Let me be up front with this. I am not good with politics. I don't understand all the ins and outs of it and don't read the papers thoroughly enough to be confident. However... I do have some thoughts on it. I don't know if it's accurate, but it's what I'm thinking.
I suppose this is not being politically correct but it seems the Republicans are for Big Business so they don't want to raise taxes, in particular for the rich. They keep espousing trickle down economics... but has it really worked? Aside from Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, have the rich really been hiring? Doesn't sound like it. They seem to be getting richer. In fact, hasn't the divide between rich and poor become even greater in this country? It's what I'm hearing.
The Republicans want to cut billions or more on entitlements. Most people don't understand that entitlements are Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.
The Republicans have been wanting to cut the legs off of the Environmental Protection Agency forever. I know this because Art worked for the U.S.E.P.A. and I remember how discouraged he was when Reagan was in office. He's discouraged every time a Republican comes to office.
The Republicans are holding President Obama hostage by demanding no new taxes (again... especially for the rich) and to CUT those entitlements which will really hurt Seniors and those planning on becoming Seniors. They know the president does not want the country to go into default so they're waiting until the last possible moment so he'll be forced to sign something.
Tea Party people are primarily responsible for the hard line thinking.
So there you have it. That's how I'm seeing it, while understanding that I'm not very knowledgeable about politics.
To be perfectly honest, I'm pretty upset with Washington D.C. today. I may not be politically correct, but I think they're political idiots right now.
The Republicans want to cut billions or more on entitlements. Most people don't understand that entitlements are Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.
The Republicans have been wanting to cut the legs off of the Environmental Protection Agency forever. I know this because Art worked for the U.S.E.P.A. and I remember how discouraged he was when Reagan was in office. He's discouraged every time a Republican comes to office.
The Republicans are holding President Obama hostage by demanding no new taxes (again... especially for the rich) and to CUT those entitlements which will really hurt Seniors and those planning on becoming Seniors. They know the president does not want the country to go into default so they're waiting until the last possible moment so he'll be forced to sign something.
Tea Party people are primarily responsible for the hard line thinking.
Yes, I know President Obama has spent a lot to rescue banks who caused the problems in the first place. But, what choice did he have? The country was going down the tubes when he took office. And who took us down the tubes in the first place? Some people keep forgetting and some would like us to forget.
So there you have it. That's how I'm seeing it, while understanding that I'm not very knowledgeable about politics.
To be perfectly honest, I'm pretty upset with Washington D.C. today. I may not be politically correct, but I think they're political idiots right now.
You took my post, Kay, and said it better than I would have.
ReplyDeleteI remember when it used to be honorable to work hard with our freedom and become rich. With today's socialistic thinking, it's now a disgrace to become rich. I heard a caller on a talk show say, "Let's get the rich." Makes you want to stop trying, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteManzanita@Wannabuyaduck
For someone who doesn't follow politics you did an excellent job summing it up. I do follow and this is exactly as I see it. One of the problems the Republicans are having is their Tea Party members - they just won't conform and it is causing a rift in the party. Two's company - three's a crowd - and it sure is proving true with the Dems, Repubs, and Tea Baggers all fighting for their own way. Toddlers in nursery school could get along better.
ReplyDeleteHi, I came to your page via R. Brady's. I have to agree w/you.. In Calif., the repubs voted down additional taxes which we need to have implemented for the state's deficit.. The plan was brought to the table by our governor... Car registration fees were suppose to be higher.. Mine was increased last year under the governator by $100.. This year it went down by that amount... Tho it takes two to cause an effect, I think this time its one sided....
ReplyDeleteKay, I read your profile and see that you have moved back to H. An ex-bf could never get use to Cali., which was a shame... Somehow, I think you will adjust fine. BTW I joined Art's page... Love his posts on his run journey..
I follow politics only as much as my stomach will allow. But I've stopped following the news on TV, except for the PBS News Hour, and even then I sometimes have to turn it off. I am so discouraged by the situation our country is in. I think you summed it up well.
ReplyDeleteI mostly agree and try to ignore the mess and spirited discussions? that occur on the news daily...
ReplyDeleteI am very discouraged by the Curly, Moe and Larry way of government we seem to have these days.
ReplyDeleteIn this you are not alone. Nobody but the members in the high council in the same pow wow knows the true in's and out's of Washington DC. Not even the news media as much as they profess to. Btw, Rep. Hanabusa (D-Hi) mentioned on the news that Medicare, etc. are contractual legislations and not subject to reductions in a default. I presume that's holds true for only as long as the money allocated in the original contract lasts to fund the entitlements. The true crime with the financial meltdown is that nobody went to jail for their part. Some of the bozos make Bernie Madoff look like two-bit hood. And there are still no new laws against derivatives, none. Wall Street was a house of cards that could not but crash, and Greenspan, et al. knew this. Plus, the needless Iraqi War was money down the drain that we could have used today. If not diverted to Iraq, the US military would have be outta Afghanistan years ago and the Afghanistan war wouldn't be an ongoing expense. These additional expenditures contributed hugely to where the national dept is today. The Bush tax breaks the majority. Plus, I don't believe that $14 trillion is the real number for the national dept, since it represents loans from China and US Treasury Bonds that when paid in full like any other loan raises the actual figure.
ReplyDeleteI think you did just fine! And remember: Social Security isn't an entitlement -- no matter what the GOP says --we paid for it when we were working.
ReplyDeleteI think that if the job situation does not improve by 2012, Obama will be a one-term president.
ReplyDeleteKay, you are absolutely right! Same here in the Netherlands: the rich are getting richer and the poor people have to economize and their spending power in on the decline. We have a government that is perfect for young, healthy, intelligent people, capable of finding a good job. Elderly people, invalids and not so intelligent people are in danger of becoming needy. Obama is a great guy.
ReplyDeleteI don't follow politics as much as the economy (hence finding your blog via Charles Smith's blog), yet the two are very much entwined. Money runs politics and politics runs the economy...anyway, I wish we would stop bickering party lines of rich vs. poor and start looking at the real causes of America's decline. When we bicker and blame as we do, ie. it's the other guys fault, we don't allow ourselves to study the landscape from a 30,000 ft perspective. I think (and it is JMHO) the causes are technology and outsourcing that are eroding jobs. Raising the standard of living this way should have brought prosperity to all, instead it has not. Furthermore, I view it as a cyberspace vs. brick and mortar war, where brick and mortar is losing and then we will have even more loss of jobs. So where is the endpoint? We need to come up with a plan to recalibrate the old with the new and do it fast or we will sink in confusion and destruction imho. Wait til the Japanese fine tune robots, then we'll really be in trouble.
ReplyDeleteL.
I agree with Kay D, SS is not an entitlement. It's full name is Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance. Like most insurance, it pays out (or should) when you meet the requirements, i.e., get old, survive the death of a spouse or parent, as my grandchildren did, or become disabled. Unfortunately, some people have tried to game the system, especially the disability part, which should be fixed (fraud). Also, the Ryan plan and the Gang of Six Plan would raise the age of eligibility for full retirement. This is not unreasonable given the expansion in life span over the past few decades. As for those of us who are elgible based on age, i.e. got old, we are already due our insurance payments and any change to our situation is criminal.
ReplyDeleteGood post. You may not be political but as a citizen, you have a right to profess your opinion. Dianne
Bravo Kay!
ReplyDeleteJust prior to Reagan the rich were paying near 90% into the public coffers. Today, after several successive republicans in office, changing tax structures and rates, one of the largest corporations around, I think it was Hughes?, crows that it didn't pay a single dime as taxes this year because it hired ex-IRS people to manipulate its books. The government revenue stream has therefore steadily switched over from corporate and public contribution, to more and more public-only contribution and corporations increasingly shield their assets and revenue while at the same time continuing to buy lobbyists to change tax laws to favor corporations even more.
A case in point is the auto industry. Someone actually tallied up ALL of their contributions to candidates and political action committees over the years, came up with a number (I forget, it was a couple hundred million dollars) and the actual return the auto industries received in terms of tax breaks and subsidies as a direct result of their lobbying and found that they had received a 1:1000 ratio. For every $1 the auto industry spent lobbying and contributing to candidates, they got $1000 back in tax or outright subsidies. When was the last time you got a 1000:1 return on investment?
Bottom line: government should be a system of organization. What we have is not democracy; it is capitalism (with corporations as the dominant entities, not private citizens), and corporations are simply using government as a tool to divest property and capital from the poor. Property and wealth are, as you noticed, becoming increasingly polarized as time goes on; rich become richer and poor, poorer. Some thinkers are now saying it is within the realm of possibility that some sort of uprising or armed conflict is no longer something that can be ruled out (something I would have thought impossible even 10 years ago).
walt
Good summary Kay. I e-mailed and phoned all whose lines weren't blocked and told them they shouldn't accept pay until they do their job, AND I think their pension should be reduced by the same amount of time they're goofing off instead of getting the budget done. I e-mailed Obama that I hope he could do some kind of Executive Order to solve the crisis. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your every point. If you want to run, you have my vote. Kudos.
ReplyDeleteKay, is what these guys in Washington are doing politically correct? I don't think so. I think you are right on. They are the ones who should be worried about political correctness!
ReplyDeleteI agree completely, Kay. I just don't understand the Republican point of view. What are they thinkin' by saying the rich create jobs. If that were true, we wouldn't be in such high unemployment right now. And, how can you do anything about debt without increasing revenue? We do need to cut expenses, but not there. Let's get out of these three wars and see if that saves some money.
ReplyDeleteI'll add a bit of refreshing diversity by disagreeing. (not totally).
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans are playing smart economics, which is (unfortunately for them) very bad politics.
And politics is the name of their game. (all of them)
The problem for that new president guy y'all went & elected, is: He's spending double what he is making.
We know how that works out.
He can either cut spending, or raise taxes. Raising taxes can be tricky, as a tax increase (or decrease) has a behaviour modifying effect.
Eg, Say Kay drives to the Post Office every day, or 365 times per year. Imposing a "post office visit tax" of $1 per visit will raise $365 per year from Kay. Or will it result in Kay going to the Post Office once per week - $52 per year? With the flow on of the gas station doesn't sell her as much fuel (less trips you see) & the post office fires several clerks, as there is suddenly very few customers at the window.
You get the picture. Raising (or lowering) taxes can have some really unexpected outcomes.
YOU'RE SO RIGHT, KAY!
ReplyDeleteDespite being in Canada, your economics apply to us and we are watching carefully.
The poor don't pay taxes, the rich do and resent it.
Big business doesn't invest in the little people. They are worried about tax dividends for investors.
Great summary. We follow politics quite a bit.
Cheers from Cottage Country!
From the comments you've received it seems that you have hit the nail on the head, Kay.
ReplyDeletePoliticians only seem to agree in times of real national or international crisis when they can forget their differences and work together.
Your post makes a lot of sense. Thanks.
ReplyDelete