I now live in a RED STATE

[bucs90]

Our Governor will be LePage, a Tea Party backed Republican.

We'll see what effect this changing of the guard has on the State in the next year or so.

See my last post.

Unlike Democrats, conservatives don't look for instant gratification and benefits from our government, and those under a conservative government shouldn't look for instant utopia either.

Your state will slowly see corporate taxes reduced, and more companies will move there and create jobs for your people. It will take longer than a year to see results. South Carolina just landed a massive Boeing plant from Seattle thats bringing nearly 10,000 good paying jobs to Charleston, all because of low corporate taxes and non-union labor.

 

[froggy]

when the idiots like chris talk about federal funds they include things like military bases and parks

Military Bases? Off limits as far as I am concerned. That is mandated [Upkeep of the military and they've been cut wat too much anyway]. Parks? Good idea to keep many parts of this nation pristine and see no problem with them. It was an actuall good idea by TR.

Now...if we're talking of Social programs? Where's the scissors? Cut 'em baby. Get people back to work that can.

Which ones? Specifically. Shall we cut Social Security's current beneficiaries? See if grandma can get by on less? Maybe we should cut benefits available to the next generation? How about SSI & Medicaid? What's a few cripples roaming the streets and begging? Doesn't seem to hurt the tourist trade in Mexico....



If military spending is off the table there is no path to a balanced budget with reasonable taxes.

Lets start by not giving anymore to Fanny and the like.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Military Bases? Off limits as far as I am concerned. That is mandated [Upkeep of the military and they've been cut wat too much anyway]. Parks? Good idea to keep many parts of this nation pristine and see no problem with them. It was an actuall good idea by TR.

Now...if we're talking of Social programs? Where's the scissors? Cut 'em baby. Get people back to work that can.

Which ones? Specifically. Shall we cut Social Security's current beneficiaries? See if grandma can get by on less? Maybe we should cut benefits available to the next generation? How about SSI & Medicaid? What's a few cripples roaming the streets and begging? Doesn't seem to hurt the tourist trade in Mexico....

If military spending is off the table there is no path to a balanced budget with reasonable taxes.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are already insolvent.

Take 30 year olds off Social Security now or watch it crash later.

Take 30 year olds off Social Security and have them do what with the instant 12% pay raise, invest it for retirement? Good plan for everyone doin' well enough not to take that 12% and feed the baby with it. That plan would give lots of kids the opportunity to build an awesome li'l nest egg but it would also give you half a generation of seniors on welfare.

The best of both worlds isn't going to happen without a tax cut involving ONLY the SSA taxes paid and We, The People giving ourselves permission to invest the smaller tax still collected in something besides U.S. Treasury Bills.

Why can't We, The People own dividend paying shares like A T & T and Microsoft? We could hire a couple of those smart-ass bankers that fucked us and pay them based on performance.

Medicare and Medicaid are fucked as long as that brick from the medical lobbyists, strangely called ObamaCare even though it looks nothing like his original suggestion, stands.

It'll be an interesting couple of years with this big a group of fresh fish in congress.

 

[RadiomanATL]

Take 30 year olds off Social Security and have them do what with the instant 12% pay raise, invest it for retirement? Good plan for everyone doin' well enough not to take that 12% and feed the baby with it. That plan would give lots of kids the opportunity to build an awesome li'l nest egg but it would also give you half a generation of seniors on welfare.

Yeah, cause it's so much better to take the 12% of my paycheck to pay for seniors, leaving nothing left for me when I reach that age


I'll take the 12%, thanks.

 

[xotoxi]

Take 30 year olds off Social Security and have them do what with the instant 12% pay raise, invest it for retirement? Good plan for everyone doin' well enough not to take that 12% and feed the baby with it. That plan would give lots of kids the opportunity to build an awesome li'l nest egg but it would also give you half a generation of seniors on welfare.

Yeah, cause it's so much better to take the 12% of my paycheck to pay for seniors, leaving nothing left for me when I reach that age


I'll take the 12%, thanks.

I'll take 17%, please.

 

[DiveCon]

Take 30 year olds off Social Security and have them do what with the instant 12% pay raise, invest it for retirement? Good plan for everyone doin' well enough not to take that 12% and feed the baby with it. That plan would give lots of kids the opportunity to build an awesome li'l nest egg but it would also give you half a generation of seniors on welfare.

Yeah, cause it's so much better to take the 12% of my paycheck to pay for seniors, leaving nothing left for me when I reach that age


I'll take the 12%, thanks.

the problem is, you cant just stop paying in as the seniors now would be destitute
but i can see a weening off period for the younger people to invest what they put in into private accounts
eventually no one would be on SSI
but you would still have the disabled to take care of

 

[AVG-JOE]

Military Bases? Off limits as far as I am concerned. That is mandated [Upkeep of the military and they've been cut wat too much anyway]. Parks? Good idea to keep many parts of this nation pristine and see no problem with them. It was an actuall good idea by TR.

Now...if we're talking of Social programs? Where's the scissors? Cut 'em baby. Get people back to work that can.

Which ones? Specifically. Shall we cut Social Security's current beneficiaries? See if grandma can get by on less? Maybe we should cut benefits available to the next generation? How about SSI & Medicaid? What's a few cripples roaming the streets and begging? Doesn't seem to hurt the tourist trade in Mexico....

If military spending is off the table there is no path to a balanced budget with reasonable taxes.

Try going back to Constitutionally mandated functions?

Socialist Security is already insolvent. Has been a favourite slush fund filled with IOU's for decades.

And don't start with that heart tugging routine..it's really ******* boring.


And where is it mandated in the Constitution for all the Socialist programs. That's right...it isn't there. Spare us the Statist horseshit.

I'm definitely not trying to tug your heart, T - If you cut the life-lines that people reach for when they have no marketable skills without addressing what they might be able to do in exchange for resources, you create masses of hungry people. A hungry person is pitiable, hungry people are dangerous.

Let's work on the solvency of Social Security a bit later in this program, eh? It's solvent to 2035 using the worst case of the variables and today it works for LOTS of people who turn 65 and sign up for that monthly check and thank whatever Deity floats their boat that the Gub'mint forced them to save 12% of their pay for a retirement annuity of sorts.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Which ones? Specifically.

1. Foreign Military Bases in non-warzones need closing, ASAP.

2. Social Security and Medicare benefits need cutting, across the board. We could start gently, say a 5% slash...while increasing the retirement age for those not yet taking it.

3. EPA, FDA, and Education can easily be slashed.

4. Scrap the roughly $1 trillion Obamacare Omnibus.

5. Ditto for unspent 'stimulus'

6. Federal funding of states needs slashing. Federal money shouldn't be paying for State public pensions.

7. DARPA and similar defense research projects need scraping. Our military-industrial complex has incredibly high costs for incredibly little benefit, considering how other nations are catching up to us on far smaller budgets.

8. Foreign aid needs cutting. And I mean all of it.

9. And beggars/cripples? The **** does Washington care about beggars? You think the President is Robin Hood?

1. Foreign Military Bases in non-warzones need closing, ASAP.

Agree. 100%​

2. Social Security and Medicare benefits need cutting, across the board. We could start gently, say a 5% slash...while increasing the retirement age for those not yet taking it.

http://www.usmessageboard.com/politics/140369-i-now-live-in-a-red-state-5.html#post2933599​

3. EPA, FDA, and Education can easily be slashed.

EPA: Only if responsibility for the land is not handed to the corporations that own the land but to the states. If The People Of Wyoming want to pave Yellowstone and put up a parking lot, so be it. I trust that they won't.

FDA: Only if humans are forbidden from hiding behind paper when an endeavor they profit from kills someone.

Education: If Johnny can't read, how's he going to file his taxes?​

4. Scrap the roughly $1 trillion Obamacare Omnibus.

Start with the sense of fairness in the marketplace that is generated by the security of laws forbidding changes in your Health Care coverage when you get sick or hurt and cut the lobbyist influences and congressional waste out with scalpels, scissors & chain-saws.​

5. Ditto for unspent 'stimulus'

I agree. Book any reserves back in to the debt. ​

6. Federal funding of states needs slashing. Federal money shouldn't be paying for State public pensions.

My humble opinion leans toward the concept of the states taxing their citizens and businesses as they see fit and the feds collecting 15% from each state and nothing from individuals and businesses, but that would be too easy. Not enough IRS Employees.​

7. DARPA and similar defense research projects need scraping. Our military-industrial complex has incredibly high costs for incredibly little benefit, considering how other nations are catching up to us on far smaller budgets.

Not enough knowledge on the subject to lay down my opinion, but I'm all for cutting waste and pork in the military budget.​

8. Foreign aid needs cutting. And I mean all of it.

Absolutely no argument from me. It's tough to justify charity on a credit card, even if the interest is that of a T-Bill.​

9. And beggars/cripples? The **** does Washington care about beggars? You think the President is Robin Hood?

Washington cares because when the states were administering their own welfare programs back in the 60's & 70's people would live in one state and draw benefits in another, sometimes both at the same time. Federal administration via the Social Security Administration seemed like a better idea than states sharing information.

A 'Robin Hood' is not the best description of the office of President. Robin did it out of passion for those less fortunate in his community and most politicians are clueless as to the actual affect their decisions have on the average Joe and they don't want to know.​

 

[AVG-JOE]

...at least in regards to the State Government.

Just FYI...I haven't noticed any difference.

Well, you won't for a while. See, unlike Democrats, the red state folks dont expect automatic life enhancement from their government. Your benefits will look like the following:

- Corporate tax rates will probably go down a bit in your state. Won't affect you personally, but the company you work for maybe.

- Corporations will make a bit more profit, since they pay less in taxes. You may, or may not, see a raise as a result. Probably not in short term.

- Other companies fleeing high tax states, like Cali, NY, NJ, etc, may relocate to your state. See Boeing picking South Carolina over the Seattle area for huge new plant full of high paying jobs.

- As a result, your area will slowly see an increase in available, good paying jobs. These companies need workers ya know.

- Your company, in turn, will see a more competitive market for labor. They'll say "Dang, Company X just moved here, and we have some of our mid-level managers looking to go there. We better pay them a bit more, or give them a bigger office, or something to keep them here.

- Then, you'll start seeing benefits of living in a red state. The government won't swallow your local economy whole, and some companies will slowly start moving their business there as your state taxes slowly go down for them. Jobs will follow.

Of course, anyone's grand plan of living off government handouts will be hurt quite significantly. They'll have to get a job and work for it now.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo9AH4vG2wA[/ame]

 

[AVG-JOE]

Military Bases? Off limits as far as I am concerned. That is mandated [Upkeep of the military and they've been cut wat too much anyway]. Parks? Good idea to keep many parts of this nation pristine and see no problem with them. It was an actuall good idea by TR.

Now...if we're talking of Social programs? Where's the scissors? Cut 'em baby. Get people back to work that can.

Which ones? Specifically. Shall we cut Social Security's current beneficiaries? See if grandma can get by on less? Maybe we should cut benefits available to the next generation? How about SSI & Medicaid? What's a few cripples roaming the streets and begging? Doesn't seem to hurt the tourist trade in Mexico....



If military spending is off the table there is no path to a balanced budget with reasonable taxes.

Lets start by not giving anymore to Fanny and the like.

Not without first providing a marketplace for truly competitive banking with simple paperwork to replace it. Our economy couldn't stand another quake in the housing market.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Take 30 year olds off Social Security and have them do what with the instant 12% pay raise, invest it for retirement? Good plan for everyone doin' well enough not to take that 12% and feed the baby with it. That plan would give lots of kids the opportunity to build an awesome li'l nest egg but it would also give you half a generation of seniors on welfare.

Yeah, cause it's so much better to take the 12% of my paycheck to pay for seniors, leaving nothing left for me when I reach that age


I'll take the 12%, thanks.

I reiterate... What are you going to do with the MILLIONS who will spend that 12% on a nicer car or feed the baby and blow off saving for retirement? How about the THOUSANDS who will screw the pooch with their rank-ass stock picks or blow the wad in 'Vegas one summer?

Your choices are two: When they are too old or broken to work, we can put them on welfare or let them beg in the streets.

Do you see a third alternative? Legislate savings? What's the difference between that and a tax?

 

[RadiomanATL]

Take 30 year olds off Social Security and have them do what with the instant 12% pay raise, invest it for retirement? Good plan for everyone doin' well enough not to take that 12% and feed the baby with it. That plan would give lots of kids the opportunity to build an awesome li'l nest egg but it would also give you half a generation of seniors on welfare.

Yeah, cause it's so much better to take the 12% of my paycheck to pay for seniors, leaving nothing left for me when I reach that age


I'll take the 12%, thanks.

I reiterate... What are you going to do with the MILLIONS who will spend that 12% on a nicer car or feed the baby and blow off saving for retirement? How about the THOUSANDS who will screw the pooch with their rank-ass stock picks or blow the wad in 'Vegas one summer?

Your choices are two: When they are too old or broken to work, we can put them on welfare or let them beg in the streets.

Do you see a third alternative? Legislate savings? What's the difference between that and a tax?

False choice.

You don't know that they will blow their 12%. You don't know how they will spend it.

 

[manifold]

Your choices are two: When they are too old or broken to work, we can put them on welfare or let them beg in the streets.

There was a time when their family took care of them. Now people want society and government to act as one giant family. A path lined with peril for certain but for which the final chapter has yet to be written.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Yeah, cause it's so much better to take the 12% of my paycheck to pay for seniors, leaving nothing left for me when I reach that age


I'll take the 12%, thanks.

I reiterate... What are you going to do with the MILLIONS who will spend that 12% on a nicer car or feed the baby and blow off saving for retirement? How about the THOUSANDS who will screw the pooch with their rank-ass stock picks or blow the wad in 'Vegas one summer?

Your choices are two: When they are too old or broken to work, we can put them on welfare or let them beg in the streets.

Do you see a third alternative? Legislate savings? What's the difference between that and a tax?

False choice.

You don't know that they will blow their 12%. You don't know how they will spend it.

I'll bet you a dollar.

If you think a 12% tax cut would lead to a revolution in the rate of saving in this country, I have a bridge in Brooklyn going cheap, just for you.

Would you spend or save it for retirement if you got a tax cut?

If I wasn't so wasted, I'd start a poll.....

( It's o.k. - I have tomorrow off )​

 

[RadiomanATL]

I reiterate... What are you going to do with the MILLIONS who will spend that 12% on a nicer car or feed the baby and blow off saving for retirement? How about the THOUSANDS who will screw the pooch with their rank-ass stock picks or blow the wad in 'Vegas one summer?

Your choices are two: When they are too old or broken to work, we can put them on welfare or let them beg in the streets.

Do you see a third alternative? Legislate savings? What's the difference between that and a tax?

False choice.

You don't know that they will blow their 12%. You don't know how they will spend it.

I'll bet you a dollar.

If you think a 12% tax cut would lead to a revolution in the rate of saving in this country, I have a bridge in Brooklyn going cheap, just for you.

If I wasn't so wasted, I'd start a poll.....

( It's o.k. - I have tomorrow off )​

Again, you don't know how the majority would spend it.

And your solution is for the government to lose it for us.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Your choices are two: When they are too old or broken to work, we can put them on welfare or let them beg in the streets.

There was a time when their family took care of them. Now people want society and government to act as one giant family. A path lined with peril for certain but for which the final chapter has yet to be written.

There was a time when I guy who got hurt could turn the family barn into a bar and really turn things around. Now we have a permitting process designed to keep new businesses from competing. Times change.

 

[AVG-JOE]

False choice.

You don't know that they will blow their 12%. You don't know how they will spend it.

I'll bet you a dollar.

If you think a 12% tax cut would lead to a revolution in the rate of saving in this country, I have a bridge in Brooklyn going cheap, just for you.

If I wasn't so wasted, I'd start a poll.....

( It's o.k. - I have tomorrow off )​

Again, you don't know how the majority would spend it.

And your solution is for the government to lose it for us.

So what if the majority did do the right thing and save for their golden years? Could the American economy absorb 49% if they were unlucky? 33%?

What's with the defeatist attitude? If anyone can evolve an efficient government that the people are happy to pay for it's US! You expect the Dutch to be the first to get it right?

 

[RadiomanATL]

I'll bet you a dollar.

If you think a 12% tax cut would lead to a revolution in the rate of saving in this country, I have a bridge in Brooklyn going cheap, just for you.

If I wasn't so wasted, I'd start a poll.....

( It's o.k. - I have tomorrow off )​

Again, you don't know how the majority would spend it.

And your solution is for the government to lose it for us.

So what if the majority did do the right thing and save for their golden years? Could the American economy absorb 49% if they were unlucky? 33%?

What's with the defeatist attitude? If anyone can evolve an efficient government that the people are happy to pay for it's US! You expect the Dutch to be the first to get it right?

I'm happy to pay the government to ensure my basic freedoms and infrastructure. I'll take care of my own future, thanks.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Again, you don't know how the majority would spend it.

And your solution is for the government to lose it for us.

So what if the majority did do the right thing and save for their golden years? Could the American economy absorb 49% if they were unlucky? 33%?

What's with the defeatist attitude? If anyone can evolve an efficient government that the people are happy to pay for it's US! You expect the Dutch to be the first to get it right?

I'm happy to pay the government to ensure my basic freedoms and infrastructure. I'll take care of my own future, thanks.

And you should... even Social Security was never meant to be more than 1/3 of anyones retirement plan and a net for the unlucky and those willing to take some risks.

What if Social Security could promise the benefits it does today and only cost workers 10%? How about 8% or 6%? If we invest in something besides T-Bills and de-complicate the ******, the money would be there.

Would you look an American Investment Banker in the eye and tell her you didn't believe she could show consistent growth if she had the helm of a fund the size of the Social Security Trust Fund? Even a fund a tenth the size of the SS Trust Fund - give her 10% and hire 9 more just like her and watch the American Nest Egg grow.

The only thing more ham-strung by corporate and foreign lobbyists over the last 50 years than the American people is the American Government.

 

[RadiomanATL]

So what if the majority did do the right thing and save for their golden years? Could the American economy absorb 49% if they were unlucky? 33%?

What's with the defeatist attitude? If anyone can evolve an efficient government that the people are happy to pay for it's US! You expect the Dutch to be the first to get it right?

I'm happy to pay the government to ensure my basic freedoms and infrastructure. I'll take care of my own future, thanks.

And you should... even Social Security was never meant to be more than 1/3 of anyones retirement plan and a net for the unlucky and those willing to take some risks.

What if Social Security could promise the benefits it does today and only cost workers 10%? How about 8% or 6%? If we invest in something besides T-Bills and de-complicate the ******, the money would be there.

Would you look an American Investment Banker in the eye and tell her you didn't believe she could show consistent growth if she had the helm of a fund the size of the Social Security Trust Fund? Even a fund a tenth the size of the SS Trust Fund - give her 10% and hire 9 more just like her and watch the American Nest Egg grow.

The only thing more ham-strung by corporate and foreign lobbyists over the last 50 years than the American people is the American Government.

Why, it sounds like you're advocating privatization there.