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Subscribe to RSSThe entire debt debate has raised this question: What do you do to reduce the nation's deficit?
Republicans want to strictly cut government spending, while preserving all tax cuts and tax breaks. President Obama, by contrast, favors a balanced approach -- some spending cuts, plus revenue increases and tax hikes.
But what about the American public? Back in February, at the very outset of this deficit/debt debate, our NBC/WSJ poll measured 26 different ways to reduce the deficit or to cut spending. The list runs from most acceptable to least acceptable.
-- Placing a surtax on federal income taxes for people earning over $1 million a year: 81% acceptable
-- Eliminating spending on so-called earmarks for special projects and specific areas of the country: 78% acceptable
-- Eliminating funding for weapons systems the Defense Department says are not necessary: 76% acceptable
-- Eliminating tax credits for the oil and gas industries: 74% acceptable
-- Phasing out the Bush tax cuts for families earning $250,000 or more per year: 68% acceptable
-- Freezing annual domestic spending at its current level for the next five years: 67% acceptable
-- Reducing Medicare and Social Security benefits for wealthier retirees: 62% acceptable
-- Gradually raising the Social Security retirement age to 69 by 2075: 56% acceptable
-- Cutting funding for the new health-care law so that parts of it will not be put into effect or enforced: 51% acceptable
-- Reducing agriculture subsidies or support to farmers and ranchers: 45% acceptable
-- Eliminating funding to Planned Parenthood for family planning and preventive health services: 45% acceptable
-- Gradually turning Medicare from a system in which the government pays for most beneficiaries' medical bills into a program in which seniors would receive government-assisted vouchers to purchase private insurance: 44% acceptable
Among the budget cuts:
Subsidies to build new nuclear power plants: 57% acceptable
Federal assistance to state governments: 52% acceptable
The Environmental Protection Agency: 51%
Transportation and infrastructure projects: 51%
Scientific and medical research: 48%
National defense: 46%
Unemployment insurance: 43%
Head Start: 41%
College student loans: 39%
Heating assistance to low-income families: 34%
Medicaid: 32%
Medicare: 23%
K-12 education: 22%
Social Security: 22%
Leave a Comment:
There is allot that I agree with in the survey however, I question some things in it.
In the survey I question the cutting of the Invironmental Protection Agency. I would like to make it stronger and give it more teeth.
I question cutting Planned Partenthood and a voucher system for Medicare should not happen. Single payer and cutting fraud and over billing is a better idea.
I think we should put more into rebuilding our countries infrastructure because our infrastructure in crumbling and needs repair. This type of major rebuild needs to come from the Federal level. Local and State monies connot afford to rebuild bridges and dams. This will give business contracts and create jobs so I see it as a win-win.
Amy:
YES, the Prez DID offer 4 trillion in spending BUT - if you read that ENTIRE article, after the hocus-pocus, there was only 2 BILLION in cuts..the rest was from "creative" accounting.
I'm sure MOST of you would agree that most Americans dont have a problem paying a little more in taxes; I sure dont. HOWEVER, the American people DO have a problem with Government's SPENDING.
We ALL know that if Congress raises taxes by 1.00, they will say "Woo HOO...we have TWO extra dollars to SPEND".
To be honest and frank! I do not think we would be having this issue with the economy if republicans would stop giving the top 1% of the population that have all the country's money tax breaks. WAY back in the day when rich had to shell out alot more than they do now in income taxes and they were till able to drive bentlys and afford their lush lavish mansions on the hill. WHY is it that the poor working class, and middle working class have ALWAYS take on the burdon of this country? WHY is it the rich always get the breaks? To be honest If i were president i would tax the rich at 80%. THERE IS ABSOLUTLY NO NEED for them to make so much and hold the majority of the countrys money.
CJ
Not only that there is no reason they should have it made easier to get more. Like in tax breaks and loopholes. You and I don't get the sweet deals so why should they?
exactly jennifer. IT MAKES ME SICK. every day its screw over the poor or middle class, while oh the rich are getting tax cuts. the ONLY time this country was halfway decent to live in was under clintons rule. GRANTED, there were some issues with his office as well, but at least the country had a surpluss of money and the poor, and middle class were not crapped on. WE the majority of this country are working class or lower middle class. how long is it going to take before we say enough is enough? i guess it will be a cold day in *finish expletive* before that ever happens and americans get the balls to stand up to washington.
CJ & Jennifer; both of you have posted the absolute truth. The difference between far-right philosophy and REALITY is that they see a line drawn that separtes government from capitalism and that goverment is the only problem. The problem is the opposite, Capital now owns goverment (a form of Fascism) resulting in economic and tax policies being rigged to favor business over infastructure/society, wealth over labor, greed over fair play.
CJ -
YOU go pray to the Clinton G-d.
The fact is, that the world changed on 9/11/01. You cannot compare pre-9/11 presidents to post 9/11's.
The fact is that ANY President (other than Carter) would have responded militarily...whether to DO so was wrong or right. Military spending (and homeland security) are what got us into this financial problem. It would still BE a problem had Bush lost the presidency.
This county FAILED to prevent 9/11. They WERE on Notice; not just from idicia of the Cole and Lebanon barracks, and the FIRST attack on the WTC, but, for the past 40 YEARS the world has watched as Islamic terror grew from "oh, it's just ISRAEL - what do WE have to worry about" to what we are faced with today.
As to your "sickness" about the Repubs screwing everyone but the rich, I take issue with that. Be it Dem or Rep, they ALL are out to get as much money from you and me as possible. NOT to save; NOT to pay down debt, but to SPEND. The DIFFERENCE is, that the THEORY differs between parties.
The Repubs' "theory" (whether or not they actually practice it) is the "trickle down theory, WHICH IS SOUND. You enrich corps, they expand, creating jobs, which, in turn, put more ppl to work and more money, through paychecks into society/economy. The PROBLEM with the repubs, is that they use incentives to defeat their own theory. THIS IS RECTIFIABLE.
The Dams, on the other hand, have a theory which CANNOT succeed and CANNOT hep the economy. Their theory is to tax as much and as many ppl as possible, in order to create a state reliant on the government...i.e., socialism - to pay as much money to as many NON-contributors to society as possible. The AIM is to be "daddy" to a populace that does not HAVE to work. When the Gov. decides what you can and cannot have, you make sure to stay on Gov's "good side", after all, that's where your bread is buttered.
THAT is the theory of entitlement. The DISincentive to WORK is what brought down the USSR (lol, well, THAT an Ronnie's outspending them in defense).
I dont care for the way the Repubs are handling things - but, with THEM, at least I still have a SHOT at middle class and bettering myself; the Dems' theory, can ONLY end in self destruction.
Jeff
We seemed to do just fine under Clinton. I don't agree with your argument at all. Trickle down never helped anyone but the already wealthy. Bush and company spent like drunken sailors and never intended to pay the bill. Jobs are created by demand for products. Demand is created by people having money to spend and product innovation. Those who are in trouble, like the unemployed, the homeless or the mentally ill need social services to help them get to a better place. While the trickle down kings in business are sitting on piles of money and waiting for more tax breaks, the nation suffers. Dems are not anti business, we just want corporate America to play fair and not try to nickle and dime the working class just because they think that they can get away with it now that people are desperate. I think that this country is turning very angry and it is not Obama that they blame for the down fall of our country.
While I understand your post, I dont agree with it.
First, "you did fine under Clinton" does nothing to address my post that "pre" vs. "post" 9/11 presidents cannot be compared. Of course Clinton did fine (in comparison) - that was before 9/11; He didnt have the challenges of a post 9/11 world.
Second, you fail to mention about "products", that NO ONE will buy American products because they are too expensive to manufacture in the U.S. - this is DIRECTLY related to UNION wages (vs. foreign workers' paychecks (and thus "cost" of goods) being so much cheaper. Once again, it is the DEMS who are buddy-buddy with unions.
Lastly, as to "trickle down", while I agree with you that it hasnt helped anyone, you and I part company on the "ever". It was Regan's policies that brought us back from the Carter years, and, it was done through trickle down. I AGREE that it hasnt worked lately, simply because big business HAS gotten too many breaks and government has "upped" the rewards to big business for NOT trickling down; this is not JUST a Repeb fault, but, for an inordinate amount of time, the Dems have had control of congress and could have done something about it; ergo my post above that neither party is "for the people". But I stand by my post that "trickle down", in THEORY can and does work IF implemented; whereas the Dem policies WHEN implemented, can only cause destruction.
The Founding Father's idea of making the USA into a Republic was to require compromise so that government can continue to function; those that refuse to compromise are in DENIAL of the true intent of the founding fathers. Republic defines the way our government is structured, a structure that was designed to function within the framework of a CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY.
The founding fathers also had an idea called "Federalism"...THAT died long ago.
I'm not sure what "version" of history you refer to. Ratification of the Constitution resulted in the formation of the Union and the ending of a loose confederation of States. It was not federalism or anti federalism that died on the civil war battlefields; it was fathers and brothers, patriotic Americans no matter which side of the divide they ended up on. History says the Union was preserved so I'm not sure what you are trying to say.
Disagreement concerning what the role of the federal government in governing is, is alive and well, to say otherwise is to deny almost 250 years of American history.
Due to the slanted (by omission) reporting on the factors that fuel the exponential growth of our National deficit and thus our national debt by the corporate news media, the majority of the public will have a skewed understanding of the issues that caused our country to fall into debt. If these factors are not addressed in the public debate and thus remain unaltered we will continue to exponentially increase our national debt year after year regardless of the number of domestic programs that will be cut from our Federal budget. For the past 30 years there has been a steady decline in the tax rate for the wealthiest Americans and US corporations. This is not to deny the cost of the Bush tax cuts for the middle class. However the cost to level of income ratio is far greater the higher up the income scale we go. Add to this the cost of two wars of choice that were excluded from the national budget by George W during the 8 years of his Administration and thus funded totally on borrowed money plus interest! In addition the Bush Senior Drug Benefit program that funneled billions of Senior dollars to big Pharma because the Republicans prohibited Medicare from negotiating lower prices. Then we need to factor in the cost of all Federal Government services tailored for US corporate growth and expansion at home and abroad to the tune of 65% of our annual revenue outlay. Now we have to tally in the factor that this 65% Federal corporate welfare program has been and continuous to be funded by the tax revenues paid primarily by wage earning Americans since US corporations (more than 90%) have paid ZERO in Federal income taxes as well as the greater majority of these receiving billions in IRS payments. We also need to add the drastic reduction in wage earners income tax brackets since millions who lost their jobs to outsourcing comprise nearly 20 million of the underemployed. According to the CBO the deficit and debt state of the US government is due in large part to dramatic reductions and losses of tax revenue! You can read this report directly at: www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/06/cbo_debt.html
Time to have an honest examination of what is threatening the financial stability and prosperity our country to date and acknowledge the fact that without significant revenue increases (not to working Americans, Ma & Pa businesses or employers who are in fact small businesses and exclude Koch Industries and Bechtel and many mega corporations who adopt that "small business" cloak for huge tax benefits meant for the actual local small business owner. Until we end the welfare programs for mega corporations and industries, the wealthy Hedge Fund Managers and the mega banks our country will be driven into bankruptcy.
Breaking news: Prez Obama given Unilateral power to create rolling credit limit. Most Repubs Wheezed a sigh, and Demo's stood around looking dazed.
Go Forward 2 years
Breaking news: President Obama wins second term, but with a Republican majority in both houses of Congress. Ob swears to cut spending and stop borrowing. Repubs stand around clapping and looking into each others eyes knowingly.
Lets add up all the people with huge piles of cash laying around. Saudi's, Chinese, Indian, Euro. Add to the total some African and South American moneys. OK, the USA is reduced to an Aa rating. Now, I'm loaded with money in my Porfolio. Greece wants to borrow my money, I don't think so. Russia wants to borrow it, humh, Russian maffia controlled, I don't think so. Japan wants it, I don't think so. I have so much cash its burning at my ulcer. The treasury sells some bonds at auction for a tidy profit for my ledger, let me think for a NY minute. I think so.
All those companies who are now owned by Foreign entities still pay taxes to the US. It's their loop-holes, it's the give away of local government to business. Its build a store, hire a dozen workers at low wages, and pay little taxes syndrome that is killing us. Just about every city has the same stuff on the books. Every County, every State. Some businesses gang up into the same little office building, and collect their dues from the Governments. All are just a computer server. Most don't return your calls.
Amy:
Good Job explaining what many of us our feeling. Look, It is the job of congress to agree on these issues and to make compromises. It has definitely not happened to date. McConnell was a coward to suggest that the President should do the job of congress. That is an insult to every American who voted to put congressmen in office. Our President is doing a great job of bringing the issues to the American People. It is not his job to do the work of the congress. Were not buying the right wing propaganda on this one.547 Congressmen and Women need to put on their big kid pants and make decisions that are good for the American people as a whole.
Didn't we have Newt Gingrich shutdown the Government in 1995/1996? It cost Wall Street and Big Corporations, Republican donors, a lot of money. (Cheap goods from China won't have Customs agents to release the shipments; no H1B visas and Green cards; ....) I lived through it without even noticing its effects; Grandma still received her Social Security.
So let the Government shutdown!
Shuting down the Government is not the same as the United States of America defaulting on its debt. Go do some research, get a grasp on reality and then come back and we can discuss what this is really all about.
I am sittiing here watching the puff piece that Chuck Todd is having with the Lobbyist Grover Norquist and letting him basically have everything his way. Why is Grover Norquist allowed to go around and tell everyone how to run our government? Who the hell is he? I do not understand why this man gets so much respect from anyone. He was part of and still represents the mentality that brought down Abarmoth who went to jail. Why do the Republicans who apparently whore for the far right Burch Society allow this guy to even enter the House at all? What the hell is wrong with you so called normal Republicans? Why do you allow this to happen? I am sorry Chuck but your interview swith Norquist was so sugar coated it caused my blood sugar to go up.
You can take the road that Obama and the Democrats are on but its the road of no return .They 've lied since day one to us now and if that is what you want then i pray that ourGOD COMES SOON.
I think there should be a salary cap on CEO's
irene grooms
When your God comes have take Grover Norquist too. The man is crook and he has your beloved Republicans on the short leash right now. Why irene do they let the crooked lead them around? Do you think your God will forgive Norquist for being crook? Mine won't.
Has it occurred to anyone that the Republicans may want the Fed to default on the debt in order to raise interest rates and thereby create a windfall for the banks?
I cannot believe that the democrats and republicans in this post are so strong a proponent to their party that they believe anything it states. Democrats only want to spend more. They got their jobs on entitlements, and they will not stop spending. Republicans only want to spend. It is hypocritical the discussions of their cuts, as they know then need to spend to get and keep their cush jobs. they are each just targeting the entitlements of their rivals. That is why the republicans are asking for larger cuts, because the democrats are holding onto larger entitlements. If they win that, they can compete better in elections.
It is clear this is a bilateral attack on the american people. when they say everyone will need to give away something to make this work, that will not include the government workers, politicians, bankers and wall street. They once again will be bailed out. It will be the middle class that pays again and again, while holding up their signs in favor of their great presidential candidate or congressman, etc.
As far as my social security. How can posters believe that I don't deserve that once I retire. Are they collecting from another system. I have paid over 15% of my income for almost 40 years to social security. I will need to work another 17 years to get full retirement benifits. By that time I will have put in over a half a million dollars, that when you consider some of it will have been in the system for over 50 years, is worth well over 3 times that. Now you say I should not get my money, and that is the problem. really. You must be on a government dole job where you have never paid in. Or in a union job where someone else took care of it. I am not saying that I could not survive without it, but it is my money. If I had invested it in a private retirement system and they took it away from me they would go to jail.
In all the discussions regarding the debt crisis and related items, some themes become quite clear.
Wish I could put this in more eloquent script, but that's my take.
After reading most comments posted , the conclusion should be let the country go into default . It will create a world turmoil , and a clear understanding that the Washington politicians must do severe reform in all areas ! plus beggar nations will have the cash aid cut off and let some other country pick up the banner as world cop . Russia fell as a world power and not a disaster world wide . It is rough but it may be the best way to go . Pick up the pieces and start with basic spending and cash flow spending not to go over cash inflow .
To the rethuglicans, the deficit is a means to an agenda of theirs. Take away all the revenue so you starve
the big government and they can't fund their programs. Cut social security, cut medicare, cut medicaid, starve
off the funds for the O'Bamacare and any and all entitlements. To accomplish this, they can't do it themselves,
remember its only the top 2% they want to live and prosper, they incorporate the help of their base. The white
people who think the rethuglicans are like conservatives of the past. It ain't the same crew, people. These
guys are vicious and think nothing about the base just the top 2%, the corporations and big oil they represent
and who buys them out. They're not for anyone middle class, women, children, college kids, teachers, unions,
workers or minorities. They are for themselves, nobody else. Get it thru your fat heads or fear their fate.
Vote them all out in 2012!!!!!!! Only way to get rid of them once and for all. They're unamerican!
They could care less what it takes to take down this president. If it takes down America with it they care
for nothing. They're anti-american. anti-women, anti-union, anti-education, anti-poor, anti-elderly, anti-social
security, anti-medicare, anti-medicaid, anti-christ.
Stop watching Fox and start watching whats good for your family and this country!
It ain't the Rethuglican party, thats for sure!