Nothing's a win that's described with the word "party" in it.
I'm encouraged that they D's capitulated on the tax changes, since getting spending back below 20% of GDP is job 1. (Not sure we've done that yet, but at least this is a step in a better direction). Balancing the budget with fairly-assessed revenue is job 2, and we'll see how a first attempt at that will go, and whether the R's will "get it", or continue to work against The People in favor of The Money Interests.
As for "Tea Party", the sooner we get rid of that appellation the better. It's an umbrella that too easily and too often covers populist demagoguery and legislated oppression in addition to occasional advocacy for small government and individual liberty, and I, for one, am not willing to mistake the difference.
How pathetic that we judge the outcome of a legislative action by which party "wins." In fact, BOTH party won simply because they can both hide behind a facade of "action" that in fact is nothing more than kicking the can down the road for another 10 years. The so-called $988B in "immediate cuts" is smoke and mirrors using promised reductions in Iraq and Afghanistan troops levels, reductions in weapon systems, and other marginal social programs that almost nobody even knows exists. The REAL costs are left untouched and will remain so for the foreseeable (now) future. The level of immediate "cuts" will be quickly erased by expenditures before the Christmas recess in Congress, and we'll be right back to spend and spend.
You can't take over an entire society unless and until you can take over their means. That is the goal and until taxes rise, that goal will not be realized. Once it is, then it will be each according to his means, each according to his needs. And at last, the progressive Big Rock Candy mountain will come into being.
Congress and the Presidency won...the American people lost.
Spending is being reduced and revenues are not shifting. As I anticipate the economy to languish, the likely spin that Obama will deploy is that low taxes just don't do it. He will make the arguement and he will be correct, BUT: 1) National GOPer asshats never acknowledge truth in the place of a great bumper sticker slogan. 2) They will blame "regulatory choke" on business growth.
We certainly needed to, as a nation, squelch specific spending streams. If we truly do have adults in DC, they hopefully used this crisis to stick a fork in the "low hanging fruit".
You know the pivot is coming on tax "reform." It is the ONLY way to address the debt in any meaningful way.
Oh, and lest we forget, Clinton had this issue by the scruff of the neck.
Instead of what party won, lets think about the losers: the economy, the infrastructure,the poor, and those that will somehow keep the illusion that something significant was done.
We will be back at this having to restructure social security, retirement for military, police, fire, civil service, medicare and of course revenue.
Nothing's a win that's described with the word "party" in it.
ReplyDeleteI'm encouraged that they D's capitulated on the tax changes, since getting spending back below 20% of GDP is job 1. (Not sure we've done that yet, but at least this is a step in a better direction). Balancing the budget with fairly-assessed revenue is job 2, and we'll see how a first attempt at that will go, and whether the R's will "get it", or continue to work against The People in favor of The Money Interests.
As for "Tea Party", the sooner we get rid of that appellation the better. It's an umbrella that too easily and too often covers populist demagoguery and legislated oppression in addition to occasional advocacy for small government and individual liberty, and I, for one, am not willing to mistake the difference.
How pathetic that we judge the outcome of a legislative action by which party "wins." In fact, BOTH party won simply because they can both hide behind a facade of "action" that in fact is nothing more than kicking the can down the road for another 10 years. The so-called $988B in "immediate cuts" is smoke and mirrors using promised reductions in Iraq and Afghanistan troops levels, reductions in weapon systems, and other marginal social programs that almost nobody even knows exists. The REAL costs are left untouched and will remain so for the foreseeable (now) future. The level of immediate "cuts" will be quickly erased by expenditures before the Christmas recess in Congress, and we'll be right back to spend and spend.
ReplyDeleteYou can't take over an entire society unless and until you can take over their means. That is the goal and until taxes rise, that goal will not be realized. Once it is, then it will be each according to his means, each according to his needs. And at last, the progressive Big Rock Candy mountain will come into being.
Congress and the Presidency won...the American people lost.
Too soon to tell.
ReplyDeleteSpending is being reduced and revenues are not shifting. As I anticipate the economy to languish, the likely spin that Obama will deploy is that low taxes just don't do it. He will make the arguement and he will be correct, BUT:
1) National GOPer asshats never acknowledge truth in the place of a great bumper sticker slogan.
2) They will blame "regulatory choke" on business growth.
We certainly needed to, as a nation, squelch specific spending streams. If we truly do have adults in DC, they hopefully used this crisis to stick a fork in the "low hanging fruit".
You know the pivot is coming on tax "reform." It is the ONLY way to address the debt in any meaningful way.
Oh, and lest we forget, Clinton had this issue by the scruff of the neck.
Instead of what party won, lets think about the losers: the economy, the infrastructure,the poor, and those that will somehow keep the illusion that something significant was done.
ReplyDeleteWe will be back at this having to restructure social security, retirement for military, police, fire, civil service, medicare and of course revenue.