They Ain't Gonna Fix It
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I agree with you here. $240bn? We went through 10% of that the day after Thanksgiving. http://rt.com/usa/news/day-thanksgiving-debt-us-741/[^] From my understanding, isn't a disproportionate amount of the budget dedicate to defense spending? Wouldn't pulling out of countries that only Israel wants us in save quite a bit?
wizardzz wrote:
Wouldn't pulling out of countries that only Israel wants us in save quite a bit?
If Israel were guiding our foreign policy that would be a relief. At least someone would be at the helm. I'm a bit of an isolationist - I see no reason to have our military anywhere but within our own territories: The 50 states, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Canada.
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wizardzz wrote:
From my understanding, isn't a disproportionate amount of the budget dedicate to defense spending? Wouldn't pulling out of countries that only Israel wants us in save quite a bit?
That has always been my opinion as well. We feel like we have this moral duty to police the whole world for fear of "the dirty Communists" taking over. The Cold War ended 20 years ago. Someone needs to tell the DoD...
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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Is that what they were talking about in 'The Lion King' with the whole "Circle of Life" thing...? :doh:
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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wizardzz wrote:
Wouldn't pulling out of countries that only Israel wants us in save quite a bit?
If Israel were guiding our foreign policy that would be a relief. At least someone would be at the helm. I'm a bit of an isolationist - I see no reason to have our military anywhere but within our own territories: The 50 states, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Canada.
MehGerbil wrote:
Canada
:thumbsup: :laugh:
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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wizardzz wrote:
Wouldn't pulling out of countries that only Israel wants us in save quite a bit?
If Israel were guiding our foreign policy that would be a relief. At least someone would be at the helm. I'm a bit of an isolationist - I see no reason to have our military anywhere but within our own territories: The 50 states, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Canada.
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I have no problem spending money to defend our country on our soil and our allies soil (missile defense, early warning, subs that provide MAD), but defending Israel from every big bad neighbor is not a moral duty our soldiers and tax payers have.
I'm gonna take a shot in the dark and guess the reason we defend Israel is so that they don't, because quite frankly, I think they'd use the nuclear option since they don't have the man power for a ground war. Our current way of doing it is giving Arabs a break, I think. It's still stupid.
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I have no problem spending money to defend our country on our soil and our allies soil (missile defense, early warning, subs that provide MAD), but defending Israel from every big bad neighbor is not a moral duty our soldiers and tax payers have.
wizardzz wrote:
and our allies soil
That's the problem. We spend more money defending our allies than they spend defending themselves...
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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I think the point he was making is that "Technocrats" will debate things into the ground more than the current politicians do...
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
Yes, but at least us (aka those that read CodeProject) would be the ones in power. :D
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wizardzz wrote:
and our allies soil
That's the problem. We spend more money defending our allies than they spend defending themselves...
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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Yes, but at least us (aka those that read CodeProject) would be the ones in power. :D
Call me when the melle starts, I'll be sharpening my axe until
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I was listening to the radio this morning and the conversation was about the coming tax increases here in America. Evidently President Obama wants to raise the tax on dividends from 15% to 20%. The analyst said this would raise 240 billion dollars over the next decade. That is when it hit me: They ain't gonna fix it. Set aside the partisanship for a moment. Set aside your views on taxes (or lack thereof) for a moment. Set aside the whole conservative/liberal thing for a moment. The 240 billion over 10 years is a drop in the bucket. We've been running 1000 billion per year in deficits alone - so that huge, earth shattering tax hike would only cover the deficit for 3 months of out the 120 months total. We're at about 2.5% of the deficit - not even regular spending. We've the same problem on the other side of the aisle. If you completely cut all social spending - if you managed to realize the totality of some conservatives wildest dream - you'd still be running deficits that Obamas wildest tax increases wouldn't cover. In short, I think you could give Obama carte blanche to raise taxes and give the other side carte blanche to cut spending and I still think we'd crater this thing. People keep talking about cutting this or raising that and then they throw around these figures that represent only the smallest fraction of the overall problem. We really have reached the "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic" phase.
The economy tanking is what made the hole so deep and only the economy growing again will get us out. This is why all the gnashing off teeth over the deceit is silly. We should do whatever it takes to grow the economy (e.g. capital spending) and we can grow out of it.
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Is this a page out of the EU's guidebook on how to run a country? :D
You beat me to the punch (line).
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I think the democracy experiment is teaching us that the mob can be just as oppressive and irresponsible as a monarch. Anyone have any ideas as to what we should try next?
It's called a Republic based on the rule of law. What we have now is a democracy degrading into feudalism. Choose your Duke wisely. But, you are correct, they are not going to fix it. Every nation, and I mean EVERY nation, when they get to this point they just default. I wonder how much money China still has in US treasury notes.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783 “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
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wizardzz wrote:
and our allies soil
That's the problem. We spend more money defending our allies than they spend defending themselves...
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
amen to that
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783 “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
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Wasn't his biggest argument against Romney, "The math just doesn't add up"? [rant] He's taken us to the fiscal cliff now throw us off and let the revolution begin. [/rant]
VS2010/Atmel Studio 6.0 ToDo Manager Extension
Version 3.0 now available. There is no place like 127.0.0.1 -
I was listening to the radio this morning and the conversation was about the coming tax increases here in America. Evidently President Obama wants to raise the tax on dividends from 15% to 20%. The analyst said this would raise 240 billion dollars over the next decade. That is when it hit me: They ain't gonna fix it. Set aside the partisanship for a moment. Set aside your views on taxes (or lack thereof) for a moment. Set aside the whole conservative/liberal thing for a moment. The 240 billion over 10 years is a drop in the bucket. We've been running 1000 billion per year in deficits alone - so that huge, earth shattering tax hike would only cover the deficit for 3 months of out the 120 months total. We're at about 2.5% of the deficit - not even regular spending. We've the same problem on the other side of the aisle. If you completely cut all social spending - if you managed to realize the totality of some conservatives wildest dream - you'd still be running deficits that Obamas wildest tax increases wouldn't cover. In short, I think you could give Obama carte blanche to raise taxes and give the other side carte blanche to cut spending and I still think we'd crater this thing. People keep talking about cutting this or raising that and then they throw around these figures that represent only the smallest fraction of the overall problem. We really have reached the "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic" phase.
Maybe we should start learning to speak chinese?
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I was listening to the radio this morning and the conversation was about the coming tax increases here in America. Evidently President Obama wants to raise the tax on dividends from 15% to 20%. The analyst said this would raise 240 billion dollars over the next decade. That is when it hit me: They ain't gonna fix it. Set aside the partisanship for a moment. Set aside your views on taxes (or lack thereof) for a moment. Set aside the whole conservative/liberal thing for a moment. The 240 billion over 10 years is a drop in the bucket. We've been running 1000 billion per year in deficits alone - so that huge, earth shattering tax hike would only cover the deficit for 3 months of out the 120 months total. We're at about 2.5% of the deficit - not even regular spending. We've the same problem on the other side of the aisle. If you completely cut all social spending - if you managed to realize the totality of some conservatives wildest dream - you'd still be running deficits that Obamas wildest tax increases wouldn't cover. In short, I think you could give Obama carte blanche to raise taxes and give the other side carte blanche to cut spending and I still think we'd crater this thing. People keep talking about cutting this or raising that and then they throw around these figures that represent only the smallest fraction of the overall problem. We really have reached the "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic" phase.
MehGerbil wrote:
We've been running 1000 billion per year in deficits alone
How much more till it's a Trillion?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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You need to kill the unemployed and then fire nearly all those on a public payroll. Tax all earnings over $500,000 pa at 99% and all the rest at 50%. Corporation Tax to 75% and Sales Tax to 30%. Then, before announcing it, buy shares in a Gun Company.
--------------------------------- I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^]
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It's called a Republic based on the rule of law. What we have now is a democracy degrading into feudalism. Choose your Duke wisely. But, you are correct, they are not going to fix it. Every nation, and I mean EVERY nation, when they get to this point they just default. I wonder how much money China still has in US treasury notes.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783 “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
charlieg wrote:
What we have now is a democracy degrading into feudalism.
We've never had a democracy in America except in one of the first colonies that was starving to death until a dictator took over and imposed law. I won't argue that what we have now isn't degrading into feudalism. (Does that count as a double negative?)
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charlieg wrote:
What we have now is a democracy degrading into feudalism.
We've never had a democracy in America except in one of the first colonies that was starving to death until a dictator took over and imposed law. I won't argue that what we have now isn't degrading into feudalism. (Does that count as a double negative?)
;) Until now. Yes, I know we're a Republic. But when the rule of law and the constitution are routinely ignored due to the "will of the people" and making sure everything is fair, legal or not, then we have mob rule. A democracy in other words...
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783 “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759