America has X amount of money to be spent.
Do we spend it on:
a) Rebuilding Iraq so the mullahs can take it over and become another Iran
b) Yet another tax evasion for Paris Hilton, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, etc.
c) Rebuilding Louisiana & Mississippi and taking care of our citizens
This is not brain surgery.
It’s more difficult when you’re a psychopath.
The trolls have gotten a lot nastier lately. Maybe theyve reached the conclusion that theyve been apolgizing for a corrupt and inept adminstration for 5 years and it left a bitter taste in their mouth.
Rightisright: that’s a values-driven, compassionate-conservative stance, is it?
Sounds like you’re bigoted, classist and just plain spiteful.
[...] “>“>http://sayanythingblog.com/“>
Rob
on September 9, 2005 at 11:51 pm
Oliver Willis has a question for you all: America has X amount of money to be spent. [...]
Johhny, there are three primary ways that people react to being scammed.
The first is “Well, I won’t ever make that mistake again”.
The second is “Bastard scammers! I’m going to hunt them down and hand them into the authorities so they don’t rip off anyone else”.
The third is “You lie! I wasn’t scammed! I’m a good person! I’d never made a bad decision!”
The polls are currently showing that we’ve already peeled off the first two types of conservatives within Bush’s support base. The remainder in the third category are now trolling on this and other blogs. Let ‘em scream. They’ve already lost. Their only hope now is Diebold election-fiddling.
For the record, I pick (c). Elapsed decision time: 0.03 seconds.
I believe Bill Gates is against the repeal of the estate tax.
“America has X amount of money to be spent.”
Well, thats a relief. I thought we were going to have to pay for the Katrina recovery; that the money would come out of the pockets of the citizenry, but now I learn we HAVE the money. Great. Was it a gift or inheritance? Did we find a big stash of cash underneath the Capitol dome?
Dugger
I’m just glad it’s X, and not Infinity
So what’s your solution JD? You seem to have a great deal of criticism but no answers. The money that the government has and can spend is finite. It comes from taxes. By the way…revenue doesn’t mean profit. Just because you might have more revenue if you outspend it you’re still creating insurmountable debt that at some point has to be paid back. If a private citizen were to try to borrow and spend as much money as they do that person would be bankrupt lickety split. If our government were beholden to the wonderful new bankruptcy laws they just passed they’d be shut down in about a month. America needs to prioritize what is important. The war in Iraq is a dismal failure. I’m still waiting for the roses and chocolate. It’s time to focus on the domestic needs of this country and stop worrying about everyone elses damn business. America first. Everyone else can friggin’ wait. Ask not what your country can do for you but rather what you can do for your country.
So…what are your solutions?
Actually, Frank and Dugger, the amount might as well be infinity–your grandkids and their kids and their kids will be paying it off, not you.
Ahhh, GOP accountability at it’s finest.
I love the zero sum thought processes of Oliver and his ilk.
His premise to this post is so flawed on so many levels, I do not even know where to start.
First, he assumes that his doomsday scenario for Iraq is the only possibility. Though it is a possibility, it is one of many.
I love how these “tax cuts” that the liberals want us to believe are draining the public treasurey have actually created record revenues to the government. So much easier to just hang onto their mantra though.
Along the same lines, they always seem to be whining about some budget cuts, but I have yet to see a budget cut since President Bush took office. All I have seen is increase spending on top of increased spending.
Oh, yes, the Democrats always worry about the deficit under two conditions:
When the Republicans want to spend money, and, when the Republicans are in power.
I’d love to see the total deficits for each administration since 1928, as a percentage of spending, and see who’s got the larger deficits, Democrats or Republicans.
Jadegold,
Is this
“Actually, Frank and Dugger, the amount might as well be infinity your grandkids and their kids and their kids will be paying it off, not you.
Ahhh, GOP accountability at it s finest. ”
just hot air or do you believe in acountability. Tell you what. Lets both pledge to support only those candidates that promise to balance the budget in 2008, first budget submission. How about it. I’m for it. Of course we can forget socialized medicine etc. Your turn Jade.
Dugger
Let’s not forget d) Free health care for all; comfortable retirement for everyone over 65; full (100%) employment at minimum wage of at least $8 or $9 per hour; good, affordable, housing for everyone (even those who are voluntarily homeless — details to follow); ending crime; raising educational standards; ending global warming; unlimited immigration — and world peace!
Not what I asked for, though very neat, indeed.
What I asked for was this (and I have no plans to do the calculations myself, but I will accept your word if you do them.
First of all, look at available revenues for the fiscal year. Then the amount of the deficit. Make a fraction. Make it a percentage. $1000 revenue, $100 deficit, percentage = 10%. OK?
Now, compare Democrats with Republicans, Congresses or Pesidents, it doesn’t matter. I’m willing to bet the Democrats outspent the Republicans by a long shot.
http://www.forbes.com/commerce/2004/07/20/cx_da_0720presidents.html
“Frank_D Says:…I d love to see the total deficits for each administration since 1928, as a percentage of spending, and see who s got the larger deficits, Democrats or Republicans.”
I found this link. Maybe this will clear some things up.
I’m not sure what the problem is if you have the money to spend. If the money’s there spend it. If not back off. Look at the recent pork laden highway bill that was passed. Where’s the money for that? We have the largest deficit in a long time…if not ever yet NOTHING is being done to curb spending…nothing.
OK. Using this table, Here is the calculation: Current Receipts minus Current Expenditures and converted the difference into a percentage of Current Expenditures.
Here’s how it looks for every administration:
Hoover: 19.13% Deficit
Roosevelt: 30.79 % Deficit
Truman: 4.84% Surplus
Eisenhower: 3.69% Surplus
JFK: 3.81% Surplus
Johnson: 0.43% Surplus
Nixon: 7.62% Deficit
Ford: 14.62% Deficit
Carter: 6.56% Deficit
Reagan: 16.22% Deficit
Bush I: 17.36% Deficit
Clinton: 2.31% Deficit
Bush II: 11.38% Deficit
Overall here is how it stacks up:
Democratic Administrations: 3% Deficit
Republican Administrations: 13.70% Deficit
I have a feeling none of this will change your mind about which party does a better job of managing the federal budget.
First of all, let me say that I probably shoukd have specified Congresses, but, be that as it may, there are actually only 2 figures I don’t believe”
I don’t believe LBJ had only a .43% defecit considering he was trying to sun the Viet Nam war, and launch the Great Society at the same time. Something is wrong with that figure.
Secondly, Bush I should not have such a huge deficit, considering no truky major legislative projects passed his desk, and he was pressured into a large tax increase.
Finally, since the Parties in charge of Congress aren’t mentioned, the figures don’t demonstrate who’s better at managing the budget. I thought they might, but they don’t.
As for which Party is better at managing the budget, my answer for now would be: none.
Both parties are scaling bills across Bush’s desk like there’s no tomorrow, and I don’t think he’s vetues anything since he came into office.
I’m not the only conservative who’s unhappy about this.
But one thing that hasn’t changed in my mind is the idea that Liberal Democrats throw money at problems, without seeking real solutions.
Notice how it has been deficits across the board since LBJ ?
Frank you’re full of it.
Allow me to remind you of your words, just above:
And you added:
So I gave you your calculations, including the the table from which your calculations were made.
Now that your challenge was met and your point lies gasping as it drowns in a puddle of its own making, you’re resorting to the sour grapes defense.
I’m not surprised by this at all; in fact, I expected this would be your reaction. You have proven yourself to be lazy and intellectually dishonest.
I’m just being honest — it’s not sour grapes at all. I said I would accept your figures and I do. Period. I was mistaken, and it appears as if Democrats manage the budget better than Republicans do, if management can be determined by the size of the defecit.
Maybe that was where I was wrong, too.
You, of course, would never concede that your use of the word “administration”is 8 years for some Presidents, and four years for others, the fiscal year changed once during that period, budget calculations have changed, etc., etc., points I am not holding over your head.
You are certainly free to call me anything you want.
Jade,
“Lets both pledge ‘
Nevber heard back from you on this. I was thinking you guys really believed in fiscal responsibility and that your criticisms of Bush’s excesses wasn’t just opportunistic ideological posturing. Guess I shouldn’t give the left credit for being serious.
Dugger, Now Disillusioned