How do you feel the standoff in Washington would best resolved?

[cpcreativity]

How would the division of the nation best be resolved and why does compromise not seem like an option?


I would like to start by suggesting the unthinkable. Raise taxes install a minimum tax rate percentage of let's say 30% as Warren Buffet suggested, lower spending, lessen regulation on trade, put pressure on China and other market-share abusers, drill a little more, etc. Do things that would raise revenues and cut expenses regardless of party. Instead of taking firm stands against the other side and having the other side do the same, why not moderately do what both sides are suggesting and in some cases literally find a middle ground?


The debate should not be about whether dems or reps or tea partiers or greens or libs are right in their stances. Rather, it should be about how to take into account all opinions and draw up a middle ground stance that most people can agree with at least a little bit.

 

[saveliberty]

Just let 28 days pass. We could ignore it all and celebrate Christmas and New Years.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Ideally, Obama, Biden, Pelosi and Reid sequester themselves on a desert island for the next 4 year

 

[percysunshine]

"How do you feel the standoff in Washington would best resolved?"

Paper/rock/scissors would be as effective as anything else these idiots could come up with.

.

 

[saveliberty]

Pistols at ten paces?

 

[Oldstyle]

Can we at least agree that we're spending way too much and need to make cuts?

Can we also agree that the Federal Government by it's very nature is incredibly wasteful and will remain so unless it is forced to change?

Can we also agree that for the millions of Americans who are out of work right now that the number one priority should be growing the economy and creating jobs?

 

[cpcreativity]

Can we at least agree that we're spending way too much and need to make cuts?

Can we also agree that the Federal Government by it's very nature is incredibly wasteful and will remain so unless it is forced to change?

Can we also agree that for the millions of Americans who are out of work right now that the number one priority should be growing the economy and creating jobs?

Yes, sometimes, and yes.

I like to look at Clinton's presidency as an example of a non-wasteful two terms (in comparison to most recent others). I mean, Bill Clinton presided over one of the largest economic booms the world has ever seen. He raised taxes and government revenue, yet our economy was growing faster that ever. He left office with a budget SURPLUS of about $120 billion yearly (i.e. part of that was going to pay off the national debt). He helped create more jobs than most presidents in recent history and had a solid stance on foreign policy.

 

[percysunshine]

Define cuts. The lie in government is that when the rate of increases in spending is slowed, it is called a 'cut' in spending. Spending can increase from one year to the next, but still be called a spending cut.

Such is the surreal pathos of the universe inside the beltway.

 

[saveliberty]

It was a manufacturing based economy then cp. Our service based can't offer the increases necessary to right the debt.

 

[cpcreativity]

Ideally, Obama, Biden, Pelosi and Reid sequester themselves on a desert island for the next 4 year

CrusaderFrank, who would you rather be in control of the situation? The Romney and Ryan ticket? The problem I have with the majority of Republicans is their lack of upholding what I see as obligatory personal liberties. They would rather outlaw abortion completely and not allow gays to get married. Now, holding religion and legalities separate, would you support a law banning gays from getting LEGALLY married (i.e. churches would not be forced to recognize these marriages). And do you support outlawing abortion completely?

 

[Crackerjack]

I say lock 'em all in there without food and water, turn off the HVAC, then leave them in there until they can come up with a solution.

 

[percysunshine]

Ideally, Obama, Biden, Pelosi and Reid sequester themselves on a desert island for the next 4 year

CrusaderFrank, who would you rather be in control of the situation? The Romney and Ryan ticket? The problem I have with the majority of Republicans is their lack of upholding what I see as obligatory personal liberties. They would rather outlaw abortion completely and not allow gays to get married. Now, holding religion and legalities separate, would you support a law banning gays from getting LEGALLY married (i.e. churches would not be forced to recognize these marriages). And do you support outlawing abortion completely?

I think we should put rdean in charge. Even he could do better.

 

[Avatar4321]

Figure out how to live with a tax increase and the dollar decreasing in value.

 

[cpcreativity]

It was a manufacturing based economy then cp. Our service based can't offer the increases necessary to right the debt.

Well not at the rate that Clinton was able to for sure, but our budget deficit is a little over a trillion. In any case, raising taxes would not slow business as much as it is sensationalized to and cutting certain parts of a couple other programs would be legitimate and equalize the debt easily. I mean even at least a couple of high ranking military officials who oversee funding have said they are surplussed and do not need the highest funded military in history.


PERCY - I define cuts as anything that will close the gap between our annual budget deficit and revenue neutral.

 

[saveliberty]

It was a manufacturing based economy then cp. Our service based can't offer the increases necessary to right the debt.

Well not at the rate that Clinton was able to for sure, but our budget deficit is a little over a trillion. In any case, raising taxes would not slow business as much as it is sensationalized to and cutting certain parts of a couple other programs would be legitimate and equalize the debt easily. I mean even at least a couple of high ranking military officials who oversee funding have said they are surplussed and do not need the highest funded military in history.


PERCY - I define cuts as anything that will close the gap between our annual budget deficit and revenue neutral.

Careful, your tipping your liberal point of view a liitle early.

 

[cpcreativity]

Figure out how to live with a tax increase and the dollar decreasing in value.

Well first off a tax increase of any rate that has been talked about would not effect the standard of living as much as people hype it up to. Secondly, I believe that our dollar's value would rise if we were even slightly surplussed.

 

[Avatar4321]

Figure out how to live with a tax increase and the dollar decreasing in value.

Well first off a tax increase of any rate that has been talked about would not effect the standard of living as much as people hype it up to. Secondly, I believe that our dollar's value would rise if we were even slightly surplussed.

Not effect the standard of living? People are barely making it by as it is. You may not think it's that important, but alot of it will be the difference between food on the table or rent/mortgage payments, and the poor house.

And raising taxes isnt going to create a surplus. It will only widen the deficit, because it will slow the already limping economy and the spending hasnt stopped. We will never have a surplus while we are outspending revenues. And we havent had a real surplus in almost a century or more.

 

[cpcreativity]

Careful, your tipping your liberal point of view a liitle early.

Well on the surface I guess it can sort of look like a liberal point of view, but the farther I dive into the issues the less liberal or right or left or whatever I seem. The idea isn't to push rights or lefts to do anything, but rather balance it out and meet in the middle. The Bush tax cuts were installed at about the same time as we were fighting two wars which just logically doesn't make sense. Obama hitting the upper class with the amount of tax rate increase he is suggesting is also out-of-bounds.

 

[saveliberty]

It is a move toward socialism commerade. Dress up the pig any way you wish. Your colors are revealed for all to see.

 

[cpcreativity]

Not effect the standard of living? People are barely making it by as it is. You may not think it's that important, but alot of it will be the difference between food on the table or rent/mortgage payments, and the poor house.

And raising taxes isnt going to create a surplus. It will only widen the deficit, because it will slow the already limping economy and the spending hasnt stopped. We will never have a surplus while we are outspending revenues. And we havent had a real surplus in almost a century or more.

Well I can say that as a struggling college student with no financial backing from a family, I know how tight money is. However, the amount the government would take from low and middle incomes if taxes increased a little bit (maybe not as much as the tax cuts expiring would take) it wouldn't make or break a family. And as for upper 2% earners, if I were one of them I would GLADLY not take advantage of loopholes and unnecessary deductions as well as pay a little more if I needed to. After all a lot of those 2%-ers are wealthy because of the opportunities the U.S. has always presented. I would feel like I owed the government for overseeing the great country that made my success possible.

And as for spending OF COURSE I would suggest spending too, but taxes increases oh-so-slightly for middle and low incomes and letting the tax cuts expire on the upper is not a terrible idea either. I mean even Warren Buffet suggested a minimum tax percentage rate of 30% on earners bringing in $1-10 million a year and 35% above that!