Government spending (Wasting $)

[bugs]

Can the Budget get cut? what about vital Government Services like the TSA and such..

when is the NEXT Deadline on the Debt Limit?

is it in August or is it September???

 

[bugs]

Your Ringside Seat for the Global Financial Crisis – DollarCollapse.com at least our Dollar is still strong. (sort of)

 

[DontBeStupid]

Raise the Social Security and Medicare eligibility age to 70.

Means test Social Security and Medicare.

Eliminate all federal subsidies.

I'm sure you all can come up with other ideas that would actually reduce spending when you put your alleged minds to it.

As I said, yes, you can cut spending. You can cut anything. Cut it out of existence. But you have to look at the big picture. For example, raising the retirement age will have the affect of people staying in the work force longer. Right now, we WANT people to retire and free up jobs for younger workers. How does keeping older workers in the work force longer help us achieve that? It doesn't.

Raise the retirement age, and you're going to see unemployment go up, which will mean more spending on safety net programs.

Big picture guys.

The big picture is that we are living longer, so we should be working longer. Life expectancy was 60 when Social Security was created. When life expectancy hits 100, do you expect people to collect Social Security and Medicare for one third of their lives?

6 percent of Americans were over 65 in 1935 when SS was created. Today, 13 percent of Americans are over 65. We have literally more than doubled our Social Security entitlement load.

Raising the eligibility age to 70 means contributing five years more, and drawing out five years less.

Massive savings.

As for the imagined labor problem, is there a bigger unemployment problem now than when the average life expectancy was 60? How about when it was 50?

No. And no.

You're mis-using Life Expectancy. A common mistake. Life Expectancy includes Infant Mortality, so while it is true that it's much higher now than in the '30s, that's almost entirely due to better Infant Mortality numbers. What you need to look at is the length of life after age 65.

Life Expectancy for Social Security

In 1940, a male would live on average 12.7 years after age 65. That number is now 15.3 years, an increase of just 2.6 years. But you want to increase the retirement age 5 years. Does that make sense? No.

Also, just because someone lives a little longer doesn't mean they can work a little longer. After age 60, no matter how could of shape you're in, your body simply can't do some of the things it used to. Asking a mailman or factory worker to work to 70 is just, biologically speaking, unrealistic.

As for labour, again, you're mis-using the number. No, there was no a problem when Life Expectancy was 60, because of Infant Mortality. There were less people all around. Now, with 8.2% unemployment and tens of millions looking for work, the idea of trying to keep MORE people in the work force for longer is just counter productive.

 

[DontBeStupid]

Your Ringside Seat for the Global Financial Crisis – DollarCollapse.com at least our Dollar is still strong. (sort of)

What could take the dollar's place globally?

Nothing.

It's fine.

 

[bugs]

Your Ringside Seat for the Global Financial Crisis – DollarCollapse.com at least our Dollar is still strong. (sort of)

What could take the dollar's place globally?

Nothing.

It's fine.

it's a petrodollar system we have now (based on oil for dollars).. it Won't last Forever.

 

[bugs]

oil is what it's ALL about right now! Crude Oil Price, Commodity Prices & Crude Oil Analysis at Oil Price

 

[bugs]

oil is what it's ALL about right now! Crude Oil Price, Commodity Prices & Crude Oil Analysis at Oil Price

oil is still around $90.. gas is $3.79 here in Michigan today!

 

[tjvh]

By all means..

Let's cut spending and raise taxes

Only way to cut into a $15 trillion debt. Sacrifice must be made by all

As long as those cuts don't interfere with all the Government free stuff for those who don't contribute of course.

 

[bugs]

By all means..

Let's cut spending and raise taxes

Only way to cut into a $15 trillion debt. Sacrifice must be made by all

As long as those cuts don't interfere with all the Government free stuff for those who don't contribute of course.

of course!

 

[rightwinger]

By all means..

Let's cut spending and raise taxes

Only way to cut into a $15 trillion debt. Sacrifice must be made by all

As long as those cuts don't interfere with all the Government free stuff for those who don't contribute of course.

of course!

Of course we are not expecting our most wealthy to make any sacrifices.....that would be un-American

 

[DontBeStupid]

As long as those cuts don't interfere with all the Government free stuff for those who don't contribute of course.

of course!

Of course we are not expecting our most wealthy to make any sacrifices.....that would be un-American

Much more American to make those who currently "don't contribute", make them pay more.

Lazy disabled people and seniors.

 

[bugs]

of course!

Of course we are not expecting our most wealthy to make any sacrifices.....that would be un-American

Much more American to make those who currently "don't contribute", make them pay more.

Lazy disabled people and seniors.

Nope. only the Lazy Welfare Abusers.. mostly people who just don't feel like WORKING!

 

[DontBeStupid]

Of course we are not expecting our most wealthy to make any sacrifices.....that would be un-American

Much more American to make those who currently "don't contribute", make them pay more.

Lazy disabled people and seniors.

Nope. only the Lazy Welfare Abusers.. mostly people who just don't feel like WORKING!

Ever looked at how many of them there are?

 

[bugs]

Much more American to make those who currently "don't contribute", make them pay more.

Lazy disabled people and seniors.

Nope. only the Lazy Welfare Abusers.. mostly people who just don't feel like WORKING!

Ever looked at how many of them there are?

i don't have to look too far.. i have a couple of them in my family!

 

[rightwinger]

of course!

Of course we are not expecting our most wealthy to make any sacrifices.....that would be un-American

Much more American to make those who currently "don't contribute", make them pay more.

Lazy disabled people and seniors.

Absolutely....let's make those who struggle to pay their rent and medical bills pay more

Just so that those with 70% of the wealth in our nation don't have to chip in another Nickel

 

[RoadVirus]

As long as those cuts don't interfere with all the Government free stuff for those who don't contribute of course.

of course!

Of course we are not expecting our most wealthy to make any sacrifices.....that would be un-American

The wealthy pay their fair share already...except Obama's favorite company GE.

 

[rightwinger]

of course!

Of course we are not expecting our most wealthy to make any sacrifices.....that would be un-American

The wealthy pay their fair share already...except Obama's favorite company GE.

They pay less than at any time in the last 50 years.

When speaking of the economy, JFK said a rising tide lifts all boats

Republicans have found a way so that the rising tide only lifts the yachts

 

[jimowencassidy]

I think we can get rid of the debt pain-free.
But it will take 50 years!