What is a realistic time frame to erase

[ugonow]

50 years worth of debt? Lets be real...imo, it is unrealistic to think we can do it in one budget. People will not tolorate large cuts at one time to their programs. And despite the rhetoric,it is not just dems on these programs. The backlash against Ryan's medicare plan was pretty bipartisan,otherwise they would not have thrown it under the bus already.

[jkapp]

The biggest problem right now is how much we are hemorrhaging money. We have to cut a huge chunk of the money we are overspending as soon as possible. We then can take as much time as needed to start cracking down on the debt...but as long as the debt keeps increasing by billions and trillions every year there is no hope of ever getting out from under it.

And that means gutting Medicare, Medicaid, SS, and defense spending. All the first three have shown us is that socialist programs have and will continue to kill our economy...they have to be reined in. There is no socialist utopia to be had - the sooner people realize that government dependence and something-for-nothing programs will be our downfall the sooner we can actually help ourselves and our country.

[floridayankee]

May 10, 2011 10:02:33 GMT -5 jkapp said:

The biggest problem right now is how much we are hemorrhaging money. We have to cut a huge chunk of the money we are overspending as soon as possible. We then can take as much time as needed to start cracking down on the debt...but as long as the debt keeps increasing by billions and trillions every year there is no hope of ever getting out from under it.

And that means gutting Medicare, Medicaid, SS, and defense spending. All the first three have shown us is that socialist programs have and will continue to kill our economy...they have to be reined in. There is no socialist utopia to be had - the sooner people realize that government dependence and something-for-nothing programs will be our downfall the sooner we can actually help ourselves and our country.

Wait 'til Obamacare kicks in.....yippie ki-yay!

[marshabar1]

The engine of American ingenuity and productivity needs to be unshackled too. Part of Socialism is top down control. The government is a moron, it doesn't know how to do anything successfully.

Saw one example yesterday that hit home. In a particular gold mining area of the country there were an average of three miners dying every day, killed by the cable elevator that brought them into and out of the mines. There was no signal system. One man finally came up with a bell signal system that was simple. He took it to the state to have it approved and they said no. So he simply printed up his system and distributed it to all the mines. It worked immediately. Zero deaths from being cut in half by the cage elevator. THEN the state government approved it.

Government doesn't invent anything. Government has no innovation. Government has no vision. They do not need to be in charge of people's lives.

[billisonboard]

May 10, 2011 10:20:46 GMT -5 @marshabar1 said:

The engine of American ingenuity and productivity needs to be unshackled too. Part of Socialism is top down control. The government is a moron, it doesn't know how to do anything successfully.

Saw one example yesterday that hit home. In a particular gold mining area of the country there were an average of three miners dying every day, killed by the cable elevator that brought them into and out of the mines. There was no signal system. One man finally came up with a bell signal system that was simple. He took it to the state to have it approved and they said no. So he simply printed up his system and distributed it to all the mines. It worked immediately. Zero deaths from being cut in half by the cage elevator. THEN the state government approved it.

Government doesn't invent anything. Government has no innovation. Government has no vision. They do not need to be in charge of people's lives.

You do realize that in your example of government incompetence that private enterprise was killing 3 human beings a day.

[ugonow]

Was the elevator OSHA approved? ;D

[fairlycrazy23]

Realistically it is not the last 50 years, it is the last few years only

Was everything so horrible 5-10 years ago ,that if we went back to Federal Government spending levels of then that the nation would fall apart and descend into anarchy?
Was the budget during the Clinton years so small and horrible that people where dieing and ready to revolt against the government?

If we unshackle American ingenuity and productivity by fundamentally changing federal taxation and streamlining regulations we could probably grow our way out of this, as long as we get entitlements under control

[txbo]

It will take 20 years, possibly more. Our Texas conservative populations are squealing like pigs being let to the slaughterhouse if you mention cutting Medicare or SS.

[dancinmama]

May 10, 2011 10:38:09 GMT -5 txbo said:

It will take 20 years, possibly more. Our Texas conservative populations are squealing like pigs being let to the slaughterhouse if you mention cutting Medicare or SS.

The answer is a gradual change in the program and the way benefits are distributed. People who are already retired or close to it, planned on these benefits when planning their retirements. I think that is why many are squealing like pigs being led to the slaughterhouse.

DH plans to retire in 2012 at the age of 55. We never have included SS income in our retirement plan; but we ALWAYS thought that medicare would be there for us. Now, we might need that SS after all to help offset the cost of medical premiums, co-pays, prescriptions, etc.

The government has known where entitlements were headed for decades, but no one has ever had the cajones to do anything about it. The only reason it is being addressed on a more serious level right now is because Obama has increased the debt and deficit exponentially and more people are realizing that the bitter pill is going to have to be swallowed eventually.

[Mkitty is pro kitty]

Part of Socialism is top down control.

LOL, but capitalism isn't? Three letters: C-E-O. Being a corporate and to them isn't helping anything.

The government is a moron, it doesn't know how to do anything successfully.

On what an A+ or F- scale? When you find that perfect way of doing things, let us know. Oh, and you be sure to tell our military what an abysmal failure they are. It's sad that you'll throw them under the bus just to rant about Obama.

private enterprise was killing 3 human beings a day.

Ssshhh! Corporations are perfect and cannot be criticized! If something goes bad, like the oil spill, the government is bad for not cleaning up after them, and for things like giving them tax breaks and a smaller percentage of taxes to pay, we're bad for not bending down and taking another. See? Everyone's bad except them.

One man ...

So a man did it and not a corporation. Well then,

Corporations don't invent anything. Corporations have no innovation. Corporations have no vision (except greed and me! me! me!). They do not need to be in charge of people's lives.

Was everything so horrible 5-10 years ago ,that if we went back to Federal Government spending levels of then

Mr. Inflation would like to see you. Funny how that never seems to come up when people talk about tax reduction.

If we unshackle American ingenuity

Ingenuity is not an object, so your statement is meaningless.

[magichat]

Mkitty you do realize government causes inflation don't you?

[deziloooooo]

Ugon---, Just what I have thought and said a few times,

"it is unrealistic to think we can do it in one budget."

It took us a long time to get there and it seems so many want it corrected with in a time frame that is unrealistic and would do more harm then good.

There are many here on these boards who feel that way, and that is fine, they haven't the power or authority to affect those cuts, thus can be as irresponsible as they want in their rhetoric.

There are some of those types in Washington too, more newly elected ones but there are still many, hopefully enough , from both sides who understand the pain the wholesale drastic cuts in one fell swoop would do to the country, and are more realistic in their approach,.

All are agreed , must have a turn around, cut spending, cut programs , even entitlements , and they re meeting as I type , and have been for a long time, to get to a point they can sign of on.

I think it's the Dems are meeting with the POTUS on Wed, Pubs on Thursday, according to the media, the VP has been meeting with leaders both parties for a while now, and I am sure they are not love fests, but some strong language, definitely by Biden, but am sure being thrown back by some one or more from the other side and possible even some banging on the table actions.

All know there has to be actions on entitlements, as well as general budget cut, now it's the battle of which and how deep. The big problem is, while there are unnecessary things in the budget, to some , they are all necessary and it is a fact, a lot of essential, vital, necessary programs ARE going to be cut , even eliminated..if it was all fluff, it would be easy, afraid it is not.

It should be interesting to see what thy come up with. If it comes out that nothing is donne regarding entitlements I believe the Populace will not be happy therre, so I am thinking all parts of the budget will be visited and some action, changes will be done ion all aspects of the expendatures , yet what do I really know, possible overall , squat will be done and then welcome to campaigne 2012.

Guess we csn say that no matter what type of Budget is agreed on. Don't think pubs want the status quo, and Dems like it in Washington, so will try to stay.

[ No idea why, weather really sucks in the summer, worst anywhere in the country, or almost anyway}

[wyouser]

You're saying Virginia was thinking ahead when they donated "swampland" to build a capital on?

[wyouser]

I love the area of DC with the "foggy bottom" moniker...

[deziloooooo]

May 10, 2011 12:22:10 GMT -5 wyouser said:

You're saying Virginia was thinking ahead when they donated "swampland" to build a capital on?

Made one trip in late July I believe some years ago, been there three/four times[once as kid with family] and that one in July, hell it was , weather wise.

One day visited the VN memorial with some friends, and , it's my thing, I like to wear a coat, summer blazer then, when I visit it, just my thing..my respect for my friends no longer here, well let me tell ya...hope they forgave , buddies were kidding me as I stripped that mother off...

[wyouser]

Look at what they wore in the early days...wigs, high button up collars, vests and wool coats...no wonder the life expectancy was only around 35. Must be why there is a minimum age on being President...if you lived that long around the heat and humidity there you must have been ONE Tough dude