If the Balanced Budget Amendment had been in place 10 years ago...

[NYcarbineer]

...how would we have funded the Afghan and Iraq wars?

 

[OODA_Loop]

Does not apply to war or national emergency.

Plus a super-majority can utilize discretionary overrule.

 

[bripat9643]

...how would we have funded the Afghan and Iraq wars?

We would have funded it by cutting your welfare, turd.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Does not apply to war or national emergency.

Plus a super-majority can utilize discretionary overrule.

Don't bother them with facts, they don't do facts.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

...how would we have funded the Afghan and Iraq wars?

I bet you think that is an argument against the BBA, don't you? Shouldn't you, if you actually oppose those wars, be asking for a BBA to prevent them?

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

...how would we have funded the Afghan and Iraq wars?

They would fall under the amendment’s ‘emergency provisions.’

 

[editec]

A balanced budget amendment is a very stupid idea.

Instead of atttempting to tie the hands of bad leaders, perhaps we ought to trying figuring out why the leaders have consistently been so bad?

You guys are trying to cure this social disease by treating the symptoms, rather than trying to figure out the casue of it in the first place.

 

[bripat9643]

A balanced budget amendment is a very stupid idea.

Instead of atttempting to tie the hands of bad leaders, perhaps we ought to trying figuring out why the leaders have consistently been so bad?

You guys are trying to cure this social disease by treating the symptoms, rather than trying to figure out the casue of it in the first place.

The reason leaders are bad is because the are selected by the bottom 51% of the voters. Under Democracy, the scum rises to the top. The only way to get rid of bad leaders is to abolish Democracy and implement an aristocracy.

 

[Truthmatters]

Useless, it would be "over ridden" like they talk about here right away

 

[Wiseacre]

Not that it has much to do with the BBA, but Congress did approve both wars, didn't they? And some democrats voted for them too I think. If they were so concerned ith the funding maybe they shoulda done something about it then.

 

[Truthmatters]

A balanced budget amendment is a very stupid idea.

Instead of atttempting to tie the hands of bad leaders, perhaps we ought to trying figuring out why the leaders have consistently been so bad?

You guys are trying to cure this social disease by treating the symptoms, rather than trying to figure out the casue of it in the first place.

The reason leaders are bad is because the are selected by the bottom 51% of the voters. Under Democracy, the scum rises to the top. The only way to get rid of bad leaders is to abolish Democracy and implement an aristocracy.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuMQjKiaDTg&feature=related]Classic Movie Line #47 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Sallow]

...how would we have funded the Afghan and Iraq wars?

They would fall under the amendment’s ‘emergency provisions.’

Yeah.

Ain't it grand? We can "provision" (meaning play the shell game) to send our military to kill people in foreign lands with no problem..but helping our own people to live long healthy lives is impossible.

Afghan and Iraq were wars fought..that came with a tax cut. The very first time in American history.

 

[Wacky Quacky]

Does not apply to war or national emergency.

Plus a super-majority can utilize discretionary overrule.

Who gets to define what is a "National Emergency"?

And when it comes to spending, both parties are unanimous.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Does not apply to war or national emergency.

Plus a super-majority can utilize discretionary overrule.

So it's pretty much a deal where we exempt the pro-war crowd from fiscal responsibility?

lol

Given that unpaid for wars are the primary cause of our massive debt, what's the point of balanced budget amendment that exempts defense?

 

[NYcarbineer]

...how would we have funded the Afghan and Iraq wars?

They would fall under the amendment’s ‘emergency provisions.’

AKA Loophole.

How would Reagan have busted the budget with his military buildup? I suppose that would have been a Cold 'war' loophole?

 

[NYcarbineer]

Question 2 (or 3 or whatever)

Could Bush gotten either of his tax cuts through if a balanced budget amendment were in place??

 

[OODA_Loop]

Does not apply to war or national emergency.

Plus a super-majority can utilize discretionary overrule.

So it's pretty much a deal where we exempt the pro-war crowd from fiscal responsibility?

lol

Given that unpaid for wars are the primary cause of our massive debt, what's the point of balanced budget amendment that exempts defense?

No pretty much a deal where can pursue and can swiftly kill our enemies or those we view as violent to our national interest. Like say Libya or Islamic / Muslim groups bent on destroying our way of life by attacking civilian targets.

Plus high tech defense and its resultant budgetary requirments means Obama doesn't have to directly see the Libyan, Afgan, Iraqi, (soon Iranian) women and children the bombs from his planes kill.

 

[Flopper]

If we ever adopt a balanced budget amendment, it will probably be either in the form of a super majority to override or a debt brake like the ones in Switzerland or Germany. The debt break cuts off spending once it exceeds a certain percent of GDP and of course there are overrides for national emergencies. Considering the size of our deficit, a balance budget amendment would have to be phased in over many years.

Standard & Poor’s sovereign ratings division dismissed the idea, arguing that it would be more harmful than helpful to the country’s creditworthiness. “In general, we think that fiscal rules like these just diminish the flexibility of the government to respond to crises."

Against the Balanced-Budget Amendment - Rich Lowry - National Review Online

A balance budget amendment would increase pressure to raise taxes. Currently we can cover increased spending by debt or taxes. Eliminate debt and taxes is the only option to cover increased spending.

There is no easy way to cut spending. A balanced budget requirement is no magic bullet.

 

[uscitizen]

Heck with a balanced budget agreement, If Bush and the republican controlled congress had just stuck with PAYGO.

 

[Cuyo]

...how would we have funded the Afghan and Iraq wars?

We would have funded it by cutting your welfare, turd.

Ha! Have you compared welfare spending to military, turd? Talk about pissing on a river.