other people's money

[dave1215]

americans want more government than they are willing to afford
easy for politicians to give it away but what is the right thing to do?

[data represents average federal deficit as % of GDP by administration]

[Too Tall]

Now now Dave. Every duck has a mother. xxoo

[jonathanb]

Can we just lock this thread now?

[ericpmoss]

It would be a more useful graph if it compared policies and results, not personalities and results. For example, tax cuts for the wealthiest and the deficit. Or exporting of manufacturing jobs and the deficit. How about wars and the deficit? BTW, in the chart above, were the wars counted as part of the normal budget, or kept in the "emergency" budget column?

[Christian Fox]

'Tax cuts for the wealthy' is a brilliant, successful lie put forth by the left.

We have an incredibly progressive income tax system in this country. 50% of people earning income pay 97.3% of all income tax taken in by the government. Of that 97.3%, 38.3% is paid by the top 1%!!! So 1% pays 38% of the nation's taxes while 50% pay zilcho. I find it hard to argue that isn't progressive enough.

You can argue whether a tax cut is a good idea or not at a given time, but please call it what it is, a 'tax cut for those who actually pay taxes.'


It is similar in its dishonesty to the right wing's lie that all liberals are un-patriotic and hate their country.

[dave1215]

while both ericpmoss (policy choices) and shoney (tax sources) make excellent points
they touch on topics that are clearly and necessarily political (e.g. "representation without taxation")

hey we can take this discussion in any direction interested parties would like
but my original concern (perhaps poorly articulated) was that there will be consequences for all

the graphic above was just meant to illustrate that our federal government cannot seem to work within a budget
the only exception is clinton (most responsible modern era president?) but that depends what the definition of "is" is

our government (elephants AND donkeys) solution to everything is increasingly spend more than we have
the guys (and gals) spending the money don't seem to care - they won't be around when it's time to pay the piper

i hope people recognize that the tsunami of debt we are building will drown our future if we don't find high ground
did we miss the moment of truth? ---> http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/site...h12_1_2010.pdf