TakeAStepBack
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- Mar 29, 2011
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Running out of crayons, shaman?
No comments.
Leave taxes alone.
CUT SPENDING!!!!!
There's no clear connection between the level of taxation, and the level of economic activity - Ben Stein on Fox and Friends.
The biggest growth and prosperity we've ever had in this country was from roughly 1941 to 1973... and those were years of much higher taxes than we have now.
-Ben Stein
there you go, once more Fox proves that it is fair and balanced.
How soon before he's wished into the Fox cornfield?
expunge all the non-believers and purify the party in the hopes of never getting elected again!
Great photo ... very apropos.expunge all the non-believers and purify the party in the hopes of never getting elected again!
Where have I heard that before?
Ben Stein is a bright guy. His commentary is worthy of noting, especially since he knows a thing or two about economics. In reality the President can do little to spur or curb economic activity, but controlling a crushing budget deficit is something that the President, in conjunction with a cooperative legislative branch, can do. I think a positive gain from Mr. Stein's commentary is the simple fact that you can't justify low taxes and runaway spending any more than a family can justify maxing out credit cards while putting almost none of their monthly income toward paying them off.
Here is where the trouble comes in. Republicans are every bit as responsible for the massive deficit as Democrats. The military activity of the last 10 years has added tremendous amounts to our national budget. It's not just entitlement programs, stimulus packages, and bailouts, although that's part of the problem too. However, it is troubling that $5 billion spent on the bailout of the auto industry is criticized much more than the $6.2 million it takes to build a single aircraft carrier, and the government does that like clockwork every 3-5 years.
Whether you think the Iraq War was 100% justified or a dismal failure, it cost us a fucking fortune. It is no coincidence that the four highest spikes in budget deficit over GDP in the history of the U.S. were during the Civil War, WWI, WWII, and now. The period of the Great Depression is behind all of them at #5. War costs, and it costs a lot. It always has.
I am not an advocate of higher taxes, as I am a Republican who believes in sound fiscal responsibility. However, we don't have it now, and both parties are to blame. You can't justify lowering taxes when spending is out of control. Any family who has ever declared bankruptcy from too much credit will tell you that.
Anyway, I didn't watch the video, and if Ben Stein advocated raising taxes and glossed over spending control, then that was a missed opportunity to make a good point into a great one, because, as some in this thread have pointed out, I'm not so willing to pay more taxes if the spending is still out of control.
expunge all the non-believers and purify the party in the hopes of never getting elected again!
Where have I heard that before?
(picture)
Ben Stein is a bright guy. His commentary is worthy of noting, especially since he knows a thing or two about economics. In reality the President can do little to spur or curb economic activity, but controlling a crushing budget deficit is something that the President, in conjunction with a cooperative legislative branch, can do. I think a positive gain from Mr. Stein's commentary is the simple fact that you can't justify low taxes and runaway spending any more than a family can justify maxing out credit cards while putting almost none of their monthly income toward paying them off.
Here is where the trouble comes in. Republicans are every bit as responsible for the massive deficit as Democrats. The military activity of the last 10 years has added tremendous amounts to our national budget. It's not just entitlement programs, stimulus packages, and bailouts, although that's part of the problem too. However, it is troubling that $5 billion spent on the bailout of the auto industry is criticized much more than the $6.2 million it takes to build a single aircraft carrier, and the government does that like clockwork every 3-5 years.
Whether you think the Iraq War was 100% justified or a dismal failure, it cost us a fucking fortune. It is no coincidence that the four highest spikes in budget deficit over GDP in the history of the U.S. were during the Civil War, WWI, WWII, and now. The period of the Great Depression is behind all of them at #5. War costs, and it costs a lot. It always has.
I am not an advocate of higher taxes, as I am a Republican who believes in sound fiscal responsibility. However, we don't have it now, and both parties are to blame. You can't justify lowering taxes when spending is out of control. Any family who has ever declared bankruptcy from too much credit will tell you that.
Anyway, I didn't watch the video, and if Ben Stein advocated raising taxes and glossed over spending control, then that was a missed opportunity to make a good point into a great one, because, as some in this thread have pointed out, I'm not so willing to pay more taxes if the spending is still out of control.
Mostly a good post, but Ben did not "gloss over spending control". He simply stated that both taxation and spending control were needed.
The surprise was that he advocated higher taxation at all.
Right. I just saw some commentary suggesting it, but I didn't know for sure, hence why I said "if." Anyway, I think the notion of "raising" or "lowering" taxes is all that most people really hear. "Appropriate" taxation, along with some badly needed spending control, is what is in order.
expunge all the non-believers and purify the party in the hopes of never getting elected again!
Where have I heard that before?
(picture)
I believe Toro's comment was meant as sarcasm.