State of The Union

Ace · Aug 17, 2006

The Big Ragu said:

Ace said:

Ignore the guy, Lyman. He's not only unAmerican, he's unCanadian. A mere rabble rouser. I've started a list on all the great things George Bush has done as president:

1. Didn't rush blindly into any unwarranted action on 9-11.
2. Kept the tax cuts

Feel free to add.
Click to expand...

I don't hate Bush. I actually voted for him. And I want reasons to like him. So I don't post this in a state of idealogical hatred or blind hysteria...

I'm all for low taxes, as any fiscal conservative is. But tax cuts are incredibly dumb policy when your administration is spending like a drunken sailor, as Bush's has been.
The budget deficit last year totaled $319 billion, the third largest deficit on record. Sadly, that was an improvement from the record $413 billion in red ink in 2004.

The CBO just put out a revised forecast for the Federal deficit for the current fiscal year, which shows that despite the fact that the deficit spending continues to reduce, we are still going to be $260 billion in the hole for the year. With the way we are spending, the CBO estimates s $1.76 trillion deficit over the next decade, and a deficit twice that if Congress makes the Bush tax cuts permanent, as the administration would like.

Tax cuts in a vacuum sound like a great thing. But running deficits that large bodes badly for our economy. I actually believe in supply-side economics, but there are diminishing returns from repeated tax cuts. We are probably past the point at which lower taxes are spurring any significant investment. Whether you agree with that or not, it's clear that we are spending way too much and not bringing enough in. If we are going to spend a ton on wars, fighting terrorism, providing natural disaster relief and funding entitlement programs, I'd rather do the fiscally responsible thing and actually pay for them. So I don't agree with the second point on your list.
Click to expand...

To be fair, Bush didn't start spending like a drunken sailor until after the tax cuts.

poindexter · Aug 17, 2006

The Big Ragu said:

Ace said:

Ignore the guy, Lyman. He's not only unAmerican, he's unCanadian. A mere rabble rouser. I've started a list on all the great things George Bush has done as president:

1. Didn't rush blindly into any unwarranted action on 9-11.
2. Kept the tax cuts

Feel free to add.
Click to expand...

I don't hate Bush. I actually voted for him. And I want reasons to like him. So I don't post this in a state of idealogical hatred or blind hysteria...

I'm all for low taxes, as any fiscal conservative is. But tax cuts are incredibly dumb policy when your administration is spending like a drunken sailor, as Bush's has been.
The budget deficit last year totaled $319 billion, the third largest deficit on record. Sadly, that was an improvement from the record $413 billion in red ink in 2004.

The CBO just put out a revised forecast for the Federal deficit for the current fiscal year, which shows that despite the fact that the deficit spending continues to reduce, we are still going to be $260 billion in the hole for the year. With the way we are spending, the CBO estimates s $1.76 trillion deficit over the next decade, and a deficit twice that if Congress makes the Bush tax cuts permanent, as the administration would like.

Tax cuts in a vacuum sound like a great thing. But running deficits that large bodes badly for our economy. I actually believe in supply-side economics, but there are diminishing returns from repeated tax cuts. We are probably past the point at which lower taxes are spurring any significant investment. Whether you agree with that or not, it's clear that we are spending way too much and not bringing enough in. If we are going to spend a ton on wars, fighting terrorism, providing natural disaster relief and funding entitlement programs, I'd rather do the fiscally responsible thing and actually pay for them. So I don't agree with the second point on your list.
Click to expand...

It's absolutely ridiculous how we spend and just hide the bill under the rug for future generations.

BTExpress · Aug 17, 2006

So how much does a "drunken sailor" actually spend?

I only ask that because in this incredibly polarized country, that is the one adjective that everyone always uses. Everyone.

Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L) · Aug 17, 2006

BTExpress said:

So how much does a "drunken sailor" actually spend?

I only ask that because in this incredibly polarized country, that is the one adjective that everyone always uses. Everyone.
Click to expand...

And does said sailor really want to "fuck the shit" out of some girl?

JR · Aug 17, 2006

poindexter said:

People in this country can't even balance a checkbook, maintain a savings account, or, in many cases, read at better than a fourth grade level.Â Â Yet these people can judge, from month to month, the job that the President is doing?Â And who even cares?
Click to expand...

These same people get to vote.

Which is why Bush was elected in the first place.

Lyman_Bostock · Aug 17, 2006

JR said:

poindexter said:

People in this country can't even balance a checkbook, maintain a savings account, or, in many cases, read at better than a fourth grade level. Yet these people can judge, from month to month, the job that the President is doing? And who even cares?
Click to expand...

These same people get to vote.

Which is why Bush was elected in the first place.
Click to expand...

I guess we need a queen, just like Canada. Or maybe a benevolent dictatorship. Jeez, the unwashed masses are too stupid to govern themselves, aren't they?

BTExpress · Aug 17, 2006

And does said sailor really want to "fuck the shit" out of some girl?
Click to expand...

Maybe.

Boots?

poindexter · Aug 17, 2006

JR said:

poindexter said:

People in this country can't even balance a checkbook, maintain a savings account, or, in many cases, read at better than a fourth grade level. Yet these people can judge, from month to month, the job that the President is doing? And who even cares?
Click to expand...

These same people get to vote.

Which is why Bush was elected in the first place.
Click to expand...

They aren't voting for Bush again, which makes his approval numbers in August, 2006 pretty irrelevant.

Unless Bush's handlers are plotting to change the 22nd Amendment.

The Big Ragu · Aug 17, 2006

poindexter said:

The Big Ragu said:

Ace said:

Ignore the guy, Lyman. He's not only unAmerican, he's unCanadian. A mere rabble rouser. I've started a list on all the great things George Bush has done as president:

1. Didn't rush blindly into any unwarranted action on 9-11.
2. Kept the tax cuts

Feel free to add.
Click to expand...

I don't hate Bush. I actually voted for him. And I want reasons to like him. So I don't post this in a state of idealogical hatred or blind hysteria...

I'm all for low taxes, as any fiscal conservative is. But tax cuts are incredibly dumb policy when your administration is spending like a drunken sailor, as Bush's has been.
The budget deficit last year totaled $319 billion, the third largest deficit on record. Sadly, that was an improvement from the record $413 billion in red ink in 2004.

The CBO just put out a revised forecast for the Federal deficit for the current fiscal year, which shows that despite the fact that the deficit spending continues to reduce, we are still going to be $260 billion in the hole for the year. With the way we are spending, the CBO estimates s $1.76 trillion deficit over the next decade, and a deficit twice that if Congress makes the Bush tax cuts permanent, as the administration would like.

Tax cuts in a vacuum sound like a great thing. But running deficits that large bodes badly for our economy. I actually believe in supply-side economics, but there are diminishing returns from repeated tax cuts. We are probably past the point at which lower taxes are spurring any significant investment. Whether you agree with that or not, it's clear that we are spending way too much and not bringing enough in. If we are going to spend a ton on wars, fighting terrorism, providing natural disaster relief and funding entitlement programs, I'd rather do the fiscally responsible thing and actually pay for them. So I don't agree with the second point on your list.
Click to expand...

It's absolutely ridiculous how we spend and just hide the bill under the rug for future generations.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the "future generations" thing is closer than most people care to face. If Congress doesn't find a way to rein in our major entitlement programs, spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is going to destroy us--or as the CBO report put it, "will eventually exert such pressures on the budget as to make the current path of fiscal policy unsustainable."

The population is getting older, people are getting fatter and unhealthier and healthcare costs are steadily rising much faster than the economy is growing. What will be particularly aggravating will be the typical thread on this board I have gotten in the middle of, where people will be crying about political conspiracies to screw them because they can't afford health insurance. They'll expect government to "give it to them," and bitch about an evil president who is fucking them--without any regard for the facts that 1) Americans are unhealthier than ever. Dare I suggest you lose weight and stop smoking before bitching? 2) The standard of healthcare in this country has increased dramatically over the last 50 years, making it impossible to provide "universal healthcare." People didn't have to worry about health insurance 50 years ago, because they weren't running to the doctor for everything, taking dozens of prescription medications and being subject to lots of expensive tests. In large part, we're the victims of technological success. We've developed cures and tests, but they are extremely costly. People feel that they're entitled to access to those advances. But they don't want to hear about the price tag that comes with that.

poindexter · Aug 17, 2006

You are advocating something that resembles personal responsibility, Ragu. Tread lightly.

dooley_womack1 · Aug 17, 2006

Oh, that's right, the old "killing the economy, one Twinkie at a time" argument. What are you suggesting, that people not within 10 percent of their recommended body weight not receive health care? There may be a place for you in the Chinese government.

The welfare programs that need to be cut are the tax giveaways to the rich and the subsidies to businesses.

Songbird · Aug 17, 2006

JR said:

markvid said:

Or is the biggest surprise is another negative Bush thread?

Oh, wait, none there...
Click to expand...

Feel free to start a positive Bush thread.Â

Creative writing class starts at 4:00.
Click to expand...

My 4 p.m. assignment: "El Busho's Last Stand"

(everyone can add one paragraph).

The descending sun cast shadows over his tight wrinkled face, and then a final burst of light illuminated his eyes, beaty like a terrified mouse trapped in the corner. Nervous like a virgin schoolgirl at her first junior high dance, he shot furtive glances to the hawkish reporters in the front row. His eyeballs pinballed in their sockets. Yes, President Busho was hopped up on cocaine again. Pink stuff from Oklahoma. The kind that took you on a spaceride to the outer limits of the universe.

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State of The Union

Ace Well-Known Member

poindexter Well-Known Member

BTExpress Well-Known Member

Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L) Active Member

JR Well-Known Member

Lyman_Bostock Guest

BTExpress Well-Known Member

poindexter Well-Known Member

The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

poindexter Well-Known Member

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