2025 Deficit comes in at 1.97 Trillion. This Is Way Out of Hand

[JoeB131]

There is no plan that I am aware of (that is a real plan).

We are totally screwed when it comes to the deficit, given that we are now paying so much in interest.

The projections for the debt make me want to jump off a cliff (of course I'll be taking Dante and other left wing idiots with me

If it were up to me.

1. Raise medicare tax to match spending.
2. Means test the rich with regards to S.S. benefits
3. Stop COLA on SS until it is balanced out.

That would be year one.

Those are all decent ideas, but we need to do a lot more than that.

Here's the problem. Most of the spending isn't really touchable.

We spend

1.5 Trillion on Social Security- Can't really touch that. Means testing it for the "rich" won't put that much of a dent in it.
1 Trillion on Medicare
909 Billion on Medicaid
849 Billion on Defense
1.2 Trillion on Interest on the Debt
400 Billion on Veteran's Programs

So that's nearly 6 Trillion on things we can't really cut. Or cut that much.

The solution, unfortunately, is to rethink these programs, but also rethink our tax structure.

 

[JoeB131]

You clamed we the people pay the tariffs not businesses.

The Tariffs are againt the goods that get made on China. You lnow, stuff we used to make in the USA.

The democrats and rinos literally disnantked are factories and shipped the equipment to china.

We want those jobs back to payback the debt democrats and rinos createf

Democrats and RINOs did nothing of the sort

Big, multinational corporations did that.

I worked for a company in the Aughts that was owned by the British, who took American jobs and moved most of them to Malaysia and China, because the labor was cheaper there.

If you raised tariffs on them to the point the American version was more competitive, they'd probably just stop making the product.

 

[22lcidw]

Not true.

Clinton had 3 years of surplus. And the trajectory at the time said that Bush could potentially pay the 5 trillion debt off.
Didn't happen. Instead he jumped into a bunch of wars we didn't need. I'll never forgive him for that.

The deficits took off on his watch and have been climbing ever since.

The 90's was the peak decade for the post WW 2 generation in earnings. A lot of taxes paid. The positive side of Social Security was enormous. Of course it went into the general fund. Other things were used from purchasing bonds to other ways. The stock market burped in the spring of 2000 as a warning to what was coming as the post WW 2 generation started to slow its spending as they were saving more earnings. George W even cajoled the people for slowing down and tried to get them to start spending and they did not. Of course, the Progs screwed people over with the housing bust as they gave loans out with junk bonds. A lot of people lost trust in government after they were screwed over playing by the rules. The idiot barney frank left politics shortly after.

 

[candycorn]

How long does it take to build a factory?

View attachment 1173127

40,000 jobs? Sure. I recommend you wear your hard hat when you leave...there is a lot of pie in the sky.

 

[22lcidw]

Those are all decent ideas, but we need to do a lot more than that.

Here's the problem. Most of the spending isn't really touchable.

We spend

1.5 Trillion on Social Security- Can't really touch that. Means testing it for the "rich" won't put that much of a dent in it.
1 Trillion on Medicare
909 Billion on Medicaid
849 Billion on Defense
1.2 Trillion on Interest on the Debt
400 Billion on Veteran's Programs

So that's nearly 6 Trillion on things we can't really cut. Or cut that much.

The solution, unfortunately, is to rethink these programs, but also rethink our tax structure.

There are things. Might not be popular. One way is to increase the size of government half the size of the inflation rate each year. Over a decade or so it may balance. In the end it is who wins and loses. As it always is.

 

[Rambunctious]

Typical. What's the plan?

Prepare for surviving what's surely is going to come... Number one... pay off all personal debt... don't owe anyone for anything...

 

[JoeB131]

There are things. Might not be popular. One way is to increase the size of government half the size of the inflation rate each year. Over a decade or so it may balance. In the end it is who wins and loses. As it always is.

Give me a list of what you are going to cut with a dollar amount.

Keeping in mind that you will also be destroying jobs with those cuts that will have to be made up elsewhere.

 

[kyzr]

Those are all decent ideas, but we need to do a lot more than that.
Here's the problem. Most of the spending isn't really touchable. We spend

1.5 Trillion on Social Security- Can't really touch that. Means testing it for the "rich" won't put that much of a dent in it.

Fixing SS only needs the cap to be raised/removed. It is off the budget. If it goes "insolvent" recipients only get what money comes in, worst case about 77% of promised benefits.

1 Trillion on Medicare

Similar to SS, should be off-budget, needs to be fixed.

909 Billion on Medicaid

Can we afford "charity"? Probably not. This can be cut.

849 Billion on Defense

We spend more than the next 10 militaries combined. Need to cut it somewhere.

1.2 Trillion on Interest on the Debt

For every 1% drop in interest rates by the Fed it saves ~$300b. The interest rate is at 4%, we need it to 2%.

400 Billion on Veteran's Programs

Can't cut this.

So that's nearly 6 Trillion on things we can't really cut. Or cut that much.
The solution, unfortunately, is to rethink these programs, but also rethink our tax structure.

True. Trump is okay raising the top tax rate to 40%.
I also want to eliminate the capital gains tax break, income is income.
If tariffs raise $500b a year of new revenue, per Scott Bessent, that helps eliminate the deficit.

So there is NFW Republicans can bailout Obamacare by adding back the $1.5T they just cut in the BBB
$1.97T -$1.5T = $0.47T the 2026 projected deficit. Can't give in to democrat's demands, BBB wins.

Say tariffs cancel that deficit.
DOGE savings are $200b if congress enacts them
If the Fed lowers interest rates 1%, that saves $300b
If congress raises the top rate to 40%, that raises $_______
If congress fixes SS & Medicare that saves $__________
So if congress acts, that is almost $1T a year that can be cut off that $38T debt.

 

[Independent thinker]

There is no plan that I am aware of (that is a real plan).

We are totally screwed when it comes to the deficit, given that we are now paying so much in interest.

The projections for the debt make me want to jump off a cliff (of course I'll be taking Dante and other left wing idiots with me

If it were up to me.

1. Raise medicare tax to match spending.
2. Means test the rich with regards to S.S. benefits
3. Stop COLA on SS until it is balanced out.

That would be year one.

Supposedly the SS and Medicare programs are separate from the national debt. However, those programs do need shoring up.

 

[JoeB131]

Fixing SS only needs the cap to be raised/removed. It is off the budget. If it goes "insolvent" recipients only get what money comes in, worst case about 77% of promised benefits.

It barely pays a pittance now. And I don't think the rich are going to be keen on paying social security if they are going to only get a pittance.

Similar to SS, should be off-budget, needs to be fixed.

Same problem. Why would the rich pay more for benefits they won't use. You think rich people are going to wait in a medicare clinic?

Can we afford "charity"? Probably not. This can be cut.

Actually, most Medicaid Spending is on old, middle-class white people living in Nursing Homes.

For every 1% drop in interest rates by the Fed it saves ~$300b. The interest rate is at 4%, we need it to 2%.

We should be glad to be getting 4%, all things considered.

Can't cut this.

Sure you can. Here's an easy one. You only get Veterans' benefits if you were shot at by a testy foreigner. If you just served in the peacetime military (like I did), no Soup for You!

True. Trump is okay raising the top tax rate to 40%.
I also want to eliminate the capital gains tax break, income is income.
If tariffs reaise $500b a year of new revenue, per Scott Bessent, that helps eliminate the deficit.

Trump just cut taxes on the Top, get real.

Any ******* idiot who thinks tariffs are going to raise 500B a year needs to have his head examined.

 

[80zephyr]

Typical. What's the plan?

There can never be a plan. The party that actually cuts spending will lose the next election.

I'm afraid the US is on a fast track to insolvency.

 

[1srelluc]

I'll never forgive W for the huge expansion of the .gov after 9/11 and what it did to Virginia politicly.

Of course The Halfrican doubled down when he saw the opening.

Due to the .gov expansion during those years there are now more transplants in Virginia than natives.

The bottom line is "the more .gov/the more deficit/the more leftists".

I have no real answers for it.....At least none that are realistic.

That and given I'll be lucky to have 20 more years on this rock I'm not too keen on ******* myself in the time I have remaining.

I was "poor" for much of my life and now that I have done OK for myself I'm not giving up anything I worked for willingly so some youngin' can sit home on Medicaid and smoke dope.

 

[JoeB131]

I'll never forgive W for the huge expansion of the .gov after 9/11 and what it did to Virginia politicly.

Of course The Halfrican doubled down when he saw the opening.

Due to the .gov expansion during those years there are now more transplants in Virginia than natives.

The bottom line is "the more .gov/the more deficit/the more leftists".

I have no real answers for it.....At least none that are realistic.

That and given I'll be lucky to have 20 more years on this rock I'm not too keen on ******* myself in the time I have remaining.

I was "poor" for much of my life and now that I have done OK for myself I'm not giving up anything I worked for willingly so some youngin' can sit home on Medicaid and smoke dope.

Yet here's the thing. It's not like the system you support is giving the youngin's anything better to do, is it?

Those entry level jobs are all being replaced by AI.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

In theory. It might be interesting to see one of them actually start to show a little panic with regards to this and suggest we need to raise taxes. You do know that the democrats will have no problem and if the trust fund is headed for insolvency, it means a benefit cut. If you thought a tax hike was bad.......


They pay to the cap. What they get back isn't the issue. They don't need it. Believe me, I hate the idea. But something has to give. We've made to many promises thanks to FDR and LBJ. Punish success? I am afraid you don't understand that they would not miss this at all. My mother, a travel agent, had a client who said he used his S.S. to pay for his green fees. He was very wealthy. Either he starts giving up more or people start getting less. It's pretty simple. That does not mean we won't be seeing the payroll taxes go up either.

100,000 a year isn't a lot of money. And no, I don't want to raise federal income tax by that much. But we have obligated ourselves to those on S.S. and for decades to come. Something has to give.


No, I don't want you to starve. i suspect that COLA reductions would be regressive in nature. That or we simply take the wealthy off of the S.S. rolls. I know it sounds harsh and un-American. But this problem has been out there for years and NOBODY has taken it seriously. Don't forget that S.S. operates within the total federal budget which can't keep borrowing like it currently is.

Yes, you are harsh and un-American. I personally think you should run for office with that platform. I doubt you would even vote for yourself!

Tax hikes make no difference to me as I no longer pay taxes on anything except sales tax.

$100,000 is about double what I made at any time in my life. Cry me a ******* river if that's not enough!

Do you realize how contradictory you are?

 

[1srelluc]

Yet here's the thing. It's not like the system you support is giving the youngin's anything better to do, is it?

Those entry level jobs are all being replaced by AI.

Does AI do construction?

Does AI pull wire?

Does AI clean-up on a job site?

There is a huge demand for helpers in the trades. You got to start somewhere.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Prepare for surviving what's surely is going to come... Number one... pay off all personal debt... don't owe anyone for anything...

I owe for my new car that I had to buy when mine crapped out. Other than that, I am personally doing OK.

 

[JoeB131]

Does AI do construction?

Does AI pull wire?

Does AI clean-up on a job site?

There is a huge demand for helpers in the trades. You got to start somewhere.

"ooh, I want to do a menial job!"

Now, to be fair, I did menial jobs to pay for College (along with the National Guard). But the purpose there was not to do menial jobs at some point.

The problem is, the Republicans keep screwing up the economy to the point where the Menial jobs are all we have.

 

[Moonglow]

So, what are you going to do about it?

Elect another fake conservative to office under the guise of MAGATISM.

 

[1srelluc]

"ooh, I want to do a menial job!"

Now, to be fair, I did menial jobs to pay for College (along with the National Guard). But the purpose there was not to do menial jobs at some point.

The problem is, the Republicans keep screwing up the economy to the point where the Menial jobs are all we have.

Like I said, you have to start somewhere. Why is that so hard for your ilk to understand?

 

[Moonglow]

I'll never forgive W for the huge expansion of the .gov after 9/11 and what it did to Virginia politicly.

Of course The Halfrican doubled down when he saw the opening.

Due to the .gov expansion during those years there are now more transplants in Virginia than natives.

The bottom line is "the more .gov/the more deficit/the more leftists".

I have no real answers for it.....At least none that are realistic.

That and given I'll be lucky to have 20 more years on this rock I'm not too keen on ******* myself in the time I have remaining.

I was "poor" for much of my life and now that I have done OK for myself I'm not giving up anything I worked for willingly so some youngin' can sit home on Medicaid and smoke dope.

I use the VAMC to get free healthcare and smoke dope, it is not dope when it is legal, so I smoke my free weed I grow.