthcare costs. I believe they were not aware of these loop holes or they would have nailed Obama a great deal sooner on this Health Care Act. They just wanted to make sure the Americans that needed healthcare would not get it because it might cost them through their taxes. Now we have a Republican like President and a Republican House and partial Senate that is anti-middleclass.
First of all I never invest in stocks, trust those crooks come on. Anyone who invests in a company that pays its CEO hundreds of millions is a fool. I worked hard to earn those investment properties I could make you sick to your stomach telling you stories about the &@$# I had to clean up. There are a lot of Canadians that make $400,000 a year where I live, the oil business pays well. By the way Alberta Canada needs workers badly. Average wage here is $83,000.00 a year. It is very easy for a trade or a skill to make $100,000.00 plus. It is estamated we will need 150,000 new workers over the next 10 years. FREE health care (wait til they see the taxes they pay) great schools, etc. only a 2 hr flight from California. Fox news had a special on it google "alberta boom" maybe you we see my point a little.
I grew up in a Right Wing Conservative Christian family...By the time I was 14/15 years old I dismissed much of the propaganda I had been spoon fed by most of my family and the Southern interpertations of the Bible.
But it wouldn't be until I took an American History class while attending West Point that I started to discover the truth about our country. The first "real" American History book I read/studied was Howard Zinn's "A Peoples History of the United States", which floored me. The first question I asked after reading the first chapter on Christopher Columbus was; "Why do we glorify and cellebrate such diplorable men?" The answer(s) that I came up with a decade later; "Our American ideology tells us to." and, "We are only taught 'half truths'." Which is exactly why we continue to "stay the course" even though NONE of our solutions ever really truely resolve our issues.
To say this another way; "The ends 'do not' justify 'any and all means'."
Later after I had left the Army as a Consciencious Objector, I took a course in World Religion. There I discovered two things; The first was Buddism - which I later furthered on and claimed as my spiritual philosophical path - and a collective simmilarity to the "Golden Rule" by all conventional practiced religions, some that even date back before Christianity.
Looking back on my studies and travels before, during, and after my 8 years in the military I recognize that all mankind - in general wants - is to survive. And in order to do that, man needs; someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to. Without those three components we suffer at our own hands as well as at the hands of others.
Practice the Golden Rule...Always.
As far as Disney and other propoganda polluters, and ill minded commities...Every generation has always had its share of scondrals; who come and go under the guise of do gooder patriots; it is that generations responsability to not fall into their propaganda.
namasta