Posts by DogGone

45

You Can't Ignore Fiscal Responsibilities!!!

by minimus in

there's just so much $$$ that people have.. the obama government continues to ignore simple mathematics, and you can't just keep adding taxes and increase fees and simply believe that everyone with a brain will think it's lovely..

DogGone

Glander,

I agree with you. Certainly, disincentives to gainful employment are deplorable for a society. Earlier a poster provided a fascinating graph of "wage cliffs" in another thread. I had never heard of this structure that creates such a massive disincentive to reach for higher wages. If true, it is madness.

So, there is a point at which tax and services creates societies where the Government takes care of all and productivity is terrible (Communism). Then there are societies where tax and services creates societies where productivity is high (much of Europe). Then there are societies where taxes are confusing and productivity is still very high (United States).

Your reflection on the tragedy of the Native Americans is apt. People criticize them as a race but they are only living the way most white welfare families I know live. It is a terrible thing to remove a person's impulse to be productive. However, that is, for me anyway, not a corollary for not providing assistance to those unable to be productive. I'm sure you will agree.

I suppose the question is of degrees and grays. With some people these recent changes are going too far.... just as the left felt the Bush tax cuts went too far the other way.

369

So are Republicans now openly terrorists?

by Simon in

they seem determined to undermine the us democracy and shut the government down hurting employees and veterans.. what a despicable bunch, hope they get their asses kicked for what they are doing..

DogGone

Glander,

Very classy. We are all guilty, from time to time, of relaying info we find out later wasn't what it was craked up to be.

369

So are Republicans now openly terrorists?

by Simon in

they seem determined to undermine the us democracy and shut the government down hurting employees and veterans.. what a despicable bunch, hope they get their asses kicked for what they are doing..

DogGone

Simon,

I really don't think it is as bad as all of that. The Speaker has stated that he will not allow the country to default.... what we witnessed in late 2011 was complete madness. I'm relieved that they chose this, increasing the government's funding, instead of the coming debt ceiling to stake thier ground. To me, that actually shows they DO care about the country.

That Congress has to increase the debt ceiling is the most bizarre structure I can think of. The Executive has to raise only the taxes Congress authorizes, has to execute the laws Congress enacts (spend money), and can only borrow what the Congress allows. All the other governments I know of legislate the first two and the third naturally follows. A failure to raise the debt ceiling means the President is put in conflict between the Congressional Taxation Power, Spending Power, and Borrowing Power. A constitutional crisis is inevitable in the face of a default. I have read some opinions that should Congress not raise the debt ceiling the President should ignore the debt ceiling and break the Borrowing Power of Congress. This would be unconstitutional and would likely result in impeachment, but is the better of the three to violate.

http://www.columbialawreview.org/how-to-choose-the-lease-unconstitutional-option/

I am very pleased the Republicans are choosing this current tactic rather than the nuke they have access to. [I don't agree with what they are trying to do, but if they were truly terrorists they'd try to blow the economy up with the debt ceiling. Of course, to your point, there are some (few?) Republicans who argue for doing exactly that.....]

45

You Can't Ignore Fiscal Responsibilities!!!

by minimus in

there's just so much $$$ that people have.. the obama government continues to ignore simple mathematics, and you can't just keep adding taxes and increase fees and simply believe that everyone with a brain will think it's lovely..

DogGone

Minimus,

I agree with you, the American fiscal situation is pretty bad. Healthcare is a big part of that (with or without the ACA). It has been worse in the past, though, and I really think it will turn around. Recently some big steps were made to raise revenues and reduce expenses (thanks to the brinkmanship in 2011/2012). I actually think America will get it together in time.

Now, what is scary for me is where individuals in America have deleveraged themselves over the last 5 years, individuals in Canada have been steadily borrowing more and more.

369

So are Republicans now openly terrorists?

by Simon in

they seem determined to undermine the us democracy and shut the government down hurting employees and veterans.. what a despicable bunch, hope they get their asses kicked for what they are doing..

DogGone

Minimus,

You are correct. So let them vote. Even Republican reps who would vote against a clean CR have stated that if a clean CR was voted on (as received from the Senate) it would pass as enough Republicans would vote for it. This is no secret, they have been refreshingly candid about it.

The Speaker will not allow a vote on that matter. IF you really want the House of Reps to, well, REPRESENT why not push the Speaker to allow a vote on a clean CR? Would that not demonstrate the will of the duly elected representatives?

You can't say the House of Reps are doing the peoples bidding when the Speaker will not even allow a vote to demonstrate that. This is nothing more than high stakes politics.

45

You Can't Ignore Fiscal Responsibilities!!!

by minimus in

there's just so much $$$ that people have.. the obama government continues to ignore simple mathematics, and you can't just keep adding taxes and increase fees and simply believe that everyone with a brain will think it's lovely..

DogGone

Hoser - well said.

45

You Can't Ignore Fiscal Responsibilities!!!

by minimus in

there's just so much $$$ that people have.. the obama government continues to ignore simple mathematics, and you can't just keep adding taxes and increase fees and simply believe that everyone with a brain will think it's lovely..

DogGone

I don't have to wait, Data-Dog. I was raised by a single mom and we had absolutely no disposable income. It was life in a mobile home, eating frozen french fries, and drinking powdered milk. This was the late 80's... not a long time ago. Although I was envious of my friends who went on an actual vacation I was never without healthcare and education. I was able to get a bit of an education and work my way up. Was actually able to take a trip on an airplane when I was in my 20's!

Now that I'm successful, I'm happy to have my taxes help others who are where I was. In fact, I volunteer to help raise money for charities to further help disadvantaged children.

You seem to confuse "progressive taxation" with taxing the poor to starvation. It is the opposite.

369

So are Republicans now openly terrorists?

by Simon in

they seem determined to undermine the us democracy and shut the government down hurting employees and veterans.. what a despicable bunch, hope they get their asses kicked for what they are doing..

DogGone

I'd like to know which cluster of ideas is not true (and I'm being sincere, I don't know):

This is a giant government subsidy that we can't afford. Once people get used to this government subsidy in January it will be impossible to roll back as entitlements are hard to undo regardless of the damage to the state.
This is creating a massive additional expense for individuals that can't afford it
This is creating a massive additional expense for businesses that can't afford it

I'm truly lost. Don't one of these have to be false?

Or will the system be more expense for the private sectore (#2 and #3) and more expensive for the public sector (#1) than it is currently trending? How is this possible economically speaking? Or is category #2 meant to exclude all those who don't have coverage, hence they don't count as individuals that can't afford the extra expense of coverage?

I'm speaking on the macro level here....

45

You Can't Ignore Fiscal Responsibilities!!!

by minimus in

there's just so much $$$ that people have.. the obama government continues to ignore simple mathematics, and you can't just keep adding taxes and increase fees and simply believe that everyone with a brain will think it's lovely..

DogGone

A study out of the U of Viginia disagrees with you, Minimus.

Consistent with Rawls’s theory of justice, our results showed that progressive taxation was positively associated with the subjective well-being of nations. However, the overall tax rate and government spending were not associated with the subjective well-being of nations. Furthermore, controlling for the wealth of nations and income inequality, we found that respondents living in a nation with more-progressive taxation evaluated their lives as closer to the best possible life and reported having more positive and less negative daily experiences than did respondents living in a nation with less-progressive taxation. Finally, we found that the association between more-progressive taxation and higher levels of subjective well-being was mediated by citizens’ satisfaction with public goods, such as education and public transportation.

re:http://pss.sagepub.com/content/23/1/86.abstract

I'm very heavily taxed in Canada, I'm happy as can be with what I get. I'm voting for a municiple government that will keep raising taxes this fall because I'm looking forward to more services and infrastructure.

369

So are Republicans now openly terrorists?

by Simon in

they seem determined to undermine the us democracy and shut the government down hurting employees and veterans.. what a despicable bunch, hope they get their asses kicked for what they are doing..

DogGone

My turn to have fun with cherry picking stats: (only this time, with the source: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Surveys/2008/The%202008%20Commonwealth%20Fund%20International%20Health%20Policy%20Survey%20of%20Sicker%20Adults/IHP2008_CMWF__DSQ_for_web%20pdf.pdf )

On the whole, the system works pretty well and only minor change are needed: CAN 34% UK 36% USA 23%

Did not fill a prescription for medicine or skipped doses: CAN 16%, UK 8%, USA 39%

Had a specific medical problem but did not visit a doctor: CAN 9%, UK 4%, USA 34%

Skipped or did not get a medical test, treatment, or follow-up: CAN 10%, UK 6%, 36%

In the past 2 years, how often did you feel your time was wasted because your medical care was poorly organized? Often/Sometimes: CAN 29%, UK 20%, USA 35%

Have you believed a medical mistake was made in your treatment or care in the past 2 years? CAN 14%, UK 10%, USA 16%

USA Respondents who are currently insured but did NOT have health insurance over the last year: 14%

Now, there are also some stats which favour the US in that document. My point, of course, is that we can cherry pick these things to make a point, combine it with bogus data, and circulate it like it matters. Those who already agree with our stand will unquestioningly adopt our data and propogate the info. There is no incentive to "test things out".

People of the forum.... Does this sound familiar?