National debt

[tourmaline]

So, this isnt my usual forum, but I have known for a while that the US has a budget deficit (no **** Sherlock) but did not consider it ever (forehead palm). Deficit spending has led to a huge national debt. So what are the citizens of the US to do?

To me the most practical (and generalized/vague) solution would be to hold current tax rates or increase taxes plus cut spending big.

This seems to be an anti-dem and an anti-rep stance. I wouldn't consider myself a nut-bagger or a dem or rep or anything else for that matter when it comes to this. I'm just curious how we are going to be responsible adults about our massive debt.

The big 3 pieces of pie are defense, medicare et al, and social security. If social security is going to collapse eventually, why not put a cap on eligibility? There isn't the Evil Empire anymore and the two ongoing wars are a waste, why not cut defense spending? Every other piece of the pie is insignificant in comparison.

Yes yes, Obamacare/Regan-diplomacy/war-on-terror have not helped.

Really, can we please stay away from blaming previous administrations or political parties? Everyone, Dem, Rep, admin, congress, up to and including now has been to blame.

eh-hem..... Everyone, Dem, Rep, admin, congress, up to and including now has been to blame.

I'm sorry Mr. Garrison, [load speaker] EVERYONE, DEM, REP, ADMIN, CONGRESS, UP TO AND INCLUDING NOW HAS BEEN TO BLAME.

WTF? How long an we keep this up? Are we really that irresponsible? Is there anyone else out there who is pro-taxes and anti-spending?

 

[tourmaline]

ha... ooopppss. ha wrong forum....

... I missed the "Non-" part of that.

How the **** do I move this?

Breach of rule 10 removed. Do not partially mask swearwords.

Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: Cuddles

 

[Wildy]

PM one of the mods, or use the report function.

 

[Bob Klase]

WTF? How long an we keep this up? Are we really that irresponsible? Is there anyone else out there who is pro-taxes and anti-spending?

There are many out there who are pro-taxes (with limits) and anti-(excessive) spending. They just can't agree on which spending is excessive and they won't elect anyone who admits to being pro-taxes.

 

[Beerina]

One thing's for sure, borrowing a lot certainly is an easy to fall-into local minima. That's why I prefer a balanced budget amendment, as many states have. Congress can still borrow -- in the case of a declared war (nothing since WWII, in other words) or a 2/3 supermajority, which should be easy to clear if enough people feel a recession is hideous and we need to "spend our way out".

Has nothing to do with Democrats or Republicans -- I said two years ago, and will say it again, if George W. Bush goes down in history for anything, it won't be for 9/11 and Iraq, but rather for increasing the size of the annual deficit by an order of magnitude, making it disturbingly easy for future Congresses to do the same.