Dems to push $200 billion in spending before Memorial Day recess
posted at 10:55 am on May 11, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Barack Obama has done a lot of posturing lately as a deficit hawk, especially after signing the Pay-Go legislation that supposedly requires Congress to pay for any new spending with new revenues or spending cuts elsewhere. Since passing that rule in February, Democrats have repeatedly waived it in order to pass smaller bills. With just a couple of weeks left before the Memorial Day recess, they’ll push legislation that will cost more than $200 billion — none of which will meet the Pay-Go requirement:
Congress faces a crush of votes on big-ticket items before the Memorial Day recess, setting up a debate on deficits less than six months before the November elections.
Democratic leaders are looking in the next three weeks to send President Barack Obama a slew of measures that cost more than $200 billion, including a multiyear extension of unemployment benefits, an extension of expiring tax provisions and Medicare doctor payments totaling $180 billion and a $33 billion Afghanistan war supplemental bill.
Because most of those costs won’t be paid for, Republicans plan to use those bills and the Democrats’ budget blueprint to highlight massive deficits ahead of the congressional midterm election. Republicans have recently been pointing to Greece’s dismal fiscal situation as a warning, claiming that the U.S. will be headed for a similar fate unless the deficits are curtailed.
“Washington Democrats’ out-of-control spending spree is scaring the hell out of the American people,” said Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). “It has to stop.”
Small wonder, then, that the Democratic members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform have begun talking about tax hikes — “pro-growth” tax hikes, which exist on the same plane of reality as unicorns, Bigfoot, and “conservative Democrats.” They need the extra revenue because their colleagues in Congress continue raising the floor on spending cuts. If Democrats were serious about the mission of the deficit commission, they would freeze spending until after the panel returns its recommendations. Instead, they’re still spending as though there is no tomorrow.
What about Pay-Go, for that matter? The entire idea of Pay-Go, the passage of which the Democrats celebrated like a Super Bowl victory, was to handcuff spending on borrowed money. When did they plan on putting their new rule into effect — after Republicans take control of the House? Because they’re certainly acting as though they can’t wait for that to happen.
Barack Obama will certainly veto any bill that doesn’t meet Pay-Go requirements, right? Right? Right?
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
What if we changed the tax system and the Federal government was funded solely by the states.
faraway on May 11, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Congress; “Pay-go? It’s all Greek to me.”
reaganaut on May 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM
White House Announces Massive Government Spending Bill “Created or Saved” Millions of Well-Educated Middle Class Protesters
A Year After Signing Massive Stimulus Bill, Obama Signs Massive Depressant Bill
Mervis Winter on May 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Why don’t we talk about drunken sailors any more?
rhombus on May 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM
It begins.
pseudonominus on May 11, 2010 at 11:01 AM
Its the end of the world as we know it
Its the end of the world as we know it
Its the end of the world as we know it and I Feel Fine
Holger on May 11, 2010 at 11:01 AM
Yeah, I thought all those Senators were going to be famous.
faraway on May 11, 2010 at 11:02 AM
Six months ago I told a friend of mine, who was wondering why Obs was not spending the stimulus, that the money would come gushing out prior to November.
Open that spigot, there’s an election to
buywin!PattyJ on May 11, 2010 at 11:02 AM
Git ‘er done NOW, before the November Elections make Zero a lame(r) duck.
SeniorD on May 11, 2010 at 11:03 AM
My first reaction was, honestly, “only two hundred billion?”
I think I’ve become inured to Washington spending. That’s a bad sign…
KinleyArdal on May 11, 2010 at 11:06 AM
So is this $200 billion on top of the projected spending that has us on pace for a $1.4 trillion deficit this year? What about the IMF bailout money? Was that already committed by the US or do we have to come up with those billions? I can’t keep track of these trillions anymore.
Doughboy on May 11, 2010 at 11:07 AM
It’s for the children.
JammieWearingFool on May 11, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Chicago, IL May 11, 2019 (AP) -
Thousands of rioters clashed with police and set fire to banks in the worst rioting Chicago has seen since last Tuesday. Many people were upset that the government could no longer pay unemployment benefits….
….Mr. Doodad Pro said, “I’ve been collecting for 576 weeks, now what am I supposed to do?”
reaganaut on May 11, 2010 at 11:08 AM
We are praying the Repubs and any other fiscal conservatives strengthen their spines and become the party of HELL NO!
indypat on May 11, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Based on the evidence, no. The entire idea of Pay-Go was a bit of patently obvious PR CYA by the Democrats. It was an effort — a futile one, I hope — to hold back the electoral tsunami that threatens them in November.
jwolf on May 11, 2010 at 11:09 AM
HAH!. Now that’s a good point.
Skandia Recluse on May 11, 2010 at 11:10 AM
I know this is a crazy question, but, um… are there consequences for Congress and the President, um… breaking the law and ignoring Pay-Go?
WTF, when did obeying the law (not to mention law that you yourself championed) become optional?
Midas on May 11, 2010 at 11:10 AM
What’s the big deal? It’s the Treasury’s money, not ours../
Fletch54 on May 11, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Obama would be perfectly content to bring about the same conditions that are crippling Greece and the rest of Europe.He believes he can perfect the theory of equality that has failed every where every time.
fourdeucer on May 11, 2010 at 11:11 AM
This on top of the Fed announcement yesterday that they issuing a blank check, or as they put it…”whatever it takes”, to me proves that even 2010 will be too late.
We are so screwed, the Dhims will have banrupted us by the time we can remove Obama from office. All he has to do is veto any corrective measures put forth by a Republican cpongress and run out the clock. Elections do have consequences thats why their was a tone of finality to Barack’s snide “I won” retort, all he needed was two years to enact our demise.
We will be lucky if the smokings of our nation will be capable of even holding an election in 2012, as they cost money we no longer have.
Archimedes on May 11, 2010 at 11:13 AM
Obama needs to extend the unemployment benefits to ensure that more people don’t decide to look for work, which would drive up the official unemployment numbers. This is so perverse: the longer we pay unemployment benefits, the more people don’t even look for work, which keeps the unemployment rate down.
GaltBlvnAtty on May 11, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Democrats get elected and re-elected by proposing and enacting huge spending programs including entitlements, etc., that can never nor will ever be cut.
Tax increases will always go to new programs or towards expanding eligibility for existing programs. Democrats don’t get elected by promising to preserve the unsustainable status quo, they get elected by promising more “free” stuff paid for by other people/borrowing (e.g. Barack Obama).
The GOP needs to hold the line on tax increases and make genuine cuts to the government. Highlight useless federal agencies (e.g. Commerce, Labor, Agriculture and Education) and promise to phase out or eliminate their functions.
America will fail if the GOP’s form of “fiscal responsibility” stays at “tax collector for the welfare state”.
NoDonkey on May 11, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Why don’t we just extend unemployment benefits FOREVER so those poor, helpless people that don’t want to work can continue to leach off the productive ones. I mean, it’s at 99 weeks already!
search4truth on May 11, 2010 at 11:15 AM
*Golf clap*
amerpundit on May 11, 2010 at 11:16 AM
hope that $200 Billion includes many barrels of Green Ink to print some more worthless greenbacks…..
SDarchitect on May 11, 2010 at 11:18 AM
That’s what I have suspected all along. But, it makes no sense for Congress to do this now. I thought for sure they would time benefits to start ending in September, with even more ending in October. Then the media would be running unemployment numbers non-stop.
Barackoulis Obamannou has a long way to go.
reaganaut on May 11, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Thread winner!
GrannyDee on May 11, 2010 at 11:19 AM
We are being set up for a VAT soon. I don’t care if Republicans take back the House, we can’t cut enough fast enough or deep enough to delay the requirement for a huge new source of revenue to pay for what we have already committed to spend.
Johnnyreb on May 11, 2010 at 11:20 AM
FIF – Dems.
WordsMatter on May 11, 2010 at 11:20 AM
They probably will. They’ll just keep extending them every few months and before you know it, people will have been receiving “benefits” for years. Unless of course, the GOP retakes the House and has the stones to tell those who are habitually out-of-work that there’s a finite amount of time they can collect unemployment.
Doughboy on May 11, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Barry needs a good old-fashioned government shutdown.
Christien on May 11, 2010 at 11:21 AM
‘Twas in early 2009 when the sainted Illinois Senator, Durbin the Dick, demanded some extra Obama stash from the sellers of doves so that he might go on a “fact finding” mission to the land of Greece with his acolyte, Alexi Giannoulias, in tow. I’m pretty sure they wasn’t clinking no Metaxa glasses (I might be wrong about that), so what was them two dopes up to? Ain’t nobody ever said. Enquiring minds what to know.
MayorDaley on May 11, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Cut medicare and military pay, plus cap & tax = more of our money for dems to spend. Problem solved.
Kissmygrits on May 11, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Government response: Put 200 billion on the credit card and go on vacation.
Business response: Skip vacation. Cut costs.
But remember, businessmen are evil and reckless, while government is responsible, magnanimous and caring.
forest on May 11, 2010 at 11:23 AM
The American Dream- Retire after 30 years of unemployment compensation with paid vacations, health care, and a 401K.
fourdeucer on May 11, 2010 at 11:25 AM
Pay-go was never intended to change the natural order of the universe, i.e. pigs are more equal.
burt on May 11, 2010 at 11:25 AM
It’s simple really. Think about it. Republicans take over control of the House and the next Legislature MUST raise taxes to pay the enormous bills. Democrats then blame republicans for raising your taxes! See? Isn’t that easy?
GoldenEagle4444 on May 11, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Because drunken sailors were outraged at being compared to congressmen.
Vashta.Nerada on May 11, 2010 at 11:28 AM
How much stimulus money remains unspent?
MayBee on May 11, 2010 at 11:29 AM
The Dems are going to flood the system. I don’t think anyone knows how much the dems have actually spent or have a total on what is to be future spending. Plus I don’t think there is a calculator that big to figure it out. Something is going to have to give and it’s not going to be the politicians in Washington. They’ll force us to pay more in taxes all the while exempting themselves.
Brat4life on May 11, 2010 at 11:30 AM
Yasu, +1000
Daggett on May 11, 2010 at 11:30 AM
Fortunately, you’re wrong.
We can cut fast enough and deep enough, instantly, if we really desire to.
Individuals, families and businesses all over the country have been doing precisely that for a few years now. Suggesting that the government can’t is simply enabling them to continue to avoid the hard decisions.
Midas on May 11, 2010 at 11:31 AM
Excellent.
lorien1973 on May 11, 2010 at 11:31 AM
Agreed, unfortunately that requires a majority in congress to pull off. Doea anyone seriously beleive there will be any money left by ’12? Like I said above, between ’10 & ’12 allhe has to do is veto any spending cuts and run out the clock until the treasury is dry & no-one will finance our debt any more.
Keep an eye on the bond offering and see just who wants to buy them. My bet it’ll be the same shell game they played at the end of ’09. Treasury offers, no foreign buyers so thr TARP banks are muscled to snap them up lest the markets notice, then 10 days later at 9:01 AM the Fed releives them of the bonds. Its a shell game enron style, and there will be a day of reckoning.
Archimedes on May 11, 2010 at 11:31 AM
People are more primed for spending cuts than our political class would admit. Most democrat arguments for big government are silly on their face.
lorien1973 on May 11, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Pile it on, I say. Break that camel’s back.
Rae on May 11, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Want a TRUE “Tax Revolt”??
Simply eliminate WITHHOLDING.
If everybody had to WRITE A CHECK on April 15th the entire Income Tax scam would collapse…immediately!
Justrand on May 11, 2010 at 11:33 AM
Won’t some one think of the poor out of work unicorns?
LincolntheHun on May 11, 2010 at 11:33 AM
How much stimulus money remains unspent?
MayBee on May 11, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Last I heard the Dhims had only doled out about 1/3 of it, so appx $600B.
Archimedes on May 11, 2010 at 11:34 AM
How right you are. The whole point of the tea parties is to insist on cutting spending, including SS and medicare.
Vashta.Nerada on May 11, 2010 at 11:34 AM
No they don’t.
It will involve pain – President Bush’s proposals to keep Social Security solvent should be revived and expanded.
The retirement age needs to be raised and there should be lower benefits paid for those retiring at the minimum age.
Get rid of worthless federal agencies – Close Labor, Commerce, Energy, Agriculture and Education and sell the buildings.
Means test Medicare and tighten eligibility.
By all means, strangle Obamacare in the crib.
We can’t raise taxes because that will kill the growth we need and result in even lower revenues.
NoDonkey on May 11, 2010 at 11:35 AM
A billion here, a billion there and pretty soon you are talking about some real money!
Johan Klaus on May 11, 2010 at 11:37 AM
Thanks, Archimedes.
I expected them to use that money to buy their way through the mid-terms. If they use both stimulus and new non-stimulus funding, we are going to be awash in prosperity.
MayBee on May 11, 2010 at 11:37 AM
Yes, very clever. Good on ya, reaganaut.
SKYFOX on May 11, 2010 at 11:38 AM
As a former “drunken sailor” I can attest to one big difference between spending like a drunken sailor, and spending like congress. We had to quit when we ran out of money. They don’t.
NavyspyII on May 11, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Nearly 50% of the people in the US are not ready for any sort of cuts in any of their free benefits, and no politician has the stones to make cuts that big. We need to start cutting hard, fast and deep in way too many political hot potato programs, and that simply is not going to happen. No one will touch Social Security, Medicare, SCHIP, 99 week unemployment, etc. And until all of the big ticket programs are addressed, nothing will happen except tax hikes.
Johnnyreb on May 11, 2010 at 11:40 AM
If they keep spending, there may not be a tomorrow.
Johan Klaus on May 11, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Dems: paygo for thee, but not for me. Guaranteed they’ll hammer the gop once they take back the house
cmsinaz on May 11, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Yet another example of the massive disconnect between what Obama says compared to what Obama does:
…almost 2 trillion dollar yearly deficits and economist reveal that our debt-to-GDP ratio will amount to almost 100% of GDP in the near future…
….if you add Medicare,Medicaid,and Social Security to our current debt obligations….each American is approximately
$200,000 in debt already….
…so what do we get from Obama:
….this is after Mr. Hope and Change tells Americans this:
…and this….
Mr. Obama has also joined House Democrats to push for the reinstatement of the pay-as-you-go rule, which would require our government to pay for what it buys:
…yes we are tired of people who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk…and Obama is the best example of a politician that “talks” one way…but “walks” the other way…
…What does the democratic leadership say:
We Can’t Run Deficits Forever
Controlling entitlements is the next priority.
STENY HOYER
….so lets tax the he!! out of everybody and spend some more right Steny!!!!…..
…but Obama says we can’t continue on with these massive deficits and spending:
In his weekly address today, President Obama calls for fiscal discipline and says his administration will eliminate waste and increase efficiency.
…This is what Obama has delivered:
GOP Slams Obama & Dems On Historic Debt in Weekly Address
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/04/gop-slams-obama-dems-on-historic-debt.html
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) blasted Democrats and President Obama today in the Weekly GOP Address–
Under President Obama, the nation’s debt is so high already that the US would not qualify to join the European Union if we wanted to.
True.
And, that’s not all…
** Barack Obama signed the largest spending bill, the “Stimulus” Package, in the history of the planet in his first 100 days in office without a single GOP House vote.
** Obama and democrats pushed and passed the largest budget in history without a single GOP House or Senate vote.
** Obama’s budget more than doubles the national debt held by the public, and adds more to the debt than all previous presidents — from George Washington to George W. Bush — combined.
** Barack Obama managed to spend more than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
** Obama and democrats have already saddled America’s children and grand children with massive debt before they’re even born! Not that this bothers them.
** Barack Obama is on track to spend more money than any person in the history of Earth.
** The US debt is so large that America couldn’t qualify to join the EU if it wanted to.
** President Obama expects the deficit level to be 12% of GDP this year larger than Great Britain’s record 10% deficit to GDP.
According to Heritage, Obama will quadruple the deficit this year.
It took Obama and the Democrats less than 100 days to spend more than Bush spent on Iraq, Afghanistan and Katrina… Combined!
…But it’s all Bush’s fault right!!!!!
FACT CHECK: Obama disowns deficit he helped shape
By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer Calvin Woodward, Associated Press Writer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090429/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_fact_check_obama_1/print
Hope and Change baby!!!!…Hope and Change!!!
Baxter Greene on May 11, 2010 at 11:44 AM
One small problem with that strategery. Obama must sign any tax increase into law. The buck ultimately stops with him. Pointing the finger at the GOP won’t save him in 2012, just like it didn’t spare Bush 41 in 1992.
Now he can allow the Bush tax cuts to expire without lifting a finger, but that’ll still put him in a bind come 2012 when he tries explaining to middle class voters why their take home pay is considerably less.
Doughboy on May 11, 2010 at 11:45 AM
From the Deetroit news on the HA headlines,
In a state with the nation’s highest jobless rate, landscaping companies are finding some job applicants are rejecting work offers so they can continue collecting unemployment benefits.
It is unclear whether this trend is affecting other seasonal industries. But the fact that some seasonal landscaping workers choose to stay home and collect a check from the state, rather than work outside for a full week and spend money for gas, taxes and other expenses, raises questions about whether extended unemployment benefits give the jobless an incentive to avoid work.
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100510/BIZ/5100335/#ixzz0ndVB4b3v
This is why we collectivist nanny states like Greece/Michigan/California/New York/Illinois/New Jersey etc. fail!
Archimedes on May 11, 2010 at 11:45 AM
NoDonkey said:
“The retirement age needs to be raised and there should be lower benefits paid for those retiring at the minimum age.”
That was NOT the agreement 40 years ago, my friend. That’s MY money you’re telling me I can’t have. No matter what age someone retires, that money is STILL THEIRS, not the governments.
It’s not my fault – and I shouldn’t be penalized – because the government stole that money for some bridge to nowhere twenty years ago.
If I had invested nothing, I’d have no gripe. But, that money is mine and I want it back.
GoldenEagle4444 on May 11, 2010 at 11:47 AM
I’m shocked that Democrats don’t think the laws apply to them (especially the ones they write and pass)!
gwelf on May 11, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Pay-go…is that Greek for bankruptcy?
gwelf on May 11, 2010 at 11:49 AM
– Mohandas Gandhi
Bugler on May 11, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Sometimes people stumble upon the truth and don’t even know it.
Obama has made us all “Greeks” now.
J_Crater on May 11, 2010 at 11:57 AM
First rule of holes: Stop digging…
The Rock on May 11, 2010 at 12:00 PM
We need to get out the message that out of control Big Government can be more “evil” than Big Business, especially when it comes to our pocketbooks..
DL13 on May 11, 2010 at 12:07 PM
The Keynesian economic policies used during the time of the 111th congress will be credited as the time in American history where the Great Depression economic policy mistakes made in the 20th century were not only repeated, but stupidly embraced. The sun is setting on the democrat majority of the 111th congress, they know it all too well, they are going to be spending, and cashing in on their power at a more hurried pace now, or until the day that the 112th congress commences. The democrat acts of desperation will be camouflaged through many of the mini empires disguised as federal departments like the EPA, Education, and Agriculture.
Americannodash on May 11, 2010 at 12:09 PM
TWO YEARS! That’s not unemployment that’s welfare!
Oh my gosh! I didn’t realize.
petunia on May 11, 2010 at 12:16 PM
It seems that they’re determined to break the bank before they are run out of town in November.
Keep digging, fools.
hillbillyjim on May 11, 2010 at 12:17 PM
Me too. I would be happy and completely agreeable to not drawing SS if the government gave me back the money that both I and all of my previous employers contributed into the system for the past 40 years.
Johnnyreb on May 11, 2010 at 12:18 PM
They don’t fail alone. They take Germany and me with them.
petunia on May 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM
I hear you – but reality needs to intervene, I’m afraid. I’ve been paying in for less than 40 years, but I know that the reality is that I’m going to get *nothing* back by the time I retire.
Reality’s a bitch, and she must be dealt with immediately, and that means making uncomfortable and ‘unfair’ changes that are going to be painful – but that doesn’t reduce the fact that it’s going to have to happen.
Midas on May 11, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Seriously, I’ll ask again – what are the consequences for their failure to obey the Pay-Go law they passed? There must be consequences when people break the law, right?
I don’t mean “we’ll get them at the ballot box”, I mean literal right now, civil/legal/criminal charges. Being a politician does not mean that your only consequence for lawbreaking is running the risk of being voted out of office, does it? Are there really no real-time consequences for their willful breaking of the Pay-Go legislation?
Midas on May 11, 2010 at 12:25 PM
As would most of us, but again, reality intrudes; that’s not going to happen.
Whether it’s fair or not, whether we like it or not – SS as we’ve known it and been paying into *is* going to change, and not in ways that we like. It *must* change and become more austere.
Yeah, it’s gonna suck and we’re gonna hate it, but that doesn’t change the reality of what must happen, and the longer folks try to prevent it, the worse it’s going to be – but it *is* coming.
Midas on May 11, 2010 at 12:27 PM
This man said it best:
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
Winston Churchill
This woman said it second best;
“The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”
Margaret Thatcher
jukin on May 11, 2010 at 12:28 PM
There are no consequences for not adhering to pay-go. there is an “emergency” escape hatch that they can use anytime they need it. They just have to declare whatever they want to spend as unforseen or emergent and it gets around the rule. After all they wrote the law, remember?
Johnnyreb on May 11, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Are you kidding? Even Obama’s expiration dates have expiration dates.
See, they had to pass the bill to find out what was actually in it and – surprise! – it wasn’t Pay-Go Obama signed at all. Turns out it was really GOP-Pays. So sorry for the confusion.
leilani on May 11, 2010 at 12:30 PM
As Eric Stratten told Flounder in Animal House, “you f***ed up, you trusted us.”
Either SS starts paying out lower benefits or the whole idiot system the Democrats put together, collapses entirely and our country along with it.
Half a loaf is better than none. I fully expect to work past 65, anyone under 50 is going to have to.
NoDonkey on May 11, 2010 at 12:31 PM
You’d think that these spending sprees would begin to really p*ss off the taxpayers.
ummm…’scuze me, but WTF does this mean?
The one time I was laid off, the most you could collect was for six months. It gave one the impetus to get off one’s azz and find a job – any job. I took one for less than half of what I had previously made, but I WAS WORKING.
And another thing: don’t the employers have to chuck in a certain amount for unemployment? So they get to continue to pay for years too?
We are becoming Greece.
tru2tx on May 11, 2010 at 12:36 PM
Thank you Navy. I for one am tired of insults to drunken sailors.
Oh, and Navy, I would add, drunken sailors quit when they run out of there OWN money. A concept far beyond the intellect of your typical congressman, drunken or not.
JusDreamin on May 11, 2010 at 12:38 PM
Exactly. And lengthy unemployment generally kills motivation, especially when the $$ seems to be never ending. I personally know three people who turned down decent jobs to keep the unemployment money coming- although there is another income earner in each family.
There’s a similar story from Michigan about landscape workers who would rather collect the unemployment than work.
LASue on May 11, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Whoa there old timer…
If we’re talking truth, lets just lay it on the table, shall we? Social Security is a Government-run ponzi scheme. YOU DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY IN THE SYSTEM… JUST LIKE I DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY IN THE SYSTEM.
We are paying for current retirees. For you to claim that the money I’m paying in is somehow “yours” is untrue.
I’m 40 years old. I have no illusions that I will see one penny of Social Security by the time I “retire”. In fact, I have no illusions of ever being able to “retire”. So why should I feel indebted to pay for your retirement when I will never see retirement myself?
I would be happy right now to completely “opt-out” of Social Security, walking away from thousands of dollars I’ve already thrown away, if I could divert that payment into my 401K, where I really do own my money, and where I really have a chance to “retire”.
dominigan on May 11, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! Yeah! And “Health Care Reform” is going to bring down the cost of health insurance.
GarandFan on May 11, 2010 at 12:42 PM
They have already changed the rules about the minimum/maximum ages for benefits a few times, small cosmetic changes will no longer work. Social Security officially went in the red this year. 19 years ahead of what was projected just two short years ago. Social Security along with Medicare will consume over 50% of Federal tax revenues before 2020. It has already collapsed, it is just taking it’s time to drag everything else down with it.
Johnnyreb on May 11, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Ding Ding Ding! Give that man a cookie.
BUT that could actually be a good thing. If Republicans actually start cutting spending they can point to Pay-Go as the reason and lay the blame at the Democrats’ feet for passing the law. If played right (unlikely) that could make conservative base happy while at the same time leave liberals with a bad taste in their mouths.
Onus on May 11, 2010 at 12:44 PM
There was that ultimate chick flick in the 80′s, can’t remember the name of it but it always made me want to go to Greece.
My dreams have come true, I don’t have to travel, I just have to wait a couple months and Obama will have spent us into being Greece.
Thanks Obama.
ORconservative on May 11, 2010 at 12:45 PM
I hope not. Unless the repubs suddenly turn into conservatives.
Squiggy on May 11, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Johnnyreb on May 11, 2010 at 12:42 PM
I agree, they’re going to have to make big changes.
And it’s going to take someone with fortitude and guts to do it, like Governor Christie is cutting spending in New Jersey, despite the usual howls and wailing from the same ol’ sacred cows.
We can’t have a go along to get along waffler here. We have to have someone who campaigns on “this is what I’m going to do” and then does it.
Not someone who is buddy-buddy with the Washington Press Corps.
NoDonkey on May 11, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Dunno if it’s the same one, but the one that comes to mind is “Summer Lovers” with Daryl Hannah and some female Greek hottie. Wowza.
Midas on May 11, 2010 at 12:50 PM
…even if there were laws that could be enforced against politicians for lying and breaking promises….the responsibility usually lies with the politicians themselves to enforce them. Look at Pelosi’s record concerning “cleaning up the swamp” and you can see that little to nothing is done to corrupt politician unless the feds or local authorities have the goods on them.
..We are going through one of the worst economic turns in our History mostly created by serious corruption from Capital Hill,to the Banks,to the mortgage brokers…..and not one politician on the Hill has paid a price for it…only Tax Paying American citizens are feeling the devastating effects of their corruption.
…Obama lies and swindles at will because he has a liberal activist press that covers for him that either ignores his corruption or finds a way to excuse it.
…Obama’s liberal base will follow him no matter how corrupt or hypocritical he is….he is there ideological leader and they will follow him like sheep.
…just look at how much the liberals support War now and the use of lobbyist on Capital Hill…..it’s all good because Obama is doing it.
Without a press to persecute Obama and turn a MAJOR majority of the populace against him by exposing his lies and corruption….he will continue to lie,cheat,and steal to accomplish whatever he wants until we go to the ballot box to stop him.
…we should also support alternative media outlets that get information out past the liberal filter like Blogs,talk radio, pushing for conservative journalist, and pundits at other media outlets.
..It is up to us to put forth and elect leadership that can and will be held accountable by the people…..
…there is nothing more important to a politician than getting votes to stay in power and acquiring money….
…we do still have control of that…it still is our best weapon if we use it wisely.
Baxter Greene on May 11, 2010 at 12:50 PM
“Old Timer”? Perhaps…but I’m not dead and there are millions more just like me.
If you want to see what happens when the fan and fecal material get together, just keep supporting that political philosophy.
One day – when you’ve worked your a$$ off your entire life – and you’re ready for those promised “golden years”, you’ll have a very different attitude.
GoldenEagle4444 on May 11, 2010 at 1:05 PM
The thugs are getting ready to put their hands on 401(K) accounts. That will help them pay the under funded SEIU and UAW pensions. Those boys spent too much electing Obama and delayed pension contributions in doing that.
seven on May 11, 2010 at 1:08 PM
great point O
cmsinaz on May 11, 2010 at 1:09 PM
The Destroyer works his magic on Europe now.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=an9qwBhKmH9s
Is it possible that the reason that Russian / NorKor / Iran haven’t tried anything like a Cuban Missile Crisis on the U.S. because they know the Destroyer is hard at work on America and now Europe?
PappyD61 on May 11, 2010 at 1:14 PM
Wasn’t one of ObaMao’s first items of business after the coronation to rescind the law that Clinton was backed into supporting to tie unemployment benefits to efforts of seeking employment?
onlineanalyst on May 11, 2010 at 1:17 PM
I believe that this law had a number of largish loopholes in it.
Loopholes large enough to drive several 100-billion dollar “emergency” spending bills through it, in fact.
Lily on May 11, 2010 at 1:18 PM
an extension of expiring tax provisions
What are the “expiring tax provisions”? If it refers to Obama’s costly “Making Work Pay”
programboondoggle, which was in part a welfare check in the form of “refundable tax credits” to people who don’t pay taxes, then getting rid of this costly “tax cut” would cut spending and help the deficit, while extending them will cost billions.Buy Danish on May 11, 2010 at 1:20 PM
I would be happy right now to completely “opt-out” of Social Security, walking away from thousands of dollars I’ve already thrown away, if I could divert that payment into my 401K, where I really do own my money, and where I really have a chance to “retire”.
dominigan on May 11, 2010 at 12:40 PM
I can’t find the link, but there is a muncipality in TX that has already opted out of Federal SS system and are running there own.
So it can be done, or you could move there.
Anyone remember where in TX that was? It was on 60 minutes a few years ago.
Archimedes on May 11, 2010 at 1:23 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »