US Democracy

[18rabbit]

Re: US Democracy

Originally posted by Bondo:<br />Did Anybody notice that there was a Surplus, in the Federal Budget in January,..???.......<br />Of Several Billion Dollar$.........[/QB]

Just as a reminder, there is no such thing as a “surplus” in the federal budget. It’s all on paper. The surplus is a projection of spending to a projection of income, i.e. we think we’re gonna be taking in more money than we can spend. In every instance where that has happened, congress has moved quickly to “correct” the situation, i.e. figured out how to spend that “surplus” money before it ever arrives in the coffers.<br /><br />Fwiw, if any gov’t entity generates a surplus, it is not functioning properly.

 

[Bondo]

Re: US Democracy

Originally posted by 18R:<br />

Originally posted by Bondo:<br />Did Anybody notice that there was a Surplus, in the Federal Budget in January,..???.......<br />Of Several Billion Dollar$.........

Just as a reminder, there is no such thing as a “surplus” in the federal budget. It’s all on paper. The surplus is a projection of spending to a projection of income, i.e. we think we’re gonna be taking in more money than we can spend. In every instance where that has happened, congress has moved quickly to “correct” the situation, i.e. figured out how to spend that “surplus” money before it ever arrives in the coffers.<br /><br />Fwiw, if any gov’t entity generates a surplus, it is not functioning properly. [/QB]

'Course,... You Are Correct,..........<br /><br />But,......<br />In January, the US Government, Took In,.. More than it Paid Out..........<br /><br />In Governmental Terms,....... That's a Surplus.............

 

[QC]

Re: US Democracy

Originally posted by 18R:<br /> The irony of Orange County’s bankruptcy is that it was caused entirely by republicans, the supposedly fiscally sound party. Orange County Calif is/was a longtime republican stronghold in southern California.

What you say about the political leanings of Orange County is true. On the OC bankruptcy though, didn't they basically pin this on one guy badly mismanaging the County's funds? All lost in the collapse of the market? Way too risky investments for a General Fund?

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: US Democracy

What is written on what we're supposed to be and what is reality will expose the most respected of the nieve.<br />A "repesentative Republic" as intended can be corrupted into "representing" things other than "the people".<br />Conservatism as intended can be corrupted into "conserving" single issues and ride the back of long lost ideas. <br />A politician that runs on a conservative platform then eagerly borrows and spends, represents huge business interests over "the people", ignores critical domestic disaster needs, promotes expanded government size and power, and reacts to legitamate social programs with substandard ones, is a plan that will fastrack us into apathy, dependence and bondage. <br /><br />JB quote;

I remembered a government in CA went in the tank because of over-liberalization.

"Over-liberalization" is not the only idealogy that will "tank" a society.<br />

Clinton also pushed through the largest tax increase in our history

By far the largest tax increase is in effect right now. Only it's payment has been defered.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: US Democracy

Skinnywater, did ya make that up. nice try.<br /><br />SW says,<br />"A politician that runs on a conservative platform then eagerly borrows and spends, represents huge business interests over "the people", ignores critical domestic disaster needs, promotes expanded government size and power".<br /><br />Reality,<br />Conservatives are for "less" smaller government.<br />Always have been.<br />Liberals are for more government, more social<br />programs, higher taxes, more control over the<br />population. And always caught promoting corruption.<br />And have a sunken moral compass.

 

[wildbill59]

Re: US Democracy

Originally posted by QC:<br /> Hey, I'm pretty sure we have kept our heads above water . . . I don't recall a bankruptcy other than Orange County

I seem to remember being taught, not in public skool, that the U.S. declared bankruptcy in the 1870's. Our fiats are backed by nothing other than the faith of the sheeple in this democracy, far from the original Rebublic envisioned in 1776

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: US Democracy

Reality,<br />Conservatives are for "less" smaller government.<br />Always have been.<br />Liberals are for more government, more social<br />programs, higher taxes, more control over the<br />population. And always caught promoting corruption.<br />And have a sunken moral compass

Come on Nosleep you should know me better than that. My points were;<br />"running on a Conservative platform" doesn't make you a "Conservative". And if you were to make a 10 point list on what a "conservative" was the current Republican party would only pass as being 20% conservative, (approximately....plus or minus...kinda/sorta, and would be entirely dependent on how close to the election it is).<br />And by your own definition you support my points.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: US Democracy

O! sorry. <br />I got lost in the semantics.

 

[dogsdad]

Re: US Democracy

Originally posted by Skinnywater:<br />

Reality,<br />Conservatives are for "less" smaller government.<br />Always have been.<br />Liberals are for more government, more social<br />programs, higher taxes, more control over the<br />population. And always caught promoting corruption.<br />And have a sunken moral compass

Come on Nosleep you should know me better than that. My points were;<br />"running on a Conservative platform" doesn't make you a "Conservative". And if you were to make a 10 point list on what a "conservative" was the current Republican party would only pass as being 20% conservative, (approximately....plus or minus...kinda/sorta, and would be entirely dependent on how close to the election it is).<br />And by your own definition you support my points.

Unfortunately, I have to agree. The takeover of the democratic party by the extreme left has marginalized it in such a way that the republicans have become fiscally irresponsible, seemingly imbued with the idea that they are politically invulnerable.<br /><br />I wish the Libertarians were a viable alternative, but their half-hearted kool-aid stand presidential campaign every four years just leaves me cold...too much idealism and not enough pragmatism.

 

[PW2]

Re: US Democracy

Come on, JB.<br /><br />Clinton's surplus came on the end of an 8 year term, almost 12 years after Reagan left office. Surely you can't credibly give the credit to Reagan?!? (Who also raised taxes at the end of his term)<br /><br />Statements like that are incredulous!<br /><br />Yes we are in a war. A war we were assured would be paid for by Iraqi oil revenue. Even Larry Lindsey got fired when he suggested it might cost upwards of 100 billion!!! (We all wish!) And we might have 100 billion cost to Katrina. OK.<br /><br />So why the big push to have the tax cuts permanent? Every other generation of Americans, during a time of war, has had to make sacrifices.<br /><br />And aside from that, the projected deficit is projected by the CBO to be close to $400 billion, and that doesn't even include spending on the war! Katrina hardly made a dent in it.<br /><br />And these people are the conservatives you speak of in flowing terms? <br /><br />Heaven help us!<br /><br />You can't be that delusional really, can you?

 

[PW2]

Re: US Democracy

Yes, The Orange county problem was caused by wildly speculative investing in derivitives...Heavily leveraged investment vehicles that can earn huge returns, but can also result in huge losses.<br /><br />The California almost backruptcy was caused by horribly flawed deregulation of energy (Established by Wilson-a repub) that was taken advantage of by Enron and their cohorts, and allowed to get away with it by FERC, also controlled by Repubs, and of course W's buddy, Kenny-Boy.

 

[dogsdad]

Re: US Democracy

It was Gray Davis's idiotic meddling that brought about California's problems. He thought he was could force a market economy to behave like a command economy.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: US Democracy

wow<br />if every one would just realize that W and the far right would only make it all better just think how great this country would be.<br /> man, I just had an ephiphany

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: US Democracy

To ephiphany! and beyond.

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: US Democracy

It was Gray Davis's idiotic meddling that brought about California's problems. He thought he was could force a market economy to behave like a command economy.<br />

What Davis did mostly is pay off State employee unions with LAVISH perks and benefits to perpetuate a dynasty. Unfortunately, those same unions are so powerful almost nothing will be able to stop them now. <br /><br />However, the bankrupting of California was well in play before that. Our State felt the brunt of illegal aliens long before the rest of the country did.<br /> And, if Republicans are really "conservatives", the long standing institutions such as law, and protecting borders would have been a priority.