Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jul 19, 2011 2:49:30 GMT -5
There's no doubt about it: the forums are a-titter. The US debt crisis has reached yet another milestone. Budgets are being slashed. Debt ceilings are being hit and raised. The most optimistic projections require 10% GDP growth per year until 2020 (a feat that is, statistically speaking, impossible) if the US is to remain solvent. And even this is provided a balanced budget amendment can be passed and seniors are thrown under the bus. Will such an amendment even see the light of day? Some have their doubts. Independent credit agencies have started downgrading US credit in expectation of what every US policymaker fears but will never admit is possible: a technical US default. Market Talk is a-buzz about it. The P&Mers shout about it. YMers debate it, and the subject has even cropped up on WIR, which rarely discusses federal policy. Amid this clamor and calumny, we find the denizens of EE, whose attitude (for lack of a terse written description) can be represented by the image: ...but for what reason? Are Eers wantonly oblivious to the threat facing their nation, or are they seeking temporary refuge from the tumult spread across the rest of the board? Is the threat real and important to them, or do they ascribe to a laissez-faire-it-will-eventually-sort-itself-out attitude for sake of their health and happiness? In short: what kind of escapism does EE provide? What say you, EEer? How would you characterize your view of the US debt crisis?
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tallguy
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Post by tallguy on Jul 19, 2011 3:27:49 GMT -5
I think they start out just as serious about the debt crisis as those on other boards. But $4 trillion is really hard to wrap one's head around. So in an attempt to make sense of that number, they start thinking of it in alternate terms. When they get to 16 trillion bright, shiny, new quarters....
It's all over at that point....
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Jul 19, 2011 7:10:59 GMT -5
Oooooo Shiny!! (Gold & Silver--LOL!)
Actually, I do think about & discuss the debt crisis frequently with coworkers. Occasionally I give my opinion on the boards. But, sadly, talking about it doesn't change the situation. I'm just making the best decisions I can for my family, & hoping the government gets their act together....
Virgil, you selected the PERFECT comic regarding this! ;D
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jul 19, 2011 7:56:22 GMT -5
You forgot to include "I care and I feel uneasy that they're going to resolve it." as a poll option.
And the comic is awesome. ;D
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rovo
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Post by rovo on Jul 19, 2011 8:10:43 GMT -5
Discussing the issue does not solve the issue. Those most concerned would be well advised to email your Congressmen with your thoughts. Also the debt/debt ceiling problem is being used as a scare tactic with the proclaimed effects being greater than has been proven by past shutdowns.
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Bluerobin
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Post by Bluerobin on Jul 19, 2011 8:36:25 GMT -5
At this point, I want to see the government default. Enough of this BS. Time these AH politicians got called on the carpet.
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ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ
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Post by ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ on Jul 19, 2011 8:49:25 GMT -5
Oh no -- Blue's avatar has gone the way of CL's!! What is the world coming to?? (The sky is falling, the sky is falling! ) Mine will probably be next. I think disappearing avatars is a bigger issue for EE'ers than a poll about political discussions
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2011 9:00:27 GMT -5
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jul 19, 2011 9:48:55 GMT -5
Good to see so many "I care's" up there. There's never been a shutdown that lasted more than a few hours.
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Jul 19, 2011 10:09:51 GMT -5
There's never been a shutdown that lasted more than a few hours. Except in Minnesota. It's still shut down.
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rovo
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Post by rovo on Jul 19, 2011 10:37:29 GMT -5
Is that true? Why do I remember one lasting days? Faulty memory?
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rovo
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Post by rovo on Jul 19, 2011 10:46:51 GMT -5
Before the Ronald Reagan administration, there was never an issue over spending or the budget to cause a government shutdown. Some agencies had to shut down because of budget issues in the 1970s, but there was never a full government shutdown. Since then, there have been a few: Date(s): Nov. 23, 1981. Issue: President Ronald Reagan won’t sign Congress’ continuing resolution. Result: 400,000 federal employees sent home. Resolution: Reagan signs a revised version of the continuing resolution. Time: 1/2 day. Date(s): Oct. 4, 1984. Issue: Congress fails to pass a stopgap money bill when a new budget was not passed for the upcoming fiscal year. Result: 500,000 civil servants go home in a partial shutdown. Resolution: Emergency spending bill passes. Time: 1/2 day. Date(s): Oct. 17, 1986. Issue: Reagan and Congress can’t agree on a new fiscal budget. Congress fails to pass a spending bill. Result: 500,000 non-essential federal employees go home at midday. Resolution: Emergency spending bill passes. Time: 1/2 day. Date(s): Oct. 6, 1990. Issue: President George H.W. Bush, backing up his campaign promise that he wouldn’t increase any taxes, vetoes a budget for 1991 that includes a tax increase. Result: Government is shut down through the three-day Columbus weekend. Resolution: Bush signs a continuance over the weekend but ultimately agrees to a tax increase by signing the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act on Nov. 5. Time: Three days. Date(s): Nov. 13, 1995. Issue: President Bill Clinton had vetoed many appropriation bills in the 1996 budget, specifically funding amounts for key social programs. As a result, the Republican Congress doesn’t vote on a continuance to keep the government operating on the previous fiscal year’s spending limits. Result: At midnight, a partial shutdown leads to 800,000 non-essential employees being told not to come into work. Resolution: Temporary spending bill ends shutdown. Time: 1/2 day. Date(s): Dec. 16, 1995 to Jan. 5, 1996. Issue: Temporary funding measure expires with no continuance signed, mainly because of a disagreement between Clinton and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Result: Major portions of the federal government become inoperative because of the shutdown, which include losses of $400 million in the form of payments to furloughed federal employees, who do not report to work. Resolution: Another temporary spending bill ends shutdown, but government does not go back to fully functioning until April. Clinton submits a seven-year budget plan approved by the Congressional Budget Office. Time: 21 days. www.palmbeachpost.com/news/timeline-history-of-u-s-government-shutdowns-1388490.html
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jul 19, 2011 10:47:44 GMT -5
The whole affair lasted a few days. But the period where the government actually ran out of operating cash was, as I say, limited to about 16 hours. And "shut down" is an arguable description to begin with. The Treasury was using all kinds of hoodoo with short term notes to make sure nothing critical actually got shut down. ETA: I didn't realize there was more than two.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jul 19, 2011 12:30:26 GMT -5
Well, I stand corrected. EEers do care, it seems. That's always good to know.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Jul 19, 2011 12:31:37 GMT -5
Of course we do, but we don't come here to bum ourselves out further, we come to forget we have to be adults the rest of the time
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Taxman10
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Post by Taxman10 on Jul 19, 2011 12:49:42 GMT -5
Of course we do, but we don't come here to bum ourselves out further, we come to forget we have to be adults the rest of the time we do?? D'oh!!
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Jul 19, 2011 12:51:10 GMT -5
Most of us do, Tax, you have a wife for that. That poor woman.....
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Cheesy FL-Vol
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Post by Cheesy FL-Vol on Jul 19, 2011 13:15:41 GMT -5
Well, I stand corrected. EEers do care, it seems. That's always good to know. We're not just fluff Virgil...we're tough fluff that can think sometimes.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Jul 19, 2011 13:45:32 GMT -5
You forgot to include "I care and I feel uneasy that they're going to resolve it." as a poll option. I haven't voted because you don't have my option in there.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Jul 19, 2011 13:46:49 GMT -5
which would be what Beth? I care, but I think they're all full of hot air and just out to add as much of their own pork as possible to the package before they sign it at midnight in order to get as much press out of it as possible..
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2011 14:20:46 GMT -5
Hee Hee... "titter".
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jul 19, 2011 14:22:41 GMT -5
which would be what Beth? I care, but I think they're all full of hot air and just out to add as much of their own pork as possible to the package before they sign it at midnight in order to get as much press out of it as possible..
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jul 19, 2011 14:30:19 GMT -5
I care and DH and I discuss it together. And a few friends who care and I discuss it. The only thing I know for sure is that what politicians do, and the REAL reasons they do it ... I will never know. But I do know those reasons are self serving in some capacity, to them and their buddies, and their own personal agendas - regardless of party.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Jul 19, 2011 16:15:02 GMT -5
Use the foreign aid to balance our budget first.
Contacting your representatives invites a look from pd.
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rovo
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Post by rovo on Jul 19, 2011 19:16:43 GMT -5
Contacting your representatives invites a look from pd. What? I suggested contacting, not threatening. My Rep takes my emails and thanks me for writing to him. He also has me on his list for a quarterly conference call.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jul 19, 2011 20:06:56 GMT -5
rovo: What? I suggested contacting, not threatening. My Rep takes my emails and thanks me for writing to him.
Artemis: Oh. Ohhhhhhh.
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Sammy
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Post by Sammy on Jul 19, 2011 20:52:28 GMT -5
Virgil, FYI, you placed the poll on the wrong board. The mental stress you have insisted on foisting upon the citizens of this community is unfair, cruel and down right stinky.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jul 19, 2011 21:07:53 GMT -5
Well, I stand corrected. EEers do care, it seems. That's always good to know. Virgil - stop trying to justify loving us. Just embrace it.
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Sammy
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Post by Sammy on Jul 19, 2011 21:16:20 GMT -5
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tallguy
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Post by tallguy on Jul 19, 2011 22:07:37 GMT -5
Well, I stand corrected. EEers do care, it seems. That's always good to know. Virgil - stop trying to justify loving us. Just embrace it. He did embrace it. Fortunately, he's Canadian. They have universal health care.
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