Republican Agenda right on Track with Credit Downgrade

[Original63]

Well Once again the obvious agenda of destroying Our government from the inside out thru defunding it has moved forward very quickly and with a purpose.

Whats happening is not a mistake.
1.Tax breaks
2. Privatization
3. Tax cuts
all serve the exact same purpose, destroy the federal and then state and local governments thru defunding them.

Discredit federal or local workers as lazy and freeloaders then leave Washington for a month of Freaking vacation spending the corporate dollars that they so effectively protect.

Reagan said this was the agenda and these modern Economic Terrorists are implementing it thru the attack on the American citizen and her institutions.

The state of Michigan voters approved of this agenda thru their vote in November, so I guess most people are happy about it.

I am so stunned by the passive head in the sand dismay of America's citizens to this blatant destruction of our way of life and the defunding of the American infrastructure and dreams of its citizens.

We've cut taxes on people who do nothing to invest in our country because the Right Wing said so. This is our doom and we are doing nothing about it but going along with the agenda of terrorists.

Enjoy because it just gets worse from here.

If Osama Bin Laden could have cost[[ fired) so many Americans their livelihoods in such a short period of time it would be the largest financial terror attack in the world, but since elected officials and American businessmen have done it it's been deemed OK.

Not by me though.

Completely Disgusted Citizen

[gibran]

At all costs... that is the cry o fthe tea party..and any politician that signed a pledge to never raise appropriate funds should be shown the door..however they have started Shermans march to the sea with our country shame on them and shame on the Democrats for not going to the people and telling them the truth..Republicans are destroying our country and we cant do anything about it...

[Original63]

I'm coming to the absolute conclusion that the Dems are in line with this crap. The republicans have not changed their message in 30 years only making it more Extreme, but without a direction change.

There is more than enough evidence that the cutting of taxes is not the answer or we would be in great shape economically right now.

My wonderment is how most Americans keep thinking that the Republicans still represent anyones interests that are not millionaire investors. the only ones that we are told can save the economy.

Where is the patriotism?? Oh thats right it's in China employing the Chinese

[gazhekwe]

Lemmings.....

[Detroitej72]

As far as I'm concerned, the Dems are just as bad as the Repubs because they are acting as enablers. Like Gibran said, why don't they clue the American people in on whats really happening?

[Original63]

Yep, scurrying around the rich Masters Table doing his bidding in spite of controlling everything of value or importance, yet crying HELPLESS

[Original63]

As far as I'm concerned, the Dems are just as bad as the Repubs because they are acting as enablers. Like Gibran said, why don't they clue the American people in on whats really happening?

That is the million dollar question...why won't anyone[[ in politics with the bully pulpit) tell the truth that regardless of your political leanings we are all being screwed by the exact same monied interests.

By the way why do so many working people[[ those who work for their money-vs- their money working for them) feel so passionate about protecting wealthy people's interests who never ever step up to help them??

[lit joe]

When I was a kid I lived Third & Prentis 1966 LBJ useless war was on.I went in the navy. After my time was up Cleveland was my home. Now I live in Fairmount Texas. Its a little place out in the pineywoods. Dems about 5 to 1 over Repubs, but John McCain won in Sabine Co. 3500 to 1600 over Obama. We have Dems at the local level, Repubs at congressional level. Everyone get along no state or city tax, house tax are low very little crime. Rick Perry created 265,000 new jobs in this economy sense obama reighn of diaster. We have nice roads pizza at the gas station about 4 years now, a 192,000 acre lake full of bass and catfish. In a fairyland were Dems and Repubs coexist with each other and vote their conscience instead of their party.

\

[Pam]

That is the million dollar question...why won't anyone[[ in politics with the bully pulpit) tell the truth that regardless of your political leanings we are all being screwed by the exact same monied interests

Bernie always tells the truth:

http://youtu.be/WUaV50m7jnw

[firstandten]

I'm coming to the absolute conclusion that the Dems are in line with this crap. The republicans have not changed their message in 30 years only making it more Extreme, but without a direction change.

There is more than enough evidence that the cutting of taxes is not the answer or we would be in great shape economically right now.

My wonderment is how most Americans keep thinking that the Republicans still represent anyones interests that are not millionaire investors. the only ones that we are told can save the economy.

Where is the patriotism?? Oh thats right it's in China employing the Chinese

A couple of statements from Jonathan Haidt
Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia as to why people vote Republican

"Conservatism is a partially heritable personality trait that predisposes some people to be cognitively inflexible, fond of hierarchy, and inordinately afraid of uncertainty, change, and death. People vote Republican because Republicans offer "moral clarity"—a simple vision of good and evil that activates deep seated fears in much of the electorate. Democrats, in contrast, appeal to reason with their long-winded explorations of policy options for a complex world [[ that could be a big reason why Repubs are able to get their message across to their base much better than Dems, and also why Repub talking points are so effective.)

one of the main reasons that so many Americans voted Republican over the last 30 years: they honestly prefer the Republican vision of a moral order to the one offered by Democrats.

If Democrats want to understand what makes people vote Republican, they must first understand the full spectrum of American moral concerns. America lacks the long history, small size, ethnic homogeneity, and soccer mania that holds many other nations together, so our flag, our founding fathers, our military, and our common language take on a moral importance that many liberals find hard to fathom."

[3WC]

If Obama taxed every "millionaire and billionaire" 90% on every dollar they earned it would not put even a tiny dent in the U.S. deficit. It wouldn't even count.

There are clearly a lot of financial geniuses on this thread; why don't some of you come up with a solution to our national debt problem if you don't like the Tea Party solution. [[But remember, taxing the "rich" ain't gonna cut it.)

No Kool Aid drinkers need to participate in the discussion of a solution.

[Original63]

No one said just tax the rich as they should pay their fair share. What should they pay for the privilege and opportunity to make such money here and not have to contribute to he underlying system that helps them and their corporations make all that money?

Please, continue to be an apologist for those who are legally or otherwise shortchanging our nation thru tax breaks set up by their Congressional lackeys.

All this while you ignore the founding Fathers desire to limit the scope of Corporate power and lobbying power of the rich.
However, that will be ignored while you apologists rail on about the poor rich guys who actually are freeloaders failing to pull their weight thru proper taxation all the while divesting from America and sending our jobs over the borders so they can make even bigger profits without paying any taxes in the land they only claim to love.

[firstandten]

If Obama taxed every "millionaire and billionaire" 90% on every dollar they earned it would not put even a tiny dent in the U.S. deficit. It wouldn't even count.

There are clearly a lot of financial geniuses on this thread; why don't some of you come up with a solution to our national debt problem if you don't like the Tea Party solution. [[But remember, taxing the "rich" ain't gonna cut it.)

No Kool Aid drinkers need to participate in the discussion of a solution.

Is your first statement a statement of fact or your opinion ?

If its a statement of fact then my response is How do you know this ?

The CBO says this, the deficit could be fixed almost completely simply by allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire as scheduled in 2012 and broadening the alternative minimum tax.

So the short answer is to let the Bush tax cuts expire and you don't have to tax the million and billion aires at 90%.

However the Repubs have framed this letting the tax rate going back to where it used to be as a tax increase instead so they will fight this tooth and nail.

BTW you might want that marginal tax rate at 90% like under Ike or 70% under Nixon or even 50% at the end of Reagan's first term. History has shown that under high marginal rates we have had strong economic growth.

Under high marginal tax rates business owners tend to reinvest profits in their businesses rather than pay the high taxes.

[East Detroit]

Fans of Team A hate Team B and its fans, and vice versa.

The cheerleaders of both teams get the fans all riled up and yelling at each other.

Meanwhile, nobody notices that the stadium is falling apart. Team A and Team B sell bricks from the foundation to another stadium, before they have no value. Fans of both teams want to get in on selling some bricks themselves so that they can buy more beer during intermission [[and some jerseys from a different stadium, too, because they need them and they are really cheap), before the beer runs out. Its their right as their ticket stubs say that its a free stadium.

Everyone says they are motivated out of love for the stadium.
Companies are planning to replace it with a big box store.

[mjs]

Firstandten, now you're just making stuff up. And in the line after you call out someone else for making stuff up. In post 133 of the debt thread, left leaning Ghettopalmetto provided a link to the left leaning Washington Post that shows your claims on the Bush tax cuts to be quite a bit exaggerated.

Don't let the Democrats trick you into believing they want to fix our debt problems with a complete repeal of the Bush tax cuts. They want a wealth redistribution through a repeal of the Bush tax cuts on just the wealthy. When the democrats voted for renewing the tax cuts, they also added further tax cuts and further spending. A serious conversation on balancing the budget "fairly" with "shared sacrifice" would involve repealing all the tax cuts from December of last year and actually increasing payroll taxes on everybody to fund the unemployment extensions that were in the bill. Repealing the "Bush" tax cuts means raising taxes on everyone not on the government dole. Fine by me, if it comes with sacrifice by those on the dole. It's what the rating agencies are demanding to prevent further downgrades, and more important, it's what our creditors are demanding as a condition for continued lending.

Mr. President, GET US OUT OF OUR WARS!

[mjs]

You want a tax facts? Top 10 percent provided 70 percent of Federal revenue while 40 percent of Americans paid zero in 2010 income taxes. Joe Kiernan on CNBC's Squawk Box.

[firstandten]

Firstandten, now you're just making stuff up. And in the line after you call out someone else for making stuff up. In post 133 of the debt thread, left leaning Ghettopalmetto provided a link to the left leaning Washington Post that shows your claims on the Bush tax cuts to be quite a bit exaggerated.

Don't let the Democrats trick you into believing they want to fix our debt problems with a complete repeal of the Bush tax cuts. They want a wealth redistribution through a repeal of the Bush tax cuts on just the wealthy. When the democrats voted for renewing the tax cuts, they also added further tax cuts and further spending. A serious conversation on balancing the budget "fairly" with "shared sacrifice" would involve repealing all the tax cuts from December of last year and actually increasing payroll taxes on everybody to fund the unemployment extensions that were in the bill. Repealing the "Bush" tax cuts means raising taxes on everyone not on the government dole. Fine by me, if it comes with sacrifice by those on the dole. It's what the rating agencies are demanding to prevent further downgrades, and more important, it's what our creditors are demanding as a condition for continued lending.

Mr. President, GET US OUT OF OUR WARS!

Wow !! Now I'm just makin stuff up. In the past I've been told my facts are wrong, my opinion is all wet and countless other things, but this is the first time I've been told I'm making stuff up. The CBO did make that quote.

Whats this about wealth redistribution. Is that your buzzword for er...er..er.. socialism. OMG we can't allow that now can we. The country will just go to hell in a handbasket if we allow any WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION ! I just hope you are in the top 2% of wage earners then that statement would make all the sense in the world.

You are correct about your statement that 40% of Americans paid zero taxes, but like most of your Repub friends you either fail to add context, fail to give the entire story or just plain mislead. You take a partially true statement and draw conclusions that for the person who doesn't look past the surface sounds like it makes sense.

Review the statement from fact check which provides a little more context than you.
Its from 2008 but the principle is the same.

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/11/ame...ying-no-taxes/

[Original63]

Firstandten, now you're just making stuff up. And in the line after you call out someone else for making stuff up. In post 133 of the debt thread, left leaning Ghettopalmetto provided a link to the left leaning Washington Post that shows your claims on the Bush tax cuts to be quite a bit exaggerated.

Don't let the Democrats trick you into believing they want to fix our debt problems with a complete repeal of the Bush tax cuts. They want a wealth redistribution through a repeal of the Bush tax cuts on just the wealthy. When the democrats voted for renewing the tax cuts, they also added further tax cuts and further spending. A serious conversation on balancing the budget "fairly" with "shared sacrifice" would involve repealing all the tax cuts from December of last year and actually increasing payroll taxes on everybody to fund the unemployment extensions that were in the bill. Repealing the "Bush" tax cuts means raising taxes on everyone not on the government dole. Fine by me, if it comes with sacrifice by those on the dole. It's what the rating agencies are demanding to prevent further downgrades, and more important, it's what our creditors are demanding as a condition for continued lending.

Mr. President, GET US OUT OF OUR WARS!

The redistribution of wealth already has occurred through the tax changes over the last 30 years. Also the TARP swindling that was the greatest theft[[read redistribution of wealth) in modern American history.

That took the peoples money and gave it to Criminals on Wallstreet who don't do shit for the average American other than pay himself like a professional athlete and a CEO combined at the same time.

How about taxing every single corporation that has sent even 1 job out of the country. If the Corporations have a financial disincentive in moving jobs away from this country then maybe a higher wage paid here will be viewed as a benefit by most Americans.

If the financial benefit [[very low wages overseas and no benefits to workers) to firing Americans is gone, then maybe our economy can begin to heal. Higher Corporate and individual taxes on higher income entities should be reinstituted to benefit this country and not some other country's infrastructure.

[mjs]

OK. I have no problem if there is a serious debate about wealth redistribution. That debate is long overdue. Top tier income and wealth growth in the last few decades have far out paced that of the lower tiers. I don't even have issue with a high marginal tax rate on those making over two million or five million our what ever. Income beyond that is just about trying to have a higher score.

I do take offense to pretending it's a serious part of our debt solution and so are our creditors. There are only so many rich people and income taxes are only one part of federal revenue. As Red said in The Legend of Jose Wales, "Senator, don't piss on my back and tell me it's raining."

To keep our entitlements as high as they are, the serious debate needs to be, do we want to have everyone pay at least a third more in taxes. Spending, as a percent of GDP, has risen from 18% to 24% in just ten years. The Tea Party is the only one asking the serious question and the only one answering it seriously as the Democrats and Republicans tell us about the rain. Personally, I don't see what the government does for a responsible American taxpayer that justifies raising taxes by a third. I'd rather see services and benefits cut by a third rather than the .7% that their gross hyperbole labels as "draconian".

Mr. President, please GET US OUT OF OUR WARS!

[Zacha341]

No it would not be enough, but it would 'ideologically' satisfy the 'get the rich republicans' rhetoric. That's why it is promoted - as low hanging fruit - that some reflexively and emotionally respond to and endorse!

Sadly the 'millionaires and billionaire' money diversion would also snare the democratic billionaires too! Opps! And our creditors KNOW we're appeasing for votes instead of dealing with the issue straight on.

If Obama taxed every "millionaire and billionaire" 90% on every dollar they earned it would not put even a tiny dent in the U.S. deficit. It wouldn't even count.

There are clearly a lot of financial geniuses on this thread; why don't some of you come up with a solution to our national debt problem if you don't like the Tea Party solution. [[But remember, taxing the "rich" ain't gonna cut it.)

No Kool Aid drinkers need to participate in the discussion of a solution.

[maxx]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/op...1stockman.html

How the GOP destroyed the economy by David Stockman

[Detroitej72]

There are clearly a lot of financial geniuses on this thread; why don't some of you come up with a solution to our national debt problem if you don't like the Tea Party solution. [[But remember, taxing the "rich" ain't gonna cut it.).

My solution would be to scrap the current tax codes, just put a national sales tax at a set rate. Everybody will have to pay whenever they buy products and services, regardless of wealth. Cons should get behind this because it forces immigrants, even illegals to pay, and Progressives could back it because everyone will pay the same rate with no tax loopholes.

[Original63]

My solution would be to scrap the current tax codes, just put a national sales tax at a set rate. Everybody will have to pay whenever they buy products and services, regardless of wealth. Cons should get behind this because it forces immigrants, even illegals to pay, and Progressives could back it because everyone will pay the same rate with no tax loopholes.

More madness so poor folks would pay a percentage that is the same as wealthy people?? That is a tea Party talking point if I ever heard one.

[ejames01]

Well, the Top 10 percent OWN everything and the bottom feeders have no wealth and have little income. How much tax revenue do you expect to collect from unemployed people or part-time employees at Walmart?

You want a tax facts? Top 10 percent provided 70 percent of Federal revenue while 40 percent of Americans paid zero in 2010 income taxes. Joe Kiernan on CNBC's Squawk Box.

[Original63]

The stock market is now reflecting the desire of those who have money to invest, without taxes to pay they have alot of cash to invest and lose. I do know insurance and pensions [[while they last) are in the market, but thats how it works.