First Stimulus, Now "Deficit Reduction".

[NYDisGuy]

Are you suggesting the government can raise 1 Trillion dollars by fundraisers and auctions? That would be one killer bake sale.

Yes, because Barack sold cookies to get his money, right?

 

[NYDisGuy]

You're kidding, right? The Orange County SD is facing a $125 million shortfall for next year. Do you really expect them to sell cookies to make up that kind of loss???

Read the original post. Where did it say sell cookies, the op said there were only three ways for the gov't to make money.

 

[dcentity2000]

You're kidding, right? The Orange County SD is facing a $125 million shortfall for next year. Do you really expect them to sell cookies to make up that kind of loss???

I'd buy a cookie



Rich::

 

[ford family]

How does government spending stimulate private spending?

Government builds a bridge which opens up land hitherto inaccessible. Developer builds houses or commercial premises on that land.

In the past the county would have charged the builder for that work as a pre-requisite for planning permission and the developer would have agreed because his profit margins were so high.

Now the profit margins are gone so someone else needs to pay for the infrastructure improvement. The stimulus package.

ford family

 

[Lasty K]

The stimulus package has success written all over it.

/sarcasm

 

[DVC Sadie]

The stimulus package has success written all over it.

/sarcasm[/QUOTE




The only thing the stimulus package is stimulating is my bowels. I can't believe that this package is the best that the government could come up with.

 

[ford family]

The stimulus package has success written all over it.

/sarcasm

The only thing the stimulus package is stimulating is my bowels. I can't believe that this package is the best that the government could come up with.

Hey, I cannot believe that this is the best Government you could come up with!!!

ford family

 

[adkkev]

Let the banks with toxic assets and bad debt fail. The federal gov't should not be in the banking business, and should not be in any position to guarantee deposits, etc. Like the stock market, participation in banking should be at the individual's risk, not the federal gov't. If state gov'ts wish to guarantee deposits, etc., then it's up to the states to decide, not the federal gov't.
Do not subsidize any companies (auto, whatever) ... let them go into bankruptcy, fail, or whatever.
Eliminate overseas military operations, bases, etc. Constitution calls for the defense of the country, not the expansion of the military into other countries.
Eliminate foreign assistance payments, period. The federal gov't should not be in the business of propping up/supporting/funding other countries.
Eliminate paid fire and police departments. Militia (National Guard) can provide the policing. Fire protection should be all voluntary, and protection given to those who can afford to pay for the protection. If you cannot afford the protection, too bad.
Trash and recycling should be done by private companies, not gov't.
Eliminate medicaid, medicare, social security (including disability and SSI) ... if individual states wish to provide such benefits for their population, then those states can do so, and pay for those benefits as those states see fit. Health care is a priviledge, not a right.
Eliminate all federal funding of education, k-12 and college/universities ... education is a priviledge, not a right ... funding should local and/or state only, and decided upon only at those levels, not federal level.
Eliminate Dept of Agriculture, Dept of the Interior, Dept of HHS, Dept of Education. All federal lands should be returned to the states, and the decisions for the use of those lands should remain in the hands of the states. This includes national parks, etc. Eliminate crop subsidies, especially for things like corn ethanol production.
Eliminate all federal funding for transportation (airline subsidies, rr subsidies, mass transit subsidies) ... if a transportation company cannot survive without such funding, then it isn't viable.
Eliminate all funding of the arts and sciences. The gov't should not be in the entertainment business (arts). Science (research and development) should be conducted without federal assistance, only with private funding.
Eliminate all federal gov't travel (i.e., congressional junkets, etc.).
Reduce the salaries of all federally elected representatives to $10,000 per year, after all, it's really just going to be a part time job when most of the federal programs are eliminated.
All of the above will greatly reduce the federal budget, decrease almost all federal taxes, and place the power to provide services in the hands of local and state governments. Let the people decide.

 

[eliza61]

Is anyone surprised? He made it clear during his campaign that he supported "Redistribution of wealth", and now a plan is being formulated to do just that. Again, government doesn't create jobs. It doesn't create wealth. Business does. His plan is to increase taxes on the wealthy, on business and to increase the capital gains tax. Surely increasing the capital gains tax will stifle further investment and hurt everyone's retirement. Worse yet, he plans to slash spending in Afghanistan where he has just committed 17,000 more troops. Elections have consequences.

Obama's First Budget Seeks To Trim Deficitand Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, February 22, 2009; A01
for the fiscal year that begins in October will be delivered to Congress on Thursday, with
Obama also proposes "a fairly aggressive effort on tax enforcement" that would target corporate loopholes, the official said. And Obama's budget seeks to tax the earnings of hedge fund managers as normal income rather than at the lower 15 percent capital gains rate.

Overall, tax collections under the plan would rise from about 16 percent of the economy this year to 19 percent in 2013, while federal spending would drop from about 26 percent of the economy, another post-World War II high, to 22 percent.

Republicans, who are already painting Obama as a profligate spender, are laying plans to attack him on taxes as well. Even some nonpartisan observers question the wisdom of announcing a plan to raise taxes in the midst of a recession. But senior White House adviser David Axelrod said in anPost a Comment

Didn't read the entire thread ...

But I am glad that the elections have consequences. I would hate the fact that I voted for the guy and he continued the same failed policies of the last administration.

So far I'm one of the 68% that gave him an approval rating. He's attempting to attack the problems. From what I understand he doesn't plan tax hikes outside of letting the tax cuts bush made expire in 2010. I can live with that.

I'd prefer he pull out of Iraq and concentrate on Afganhistan, that alone would free up some cash.

 

[ntsammy5]

 

[eliza61]

There's absolutely nothing "fuzzy" about it. No private sector growth and profits? No funding for government programs, jobs, whatever. As I said earlier, those on the left who seem to love "government-funded" programs should be the most ardent capitalists of all — cuz capitalism pays for ALL of it. Government programs are capitalism's gift to the electorate, yet so many want to slap the hand that feeds them. I really don't get it.

Or better yet, cut military spending y 20%. Let the air force use the hardware they have now. 600 million on one lousy jet is ridiculous. that will free up alot of cash to pay for all the programs the right wants to slash because we all know the poor, elderly and disenfranchise will magically disappear.

 

[Lasty K]

I'd prefer he pull out of Iraq and concentrate on Afganhistan, that alone would free up some cash.

I prefer he not send us out anywhere and bring us all home.

Now THAT would free up major cash.

 

[AndyLL]

Where does the government get the money to pay the teacher's salary or to build the roads?

Govt takes $50,000 of tax receipts to pay a teacher.

Teacher educates 100s of students.

Those students, using their education, go out and become employees or create companies that hire other employees.

All those employees/companies pay taxes that exceed the original $50,000.

Its called a multiplier and is Economics 101.

Can all the Govt funded teachers.

Those that already have wealth can pay to be educated.

The majority do not go out and get jobs and live off welfare.

 

[DawnCt1]

Or better yet, cut military spending y 20%. Let the air force use the hardware they have now. 600 million on one lousy jet is ridiculous. that will free up alot of cash to pay for all the programs the right wants to slash because we all know the poor, elderly and disenfranchise will magically disappear.

The primary responsibility of government should be to protect the United States and American interests. Freeing up "a lot of cash" for social programs should NOT be the purpose of government. BTW, exactly WHO is disenfranchised? Illegal aliens and felons? Nope, often not even them, and they should be.

 

[declansdad]

Let the banks with toxic assets and bad debt fail. The federal gov't should not be in the banking business, and should not be in any position to guarantee deposits, etc. Like the stock market, participation in banking should be at the individual's risk, not the federal gov't. If state gov'ts wish to guarantee deposits, etc., then it's up to the states to decide, not the federal gov't.
Do not subsidize any companies (auto, whatever) ... let them go into bankruptcy, fail, or whatever.
Eliminate overseas military operations, bases, etc. Constitution calls for the defense of the country, not the expansion of the military into other countries.
Eliminate foreign assistance payments, period. The federal gov't should not be in the business of propping up/supporting/funding other countries.
Eliminate paid fire and police departments. Militia (National Guard) can provide the policing. Fire protection should be all voluntary, and protection given to those who can afford to pay for the protection. If you cannot afford the protection, too bad.
Trash and recycling should be done by private companies, not gov't.
Eliminate medicaid, medicare, social security (including disability and SSI) ... if individual states wish to provide such benefits for their population, then those states can do so, and pay for those benefits as those states see fit. Health care is a priviledge, not a right.
Eliminate all federal funding of education, k-12 and college/universities ... education is a priviledge, not a right ... funding should local and/or state only, and decided upon only at those levels, not federal level.
Eliminate Dept of Agriculture, Dept of the Interior, Dept of HHS, Dept of Education. All federal lands should be returned to the states, and the decisions for the use of those lands should remain in the hands of the states. This includes national parks, etc. Eliminate crop subsidies, especially for things like corn ethanol production.
Eliminate all federal funding for transportation (airline subsidies, rr subsidies, mass transit subsidies) ... if a transportation company cannot survive without such funding, then it isn't viable.
Eliminate all funding of the arts and sciences. The gov't should not be in the entertainment business (arts). Science (research and development) should be conducted without federal assistance, only with private funding.
Eliminate all federal gov't travel (i.e., congressional junkets, etc.).
Reduce the salaries of all federally elected representatives to $10,000 per year, after all, it's really just going to be a part time job when most of the federal programs are eliminated.
All of the above will greatly reduce the federal budget, decrease almost all federal taxes, and place the power to provide services in the hands of local and state governments. Let the people decide.

Hello Adam Smith.

 

[Geoff_M]

Or better yet, cut military spending y 20%. Let the air force use the hardware they have now. 600 million on one lousy jet is ridiculous. that will free up alot of cash to pay for all the programs the right wants to slash because we all know the poor, elderly and disenfranchise will magically disappear.

Unfortunately, Obama's got a war to ramp up in Afghanistan... so don't look for a "peace dividend" anytime soon.

 

[loco4dis]

Or better yet, cut military spending y 20%. Let the air force use the hardware they have now. 600 million on one lousy jet is ridiculous. that will free up alot of cash to pay for all the programs the right wants to slash because we all know the poor, elderly and disenfranchise will magically disappear.

Didn't read the entire thread ...

But I am glad that the elections have consequences. I would hate the fact that I voted for the guy and he continued the same failed policies of the last administration.

So far I'm one of the 68% that gave him an approval rating. He's attempting to attack the problems. From what I understand he doesn't plan tax hikes outside of letting the tax cuts bush made expire in 2010. I can live with that.

I'd prefer he pull out of Iraq and concentrate on Afganhistan, that alone would free up some cash.

Hey, if you guys want to go the isolationist route, I'm in — but it's gotta be all in. That means NO U.S. taxpayer money to the corrupt United Nations. In fact, that entire organization needs to be moved off U.S. soil. It means NO funding for "humanitarian aid," because we all know that frequently ends up being used for military purposes, and it means sealing — totally sealing — our borders and immediately deporting anyone who tries to come in. Let's bring all of our troops home from every duty station around the world, and task them to the north and south U.S. borders. What the heck. Let's see how that works. I'm willing to give it a try.

But in the meantime, since we're continuing to send them into harm's way, aw heck, let's go ahead and give them the funding they need. It just seems like the right thing to do. Doubling down on Afghanistan, and then cutting military funding? How can anyone support that?

 

[TLSnell1981]

So far I'm one of the 68% that gave him an approval rating.

Most presidents enjoy a rise in their poll numbers, immediately after the inaugaration. Obama's no longer at 68%....he dropped to 63% last week. Another poll has him at 60%.

While still good numbers....looks like some folks are starting to wake up.

 

[DebbieB]

Most presidents enjoy a rise in their poll numbers, immediately after the inaugaration. Obama's no longer at 68%....he dropped to 63% last week. Another poll has him at 60%.

While still good numbers....looks like some folks are starting to wake up.

Dated today, conducted Feb 19-22:

http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/story?id=6939993&page=1

 

[CowboyCO]

I still don't get it. I don't understand what your definition of wealth is. I don't understand what your definition of create is.

Let's see if the following scenario qualifies as "creation of wealth." Govt pays a teacher's salary. That teacher stuffs computer programming into the heads of kids. Those kids go out and get programming jobs, both public and private sector. The teacher is not creating wealth? The new public sector progeammers are not creating wealth? Only the new private sector programmers are creating wealth?

Here's another scenario. Govt builds a road, employing 50 road builders. Those 50 people need housing, food, clothing and so forth. They spend their wages to do this. The money goes from govt to road builder to merchant. Is it STILL not wealth? If the govt didn't pay the workers, the merchants would never have gotten this money.

FURTHERMORE, the new road leads to the development of new communities where there were none. Do you mean to say govt's. building of the road created NO WEALTH? I don't get it.

This paragraph explains in DETAIL why liberals simply do not get it. Does government create wealth? No. Does government paying a teacher create wealth? No. Does a government building a road create wealth? No.

Why? Because they took the money to do all of those things from PEOPLE in the form of TAXES, diminishing their wealth!

Remember what Obama said about SPREADING the wealth? You have to get the "wealth" from people to spread it. If you're going to spread butter on a muffin, you have to get the butter before you spread it. The government doesn't make butter. They take it. New community's roads are not paid for by government. They are paid for by developers, who in turn are paid by homebuyers or commercial buyers who buy the property. Anybody who has ever tried to develop a parcel knows that. You don't just ask the guvment to build you a road to your parcel. You build it and you turn it over to the city and you recoup the cost in the price of the lots.

The only roads that the Govt builds are highways, which are necessary for commerce and national defense. Does that create wealth? That's about as close as you will come, but it's not from the jobs to build it, but rather the economic impact of the commerce on it. And that is why some taxation is for the greater good of the population, because it provides opportunity for wealth, BUT does not create wealth.

Let me clue you in on what creates wealth. Ingenuity. Innovation. Hard work. Inspiration. Entrepreneurial spirit. Invention. Words that are rarely used to describe anything in government.