It wasn't a suggestion, November was a restraining order

[callmeslick]

from Frank Rich, op-ed in the NY Times:
"In the summer before the election, the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll (of June 21) found that only 15 percent of respondents thought the deficit should be the government’s top priority (behind jobs and economic growth, at 33 percent); the Washington Post/ABC News survey just a week before Election Day found that only 7 percent chose the deficit as the most important issue influencing their vote (again well behind the economy, at 37 percent). After constant G.O.P. fear-mongering about the budget — some of it echoed, rather than countered, by Obama — deficit reduction did jump to first place in Nov. 2 exit polls as voters’ highest priority for the next Congress. The disciplined Republican message had turned the deficit into a catchall synonym for America’s entire economic health. But at 40 percent, deficit reduction still was neck and neck with “spending to create jobs” (37 percent). Cutting taxes was chosen by only 18 percent.

We’re now at the brink of a new economic disaster that will eventually yank a chicken out of every pot. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities calculates that the extended Bush-era tax cuts will contribute by far the largest share to the next decade’s deficits — ahead of the recession’s drain on tax revenues, Iraq and Afghanistan war spending, TARP and Obama’s stimulus. The new Congress’s plan to block any governmental intervention on behalf of 15 million-plus jobless Americans guarantees that the unemployment rate, back up to 9.8 percent as of Friday, will remain intractable too."


hmmmmm.

[Barfly]

I have a feeling "pay as you go" Is a euphemism for massive tax increases with no restraint on spending. You don't want to cut the federal budget do you? The vast majority of productive people in this country do not agree with you.

[HappyHappy]

Barfly, Callmesick will never get it.
The party of Pelosi is completely out of touch with We The People.
Callmesick is a town cryer, a town fool spouting the rhetoric
of the party of Marx and Pelosi. We are supposed to follow blindly.
Follow the "Liberals" into their Marxist utopia.
Tax the rich and feed the poor until all are poor except the party elite.
That is what the Democrats want. That is what Callmesick and his
Marxist heros are promoting. We rejected them soundly on Nov, 2, 2010
but the town fool (Callmesick) is still playing village idiot and spouting off.
Forgive him. He can not stop parroting the will of his masters.

HH

[callmeslick]

I have a feeling "pay as you go" Is a euphemism for massive tax increases with no restraint on spending. You don't want to cut the federal budget do you?

incorrect. I think that, over a few years, efficiencies could be designed that save some money off the federal budget. Nothing approaching 20%, and nothing that would overcome the built in cost increases due to an aging population.

The vast majority of productive people in this country do not agree with you.

and, you base this on what, beyond opinion? Sure, we all want to trim some things, but when presented with stark choices, I think you will see(over the coming few years) that people have NO interest in giving up most of the current entitlement or defense programs.

[callmeslick]

Barfly, Callmesick will never get it.

please, just shut the fuck up and stop interrupting grown ups trying to converse.

[Wullie]

I think that, over a few years, efficiencies could be designed that save some money off the federal budget.

I work for state government. Before this job, I worked in the "private sector". The private sector is profit oriented whilst state gov't is expense oriented, they aren't here to make money, they're here to spend it and spend it wildly. I see inefficiencies on a stupendous scale. I would imagine that they are exponentially grander at the Federal level. EVERY damn time those of us in the trenches come up with a plan or suggestion to make things more efficient, we are torpedoed by those in charge. Boat rocking is not allowed. "We don't do it that way" or shut up and go stand in the corner is the attitude.

For example, TXDOT buys guardrail products on an open PO from Trinity Highway Products. Trinity has plants all over the world. Trinity has two plants within 5 miles of our yard. If I order a truckload of rail, it comes from Athens, TX which is the location of one of three of TxDOT's material warehouses. In other words, TxDOT pays a trucking company to ship the rail to Athens, then stores it at Athens, then when I need it, they load it on another truck and haul it back to within 5 miles of where it came from! Cost? About $1200 in freight when it could be delivered straight from Trinity to our yard for about $300. I used to get a truck and go to the plant and pick up a lot of my orders. I was informed that would no longer be allowed and we "WILL HAVE IT SHIPPED" to us, "UNDERSTAND????"

The kicker to this boondoggle is that TxDOT is required by orders of Austin and the TX Legislature to use contractors for 65% of its work. Somebody or somebodies are getting a HELL of kickback somewhere, but I better damn sure NOT be caught letting a contractor buy me a cup of coffee or give me a ball cap with his logo on it.

Until those in command are held accountable for their actions, nothing will change.

[callmeslick]

all good and valid points, Wullie. Those sorts of efficiencies probably could trim close to 5% off the Federal budget. Still, you are left with the sheer amount of monies due to pay benefits for the entitlements, pay the amounts due on bonds and pay for the massively overextended pile of imperialism we call Defense. Until the fundamentals of those things change, you still are going to have significantly higher tax revenues to break even.

[Pudfark]

Quote:
The vast majority of productive people in this country do not agree with you.

and, you base this on what, beyond opinion? Sure, we all want to trim some things, but when presented with stark choices, I think you will see(over the coming few years) that people have NO interest in giving up most of the current entitlement or defense programs.

Let's see, Barfly made a statement and you (Slick) asked a question......Here's your answer below:

The elections in November. I think the verbiage "vast majority" is correct. Cuz, it's a shitload more than you thought or can think. However, two years from now, it will occur to you....


Old Pudfark sez: " I now know, Slick...all yer shoes have velcro on them..... "

[callmeslick]

well, pud, we'll find out what the 'vast majoritiy' really think once the discussion about real cuts gets serious.
Until then(and this was my point to Barfly) it's all just guesswork on our part.

[Dawg]

The vast majority of productive people in this country do not agree with you.