E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSPer the Sunday-show rhetoric, both sides remain far apart in budget negotiations… But remember: The real negotiations haven’t even started yet… Democrats and Republicans now find themselves in completely opposite places from 2011… Pelosi threatens to introduce already passed Senate-bill that extends Bush tax cuts for only household income below $250,000… Obama holds bilateral with Bulgaria PM at 2:55 pm ET… Wasserman Schultz to remain DNC chair… Checking in on Mitt Romney… And the latest VA GOV developments.
As the White House and Republican leaders enter the final months of negotiations over the fiscal cliff, both sides remain very far apart. The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd reports.
*** Far apart: Less than a month before the Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire and significant spending reductions are supposed to go into effect, the Obama White House and congressional Republicans remain far apart in their negotiations. “We're nowhere, period. We're nowhere,” House Speaker John Boehner said on FOX yesterday. He also blasted the budget offer that the White House gave to Republicans on Thursday, which included $1.6 trillion in increased taxes and revenues, $400 to $600 billion in spending cuts, and the essential end of Congress’ control over the debt limit. “I was flabbergasted… I've just never seen anything like it. You know, we've got seven weeks between Election Day and the end of the year. And three of those weeks have been wasted with this nonsense.”
Larry Downing / Reuters
President Barack Obama hosts a bipartisan meeting with Congressional leaders in the Roosevelt Room of White House to discuss the economy, in this file photo from Nov. 16, 2012.
*** Boehner vs. Geithner on the Sunday shows: Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner was adamant that the Bush tax cuts for income above $250,000 would have to expire. “The only thing standing in the way of [a deal] would be a refusal by Republicans to accept that rates have to go up on the wealthiest Americans,” he said on “Meet the Press.” And he added that if Republicans want entitlement changes, they’ll have to propose them. “What we can't do is try to figure out what they need. They have to tell us. And then, we have to take a look at it, and see if we think it makes sense for the American people.” But as bad as things sounded on the shows yesterday, let’s not panic yet. This isn’t all-hands-on-deck time. After all, President Obama was out golfing with Bill Clinton and speaking at the Kennedy Center yesterday. As we’ve told you before, the real negotiations probably won’t start until mid-December.
*** 2011 vs. 2012: Role reversal: What is striking, however, is that Democrats and Republicans now find themselves in COMPLETELY OPPOSITE places than they were in 2011. A year ago, Republicans were the ones – after their victory in the midterms – who had the political winds at their back and felt like they had the mandate. Now it’s the Democrats. In 2011, Republicans were the ones with more detailed plans about spending cuts (think the Ryan plan). Now it’s the White House with a more detailed plan. And back then, Republicans had the leverage with the debt ceiling. But now Democrats are the ones with the leverage, because of the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. As the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent writes, “[I]f we do nothing, Democrats will get their way. All the tax cuts will expire, and Dems can come back and push a new tax cut just for the middle class -- a circumstance that will only increase the Dems' leverage further.”
*** Pelosi threatens to introduce already-passed Senate bill: And given that leverage, don’t overlook this gambit: House Minority Leader says that Democrats might try to schedule a vote, via a discharge petition, on the already-passed Senate legislation that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts only for household income below $250,000, CNN writes. “‘If Speaker Boehner refuses to schedule this widely-supported bill for a vote, Democrats will introduce a discharge petition to automatically bring to the floor the Senate-passed middle class tax cuts,’ Pelosi said in a statement. Under a ‘discharge petition,’ a bill can be brought to the floor without going through a committee or without approval of House leadership. The bill would need an absolute majority - 218 votes - to pass.”
*** Obama’s day: At 2:55 pm ET, President Obama hosts a bilateral with Bulgaria PM Boyko Borissov. And then about an hour later, at 4:00 pm, he delivers remarks at the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction symposium at the National Defense University.
*** Wasserman Schultz to remain as DNC chair: NBC has confirmed from two Democratic officials that President Obama will ask the Democratic National Committee to ratify Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to remain as DNC chair when the party next meets in January. Politico first reported the news this morning.
*** Checking in on Romney: Over the weekend, the Washington Post ran a piece checking in on Mitt Romney a little less than a month after his presidential loss. “Four weeks after losing a presidential election he was convinced he would win, Romney’s rapid retreat into seclusion has been marked by repressed emotions, second-guessing and, perhaps for the first time in the overachiever’s adult life, sustained boredom, according to interviews with more than a dozen of Romney’s closest friends and advisers.” More: “Unlike the last two unsuccessful nominees, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), Romney had no job waiting for him. His public platform fell out from under him on election night.”
*** The latest VA GOV developments: On Sunday, President Obama golfed with Bill Clinton -- but also with Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe (D) and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. But could McAuliffe get a primary challenge from former Rep. Tom Perriello. As the Washington Post reported on Friday, “Former congressman Tom Perriello, currently at the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, has quietly approached prominent Democrats in recent weeks to let them know that he is at least considering a run, according to party operatives in Virginia. Perriello himself has not responded to several requests from The Washington Post for comment.” With Cuccinelli as the all but assured GOP nominee, the penalty for a primary on the Democratic side would SEEM to be less.
Click here to sign up for First Read emails.
Text FIRST to 622639, to sign up for First Read alerts to your mobile phone.
Check us out on Facebook and also on Twitter. Follow us @chucktodd, @mmurraypolitics, @DomenicoNBC, @brookebrower
Leave a Comment:
When is the Cat-fight between Bhoener and Obama going to end ?
Maybe Boehner should call for Cessesation so that he can become the Supreme Leader and Chief of the Real America. Then he can call a War on the "other America".
Boehen how about resigning and leaving the country alone. You can become the new James Bond if you retire please do us a favor !
Vote them out, low rating, not doing their job? The house was just reelected even though it had such a poor overall rating. I know here in Florida we reelected just about the same ratio of Rs and Ds with the Rs holding the majority. Florida went for Obama yet we reelected the same people we think so poorly of? Any state that has been under Republican control for any amount of time is gerrymandered to favor the Republicans. The will of the people of America is not a factor.
Those who control this control our country will not give up power until it is taken from them locally. I can't vote your representative out. I can't vote my own representative out! His campaign was about social issues with no mention of fiscal issues and he was reelected. Because my district is gerrymandered, I have no say in any of this.
What's worse is these games will hurt me either way. I am close to retirement. I have worked and paid taxes all my life. I never had children yet gladly paid for local schools, healthcare programs, retirees, and those who needed temporary help. Now, if I do need help (I hope not), it won't be there despite all I have paid.
For all those that are saying that Obama gave a proposal now the 'whining' Republicans need to counter need to go in somewhere for a reality check and a class on how you really get things done.
Anyone who wants to and does believe that the Obama proposal is realistic or a plan heaven help you all.
He campaigned that he had the better plan.
1. Where is it?
2. Did he not say it was a shared balanced approach of taxes and cuts?
3. I challange all of you to show me where this paln he sent is fair and balanced.
How is it that he says give me this now and I promise you I will give you something later?
If he expects to be trusted then why not do it in reverse and give the really necessary cuts now; which is much easier and do real tax reform later and not in a rush?
Why because this is; Obama, the perpetual campaigner who only wishes to play politics with other peoples money.
Obama continues to talk out of both sides of his mouth to the detriment of our kids sake and future. Does anyone really think that he is concerned about his own childrens future?? NO HE IS NOT. Logically, if he was he would be acting totally different.
This is what happens when you have no direct skin in the game.
He will just write more books about his time and hit the lecture circuit for millions thereby insuring his childrens future.
Likewise, for those of my middle class brethren who really believe that he knows, identifies with and understands our pain i would like to know what you are eating and drinking.
For one this man has never held a job in the private sector or created a single thing in his wole life so how could he know??
He has been paid his whole life by the taxpayer. How much of his schooling was paid by the taxpayer? How many perks of politics has he gotten in his life on the backs of the taxpayers.
Now to how to negotiate for real and not play politics.
1. First Obama has to stop playing politics and put his "real and better" proposal that he said was better when campaigning on the table.
2. Offering up something this ridiculous should be beneath the office.
3. Again his actions do not match his voluminous rhetoric and promisies.
4. Where is the promised balanced approach?
5. Where is the transparency?
He needs to try stop the nonsense and go sit hiss ass down and do the job he was elected for.
Or does everyone really believe that he was elected to travel around campaigning forever; costing us millions and billions in travel expenses that are unneccessary.
If you truly have the great plan you present it first in writing, you publish it for all, you negotiate it openly and then there is no need to travel around and try to sell what is never put on paper.
He needs to evolve from trying to be the ultimate master of empty words and promises into an actual devisor of plans who can put them on paper and work from their.
He always wants to get someone elses first so that he can use the only tactic that he seems to know well and that is to demonize and demonish everything that he does not like in an effort to get what he wants and thinks we should have because he is the one who knows better; irregardless of that the people want. 51-52% of those that voted does not make a majority of what people want. For that you would need a vote of 100% of the people.
Just because the govt does not count a discouraged worker who stops trying to find a job as unemployed anymore does not mean that you can discount the discouraged voter who is sick of what goes on today. How many people did this president turn off with his campaign tactics???
When did he ever run on his record??
Did he not just run a demonizing campaign?
Did he not do many of the things he admonished John McCain of doing?
Romney lost. Get over it.
Obama is going to let the tax cuts expire and dare the do-nothing GOP House to not reinstate those for the middle class.
Over half of us have voted Barry back in and don't want tax increase for the middle class. Of those voting for Mitt, Over half of that half who are also middle class, altho they want some spending cuts THEY Don't want middle class tax increases, JUST ON THOSE WHO ARE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE, THE UPPER 2%!
These non-partisan congressmen who fold their arms and DO NOTHING to run our country and let it take credit rating dives are, along with those who personal wealth haS increased over 25% since election, ARE going to be voted right out of this gravy train in their NEXT congressional election. Nothing personal, Sorry dudes, it's all business, our country's business and we need BIPARTISAN as in NOT THE LAST BUT the previous decade where we saw IMMENSE NATIONAL GROWTH. One of the big things Pres. Clinton did wrong was at the end of his 2nd term, heading out the doooooor, he penned the GLB ACT in 1999 essentially financial de-regulating the U.S. paving the way for Wall St. "free markets and financial and mortgage industry chaos" causing our nation economy and many of the world's economy to TANK!! Thank the stars we did vote NO TO Mitt and returning to the FAILED FINANCIAL GWB'S POLICIES... we are warned if it happens again, we'll be bought out by Cash Riich Mid-East and Asian Nations and our GOODS ORIENTED SOCIETY as we know it will cease to exist... goods up 2000%, gasoline surpassing Europen prices of $9, $10, $15 per gallon!! Elder politicians from the past, peope like Ross Perot, who have no axe to grind are putting this our there for us to know...this will devastate the middle class and ONLY make goods higher priced for the rich and
"we could be equated to"
"The Roman Empire as our "Goods, Industrial Might, strong Political Society went away."
We, the PEOPLE AND SMALL BUSINESS OF AMERICA ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NOT Big Business, WE ARE THE MAJORITY, WE PAY MOST OF THE TAXES AND WE ARE THE SHAREHOLDERS WHO WANT BUSINESS-SAVY REPRESENTATIVES, OUR CONGRESSMEN TO run our our country AND write and vote in legislation for our best interest.
"The Big Alarm Clock in The Sky" went off when you non-partisan congressmen folded your arms and DID NOTHING TO AVOID OUR COUNTRY'S CREDIT RATING TAKING A DIVE!
Our country is founded on working together, for the people, NOT BIG BUSINESS AND THEIR LOBBYISTS! AmericanS have become more informed and you're DONE, Mr. Do Nothing Congressmen.
You congressmen IN ALL PARTIES with arms folded have VOTED AND FAILED US, outlived your usefulness, not done your jobs to run our country AS A BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE, voted yourselves raises when we were in decline and, GUESS WHAT??, ... the gravy train's over COME ELECTION TIME IN YOUR DISTRICT. YOU'VE ALL GOT FAMILIES JUST LIKE US AND IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL, IT'S JUST TH BUSINESS OF RUNNING OUR COUNTRY AND WE NEED NEW ORGANIZATION AND NEW REPRESENTATION TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND REMAIN, THE STRONGEST NATION IN THE WORLD.
CJ your not making scence, If over half voted for Obama, and didn't want taxes to go up on the 2%, why did they vote for him? You conterdicted yourself, badly! I voted for him and a lot of other people did too, yet not ONE did not want txes to stay the same for the 2%, yet your saying that they they wanted it different. Grow up. Its nicer if you are.
Hope we go off the cliff.....really do.....hear the same bs every 4 yrs. Just gov't propaganda to attempt to sell the Country on how important they are that they do have responsibilities....give me s break they are all worthless.
One good thing if is the cliff, there will be less Repubs in office next 2 rs.
A few bad apples, spoil the entire lot. What we MUST DO, is get rid of those bad apples, so that America can be strong again!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The entire government is full of shysters in both the democratic and republican Congress and Senate leadership. This dysfunctional group of leaders have no intention of ever working together for the good of the country. Middle Class Americans better hold on to their ankles tightly and get ready to be SCREWED by the DIP$hits we unfortunately voted into office.
Kattakra, look again! The republicans want to enjoy their rich friends, and let the rest of us fall! look closer and you will see that the tea/repo. party does not want 98% of america to have any dreams for the future! All they care of is "how to steal more from the poor and give to the rich. So get you ears and eyes to open and learn what this fight is really all about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's how compromise works:
Side one wants these things A, B, C.
Side two wants these things E, F, G.
Side one proposes that things 1, 2, 3 happen.
Side two proposes that things 4, 5, 6 happen.
Side one says that they can live with things 4 & 6 if thing 2 happens
Side two says that there is no way they agree to thing 1, but can live with things 2 & 3
Side one proposes that things 1, 2, 4, 6 happen.
Side two proposes that things 2, 3, 5, 6 happen.
Side one proposes things 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 happen. (with 7 being a win-win proposition).
Side two looks at this proposal and says "we're not really happy with this, but for the good of he country it will have to do."
Side one says "we really wanted this (1) to happen, but this is a step in the right direction so we can live without (1)"
Problem mostly solved (neither side is especially happy) and side one/side two work on solving the next issue and maybe continue to behave like rational people. It's not rocket science!
Da, Da, Da, When side 1 wants to steal from the American people, then side MUST stop them!!!!!!!!
The fact is that GW Bush came into office with a surplus and in less than a year he started two wars and didn't bother with funding either of them on the actual budget. Dick Cheney, his vice president stated that deficits don't matter and they merrily kept the military-industrial complex busy. Had they sold war bonds as in past wars the current budget issues wouldn't exist or would be far less critical than they are today. Furthermore when Americans are working they pay taxes. The more they make the more taxes they pay. If Americans' jobs were sent off shore only to benefit some greedy companies and their leaders it puts Americans out of work and so instead of contributing to the treasury they are taking from it just to survive. These aren't lazy louts who use the system to get all the goodies they can but hard working people who just want to get back to having decent paying jobs so they can contribute their share to the betterment of us all.
President Obama has repeatedly admonished Congress for its lack of leadership on this matter and lack of action. He has proposed a balanced approach that cuts unnecessary spending while, at the same time, raises revenue. He knows, and has said, that spending cuts alone nor tax increases alone will solve the problem. Although he spends less than any president since Eisenhower he is criticized by the Republicans. Unfortunately they have offered no alternative that would solve the problem. All they clamor for is tax breaks for those who can certainly take care of themselves. We were told by "the great communicator" that trickle down economics would create jobs. We tried that in good faith and it did not work. Even the "great communicator" raised taxes when necessary. He faced ever growing inflation. That inflation was started during the Johnson Administration and can be attributed to the Vietnam war. It continued through Nixon (who froze prices for wages to catch up, a good move) and through Ford and Carter neither of whom did much to curb the inflation. We now have the opposite situation. Instead of inflation we are on the verge of depression. We came out of the worst recession since the Great Depression and we don't want to go back. President Obama has triumphed despite the opposition's obstruction of job creation bills and anything that didn't directly benefit the corporate benefactors they are beholden to.
The people have spoken. Winning by a landslide in the electoral vote and the largest margin of any sitting president in decades coupled with a few more seats in both houses of Congress the message is loud and clear that America supports the President and not the right wing nut job Facist wannabes that are so opposed to his every move. Despite hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign spending (thanks to Citizens United etc.) to defeat the will of the people the huge corporate interests couldn't entirely buy this election. That won't stop them from trying. What will stop them is when we get politicians who represent the will of the people, and corporations are NOT people too, my friends, instead of the will of a small fraction of the population who happen to represent corporate and greedy people.
Without a balanced approach, as suggested by The President, and if we go over the fiscal cliff the Republicans will rightfully get the blame. They failed to make Obama a one term president and so now they should be willing to compromise for once and move this country forward into the 21st Century instead of going backward to the 19th Century as they appear to want to do.
You're right - going back to the 19th century would be short-sighted. I say go back to the 18th century; a time when our Founders fashioned a well-conceived constitution strictly prohibiting the Federal Government from levying any form of Direct, and Capitation Taxes. - (See US Constitution, Section 9,pp 4 ) You do realize, don't you - that it wasn't until 1913 that congress stealthily ratified the constitution to permit taxing of individual incomes? (that stinky 16th Amendment thing)- Prior to that, the US Treasury was required to raise money the old-fashioned way.... by making the government work to raise popular support for whatever they wanted money for, then ask them to voluntarily contribute.
Sadly the 16th amendment armed the Federal Government with unfettered access to the combined earning power of its citizenry. Today, our National Debt per capita far exceeds America's annual income per capita. - Our $20 Trillion deficit divided across the 44 million now working - lays a heavy $188,000 annual debt on every working American. - And Obama has you believing that taxing the wealthy will help?
But will it?
There are 4 million so-called 'wealthy people' in America - I am talking about those so-called 'selfish people' targeted by Obama and the Democrats - the people making more than $250,000/year. I invite you to do the math yourself.... then admit that taxing the wealthy will do virtually NOTHING to move us away from the fiscal cliff. Shall I wait for you to get your calculator?
---- Ready?.... Here's the math...
4 Million 'rich people' x $250,000 = what? That's right!.... You get exactly $1 Trillion dollars! - You do realize, don't you... that your buddy Obama is planning to move America's 10 year deficit to over $20 Trillion. So, here's the reality of it - - Even if Obama and the Democrats manage to confiscate the entire $250,000 from each 'wealthy person' - they will have to do that for 20 consecutive years to pay down the $20 Trillion already wasted!
If math doesn't convince you, then perhaps policy fine-print will.... You do realize, don't you - that the Democrats want to grant Obama unfettered, presidential liberty to raise the National debt ceiling any time he wishes, without going through congress! - Given the Feds track record for the wholesale destruction of our Nations economic engine - Do you really want deficit spending to go beyond the already unreachable $20 Trillion now proposed?
If so, then you are a thoroughbred Socialist - might as well give the Feds full ownership of every business in America.... Let the government tell us which trade they need us to work in to best support the National Good.
I hope this helps you realize who the real 'bad guys' are - Hint.... it's not the wealthy, it's whoever votes for more Government Spending, and greater expansion of Federal Powers.
So what are YOU in favor of?
92 percent of the country agress on two things... Tax increases for the Wealthy and spending cuts on Entitlements.
Why will the President not take Leadership and propose cuts on Entitlements????
mike-pa Please stop trying to sound smart, you lack of smarts, shows, and it is VERY sad to know that there is someone in America, that is so dumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The entitlements you talk about, were bought and paid for, by the American people. I guess you wouldn't know of this since you come from outer space!!!!!!!!!
Melvin ...cant you have a debate with out name calling? Yes 92 percent of the country agrees on cutting entitlements. I pay into them also...42 per cent of the federal spending is on Entitlements...something has to give. As you know being a Baby Boomer ....they have been talking about this for a long time ... What are we going to do when the Baby Boomers retire? We will run out of money...and we are... So a new plan has to be made to make these entitlements survive the Baby Boomer retirement.....
I was told 25 yrs ago ...when I started to contribute to SS and other Entitlements that I may never see a penny due to the Baby Boomers retiring ... I know you think the World is owed to you at this stage in your life...and you are owed something...but what about the rest of us?
Who cares that they are FAR APART, as long as President Obama does not CAVE. I am tired of the RETHUGICANS HOLDING THE WHOLE COUNTRY HOSTAGE.
Mr. President. I don't want you to Compromise with the Republicans on THIS RIDICULOUSNESS OF TAXES AND THE DEBT CEILING.
I have said many times, You and the Democrats need to stop coming to Negotiations with Republicans with KNIVES AND THEY ARE BRINGING ROCKET LAUNCHERS.
The President has taken Name Calling, Racism, INSULTS in all forms to WIN this Election. We want the President to STAND UP for the People this Time. We have taken all we need to from the Republican OBSTRUCTION, BLACKMAILING, and their CABAL OF Wall Street BILLIONAIRES and Super Pacs.
Can we, the People, ask that The President and the Democrats stand up just this time for us? THIS WILL MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD! We will take a Tax Hike if that is what it will take to bring Republicans to the Table without BLOCKING the whole system and kick Grover Nordquist to the Curve AT THE SAME TIME.
The Republicans do not want to NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH. When will you and the Democrats realize that? They keep moving the GOAL POST and you guys have the BALL.
Please do not disappoint us and give the store away. Health Care should have been a big lesson, to actually STAKE OUT WHAT YOU WANT FIRST AND STICK TO IT.
While you are at it Change the FILIBUSTER, and make them TALK. The Country has been held HOSTAGE for 4 years. We, THE PEOPLE are TIRED OF IT and I hope you ARE.
Talking Points you talk like this is a Boxing match and the President is your favorite Boxer. Well a Boxing match does not compromise. The President does not have a mandate ... The House was re-elected again also. There was 50 mil-48 mil popular vote ...far from a mandate.
Lets see ... what is good faith to you ?
Get rid of filibuster because it interferes with Checks and Balance...
Last I looked ...the majority of the Country did not want Obama Care...
92 percent of the Country also want cuts in Entitlements...
MIKE-PA If your a boxer, you must have lost all the time. It seems that while boxing and making this comment tells me your ears and eyes are shut. Go back and re-read ALL the news, the President has been saying. If you still can't see or hear it, then go see a doc. and have your ears eyes checked. Because your in deep @!$%#.
Melvin I read the news all the time...obviously mostly on here...what the hell are you talking about?
9 FACTS followed by 1 Humble Opinion: - Doubt me if you must; but this collection of FACTS arms the typically stupefied American with every truth he/she needs to wake up tomorrow morning, and from this day forward live with a sensible understanding of the relationship between Taxes, Employment and The Fiscal Cliff. - Nothing written in my humble post is arguable – (Unless you wish to argue with Government Statistical Data) – The math doesn’t lie. So by all means, do your own calculations… If your conclusion doesn't scare you, then the depth of your stupor is beyond reach - and the energy emitting from your on-going, willful stupidity exists as the REAL problem in America.
Here now, are 9 slap-in-the-face facts laid out as simply as possible. Please read at your own ideological risk….
FACT 1: The economic engine of any nation is driven it's ‘working age’ population. Globally, this has come to mean anyone aged 15-64. This demographic is counted on to drive the economy PLUS pick up the tab for all Government Services. Statistically, Global Banks and Governments use this population data to calculate a Nations ADR score - Age-Dependent-Ratio. - (see )
FACT 2: The ADR of the United States is 50% - Meaning the financial engine of our economy, and the funding of all Government Services depends solely on the earning power of 50% of our citizens.
FACT 3: The US population stands at 315 million citizens. Having an ADR score of 50% means if our Nation had 0% unemployment we would have 157 million people between the ages of 15-64 contributing to the economic activity of our society, working to accumulate wealth to support ourselves and for the functions of our government.
FACT 4: The total invoice for Government Services in 2012 was $5.5 trillion – this includes Local, State & Federal Costs. Divided amongst the ADR working population, that came to $96 per day, or $36,000/year for every American between the ages of 15-64 – whether that individual earned any money or not.
FACT 5: The actual tax burden is NOT spread evenly amongst the ADR. Truth is, not everyone within the ADR working age is actually working. There exists 3 categories of unemployed persons reported by the Bureau of Labor & Statistics: They are” The BLS-U3, BLS-U6 and the NiLF report. When added together, statistics from these reports reduce the combined Private/Government US employment total to 46.3 million persons – which brings the even distribution of last year’s $5.5 Trillion tax haul to just over $118,000/year for each person.
Want some more facts?
FACT 6: Our current and anticipated $20 Trillion Spending Deficit spread over 10 years, combined with an annual $6.5 Trillion budget raises the American worker’s evenly distributed tax burden to just over $183,000/year.
For those who are clueless about how BLS Reporting Works – These next FACTS are for you…
FACT 7: The posted Unemployment Rate (the BLS-U3 Report) stands at 7.9% - Meaning our government considers 7.9% of Americans to be of working age, but currently find themselves unemployed and qualified to receive unemployment benefits. In raw numbers, official records count 12.5 million of our Age-Dependent-Workers looking for employment, but finding none. – Though these people ‘appear’ to be paying taxes on their unemployment benefits, in reality they are living off of tax-money already paid in, then recycling some of that money back into the system. Fresh tax money is not derived from an unemployed person.
FACT 8: The extended (or actual) Unemployment Rate (the BLS-U6 Report) is 14.7% - This includes the 6.8% we hear about who have ‘given up’ – These are the unemployed and underemployed whose unemployment benefits have expired. These working age adults have suffered a loss of earning potential and failed, in the current state of affairs, to find suitable replacement for lost opportunities. For statistical (and political) purposes, our Government moves them into a different category, so they no longer appear in the weekly U3 report. This lesser known, but more telling category is the BLS U6 report. An additional 10.7 million working age Americans fall into this classification – Bringing our total unemployment number to 23 million.
FACT 9: Our Government recognizes yet another Category of Unemployed which does not appear in any Unemployment Report – This is the Not-in-Labor-Force (NiLF) Category. It includes everyone 16-65 who can work but chooses not to look for work. For whatever reason, they are No-Longer-in-the-Labor-Force. (NiLF) … Discouraged workers, welfare recipients, students, early retired, stay-at-home caregivers, etc. US Bureau of Labor Statistice (BLS) reports 27.9% of the entire population falls in this category – This comes to a current count of 88.3 million people. (see )
OPINION: Falling off a cliff never hurts; it’s that sudden stop at bottom that does you in! We’ve already fallen off the fiscal cliff; we just don’t know it. The presumably wise & logical mindset of Democrats is to dig the hole deeper and deeper so as to prolong the free-fall! They don’t want America’s big, bloody splat at the bottom to take place on their watch!
AMEN!
Why is congress so far apart, is because the Republicans are out to lunch, during the discussions. I, as a baby boomer, was promised that if I contributed to Social Security, I would get a return on my investment. BUT now the repos, are trying to take that away from me. THIS IS MY INVESTMENT!!!! DON"T TRY TO ROB ME OF IT!!!! But since the repo's needed a few million dollars, they raid this funds, and are now refusing to give it back. Again, this money belongs to us, and any attempts to steal it from us, will be met with harshness they have never suspected!
An economic idea: the FCST act, that is the Food, Clothing, Shelter, Transportation Act; what is it? Everyday needs of Americans. So, thousands of components that are created to produce our nations food, clothing, shelter, and transportation....why not build the factories and equipment used to research, develope, manufacture, and produce them.......here, in the United States of America.
That, certainly, would keep many, many Americans busy making our everyday-needs.
Oh, and the energy used for this: solar, wind, hydro, electric, geothermal? Manufactured, proudly made in the U.S.A.
Add information technology to the aforementioned; since millions of Americans are plugged via computers: desktops, labtops, notebooks, Ipads, smartphones/TV's. How much of this technology can be researched and manufactured in the United States instead of outsourced?
Tea nuts, you are so fatalistic. A bad economy doesn't help you. Let the Dems fix the economy, like they did in 1999. Then you will be able to run some moron like W and people will actually believe the BS.
Romney feels bad, but you guys can run Ryan next round and bring Romney in as VP. His story of his struggle was so compelling. He was never handed anything (except a trust fund) Have you ever set up an ironing board? it's absolute hell and they tip over real easy. Not good when you have wine and caviar. Ever had to ask your parents for a loan? it sucks. If they kick with no inheritance tax it just works better. Then you can start a career as a corporate raider, while donating 10% of your income to a bogus religion and calling it a charitable deduction. Then you can tell people like Joe the plumber (not really a plumber) how they can get rich from tax cuts, using yourself as an example.
After you collapse the economy, you can hide out in Dallas and paint Dog pictures. Wow, you guys are geniuses!
There's no financial cliff, only the reality of what the Obama debt crisis produced. You can't build an economy by reducing the deficit by $207 billion while adding $1.8 trillion to the national debt in the same time period.
Reelecting Obama has condemned this country to suicide by Obama. It's only a matter of time.
Obama is starting to negotiate like a Republican. Who said he was an amateur? He learned from the best. Playing hardball with you guys is a hoot.
The GOP says, "this is a serious matter" and "we are not interested in playing rope-a-dope", again just offering rhetoric to hide behind instead of any real answers or any sincere departure from their stubborn concentration on protecting "the money's" interests, their strong supporters and masters. Yes, it "is a serious matter" and their continually offering only subterfuge to con the people and to rationalize justification for their arrogant refusal to make any real bipartisan efforts, sticking to no tax increases for the 1% but possibly allowing cutting deductions and programs for everyone else, is really "playing rope-a-dope" with the Republicans considering the "dope" to be the majority. The Republicans literally have to prove they can offer more than rhetoric that just disguises "more of the same" (“more of the same” like returning to Paul Ryan’s budget proposal which completely favors the very wealthy while increasing costs to the majority).
This isn't just with the "fiscal cliff" and tax negotiations, regrettably the Republicans have become cocky confident in their ability to force the Democrats to cave-in, recent history clearly shows it, with the power, influence and mega-funds behind them as they are owned and controlled by "the money", and as they use the constant joint efforts to con the people, considering them only "pawns" to be used and abused, and to manipulate public opinion. It really is neither Republican philosophies versus Democratic nor "conservative" versus "liberal", as that is just part of the subterfuge. No matter what anyone's loyalty, when they can be objective and rational long enough to evaluate reality, there can be no denying that the Republicans irresponsibly concentrate totally on their political ambitions and on serving only "the money" and they don't really negotiate but rather try to dictate, without regard for the costs to the people. They simply play games with offering their rhetoric, trying only to gain political advantage while not conceding even an inch.
As just one current example look at the antics of McCain and Graham as they take a legitimate issue but go drastically overboard with it for their political purposes. Not only wasn't Benghazi the first occurrence, with even more loss of life in the past, but McCain and Graham were totally silent in those past instances. They fault what likely was innocent misinformation but never faulted GWBush's constant misinformation rendered to manipulate public opinion, which was stubbornly supported by the full Republican party, even when the Bush administration falsely justified attacking Iraq; in everything Bush constantly lied and Condi Rice repeatedly swore to it - and McCain and Graham were quiet. Their use of rhetoric to dupe and use the people is obvious and very costly in its aim to serve only the few.
Sadly the 16th amendment armed the Federal Government with unfettered access to the combined earning power of its citizenry. Today, our National Debt per capita far exceeds America's annual income per capita. - Our $20 Trillion deficit divided across the 44 million now working - lays a heavy $188,000 annual debt on every working American. - And Obama has some of you believing that taxing the wealthy will help?
Sounds reasonable; but will it help?
Let's see.... tax returns tell us we have 4 million so-called 'wealthy people' living amongst us in America - I am talking about those so-called 'selfish people' targeted by Obama and the Democrats - the privileged few making more than $250,000/year. Let's you and I join the effort to go after their money, and see how much we can get.
I'm getting out my calculator.... going to punch in few numbers here..... I'm sure we'll get a bundle out of these rich dudes... right? .
..... click.... click.... click-click.... click, click, click.... CHA-CHING!
Hmmmm.... interesting.... It's not as promising as I'd hoped. Maybe I did something wrong. Why don't you get your spreadsheet out and punch the numbers in for yourself.... Appears to me that that taxing the wealthy will do virtually NOTHING to move us away from the fiscal cliff. Shall I wait for you to get your calculator?
---- Ready?.... Here's my math...
Let's take the 4 Million 'rich people' and confiscate the entire $250,000 from all of them. Yep, let's just take the entire 'evil' amount away from each of them.... Make them middle-class like the rest of us. So 4 million X 250k = What? - That's right!.... You get exactly $1 Trillion dollars! - We do realize, don't we... that our buddy Obama is wants to move America's 10 year deficit to over $20 Trillion? So, if we vote to let Obama and the Democrats confiscate the entire $250,000 from each 'wealthy person' - they will have to do that for 20 consecutive years to pay down the $20 Trillion already wasted!
If math doesn't convince us, then perhaps policy fine-print will.... We do realize, don't we - that the Democrats want to grant Obama unfettered, presidential liberty to raise the National debt ceiling any time he wishes, without going through congress! - Seeing the Fed-Gov's track record for the wholesale destruction of our Nations economic engine - Do we really want deficit spending to go beyond the already unreachable $20 Trillion now proposed?
I don't. But if you do, then you are a thoroughbred Socialist - we might as well vote to give the Feds full ownership of every business in America.... then let them turn around and command us to labor in whatever trade will best support the National Good. - And pay us whatever they think is 'fair'
I hope this little exercise helps readers realize who the real 'bad guys' are - Hint.... it's not the wealthy, it's whoever votes for more Government Spending, and greater expansion of Federal Powers.
So what are YOU in favor of?
Has there ever been a President with such a lack of Leadership...Ever?
If the Country goes over the Physcal cliff......That will be his legacy. History will not remember anything else.
This just goes to show, that how much bipartisanship is important in the USA. Both parties are guilty of the "our party is the only good party" idea. James Madison argued against opposing factions (parties) being in a democracy. He was correct as it seems halfway. If the 2 parties oppose each other almost entirely, then it just doesn't work. But 2 parties work when they work together and compromise. There is a huge lack of compromise today, seeing as republicans and democrats see so many issues differently and have caused most of those issues to be much more of issues than they should be.
The fiscal cliff is coming, and we know its gonna suck. The question now is "How long will this last and how bad will it be?"
I think I'm an independent, but many people say I'm a democrat, and some say that that I'm dictatorial.
Days are passing by. But yet the fiscal problem is not yet solved. Solving the fiscal crisis is in the best interests of the USA. GOD Bless the Americans. GOD BLESS THE USA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
I think that we all can agree that this IDIOT that we have in the white house now is the "worst president ,EVER!" He has "no experience" in anything ,and he is the "laughing stock of the world. !Does anyone really think that other world leaders take this bozo serious? * Yes, today we find out that all of us that do pay taxes, just bought into another one of Obamas friends companies to make some improved batteries that last a little bit longer and threw away another $125 million so he and the companys so -called management can party on! Let's see how long before this one goes bankrupt! He is a disgrace to ALL OF US AMERICANS!