Spending Problem

kzowens 3 months, 4 weeks ago

The majority of Americans believe that President Obama does care about our nation’s deficit. The majority believes that the President is NOT a socialist. We, The People, believe that the country is going to continue to recover even better than it did the last four year and that the next four years the USA will be in much better shape. We also believe that the Tea Party’s influence will become insignificant and that the GOP will no longer be known as the Grand Oppositionist Party, aka the Party of “NO.”

JimRussell44 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Oh Karl, I don't think President Obama is a Socialist. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the following is the definition of socialism: 1) any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. 2a) a system of society or group living in which there is no private property. 2b) a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state. 3) a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done. Maybe you can point out how the President fits into these definitions. To answer your last question about what this country will be like in four years: it will be up to the Republicans to decide that. If they work together with the President, we will be well on our way back to a full recovery from what the Bush years gave us. If they continue to be the party of "no", we'll be at the same place we are now. It takes all of us to solve our problems, not just the Democrats or the Republicans. Your party lost the last two presidential elections. Get over it and become part of the solution.

Courseaire 3 months, 4 weeks ago

We don't have a "spending problem", we have a "revenue problem". The rich are not paying their fair share in taxes, though; BHO has attempted to extort a little more money out of them, just not enough.

teufelhunden 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Al Qaeda on the rise By Amb. John Bolton

Published January 22, 2013

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teufelhunden 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Why fight ObamaCare? By Ken Hoagland

Published January 23, 2013

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fugitiveguy 3 months, 4 weeks ago

"The majority of Americans believe that President Obama does care about our nation’s deficit."

If the majority of Americans cared about our national debt BHO wouldn't have been elected. It would have been interesting to see what an exit poll would have shown based on D vs R when asked "do you know how much the US national debt currently is" My guess is that at least half of the D's would have answered with nothing but a dumb look on their face

kzowens 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Fugitive Guy, You place way too much importance on the deficit. It is mostly a bookkeeping thing, at most. Former President Clinton ended with a surplus and former President Bush sent the deficit soaring. What difference did it make? None at all. Still, the fact is that President Obama certainly cares more about the deficit than former President Bush did.

You are wrong to think that President Obama is the one spending the money. It is actually the House of Representatives that does that. The Senate plays its role, and the President signs the bills. But it is the House of Representatives that spends the money.

JD 3 months, 4 weeks ago

O'Neill said he tried to warn Vice President Dick Cheney that growing budget deficits-expected to top $500 billion this fiscal year alone-posed a threat to the economy. Cheney cut him off. "You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don't matter," he said, according to excerpts. Cheney continued: "We won the midterms (congressional elections). This is our due." A month later, Cheney told the Treasury secretary he was fired.

Source: [X-ref O'Neill] Adam Entous, Reuters, on AOL News Jan 11, 2004

JimHeim 3 months, 4 weeks ago

We do not have a spending problem. We do not have a deficit problem. We have unemployment and health care cost problems. Fix them and we not only put our fiscal house in order, the federal government would be in surplus.

The solution is that simple, But if we cut spending to address the problem, we only make it worse and head into worse unemployment and likely recession.

It's most interesting that Republicans like Reagan and Bush can explode the deficit and increase the growth of government and conservatives issue nary a peep. But let a Democrat cut back on the growth of government (Obama has seen government growth slow more than any president since Truman) and somehow the world is coming to an end.

Look around you; the stock market is soaring, corporate profits are up 170%, we have reduced our reliance on imported oil by a third and we're producing oil and gas at all-time record highs. What's the problem again?

OldPilot 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Three questions. Three answers: Yes, Yes, Better.

fugitiveguy 3 months, 4 weeks ago

"Fugitive Guy, You place way too much importance on the deficit."

When it begins like this is there really any point to read any further. This is much milder than what I am actually thinking.

fugitiveguy 3 months, 4 weeks ago

JD, thanks for the history lesson but that was a long time and many trillions ago. In the words of "The Rock" and Hillary Clinton "it doesn't matter".

Thatcher 3 months, 4 weeks ago

"What's the problem again?" The problem is you make up stuff...pulling facts and figures out of the air. Last time you told us that Obama cut $2.4 trillion from the deficit. That claim, which despite repeated calls for you to post any link from anywhere to support it, resulted in (1) your claim that you never said it, (2) economists actually said it, and (3) no link identifying who these "economists" were or what they said. The debt has risen (now) $6 trillion since Obama took office, and Obama created more debt in 4 years than Bush did in 8 years: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57400369-503544/national-debt-has-increased-more-under-obama-than-under-bush/. The national debt is now $16.4 trillion, up from $10.7 trillion when Obama took office: http://www.usdebtclock.org/. JimHeim, with all due respect, you should refrain from commenting on economic matters and focus instead on what you do well: making up stuff about the Trayvon Martin case, and (2) making up stuff about guns having to be registered in 1792. Cheers!

JimHeim 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Thatcher, I posted the link and you chose to ignore it. Ignorance is the fuel of modern conservatism.

Bush doubled the national debt (and you said nothing). Obama hasn't.

Per capita government expenditures went up $967 under Clinton. Bad, right? They went up $3,336 under Bush. Holy moly, that's a lot worse, right?

That spending has been reduced by $80 under Obama. What's the problem again?

Oh, and I read your link about gun registration in 1792. It proved my point. You're welcome to try again.

AFCHIEF 3 months, 4 weeks ago

We are going to have higher unemployment again and less take home pay for those that are going to lose hours or be fired so the company they work does not have pay for mandatory obamacare.

fugitiveguy 3 months, 4 weeks ago

The lefts allegience is to Obama and the party first. The country and our future generations be damned. They simply throw any common sense they may have had out the window. To them Obama is a genius, the messiah, a diety. Thatcher, you and I are blasphemers. The only real question is which lefty whacko will tell the biggest whopper on a daily basis. The field has never been more wide open. The only thing more foolish than the garbage they spew would be to try to reason with them.

fugitiveguy 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Jim H I know you can't/won't answer but what the heck I'll ask anyway. Currently the interest on the debt is roughly 400b/year with interest rates at historic lows. At what point do you see the debt becoming a matter of importance?

Yukonjohn 3 months, 4 weeks ago

One side is going to be correct and the other is going to be horribly wrong. To the liberals on here, I will write a letter to the editor apologizing to each of you and "eating as much crow" as you all think appropriate. I believe it is going to be a short time in having our answer. Then we will see l guess which side has been misguided.

clarabelle 3 months, 4 weeks ago

"My guess is that at least half of the D's would have answered with nothing but a dumb look on their face"

versus the conservatives .......... with a dumb look on their silly faces ALL of the time.

amazing fg still thinks he is superior to most others. If he only knew the truth :)

but hey - the republicans can still legislate gay marriage laws........... HAHAHA

JD 3 months, 4 weeks ago

thanks for the history lesson but that was a long time and many trillions ago.

Well keep kicking and screaming but it was true then and true now. You're allowed to have your own opinions, but you can't have your own facts. The 'trillions ago' and the money now are just us paying the bills our elected officials used the credit card for with unsustainable wars. This is what happens.

Yukonjohn 3 months, 4 weeks ago

JD, I agree with you. We put two wars on the credit card and now it is time to pay the bill. The problem that l have is that even now, we are spending like "drunken sailors". That comes with an apology to all drunken sailors now and former. At least they have the decency to stop when they run out of money!!

Thatcher 3 months, 4 weeks ago

JimHeim-- You are hilarious. If you claim that you posted a link saying Obama cut $2.4 trillion from the deficit (which you did not), then you can repost it here for all to see. As for my link for the Militia Act of 1792, let me post it again for you: http://www.constitution.org/mil/mil_act_1792.htm. Tell us where it talks about registering guns, and how could the government "register" them when serial numbers for guns began in circa 1930? Once again, you have no idea what you are talking about. Cheers!

jimt 3 months, 4 weeks ago

fugitive,"Currently the interest on the debt is roughly 400b/year with interest rates at historic lows."

Maybe a better question is, "If the U.S. debt is so dire, why is the world rushing to buy our government bonds, which are at historic lows (currently about 3% for 30-yr bonds), especially as compared to Greece (16% for 10-yr bonds as of last November) the country the right most often compares the U.S. to?"

Thatcher 3 months, 4 weeks ago

jimt-- The world is not rushing to buy our debt. The Fed is: http://www.moneynews.com/Headline/fed-debt-Treasury/2012/03/28/id/434106. Hope that helps. Cheers!

packwilleat 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Jimt ~ why risk getting involed in a war that can't be won, when you can just buy your enemy out? Bonds are redeemable in land if the government can't make good on them.

packwilleat 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Read this article, and keep in mind our current interest rates, inflation, and the dollar..................

Sovereign default - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

samosamo 3 months, 4 weeks ago

There will be no balaced budget, There will bo no paying of the Debt, What you have to look foward to is the ongoing Global war on Terror. Years ago there was executive order 11110 to strip the Fed of the power to lend money to the Federal Goverment at interest. This is the same Fed that admitted to causing the Great Depression oh by the way a privatly owned bank.Fractional banking and quantative easing is and will destroy us all not an If,But a when.

fugitiveguy 3 months, 4 weeks ago

"Maybe a better question is, "If the U.S. debt is so dire, why is the world rushing to buy our government bonds,"

better question?, no. Irrelevant question? absolutely

fugitiveguy 3 months, 4 weeks ago

"You're allowed to have your own opinions, but you can't have your own facts"

Fact national debt post Bush 10.6T (terrible), national debt post Obama first term 16.4T and the lemmings hired him again. Obama and the left (and many of us on right) castigated Bush for the debt in 07. Obama vowed to cut it in half, instead he increased it by half and the knuckleheads on the left decided to rehire him.

packwilleat 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Fractional banking, margin loans, and derivatives........ oh my!! Sounds like we need more regulations from the regulators that instituted such practices.

LSM 3 months, 4 weeks ago

There is an interesting article in yesterday's Fayetteville Observer called "Replacing The Middle Class". It should be called DESTROYING The Middle Class as that is what is happening. People that do not have "skin in the game" as President Obama once said must not be able to see what is really happening if they actually believe the situation is improving just because the stock market is rising, or a new restaurant opens. In my business of now about thirty years of which I collected and paid taxes for different governments (sales, FICA, and so forth not to mention property, gas, and other exspenses), I never have done any work that I was paid to provide for someone that was not of the middle class or "rich" population.

By the way, my tax collecting for the various governments is way down. And these governments wonder why.

JimHeim 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Thanks to those brilliantly clever House Republicans, the Treasury Department now has a green light to borrow as much as they want until May 19. This should be fun.

JimHeim 3 months, 4 weeks ago

fugitiveguy, this country has been in debt for most of its existence and still became the world's predominant economic power. When exactly are the bills for that borrowing going to be sent out? I've been waiting for the one for the costs of WWI or WWII for many years and so far my mailbox is empty.

AFCHIEF 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Heim come May 19 when Harry Reid and the senate CANNOT come up with a budget and they stop receiving a paycheck for not doing their job then we'll see who is laughing. Over 1,300 days since the Dem led senate passed a budget.

JimHeim 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Thatcher, when I posted that link at least one of your fellow right-wingers went to it and came back all upset about the lies. Well, who cares?

I'm going to let you in on a big secret - there's a new thing called The Google available on The Internets. If you manage to locate this wondrous thing, type in 'The US has already cut the deficit by $2.4 trillion' and see what happens. You might even notice that The Drudge Report covered it.

Or you can continue to ignore reality; the choice is yours.

Toda 3 months, 4 weeks ago

"Is there anyone out there that thinks Barack Obama is not a socialist?"

So what is your definition of socialism? The word isn't applicable to our President or Nation.

If you think the opposite, then kindly provide proof to support your outlandish claim. Anyone can throw out bull s**t and expect everyone with a speck of intelligence to believe it to be a true fact.

That dog won't hunt ... Billy Bob

Toda 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Aw ~ The Pilot is taking a stand on bad language ... Bull S**t - the second word elicited a "Watch your Mouth" comment and rejected thread.

Calling others:Stupid, ignorant, etc are all acceptable words according to the word police. Keep up the verbal fights - sells ad spots....

packwilleat 3 months, 4 weeks ago

by Randy

dustyrhoades 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Heim come May 19 when Harry Reid and the senate CANNOT come up with a budget and they stop receiving a paycheck for not doing their job then we'll see who is laughing. Over 1,300 days since the Dem led senate passed a budget.

This from the same boob who predicted 5.00 gasoline would doom Obama's re-election.

Nice track record there, Nostradumbass. At least for once you're posting like you're halfway sober.

Yukonjohn 3 months, 4 weeks ago

Toda, The other day someone, possibly you, posted the Webster (l think) definition of socialist. President Obama fit every item in the definition!! It was amazing, heck, l did not think the was that much of one, but he fit every thing in the description.

On the tax issue, and spending, it will only be a short time till we will know. Either you guys are right, and one can spend money that is not theirs and buy their way into prosperity, or the reverse is true, and it will be too late and our economy, and country, will fail.

JimHeim 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Maybe someone can tell the of the remarkable document that is the senate budget. What do you suppose becomes of it after the house starts playing with it.

Toda 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Yukonjohn => I have posted definitions in the past several times.

so·cial·ism
/ˈsōSHəˌlizəm/ Noun A political and economic theory of that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated... (in Marxist theory) A transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of communism.

Conservatives can't have it both ways Yukon ... we live in a democratic society where companies are not owned by government and manufacturing is free to flourish.

Yukonjohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago

1

: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

2

a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property

b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

3

: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

Toda, this is the Webster definition. What part of that does not apply to our country and how the President wants to lead it to be??

packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago

"Manufacturing is free to flourish"

by Randy

Yukonjohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Companies are "owned" by the state....ref. not paying your taxes. Remember the President's statement: "You didn't build that" With the latest tax system that they are trying to institute, the "state" is going to make sure everyone is paid the same, no matter if they are a producer, or a taker. If we are not headed towards a socialist society, l guess l have no reading comprehension.

packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Hell, Social Security is sooo socialistic, they couldn't refrain from putting the word "social" in it.

Thatcher 3 months, 3 weeks ago

JimHeim-- You are one funny man! Here's the link I believe you are referring to: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/budget/news/2013/01/08/49137/the-deficit-reduction-we-have-achieved-so-far/. From the "Center for American Progress (Progressive Ideas for a Strong, Just, and Free America)." Have you actually read what your progressives (liberals) say? Uh, just read the first paragraph...the $2.4 trillion "reduction" is what the President claims will happen in totality between 2013 and 2022. There is no claim made that a yearly deficit will be reduced by $2.4 trillion in any given year (a "deficit" is calculated by year, each year, every year). And read further in your "progressive" article: there is no guarantee that there will be any reduction (let alone $2.4 trillion) in that 10-year span. Obama has had, since he took office, yearly deficits (each year, every year) of over $1 trillion, and his $1 trillion yearly deficits are projected through 2016 and beyond: http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2012/12/25/president-obamas-legacy-20-trillion-in-deficits-for-2016-victor/. Seriously, you need to understand the difference between a yearly "deficit" and the "national debt." So far, based upon your posts, you've shown no inclination to do so. Yet you accuse others of "ignoring reality" when the fact is you have NO idea what you are talking about. Cheers!

Thatcher 3 months, 3 weeks ago

And JimHeim, since you've cited the "Center for American Progress," I think you also need the "Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization." http://www.bfro.net/. This site will keep you updated on the latest Bigfoot sightings, which appear to be as rare and elusive as the latest Obama budget cuts. Cheers!

packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago

I know I get criticized for bringing up some hardcore stuff and being overly blunt. But that is just how I roll. I hope everyone on here will take the time to watch this video on Milton Friedman and social security ..............................

Milton Friedman - The Social Security Myth by LibertyPen

JimHeim 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Thatcher, If you look more closely, you'll see that my link referenced two sources. Naturally, you chose the one that right-wingers fear. The other one is non-partisan and a bit tougher for you to ridicule.

Federal budgeting is calculated on a yearly basis by those who do not understand economics or fiscal policy. For the rest of us, a ten year horizon is standard. Otherwise businesses see uncertainty and don't make long-range decisions.

Democrats understand such things.

I trust the economists that credit the president's policies for reducing the deficit by $2.4 trillion.

Thatcher 3 months, 3 weeks ago

JimHeim-- I'm sure you are a nice guy, but you would be well-served to study economics before posting. But since you actually believe that Obama has reduced the deficit by $2.4 trillion, I'm sure that will now give you plenty of time to get to the bottom of this whole Bigfoot thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhbe_C.... Cheers!

packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Deficit = Debt .............in the land of the loony leftist. 2+2= 5 there too!!

Yukonjohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Jim, Like Thatcher, I believe you are a nice guy, but economically challenged.

Thatcher, hope ya'll will weather this storm with little to no problems. Until the problems crash the economy, they are never going to admit that it is all going to pot. When it crashes, everyone will know, there will be no doubt, but by then it will be far too late to do anything to stop it. Such is life, and hopefully our families are prepared to weather that storm. Best WIshes!!

fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago

"Democrats understand such things."

I don't know about all Democrats, I do know the liberal "progressives" on here understand little about economics. All they seem to understand is "Obama said it, I believe it and that settles it" and to hell with those damn radical conservative blasphemers.

JimHeim 3 months, 3 weeks ago

I see the UK adopted Republican-style austerity to reduce their deficit. They're now into their third recession. It won't be the last.

packwilleat 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Jim's understanding of economics is on par with Obama's..................... blame the republicans.

Yukonjohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Yes, Jim, those countries that had been free spending for so many years are now in a recession due to their austerity measures. I agree with you on that. We are going to, at some point in time, go to austerity measures if we want to save any part of our economy. If we do not, our country will not survive. They finally realized this. But not to fret, we don't have to do it....it will take care of itself when the whole house of cards comes crashing down.

Yukonjohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Hey Thatcher, Fugitiveguy, Pack, Jim and everyone else. Please be careful ya'll till you get through this weather emergency. It sounds like it is not going to be too bad. We are having one too...it is ...holy cow..its 32 below at the airport, l just went out on my porch, and it is 39 below and it is dropping 5 degrees an hour at the airport or has so far this morning. They are forecasting it bottoming out in the low 50s below for a few days, and l hope they are right...it could be alot colder than that. This is going to be an interesting situation...especially if we get alot colder. This time of year, it can be in the low to mid 60s below. Hope we don't see that!!

Thatcher 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Yukon! It's getting pretty bad here...alot of sleet and freezing rain. Kids got out of school really early so I've had a a fun day! The roads are getting bad, so we're in for the night. Hopefully, we don't lose power. But if we do, I'll build a huge fire and we can tell scary ghost stories: "There once was a deficit hawk named Obama...." Chilling tale. Cheers! (And stay warm up there!)

Yukonjohn 3 months, 3 weeks ago

We are trying Buddy. Hey, staying in and off the roads is the BEST idea!! With sleet, maybe you will not lose power. I hope it stays sleet until it stops. Sounds like ya'll might be getting some rain, and that would not be good. Best Wishes and stay safe!!

fugitiveguy 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Thanks, Yukon. I am in for the night. Will have to be at work at 0640 though. Only a few miles though.

LSM 3 months, 3 weeks ago

Fed’s Holdings of U.S. Gov't Debt Hit Record $1,696,691,000,000; Up 257% Under Obama. This is a little bit more than what part of the debt China holds.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/fed-s-holdings-us-govt-debt-hit-record-1696691000000-257-under-obama

Reminds me of this scene from the movie “Dumb and Dumber”.

Dumb & Dumber -- Empty Suitcase of Money by 55keemo

Spending Problem

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