Republicans propose $4 trillion in cuts ...

[szh]

http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-gov ... rss_viewed

Let's see what really happens ... I predict that both sides of the aisle will be slackers about really following through in making this country reduce its deficit.

Z

[AZhitman]

Yep. It's just too easy to pass it on to the next generation.

[szh]

Yep. It's just too easy to pass it on to the next generation.

Yeah ...

Z

[IBCoupe]

As with every other proposal that leaks out of Washington, you've got to divide this one by ten.

$400 isn't nothing, but it's not enough, either. The article doesn't mention defense spending, and I hope it's just journalistic oversight, and that Ryan plans to tackle that, too.

But it looks like this is the Republican side of the equation. Add defense on top of Medicare "reshaping" (we're no longer saying "cuts," apparently), and most of the Democratic opposition would probably turn into support.

[szh]

As with every other proposal that leaks out of Washington, you've got to divide this one by ten.

$400 isn't nothing, but it's not enough, either. The article doesn't mention defense spending, and I hope it's just journalistic oversight, and that Ryan plans to tackle that, too.

But it looks like this is the Republican side of the equation. Add defense on top of Medicare "reshaping" (we're no longer saying "cuts," apparently), and most of the Democratic opposition would probably turn into support.

I doubt that either side is serious ... Democratic opposition will not support any cuts to social programs regardless of Medicare cuts.

Z

[IBCoupe]

Would help to confirm that, though. This still isn't a serious attempt to fix the problem. Over ten years, we're looking at a $15 trillion problem, to put this number into perspective. This would knock it down to an $11 trillion problem.

[R/T Hemi]

Yep. It's just too easy to pass it on to the next generation.

I totally agree with that philosophy. However, I think the wealthy should start paying a bit more for the privileged of having 7 houses and 5 MBs in the stable. Hell, I remember the press asking one politician how many houses he had and he had to stop and count them, and I think he still got it wrong. Why not tax the rich more?

[AZhitman]

I'm not even gonna qualify that with a response.

IB, I'm with you on the "add in" issue... there's absolutely no reason (other than blind partisanship) that there can't be some deep cuts and scaling back in defense spending - it's simply a "blank check" mentality, and has been since before we were all born. Of course, I think with that comes some slight 'single-digit' shift towards Isolationism, but I'm fine with that as well.

[IBCoupe]

The way that Defense Contractors have gone and gotten themselves dug in like ticks in each of the 50 states is what keeps cuts from happening.

Reverse-NIMBYism.

[AZhitman]

Why not tax the rich more?

[quote="Pink Floyd" by way of "R/T Hemi"]Keep your hands off of my stack [/quote]

Contradictory party line is contradictory.

[szh]

This still isn't a serious attempt to fix the problem.

I disagree and agree with the above. Sure, it does not fix the problem, but it IS a serious start!

Over ten years, we're looking at a $15 trillion problem, to put this number into perspective. This would knock it down to an $11 trillion problem.

I know that. But, until and unless we start to do something about it, then the problem just gets worse. To me, a 15trillion to 11trillion reduction is a major step in the right direction.

My point being: just because this step is does not SOLVE the total problem does not mean we should throw up our hands and not even start. I hope you are not advocating that!

Z

[bigbadberry3]

How much can, in reality, can be removed? Stressing reality.

[stebo0728]

Depends on how much we are willing to squirm for a few years.

[IBCoupe]

I agree, Z, that it's a start, which is why I say if you throw in some Defense cuts and probably some tax increases, you'd probably get Democrats on board with the Medicare "reshaping."

[szh]

Okay ...

I guess we will have to see how both the Democrats and Republicans will work on this for our future generation.

I have to admit that I am not hopeful - neither side has been particularly receptive to find the right ways to bring the deficit down.

Z