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Sunday, September 05, 2010

"Ed Asks...will you march with me?"

Lets all join together and march as "ONE NATION" on Washington October 2nd


ONE NATION WORKING TOGETHER

Our nation stands at a critical crossroads. The 30-year drive for a low-wage, high-consumption society that imports more and more of what it consumes has hit the wall.

Millions are unemployed, with little recovery in sight. A record number of Americans who want desperately to work have been jobless for more than 6 months.

At the same time, Wall Street continues to roll up big profits. Banks and corporations have made off with trillions of public dollars, while small businesses can't get loans and cities are being forced to make cuts to public education and public safety, harming our children and our communities.

Obstructionists in Congress are doing everything they can to stop anything that helps working people, and they are scapegoating workers for the demise of the economy. Public sector workers are being cast as selfish, auto workers are being blamed for the troubles of the auto industry, and teachers are being blamed for an education system in need of support.

Working people are frustrated and angry-incensed by the government's inability to halt massive job loss and declining living standards on the one hand, and the comparative ease with which Republicans in Congress, with help from some Democrats, have done their best to make the world safe again for JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and CitiGroup, on the other.

Just as we have seen through history, fear mongers in our country have seized on that anger and are working hard -- unfortunately with some success--to use justifiable anger about a failing economy to divide us.

We have to fight this hateful demagoguery that only benefits our foes, and we can't do it alone. History has taught us that the best way to fight the forces of hatred is to address the economic policies that led to our economic suffering, and that our fight must draw its strength from an alliance of the poor and the middle class-everyone who works for a living.

It is against this backdrop that we join ONE NATION.

ONE NATION is a multi-racial, civil and human rights movement whose mission is to reorder our nation's priorities to invest in our nation's most valuable resource - our people.

The organizations that have come together to form ONE NATION believe that our goal should be a future of shared prosperity, not stubborn unemployment and a lost generation. Workers should be able to share in the wealth they create, and everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve the American Dream - a secure job; the chance for our children to get a great public education and the opportunity to make their own way in the world; and laws that protect us, not oppress us.

ONE NATION is a long-term effort to reverse the dangerous economic course of our country over the past four decades. It brings together organizations from across the progressive spectrum-labor, civil rights, environmental, faith and many others-recognizing that none of us alone have been able to achieve our priorities, whether they are large-scale job creation, labor law reform, immigration reform, investing in public education or other concerns, and that we will not realize change until these priorities belong to all of us.

ONE NATION shares the labor movement's policy agenda: An economy that works for all; good jobs, fair jobs, safe jobs, and more jobs; reforming Wall Street; repairing our immigration system; quality education for every child; and ensuring that everyone in America has the opportunity to contribute to and strengthen our country. Restoring workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively is at the heart of the policy agenda.

The ONE NATION march on Washington on October 2, 2010 will charge up an army of tens of thousands of activists who will return to their neighborhoods, churches, schools and, especially, voting booths, with new energy to enact our common agenda. And on the same day, the labor movement will walk door-to-door in targeted states around the country, bringing the same message to union members exactly one month before the fall elections.

The march aims to bring working people, young people, retirees, civil rights activists and many others together on the Mall to show the obstructionists in Congress that we are many and diverse, strong and that united-and we will fight together for the American Dream.

Many of our unions are already committed to work as a part of ONE NATION. The unions of the AFL-CIO proudly join this coalition and pledge to work collectively to add our support to this great effort.

Working people can make a difference when we rely on ourselves and act collectively. We are America. And together we can make our voices heard.
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The OpEd - Schultz: Dems must end Bush tax cuts

Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Give me your thoughts...
comments Comments:

Well OF COURSE.

Rex, Why are you not DIRECTING YOUR frustration at PRESIDENT OBAMA? He has the big stick, the bully pullpit, these are extrordinary times, I believe most would agree. So why are you, et al not getting absolutely livid with this President - the buck does stop with him. He is pushing watered down everything, nothing BOLD, HE is the one that can get up there and say FOLKS enough is enough, we are all going to work together and put this country back to work PERIOD, and you Congress folks WILL VOTE FOR THE PEOPLES NEEDS. PERIOD. And ALL AMERICAN companys hiding taxes in the Caymens, and other places will have 100% tarifs on any of your products coming back in this country. PERIOD. But Rex, he is doing NONE of that, he is "rolling over" at every critical stage.

He has way more power and latitude then he is choosing to use. Then of course there is the PEN - executive orders......

Posted by Babe, Portland

I need help. Help from Ed, Vern, m, or Rex or anyone else who will answer me without blaming a former President.
I understand that Ed is against continuing President Bush's tax cuts for the top 2% earners. I understand he has stated that most stock is owned by a small minority of Americans. (I think he said around 20%?). I understand he believes the middle class is growing smaller.

What I don't understand is how raising taxes on the top 2% of the American earners will change any of the concerns/issues I noted above?

Please explain. Please help.

thanks



Posted by tim

Tim: We can agree on something you are in desperate need of being able to read and understand basic information. What in the hell is wrong with you? Why do you keep sticking up for the top two percent? Do you think you can join them by working hard at your company? If you do you are really are mindless lackey. The following is from an AP article READ IT AT THIS WEBSITE: The stats are cut and paste from the article listed above so these are not my writings. GOP outsourcing of many millions of good paying jobs, deregulation, two unpaid wars are all driving the middle class into the ditch.

http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/the-u.s.-middle-class-is-being-wiped-out-here%27s-the-stats-to-prove-it-520657.html?tickers=^DJI,^GSPC,SPY,MCD,WMT,XRT,DIA

Here are the statistics to prove it: (declining middle class)

• 83 percent of all U.S. stocks are in the hands of 1 percent of the people.
• 61 percent of Americans "always or usually" live paycheck to paycheck, which was up from 49 percent in 2008 and 43 percent in 2007.
• 66 percent of the income growth between 2001 and 2007 went to the top 1% of all Americans.
• 36 percent of Americans say that they don't contribute anything to retirement savings.
• A staggering 43 percent of Americans have less than $10,000 saved up for retirement.
• 24 percent of American workers say that they have postponed their planned retirement age in the past year.
• Over 1.4 million Americans filed for personal bankruptcy in 2009, which represented a 32 percent increase over 2008.
• Only the top 5 percent of U.S. households have earned enough additional income to match the rise in housing costs since 1975.
• For the first time in U.S. history, banks own a greater share of residential housing net worth in the United States than all individual Americans put together.
• In 1950, the ratio of the average executive's paycheck to the average worker's paycheck was about 30 to 1. Since the year 2000, that ratio has exploded to between 300 to 500 to one.
• As of 2007, the bottom 80 percent of American households held about 7% of the liquid financial assets.
• The bottom 50 percent of income earners in the United States now collectively own less than 1 percent of the nation's wealth.
• Average Wall Street bonuses for 2009 were up 17 percent when compared with 2008.
• In the United States, the average federal worker now earns 60% MORE than the average worker in the private sector.
• The top 1 percent of U.S. households own nearly twice as much of America's corporate wealth as they did just 15 years ago.
• In America today, the average time needed to find a job has risen to a record 35.2 weeks.
• More than 40 percent of Americans who actually are employed are now working in service jobs, which are often very low paying.
• or the first time in U.S. history, more than 40 million Americans are on food stamps, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that number will go up to 43 million Americans in 2011.
• This is what American workers now must compete against: in China a garment worker makes approximately 86 cents an hour and in Cambodia a garment worker makes approximately 22 cents an hour.
• Approximately 21 percent of all children in the United States are living below the poverty line in 2010 - the highest rate in 20 years.
• Despite the financial crisis, the number of millionaires in the United States rose a whopping 16 percent to 7.8 million in 2009.
• The top 10 percent of Americans now earn around 50 percent of our national income.

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

Babe in Portland: Please check out a piece of video on the Rachel Maddow show. She does an excellent job of explaining the "Obama Paradox". Here is the story at the MSNBC website:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/

Watch this then we can discuss it if you like. I am very happy with President Obama because he has accomplished many excellent policy changes against overwhelmingly odds. Thank you for watching this video.

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

Babe: A part of the website got cut off by accident. Cut and paste this then try it . Thanks my bad.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/#38389103

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

Congress allowed the estate tax to lapse this year giving heirs billions that would otherwise be taxed by Uncle Sam. First time in 100 years. By all means keep the super wealthy tax free. Hows that working for us so far?

Posted by Fairly Honest Bob, Oregon

Thanks Rex for your concern for me, but I regretfully have to tell you that all your statistics do not answer my questions.
My question is "is how raising taxes on the top 2% of the American earners will change any of the concerns/issues I noted above?" Now include in that list those items you named as well. No argument with what you re saying.
Not once in my post have I said the taxes should not be increased, so I'm not standing up for anyone.

I am not saying you or Ed are wrong, I just want you or Ed or for that matter anyone, to explain how the increase of taxes on top 2% solves the problems listed above?




Posted by tim

Tim: How about those GOP energy policies? Do you have a problem with basic English? Get me those Republican ideas on how we are going to get off of foreign oil. Soldiers are dying everyday so Americans can fill up those SUV's with foreign imported oil from unstable countries like Iran that build nasty roadside bombs. I DEMAND YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION: WHERE ARE THE REPUBLICANS ON ENERGY POLICY? Answer the damned question because if you do not you are nothing but a yellow coward afraid of debates and facts.

Stop with the sarcastic crap. These statistics have everything to do with WHY THE UPPER TWO PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS NEED TO BE TAXED AT THE CLINTON ERA LEVEL AND THE BUSH TAX CUTS ALLOWED TO LAPSE. THE UPPER TWO PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE MAKING MOST OF THE INCOME IN THE COUNTRY WHILE THE MIDDLE CLASS IS BECOMING THE POOR WORKING CLASS. DO YOU REMEMBER THOSE $1.4 TRILLION BUDGET DEFICITS AND THE NATIONAL DEBT OF $13 TRILLION? Remember, that $3 trillion Iraq war that Bush started financed with borrowed money from China? The government needs to pay down the deficit and the debt. The upper two percent control most of the wealth and income in the country but received unnecessary tax breaks worth over $1.5 trillion. Keeping these tax cuts are going to cost us many trillions more over the next ten years. We CAN NOT AFFORD THEM PERIOD.

These statistics prove beyond all doubt that trickle down economics is a total failure unless your goal is to INCREASE INEQUALITY in America. Supply side economics started under President Reagan in the 1980's. The whole premise was that the little working class people, like me, would have greater job opportunities because the tax cuts for the wealthy would stimulate capital investment in job creation for us "little people" as BP calls guys like me. This in turn would increase government tax revenue and so on blah, blah. HAS ANY OF THIS HAPPENED IN THIRTY YEARS? The only thing supply side economics and tax cuts have produced is boom and bust cycles, bailouts for corporate financial misdeeds in 2008, for Enron, the Savings and loan crisis in the 1980's etc.

The statistics listed in the Yahoo/AP article clearly indicate a declining middle class in America. In 2007 85% of the national wealth in this country is controlled by the top twenty percent of households. This means that the bottom eighty percent of households the "little people" who work for salaries and wages only control 15% of the national wealth. You need to look at those statistics real hard then you need to read the following at this website:

http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

Now get me your damned response to where the GOP is on energy policy. Answer the damned question or else stop blogging here.

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

Rex,
Look, for who wants something as much as you do (increase in taxes on top 2%) and who has listed the problems he sees in America that has been brought about in your view some by a reduction in their taxes, why do you treat my question to you, ed, M, Vern, fairly honest Bob, with such disdain?
Have I ever called you the names you have called me? This string on this blog was about the taxes paid by the top 2% of earners, why you want to go back to another subject, I really don't understand. The question I asked did in no way treat you or those who feel as you did poorly or with any "sarcastic crap". I really am trying to enter into honest debate.

Who knows, maybe if you can or will answer this question I might agree with you?

"I understand that Ed is against continuing President Bush's tax cuts for the top 2% earners. I understand he has stated that most stock is owned by a small minority of Americans. (I think he said around 20%?). I understand he believes the middle class is growing smaller.

What I don't understand is how raising taxes on the top 2% of the American earners will change any of the concerns/issues I noted above?"


Posted by tim

Tim,
I explain facts Rex paste mean simple terms Tim, (Me Want Tim Understand) since you can't read (understand) them & figure it out for yourself. I am not putting you down, just trying to help. I will start with how will not extending the 4.9% tax cuts for top 2% affect 98% of Americans in simple terms. 1. The tax cuts increased the deficit; former President Bush borrowed a record amount of money from China & the dollar lost value. Your dollar has less buying power Tim. 2. The tax burden was shifted to state & local government; that means more middle class tax burdens (property taxes, cutting middle class jobs through budget cuts, not adding jobs & etc.). This also affected middle class jobs & etc. Just the fact if you look at graphs that show how putting the tax burden on the middle class & graphs that show a disproportion of the wealth by economic class is all that you need to look at to understand what Rex just posted. If you put more money into the hands of more people who spend money while having some economic security & put it back into the economy verses having a small amount of people sitting on a pile of money with economic security less money is stimulating the economy. 3. I will get back to the dollar having less buying power. Wages have not kept up with expenses (inflation). Everything costs more & wages have not increased to keep up with it. 4. The wealthy are investing in foreign countries for cheap labor. Money is trickling away from the USA & to other countries. 5. Trillions less not invested in the infrastructure & jobs. Example: The infrastructure is deteriorating as a result & if we would have invested the trillions in the infrastructure that creates middle class jobs……that effects the middle class & the economy. I can keep adding to what I am getting at, but I will see if you are starting to get it first. Are you getting it Tim, did I get the ball rolling (thought process) going? There is a lot more to it than what I just typed. Can you see the trickle down effect of the Treasury having less money & how borrowing money as a result…….? Just look at the graphs starting with former President Reagan & you will see how giving the tax breaks to the wealthy resulted in a concentration of wealth at the top resulted in a smaller middle class with less buying power created deficits & how this trickle down effect ruined the economy. The facts & figures speak for themselves. That is what happened, it is the truth. It is not easy to decipher it down to simple terms in a post.
Can anyone else take a stab at it??????? to help Tim out. 6. I forgot to mention, the wealthy can start buying property up & therefore increasing the cost of living (housing) for everyone else. Maybe someone can expand on that one?

Posted by M, Fargo

The point that sums it up, is Debt (deficit) that does nothing to stimulate the economy is bad. Not investing in America is bad. Investing American tax dollars outside the borders of the United States while increasing the deficit is bad. Not having a strong middle class is bad. Can't get any simpler than that.

Posted by M, Fargo

Spending money, not putting it on the books (budget) & putting it on a credit card instead (blowing up the deficit) while giving tax breaks to the top 2% (losing trillions)(adds trillions to deficit) bad. Shifting tax burden to middle class as dollar get weaker & everyday living expenses increase, (you guessed it Tim), Bad. Middle class has less money to spend & less buying power so the economy get weaker. Less money into local & federal treasury as a result. Local & state taxes go up. State & local budget cuts, Jobs are cut such as teachers, police, social workers, fireman & etc. Programs are cut that provide jobs. Can't get any simpler than that.

Posted by M, Fargo

Obama is a failure! No doubt about it. The sight of that miserable, disgusting Rahm Emanuel tells me NOTHING CHANGES. WARS WARS AND MORE WARS! Need a job to support your family Mac? Joe Lieberman says join the Army and fight in Mideast for job stealing India and land stealing/occupier/murderer israel!

Posted by merkin muffly Destin

Now your turn Tim,
1. Show the facts like Rex did
2. Explain how extending the tax cuts for the top 2% & how concentrated wealth at the top while having a weak middle class is good for the economy of the United States.
3. Take each one of the facts that Rex posted & give me your honest debate on how each one is a good thing, such as How is • 83 percent of all U.S. stocks are in the hands of 1 percent of the people & • 66 percent of the income growth between 2001 and 2007 went to the top 1% of all Americans good for America? Lets have an honest debate the factual statistics (one at at time) that Rex posted. Are you up for the challenge Tim? What does each stat mean to you?

Posted by M, Fargo

Thanks m! You have outlined 6 points/problems you say will go away that if the tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans are taken away. Am I correct? We dont have to do anything other than the this tax increase, no cuts in spending, no tax increases on the rest of the 98% of us, do I have it right?
I tell you what I'll go along with that idea for starting 1/1/2011, if we do nothing else but this, then I expect by 11/2012 things will be much better. Is that fair?
But you need to understand that the taxes on the other 98% of us have already risen. Next post I'll explain how and where

1.The tax cuts increased the deficit

2.The tax burden was shifted to state & local government; that means more middle class tax burdens (property taxes, cutting middle class jobs through budget cuts, not adding jobs & etc.)

3. I will get back to the dollar having less buying power. Wages have not kept up with expenses (inflation). Everything costs more & wages have not increased to keep up with it.

4. The wealthy are investing in foreign countries for cheap labor. Money is trickling away from the USA & to other countries

5. Trillions less not invested in the infrastructure & jobs. Example: The infrastructure is deteriorating as a result & if we would have invested the trillions in the infrastructure that creates middle class jobs……that effects the middle class & the economy.


6. I forgot to mention, the wealthy can start buying property up & therefore increasing the cost of living (housing) for everyone else

Posted by tim

You are welcome Tim:
No, I can't go along with all we have to do is let the tax cuts expire alone (that is only part of the puzzle (solution). That is not the complete solution. I know what you are getting at (I am all for being fiscally conservative & spending tax dollars wisely). If you read the rest of what I said you will understand that the Government needs to spend money wisely & invest in America & its infrastructure. Spend money that goes back into the economy. I believe the first stimulus bill was not big enough. I believe we need a second economic stimulus that focuses on rebuilding the infrastructure & green technology & I would like the housing $8,000.00 tax credit extended. Once the economy recovers, then the focus changes. I am challenging you to debate the long list of facts that Rex posted. Are you up for it Tim?

Posted by M, Fargo

Tim: Where is your GOP energy policy? I want your facts, solutions, and sources not your conservative ideology. Oh by the way, just to repeat myself we have a budget deficit of $1.4 trillion and a national debt of $13 trillion. President Clinton left President Bush a $250 billion budget surplus and a national debt of $5 trillion in 2001. Your wonderful GOP tax cuts for the upper two percent of households besides GOP started wars have doubled the national debt to $11 trillion and left President Obama a budget deficit of over $1.4 trillion for 2009. How can any SANE PERSON VOTE FOR TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY TWO PERCENT WITH THESE HUGE BUDGET DEFICIT AND TWO WARS TO PAY FOR?

The bottom line is simple the GOP does not care about "deficits" when they are used to fund tax cuts for the wealthy and military spending for wars to kill people then those "deficits" don't matter. But if working class people need an extension of unemployment benefits or health care insurance then we can not afford to increase the deficits to help other AMERICANS than deficits are terrible horrible things. The conservatives are hypocrites on this issue.

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

I think the main point you are not getting Tim is that fact that the top 2% can afford the 4.9% tax cut law to expire. The fact show it destroyed the economy & will increase the deficit by almost 5 trillion over the next I think 4 years. The middle class couldn't afford to absorb the tax burden. This had a negative effect on the economy. The deficit was blown up in the process & charged for the next President to absorb. President Obama has to find a way to pay off the debt that President Bush charged while decreasing taxes for the top 2% & blowing up the deficit. President Obama needs to find a way to fix the economy & bring back jobs & balance the budget in the process. That is the key to understanding what I was getting at.

Posted by M, Fargo

Rex you are spot on. I believe energy policy is a a very big piece of the puzzle (solution) to both short term & long term economic & national security. In my opinion strong energy policy that involves green energy & technology should be the number one priority. It is our modern day Industrial Revolution. Just look back at history from the Industrial Revolution during 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions. I see the shift in energy policy paralleling the Industrial Revolution in terms of history. The conservatives would have fought machine base manufacturing & mechanization & modernized transportation for that time era.

Posted by M, Fargo

M and Rex,

I really do appreciate the passion you both share for your positions. And is it good to see you guys can post without sinking to calling names to those you disagree with.
Look, our basic difference whether it is taxes, energy or banking, is one simple thing. What is the role of government. From reading your positions it is clear to me that both of you believe that government has the final responsibility to control all parts of the American society. The final say. As has been posted it is there to protect the little guy, the working man, to even the playing field. Those who have secured and grown wealth must have done so at the expense of someone else. Therefore they must have that wealth taken from them because
a. they can afford to have less
b. they got their wealth at the expense of someone else.
c. the govt. needs the money

I am very sorry, but I just do not see life that way.

My energy policy (not the GOP's cause they don't speak for me any more that the DNC or Tea Party does) would start like this:

a. What is our total reservoir of all fossil fuels(oil, natural gas, coal), with in our borders?
b. What current uses of those fossil fuel can be replace by other sources? (note: I can not find any replacement now or in the near future for fossil fuels being replaced in aircraft, over the road trucks, and water vessels. Also, there does not seem to be a replace for fossil fuels used in the plastic and chemical industry)
c. What therefore, is left, is where we can wean our selves off fossil fuel.

That will be in our next post if we can continue this type of civil discourse.


Posted by tim

Tim, why has the role of government never been such an issue before Obama took office? Since the GOP sold us down the river and made everything his fault? If you believe the tycoons of the country didn't get that way without exploiting somebody along the way, why did 40,000 factories close down in this country under Bush?
Answer...so they can get third worlders around the globe to work for pennies a day under slave working conditions. Do you think they actually care about U.S. workers? The Fortune 500 is sitting on a couple trillion. Why aren't they hiring in the U.S.? The GOP presided over the biggest transfer of wealth this country has ever seen. Money from our pocket into their billionaire pals pocket. And your fine with that? If the tax breaks are rolled back to pre-Bush era, they will still be extremely wealthy. The estate tax on the wealthy has been a major source of funding for wars for decades. Now they get off scott free, and you and I pay. Your down with that too? When trillions of dollars are cut from the governments budget, who do you think picks up the slack? I have to hand it to the GOP policy for blatantly defending the wealthiest, crushing the middle, throwing millions out of work, and still having followers such as yourself cheer them on.

Posted by Fairly Honest Bob, Oregon

Why is it that we don't have any back bone democrates who will stand up to the republicans when it comes to tax cuts on the upper rich. It will not help in the job market if they let the tax cuts stand. I am so sick and tired of hearing how we need to let the rich haves these breaks for tricker-down job creations. It has never worked in the past and it will not work now. Just take a look. It's not working now. Who do you think has the money now. It's not the working people. We are out of work and no one is hiring. And I am not talking about the jobs that pay eight to ten dollars an hour, without any benifits. Do you think anyone in congress would work for that. No. I think we should lower their salaries and see how they would like it. And take away their benifits. Until it happens to them, they will never get it. Until the democrats really come together and vote together, I am afraid we are at lost. All of the unemploye need to rally and let your voice be heard. That you are tired of some of the democrates not working with the other democrates to start getting things done.

Posted by Brenda, Phil Campbell, AL.

Fairly Honest Bob, Oregon: I am not an expert on tax policy but I believe the so called estate tax (death tax for conservatives) will go back into effect in 2011. The first million dollars is exempt, then after that the 55% rate is imposed. Also the income tax rates for the wealthier Americans, with income above $250K per year will go back to 39% up from 35% today. This was in last week's Wall Street Journal. The income tax rates went up maybe one or two percent for most other people in the lower categories. There is talk of these lower rates for us "little people" like me to be kept the same but Congress would have to modify the law. The point is that most small businesses worth more than one million dollars are often incorporate and enjoy some protections from the inheritance taxes in most states. So the idea that these taxes will "kill our jobs etc." is probably bogus. You seem to be someone who might know something about tax laws. What do you think about repealing the Bush tax cuts? Can we afford them or not?

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

WTF is this, the Rex, Tim and M show? My God say it in 3 sentence or less and stop say or regurgitating the same points over and over! Rex and M, what to you hope gain by never convincing Tim, he's gaming you both over and over.

TO Tim, 2 simple questions: 1/ how much do you earn in 1 year? 2/ What tax bracket are you in?

TO Rex, We'll have to agree to disagree, I did not speak of vid. I watch Racheal M every night I wonder why OTHER TV Hosts and y'all do not criticize more. That's all. Because I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS PRESIDENT HAS even come close giving me "my votes worth".

And YES the Democratic leadership is in DENIAL.

The thing is; oh screw it, this the CONVENIENT problem, it's like being in a circular room and trying to explain where the right or left wall is! I ain't voting, I ain't supporting this guy (again), he AIN'T (any way you justify it) doing what he campaigned on, HE IS A FRAUD (by the very definition)
PERIOD.

And you can say, needs more time, only 18 months, well we needed that Trillion, HEY FOLKS have you seen the clip at which the world is moving these days? Even Ed admits 50,000 more folks are WITHOUT JOBS DAILY! It ain't the OLD DAYS anymore, WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME! Hear that SUCKING SOUND?
At what F**KING POINT ARE YOU GOING TO INSIST THAT OUR LEADERS STOP GAMING US? Banks, Regulations, Education infastructure, City budgets, Agriculture, Oil, War, Walmart, GM, Military Industrial Complex, Nation Building, Outsoucing jobs, tax evasion, pollution, Global warming, Foreclosures, Katrina Levys - JESUS CHRIST!

Man when they have convinced the LUNCH BUCKET CROWD the Bush Tax breaks are good for THEM, or that HC is BAD for THEM, or the guy who owned the mine that killed, how many miners? IS NOT A BAD MAN!???

WOW, and you folks think we have another 20-30 years to "tweak" all these bad bills, like the OLD DAYS. Well you keep thinking that, in 5 years Rex, and M your home is worth $8,500. you tell the grand kids you can't put them thru college because you'll need to plant yourself with the equity in your home and Rexs Military Pension won't cover the cost of that University. :0



Posted by Babe, Portland

One more thing if you are going to take the HEAT, at least take it for some real substance - Don't stop with this Bush Tax breaks on the upper 2%, hell raise the tax rate on everyone earning 1 MILLION OR MORE "TAKE HOME" to 60-70% like the GOOD OLD DAYS of JFK!

If the pigs gonna squeal, at least get a dinner out it!

Posted by Babe, Portland

Tim: Thank you for at least partially responding to my request. American soldiers are dying everyday we need to get them home but more importantly we have to stop our importation of foreign oil or else we will just have to send our troops back overseas again in a few short years. Here is my energy plan it is very simple but expensive but not nearly as expensive as $200 to $300 per barrel of imported foreign oil will cost. Also remember those trillion dollar wars for oil are not very cheap nor are 50,000 casualties or tens of thousands of veterans with PTSD.

1) We need to have an Apollo program to build IGCC plants for base load electricity needs. All old pulverized coal plants must be converted to IGCC standard or else they should be scrapped. Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle plants are built in part by General Electric. Coal is turned into SynGas and through a process called cogeneration waste heat is turned into steam so there is a double shot of electrical generation: one from the SynGas and the other from residual waste heat turned into steam. Thermal efficiencies of up to 50% are envisioned. Engineers claim that once the technology matures we can expect thermal efficiencies of up towards 60%. This is nearly double from conventional coal plants that get 38% thermal efficiency now. IGCC plants and gasification facilities can also produce methanol from coal, petroleum waste products, municipal waste, and biomass. Methanol of course is essentially natural gas that can be burned to generate electricity or to heat buildings. This can reduce the amount of drilling for natural gas and concerns about hydraulic fracturing and water pollution.
2) We need to adopt the Picken's energy plan into law. The Picken's plan calls for America to produce 25% of its electricity from wind farms and solar thermal plants and solar panels over the next generation. Solar and wind power are important supplements for base load power during Peak energy demand times. All publicly regulated power utility companies should be required to get at least 10% of their power from renewable sources by 2020. The Picken's plan also calls for the conversion of all of our 18 wheeled trucks to natural gas over the next ten years. This alone would save one-third of our oil for transport in the eight million 18 wheel trucks.
3) We need to have all of our medium axle weight trucks, cars, and other vehicles converted to electric or electric hybrid standard. All other cars and trucks must be switched from gasoline to highly efficient diesel engines using ultra clean diesel fuel. We also need to develop Dimethyl Ether from coal gasification using the Fischer-Tropsch gasification process. Carbon capture systems must be used with gasification or else you get way too much CO2 pollution.
4) Americans may have to re-look at what to do with our aging 103 nuclear power plants. There is new technology called fast neutron reactors. The Energy Department has plans for these new breeder reactors. We should build two of these new fast nuetron breeder reactors to see if the claims they can reuse all the old nuclear waste from the old light water reactors is actually true and cost effective. This would eliminate NIMBY because the new fast neutron reactors could be build in the same places where the old reactors currently exist thus eliminating the transport of the nuclear waste that will be reprocessed by the new reactors. The country has to have a debate about the future of nuclear power this issue will not be settled here.
5) The federal government needs to demand that all state, local, and city governments have energy conservation measures. All public buildings must have solar panels, geothermal, and wind generators on them. This includes all military bases. We also must have a huge emphasis placed on recycling, and the insulation of all homes, businesses, and other buildings.

The federal government CAN NOT DO ALL OF THIS BY ITSELF BUT WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SEED MONEY THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALONE WILL NOT DO ANY OF THIS. We need strong regulation in place with tax incentives or else we will just keep importing OPEC right down to the last dollar and the last American soldier. Imported oil is not an energy plan soon oil could be $200 or $300 per barrel just wait for the next oil crisis.

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

Fairly Honest Bob,

In an attempt to follow Babe Portland rules of 3 sentences or less:

1.The role of government has always been as issue in my world.
2. It was for me with JFK, LBJ RMN, and Presidents Clinton to current President.
3. In my view more government means less personal freedom because there is no such thing a free lunch.

Babe,
1. My income is none of your business!
2. Since when was sharing this a requirement to post on this site?
3. When did Eddie die and make you in charge of this site?

Posted by tim

Rex,

1. I am not finished yet with my answer, just didn't want Babe or others like her to spit up too much bile by making post too long.

2. If we are at war to win it 100%, then I have no issue with your points about the current war and its human cost.

3. You may not believe this but the largest problem I have with the Pickens plan is I suspect he has locked up all the rights to drilling for natural gas, an as such may have a bit of a conflict of interest.

Posted by tim

Rex,

Point by point as you listed above, what I agree with, what I have concerns with and what I feel would be a better way.
1. NO problem with this except for the BIG MONEY GE threw into President Obama's campaign. I would rather see free market competition between all companies to develop ICGG, let the market then decide which one is best for the consumer.
2. I think solar and wind power are wishful thinking on the scale you listed here. Sorry. If local power companies can supply their market successfully in this manner, so be it, but I have a large issue with govt making rules requiring this on a national scale. I feel the lower rates charged by wind and solar power will be enough to bring about the desired change in individual markets.
3. I frankly, do not agree with Pickens heavy & medium trucking changes. I work for a very large coast to coast LTL carrier. I do not see how, from any stand point, diesel fuel can be replaced with a source that gives the same power efficiency. No problem with ultra clean diesel fuel being used in trucks or cars for that matter, but want consideration for cars to run on hydrogen as well. Governments role in this would be to set forth a time line for energy and auto mfgs to have for the market place cars that run on hydrogen and places that sell hydrogen. Like was done with 5 mph bumpers and seat belts, don't tell them how to do it but when it must be done.
4. I totally support the use of nuclear for the generation of electricity! I would start tomorrow in the NE where almost all power is from oil burning plants and the majority of the home heat in the winter with oil.
In fact if it were up to me ALL our electricity would be produced by water or nuclear. (side note, my home is heated by natural gas, I don't like electric heat, never feels warm, but I would go along with electric heat if change was required in included my part of the country.)
5. Insulation required by law sounds like a job creation plan for government inspectors. The American public is already shopping for the most energy efficient building supplies and appliances. Let the market rule in the private sector, govt, can do what they want with their "stuff".
6. We still need oil chemicals, plastics, lubricants, non energy uses, see no possible change or need for change in this sector at this time.
7. Put an end to DEEP off shore drilling. But open up those areas in Alaska where we know there is oil. Phase one out as the other comes online. Shallow is fine for drilling, even off the coast of CA.
8. Allow NEW refineries be built to be more productive in the cracking process at the same rate as we reduce our need for foreign oil and bring into the pipes more domestic oil.

Ok, Ive gone way over the 3 sentence limit.



Posted by tim

GOOD TIM! Timothy has learned how to cut and paste!

And yes Timothy you sound like an hourly Tea Bagger. Cause the Bush Tax cuts and President Obama's HC Bill seems to disturb you so much.

And YES TIM YOU ONLY, 3 Sentence or LESS - because you are the song when we hear the first 3 words, we know what the next 3 verses AND the bridge is going to say; and we dial down ZERO.

So, WHAT TAX BRACKET you you enjoy Timothy?



Posted by Babe, Portland

Just For Tim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWO_AIh8drk

Up is down, down is Up. Yep.

Posted by Babe, Portland

What the heck is your story anyway. Cut n paste, if you don't like it if I do that, then don't read my posts.
I bet ya your tax bracket is a lower than mine, just as is your IQ.
What tax bracket do you enjoy, Babe, or do you get income sharing checks?

Posted by tim

Tim: Your plan is essentially to keep importing more foreign oil. We did not wait for the market forces to decide what kind of tanks, aircraft, and ships to produce during WW II. The answer was Big Government in partnership with regulated Big Business to respond to an emergency situation. The country is in a state of denial about our energy consumption. We import 70% of our oil from very unstable parts of the globe. Remember, the 1973 Yom Kippur war? The Arab oil embargo during the 1970's? The Iranian overthrow of the Shah of Iran in 1979. No one predicted the Iran-Iraq war or the Persian Gulf war in 1991 either let alone 9-11. These crisis events just happened and similar crisis will happen again only they WILL GET WORSE NEXT TIME FOR AMERICA. If we do what you say our entire economy could well collapse into a major depression. This appears to be what conservatives want for America. Remember, it is the 21st century and what we did in the cheap oil period of the 1960's is not going to work any longer. Welcome to the complicated global economy of the 21st century.

These crisis just happen usually very suddenly. You can not LET THE MARKET DECIDE OUR COUNTRY's ENERGY POLICY because when the crisis happens it is TOO LATE. The market does not work when OPEC decides to cut your oil supplies off because you will have a total crisis. If Iran and Israel go to war or some other major upheaval happens lifelong oil men like T. Boone Pickens and others say oil will go to $200 or $300 per barrel overnight. Our refineries operate at 90% capacity at all times. Any event causes oil prices to spike up like they did in 2008. What will happen to trucking companies when diesel goes to $8 per gallon and then stays there? AMERICA IS VULNERABLE BECAUSE WE BURN TWICE AS MUCH OIL PER CAPITA AS DO EUROPEANS OR ASIANS.

America has 2% of the world's oil reserves but consumes 25% of the world's oil everyday. China and India are now industrial powerhouses with large middle classes. The number of cars will likely go to one billion up from about 800 million today. The Chinese are already scouring Africa and the Middle East for oil reserves, even in Iraq. The point is the world is no longer like it was 30 years ago. We are at or near Peak Oil now. The Chinese, Indians, and other countries will consume more oil driving up demand greatly just when the supply of cheap oil is being exhausted. Many countries that export oil today may in fact not export any oil a decade or more from now. Indonesia now imports oil rather than exports it. In the 21st century this example will be repeated over and over.

Solar and wind can produce at least ten percent of our power especially for peak load periods. Yes, it will take government seed money to get this started but during peak hours solar and wind will do just fine. Read about the solar and wind power industry in Germany, Denmark and Europe. The Germans get about 15% of there energy from renewable sources presently. Denmark is set to get even more from wind power. The Europeans make it work. We are way behind them in green technology. This is extremely short sighted because 10% of electricity from renewable sources is 10% less from conventional sources like coal or nuclear etc.

Drilling for oil really is pointless because even if offshore oil drilling was expanded we could rely on our own resources for only three years. America would be bone dry without imported OPEC oil. We either transform our energy consumption fundamentally or else we set up our kids to fail when oil gets to $200 or $300 per barrel. Those days could come at any time and when it does you can not build solar, wind, cleaner coal gasification technology, fast neutron reactors, or anything else in a few months. These things take a GENERATION or MORE TO ACCOMPLISH. So when you dismiss electric trucks, cars, lithium ion battery plants, wind farms and solar panels you are really setting up your children and grandchildren to live in a failed country. The WW II example of Big Government and regulated Big Business is the only way forward to save American capitalism from the menace of $200 or $300 per barrel oil. The problem with conservatives is that they suffer from intellectual cultural lag and when they finally realize the wisdom of what President Obama is trying to do or even a future president it will be too late for an impoverished America to avoid huge suffering.

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

Rex
You may have missed my point. How long from the 1st day a Nuke reactor starts to be built till its up and running? 5 years, 10? I dont know but I do know that the solar/ wind sources will not take much less time to be in place and I can not see how they can get us off foreign oil in the long run.
My idea is to start now with all the projects you and I listed, but understand none of this happens over night. And for the sake of the working Joe, we cant afford any slow down in our energy supply.. I just do not trust solar /wind to be a larger supplier of energy. Example, western IA, great source for wind, not so great for sun, but the wind does stop and some days the sun doesn't shine even there.
Arkansas, bad for wind and solar. Western Texas great for both sources. S. Ca solar, but it does have night time. The Carolina's, you get my point.

Let sum it up,

We agree on several points and disagree on others, but the bottom line is we both agree that getting off foreign oil in the long run is the wise thing we can do for our future. Getting there and how to get there seems to be the hang up. I don't believe we can ever have a modern society with out some use of oil. I do not believe that electric powered vehicles can compete effectively against the other sources of power that are currently out there or on line. (They still need to be charged, are too heavy, and have battery's that when worn out are a threat to the environment when disposed up). I agree with your coal to gas and Nuke power and diesel fuel ideas. It looks like we part on what to do while those plants are developed. But you know what, we do agree that we must start NOW to build the reactors, and the coal to gas plants and the power producing dams, ( the h*ll with the snail darter!).

Sorry, I just must now have a little smile time, I feel like breaking out into a chorus of "we are the world, we are the people". (Joke Rex, just poking fun at BOTH of us.)

Posted by tim

To tim from nowhere,

Your energy ideas are as soooo yesterday, I don't hear 1 non-fossil fuel idea from you. Do you know China is seriously developing electric? Because they are not going to be caught with their proverbial pants down when another world crisis occurs has the Rex poster mentioned (and he is right, it will)

But to listen to you, I fear my brain shall go into a vegetated state, so I must go to re stimulate.
I leave you with your anthem.


http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1692392/the_ballad_of_sarah_palin/


Tim, did you serve in the Military?

Posted by Big Brain, Muscle Beach

Tim,
The technology for solar power plants to generate electricity when the sun is not shining is already here & my proof (example) is the Solar Power Tower located Europe. It uses mirrors to focus sunlight (an array of flat, movable mirrors (called heliostats) to focus the sun's rays upon a collector tower (the target). This solar furnace heats liquid sodium; which stores the energy before using it to boil water to drive turbines that produce electricity. This type of design allows power to be generated when the sun is not shining.
The Spanish company (Abengoa Solar) that built this tower is building a solar plant in Arizona & will be in operation in the year 2013. This solar plant will have a total capacity of 280 megawatts, which is enough to power 70,000 homes while avoiding over 400,000 tons of greenhouse gases. This is expected to create about 1,500 construction jobs; once completed, the plant will employ 85 full-time workers.
I am not putting you down Tim, but I feel if you have a stronger grasp of the subject (solar, wind, etc.) you would realize that some of your skepticism is from lack of information. You seem to challenge ideas based on your knowledge & not on the available facts. I am not speaking for Rex, but that is why I get frustrated with your ideology. I am not an expert in solar technology, but I do understand that the technology is so advanced & will keep getting advanced that the entire population of the earth could be & will be powered by solar in the near future. Research how the sun generates energy & you will have a greater understanding of the big picture. To say it simply, the sun is not just a ball of gas burning, but a series of nuclear………..(research it Tim). The key is capturing & storing the unlimited energy the sun provides.
The same goes for wind power. Wind turbine power plants can produce & store energy even when the wind is not blowing................. the energy can be transported to other areas.

Posted by M, Fargo

I do agree with one part of what you said Tim. I basically agree that there are certain places that are better suited for wind power than others. There are certain places that are better suited for solar power......... The power generated can be stored & transported.............
The biggest problem with wind & solar, is that it is a threat to the large corporation; how does the share holder corner the market when the sun & wind are there for the taking? The technology is outpacing the greed. I know a few people who are completely off the grid. They power & heat their homes using green technology. They still get a service charge (bill) from the power company even though they don't use their product. You can also sell the electricity you generate & don't use back to the power company in some cases.

Posted by M, Fargo

Big Brain,

read my posts further up the line and you will find out I have offered non fossil ideas, wind, solar, nuke, water, hydrogen? Conversion of coal to gas?

M & Rex,
I do not believe solar and wind power is the answer as you hope for. I would think that if it was, smaller energy companies would already be using it at a much lower cost to their customers in order for them to stay in biz in a market controlled by the BIG companies who are using oil now. Customers would be knocking down doors for their power company to convert if it was.
I don't think there's a darn thing wrong with solar or wind power and would happy if was the total solution. It just doesn't seem to be worth the risk of forcing a total switch over to those sources at the cost of millions of jobs if it doesn't do as hoped. That's why I suggest a phased in, market by market use.
My bottom line for the way to produce electricity nation wide is nuke and water. Have or can you figure out how many barrels of oil and cubic feet of natural of gas we burn a year in the production of electricity? How many barrels/feet a year we use in heating homes and offices, schools, etc? Take that number out of our current usage level and then lets go from there, ok?
Then figure put the amount of oil we use for mfg, ie: chemicals, rx, plastics, lubricants, cause I don't see anything soon that can replace oil in that usage.
What should be in our balance is what is used for transportation. It doesn't seem possible to not use petroleum in aircraft, or ships. Unless we want to return to the clipper ships and zeppelins. Railroads use diesel as do OTR truck, not sure how you want to treat their usage for now.
Automobiles, I favor hydrogen fuel vs any other form & support it's development. Figure how many barrels that would save.

With that all done, do you feel we could be free from the use of foreign oil and use only our own oil, regardless of where it was found?

Posted by tim

The Europeans seem to not have all of these "American" problems using solar and wind power. Germany now gets 16% of its electricity from wind and solar. Germany has a robust system of government contracts that provides long term stability for the solar and wind industry. Electricity produced by solar panels wind farms is put immediately into the conventional power grid. Power utility companies are required to purchase this power with credit given to the owner of the solar panels. Despite the recession and concerns about the European economy, German solar companies are continuing to grow even with lowered government subsidies. The German government expects solar and wind energy to provide up to 30% of its total electricity by 2020. There are 250,000 jobs in the German solar industry.

Check out the story at:
http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/25577/

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

Here is another story about European investments in solar and wind technology. Spain and Germany are leaders in the European Union in solar and wind power but other countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Italy are making very substantial investments in renewable wind and solar power technologies. Please read about the European Union's commitment to green energy at this website:

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/25779/page1/

There is an interesting story about the first Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle coal plant in Germany with a nearly 90% level of CO2 sequestration. This is one of the cleanest coal plants on the face of the earth. Please read this story at:

http://www.technologyreview.com/business/21397/

If the Europeans can make green energy work in a commercially viable way BY GOD SO CAN WE HERE IN AMERICA. Leadership and political will are what America lacks on green energy. The Europeans would happily share ideas and technology with us but they can not solve the American addiction for consuming twice the amount of fossil fuels per capita than any other industrialized country. This we must do for ourselves.

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

Rex,

will you now take about those things you called me before I shared with my energy plan, even though you disagree with some points?

Posted by tim

Didn't think so.

Posted by tim

Remember all of those miserable rotten names the Tea Party people at rallies protesting health care, "birthers" and other GOP groups linked to Dick Armey's Freedom Works called President Obama? Words like 'Nazi", "witch doctor", "socialist", "baby killer" or other odious names were commonly used. Some of the Tea Party people are clearly radical anti-tax and anti-government and linked to right winged groups like militias. Many of these groups are quite likely receiving huge sums from Southern Churches who want to shove conservative ideology down all of our throats. The number of death threats investigated by the Capital police are clearly up greatly. Remember, Rep. Bart Stupak's phone calls on his voice mail after the health care vote?

It is only a matter of time before the next Lee Harvey Oswald or Timothy McVeigh want to be's will strike again. So go look at your own camp. You SOB's started it. When Bush invaded Iraq all the stops pretty much came out. Now you seem to not want to take your own bitter medicine. You are going to get attacked if you criticize President Obama and offer no viable solutions or alternatives period. Most liberals are like me we are totally fed up with American conservatives and their backwards thinking. You guys are an impediment to progress in the 21st century because your frame of reference is back in the mid 20th century. If we listen to guys like you America will deteriorate as a great country as will our standard of living that is already in steep decline.

There are soldiers dying in wars and operations around the globe. Much of this is from our addiction of oil from the unstable Middle East. Remember, I know lots of these military people separated from families on their fourth, fifth, or even sixth combat tour. If we keep doing what we are doing we are going to end up like the British empire in 1948 bankrupt and defunct. We need the troops home and an Apollo program for green energy. But thank you for sharing your energy plan former Vice President Dick Cheney would be proud of you.

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

O M G.

Will the doom and gloom about American's future ever end?
The only answer is more govt spending and more govt control..?

One of President Obama's best buddies from Chicago is a former Weatherman, am I the only person who worries about that?

Posted by tim

Perhaps if you remembered what happens to empires when they get overextended in wars of endless occupation and hugely in debt. They expand, get richer for a time, then problems fester on every side weakening the economy, the military and it often leads to a rather abrupt contraction followed by bankruptcy even revolution. Check out the Western Romans, the Byzantines, the French bourbons in the late 18th century, the Swedes under Charles XII after the battle of Poltava in 1709, or Russia in 1917. Then go and review the history of the modern French and British empires after WW I and WW II. Cheap fossil fuels built America during the industrial revolution during the 19th century and cheap electricity and oil during the 20th. If we are not careful and switch to green energy very soon very expensive fossil fuels will totally bankrupt the American economy for a generation or more in this century. We are at or near Peak Oil now. Our kids and grand kids have to get off of the fossil fuel habits of the 20th century or else they will have no future in the 21st. This is why President Obama is in the White House and old fashioned conservatives like you need to go to the rest home.

Posted by Rex, Moorhead


Earlier on this site, Germany was used as an example of a forward thinking country when it came their use of solar/wind power.
Could they right on this?
Note Japan's experience in the1990's is noted as well.
Also, what do you think about the "Alternative Minimum Tax" problem, is it worth any concern?
Your thoughts as to why these positions are wrong based on the article, not using the blame game or personal attacks, please.

Letting Bush Tax Cuts Die Would Kill Recovery: Analysts

By: Jeff Cox
CNBC.com Staff Writer , (not FOX NEWS or the WSJ)

The nascent US economic recovery would be halted in 2011 if Congress fails to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, analysts at Deutsche Bank said.

The cuts were enacted in 2001 and 2003 under President George W. Bush and covered those earning more than $250,000, but they are set to expire at the end of this year.

Deutsche said the drag on gross domestic product should they lapse could be as much as 1.5 percent, with the more likely impact at 1.1 percent.

The impact would be worse, the analysts said, if Congress fails to fix the Alternative Minimum Tax, which was enacted in 1969 to make sure rich people pay taxes but was never indexed for inflation, and thus is now hitting middle-income workers.

"In a worst-case scenario, allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire and failing to fix the AMT could result in (1.5 percent) of fiscal drag in 2011 on top of the 1 percent fiscal drag we expect to occur as the Obama fiscal stimulus package unwinds," Deutsche said in a note to clients. "If the recovery remains soft/tentative through early next year, this additional drag could be enough to push the economy to a stalling point."

The opinion runs counter to that of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who said earlier this week that allowing the cuts to expire would not cause the economy to re-enter recession. The administration has proposed letting most of the tax cuts stand, but eliminating the ones for the top-tier earners.

Deutsche compared the situation to Japan in the 1990s, when the government let tax cuts expire and cut stimulus, leading to another leg down in the recession and ensuring the nation's "lost decade" of no economic growth.

While the US is headed toward unmanageable debt levels, now is not the time to start tightening the money supply, the analysts said.

"As soon as the economic recovery does look reasonably well entrenched, indeed, preferably even sooner, plans will need to be made to begin to put the US fiscal position on a more sustainable course," Deutsche said.

"As we have noted, this is not going to be an easy process politically, and it may well take a significant negative event in financial markets to steer the US political system to do what needs to be done."


Posted by tim

Budget deficits are at $1.4 trillion and our national debt is at $13 trillion. Now the GOP wants to extend the Bush tax cuts that will make the deficit worse by at least two trillion dollars. The upper two percent of households have sacrificed nothing during two wars started on their watch. This is the height of stupidity to exacerbate the budget deficit to continue a policy that did not help the economy one iota. The Bush tax cuts did not create jobs instead it helped create a subprime mortgage meltdown and a very severe recession and a bailout worth about $4 trillion in loans backed by the Federal Reserve and TARP worth $780 billion. This Republican recession caused the loss of over 8 million American jobs.

Read about how the GOP helps create a society of inequality where the top richest twenty percent of households control 85% of the wealth leaving the bottom eighty percent of households with just 15% of the national wealth as of 2007. Go to this website at:

http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

Posted by Rex, Moorhead

I think the poor should start paying their fair share. It isn't fair for them to soak up the money while not paying in.

Posted by Clint, Colorado

The poor pay a much higher percentage of their income for health insurance, sales taxes, local property taxes, and for Social Security and Medicare taxes. After you make over $100,000 some per year you do not pay anymore Social Security. You need to go do some serious research. In 2007 the bottom 60 percent of households those Americans that earned $50,000 or less per year received a total of $445 billion in total government programs (Medicare, Social Security, tax breaks food stamps everything). The top twenty percent of households get with incomes of $85,000 get $539 billion in total government payments or tax breaks. The top ONE PERCENT of households, with incomes of more than $450,000 received $298 BILLION mostly in tax breaks. We need to stop welfare for the rich and make them pay their fair share in taxes. Check out "Tea Partyers in Wonderland" by Barbara Koeppel in the August 2, 2010 issue of the "Nation".

Posted by Rex, Moorhead
PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in this thread.



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