And if you have run low on crises, then create one. Let’s see how that might happen. Summer of 2010 and into the fall, fail to pass a budget bill for the fiscal year beginning 10/1/2010. In spite of being in control of Congress and the Executive. Even after November 2010 elections, when still in control until the new Congress convenes, let the matter continue to languish. Still no budget.
Fast-forward slowly to spring 2011. Need a crisis (for a host of reasons). Continue reading
Let’s compare it to something we can visualize. First, what is the debt figure?
Click on the thumbnail and get a good look at what $14 trillion looks like written out. A “14″ with TWELVE places after that! And 15 cents. Check the clock for updates.
OK, $14 trillion. Now let’s think of something really, really huge and complicated that we might want to spend some money on. The object is to try to think of a monstrously expensive project. Continue reading
Image via Wikipedia
Read “them” as both state and federal legislators, but let’s talk about Congress now. There is much talk presently about reductions in federal spending, and much talk about not being able to get cuts through both houses and past the President’s veto. Read the article excerpted below (and browse the other budget analyses on the Heritage Foundation site) and then call your Congressional reps and senators. Continue reading
(edited to add a resource below detailing the changes)
Firstly, about this “tax cut” bill. It’s not a tax cut. The fiscally responsible folks in Congress stopped a tax hike. The irresponsible ones, those who have no idea of what makes the U.S. economy tick and care little about individual rights, were trying to hike your taxes. But secondly, the pandering rhetoric about the estate tax is more pathetic than pandering. The gall of the (almost) former Speaker talking about the concession NOT to gouge successful people with a draconian estate tax as if that was a “benefit” is the height of economic class-warfare! Continue reading
(To the tune of Bob Hope‘s “Thanks for the Memories” and apologies to him.) By the way, you can subscribe to this blog in the box to your right.
What are the consequences of federal policies, and what is the message of the 2010 election? Continue reading
Regardless of how you view the Nov. 2, 2010 election results, we still have the future to worry about; and one of the most worrisome features of Congress is the concept of “earmarks” a/k/a “pork barrel projects.” I suggest that earmarks constitute the most divisive, dishonest and dangerous of procedures threatening the republic. Why do I say that? Continue reading
The audacity of hope and change: take a policy like Obama-care that 70% of the country rails against, cram it down the throats of Congress and the populace, have FORMER Speaker Polosi state “we have to pass it first and then see what’s in it,” and NOW the President wants bipartisanship! That’s audacious at best. As we used to say on the bridge of the aircraft carrier, “all ahead flank, right full rudder ….” Continue reading
Sen. Everett Dirksen, in the 1950′s on the floor of the U.S. Senate during budget debates, is said to have quipped “a billion here and a billion there and pretty soon it adds up to real money.” It is now well-accepted that he did not actually make that statement so often attributed to him, but he was well capable of saying such, and likely should have. So what would he think about the current spending spree? Who is at fault? It’s Congress (led by the nose by Pres. Obama) and while the following article (which appears to have the facts) faults more the currently Democrat-led Congress, neither party can claim to have been fiscally responsible in recent decades.
A little-known fact is that federal spending rose by only 2.8% during fiscal 2007 under the final budget passed by a Republican Congress. I know, zero percent would have been preferable, and it was way too little and too late for a bunch that had let spending grow way too quickly during the previous five years.
Then came the Democrats. Spending during the fiscal year that ended in September 2008, the first full budget year under the control of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, increased by 9.1% to almost $3 trillion. That percentage increase was greater than any Republican Congress under George W. Bush.
They were just warming up. Fiscal 2009 brought the beginning of the $787 billion (before interest) “economic stimulus plan.” All but those in serious denial acknowledge that it has failed to revive the economy, which economist David Rosenberg described on August 25 as already being in a depression. Despite representations to the contrary, the stimulus plan had 9,000 earmarks, including that $2 billion Illinois energy debacle. More generally, entitlement and other spending went into overdrive. Fiscal 2009 ended with a reported deficit of $1.416 trillion.
via Pajamas Media » It’s the Spending, Stupid. (The above links are mine)
Where does it end? When? What does it take for us (you) to get mad enough to make your voice heard? If the general idea of spending doesn’t get your dander up, focus on the following comment from the above article:
Despite representations to the contrary, the stimulus plan had 9,000 earmarks, including that $2 billion Illinois energy debacle. More generally, entitlement and other spending went into overdrive. Fiscal 2009 ended with a reported deficit of $1.416 trillion.
This is great. Read the whole piece. It’s an adaptation from an article written in the 80′s but still quite relevant. Perhaps even more so, embellished by Jon Stewart.
545 PEOPLE — By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
via 545 vs. 300,000,000 – Story Ideas – The Daily Show Forum.
TORONTO (Reuters) – Pressured by an aging population and the need to rein in budget deficits, Canada’s provinces are taking tough measures to curb healthcare costs, a trend that could erode the principles of the popular state-funded system.
via Soaring costs force Canada to reassess health model – Yahoo! News.
Bad Behavior has blocked 243 access attempts in the last 7 days.