Congress has lost its mind... - Page 33

TheMercenary · 07-15-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fair&Balanced

You've been watching too much FOX News.

Rarely watch it, except for Stossel and occasionally O'Reilly.

classicman · 07-14-2011, 10:39 AM

Really good post, gvidas.
I hadn't seen it talked about in those terms before.

I love this image from the article you quoted.

tw · 07-14-2011, 11:08 AM

John Boehner appears to be having problems similar to what Gingrich suffered at the hands of Delay, Armey, et al. Gingrich worked out a compromise with Clinton that worked. So they crucified Gingrich. Boehner remembers history. Extremists (ie Cantor) have already made Boehner back out of what was looking like a solution. He remembers what extremists did to Gingrich.

piercehawkeye45 · 07-14-2011, 12:24 PM

It looks like Mitch McConnell's plan has a chance of going through. Fucking politics as usual. It averts a crisis, blows a political punch (at Democrats this time), and doesn't solve anything in the long run...

classicman · 07-14-2011, 12:55 PM

from your link

Quote:

Better to think of this, not as a negotiation, but a game with two simple rules. Collectively, each player must ensure the debt ceiling goes up. Individually, each player must come out looking better than the other side.

Quote:

this plan is a moral abomination that moves Congress one step closer to a dystopia where government does not govern anything, but instead takes a series of empty symbolic votes they can advertise in their home district for the purpose of being reelected to take more rounds of empty symbolic votes.

Sad, but spot on accurate - IMO.

classicman · 07-15-2011, 12:56 PM

What would happen if we taxed all income at the same rate, regardless of how it was derived?

glatt · 07-15-2011, 01:04 PM

You, personally, would wind up paying significantly more in taxes. So would I.

classicman · 07-18-2011, 11:00 PM

The real deal on the debt debate

Quote:

The debt ceiling debate rages on, with President Barack Obama daring the GOP to call his bluff
and Sen. Mitch McConnell declaring a deal impossible with this White House.
These days, it’s hard for most Americans to sort through the red-hot mess that is Washington.

In a gerrymandered America, extremism sells at the polls and in the world of political talk.
Fact blurs with fiction and simple math becomes fuzzy.

Here are 10 truths about the debt crisis you won’t hear over the next month
from the halls of Congress or the West Wing.

Read more:

This is a great read.

skysidhe · 07-19-2011, 10:38 AM

I watched some news programs last Sunday trying to understand the debt ceiling. As usual,much finger pointing to the other side.

From what I understand, if the debt ceiling isn't increased there will be no money to pay debts. If it is increased the government can borrow money to pay it's debts. What I do not understand is where this borrowed money would come from? From or who would the government borrow money or do they just make more? Steal more? ah-hem...I mean take from peter to pay Paul. I thought peter was broke too.

glatt · 07-19-2011, 10:46 AM

This is who they have borrowed from in the past. If you have a mutual fund, they may have borrowed some money from you, depending on the kind of fund you might have.

skysidhe · 07-19-2011, 10:52 AM

Thanks glatt.

SOoo. Off topic but relates to your comment. I am wondering, in light of the economics of the moment, if company profit sharing at a 3/1 match shouldn't be considered at this time.

OR Maybe if there was a loss, I wouldn't be losing my own contributions.

glatt · 07-19-2011, 11:05 AM

If you can swing it, it's usually a good idea to tighten a belt and save, especially if the company is going to match some of it.

I've been wishing I could have a crystal ball. Lots of uncertainty right now. I'm actually not sure that Washington is going to get this thing fixed. I mean, they are fucking politicians, but they aren't insane, are they? If they default, I'm afraid it's gonna be real bad. Crystal ball, tell me, is it time to cash everything in for gold and start stocking up on guns and ammo?

piercehawkeye45 · 07-19-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

I've been wishing I could have a crystal ball. Lots of uncertainty right now. I'm actually not sure that Washington is going to get this thing fixed. I mean, they are fucking politicians, but they aren't insane, are they? If they default, I'm afraid it's gonna be real bad. Crystal ball, tell me, is it time to cash everything in for gold and start stocking up on guns and ammo?

It seems politicians always fight to the very end to get the political edge and then a plan gets passed at the last second. I'm hoping that is just a pragmatic approach to a very difficult political environment by experienced politicians (McConnell's deal shows this very well IMO).

The idealists are the ones that scare me. I'm starting to think many of the tea party republicans actually believe that defaulting could be a good option.

glatt · 07-19-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

The idealists are the ones that scare me. I'm starting to think many of the tea party republicans actually believe that defaulting could be a good option.

Exactly. They are the wild card, and they could hurt us all very badly. Everyone else is predictable. I think they aren't even sure what they are doing or how far they are willing to go.

I heard some commentator saying that this week is the week where everyone is going to put forward their plans that will never pass so they can point to their plans come election time and appease their base. And next week is when they finally put this thing to bed by making deals. But I'm not so sure the Tea party people are going to make a deal next wheek when they are supposed to.

Happy Monkey · 07-19-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

If you can swing it, it's usually a good idea to tighten a belt and save, especially if the company is going to match some of it.

I've been wishing I could have a crystal ball. Lots of uncertainty right now. I'm actually not sure that Washington is going to get this thing fixed. I mean, they are fucking politicians, but they aren't insane, are they? If they default, I'm afraid it's gonna be real bad. Crystal ball, tell me, is it time to cash everything in for gold and start stocking up on guns and ammo?

It'll be time to buy lots of stocks in a couple of weeks.

07-14-2011, 10:39 AM	#2
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Really good post, gvidas. I hadn't seen it talked about in those terms before. I love this image from the article you quoted. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

07-14-2011, 12:24 PM	#4
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	It looks like Mitch McConnell's plan has a chance of going through. Fucking politics as usual. It averts a crisis, blows a political punch (at Democrats this time), and doesn't solve anything in the long run... __________________ I like my perspectives like I like my baseball caps: one size fits all.

07-15-2011, 12:56 PM	#6
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	What would happen if we taxed all income at the same rate, regardless of how it was derived? __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

07-14-2011, 11:08 AM	#3
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	John Boehner appears to be having problems similar to what Gingrich suffered at the hands of Delay, Armey, et al. Gingrich worked out a compromise with Clinton that worked. So they crucified Gingrich. Boehner remembers history. Extremists (ie Cantor) have already made Boehner back out of what was looking like a solution. He remembers what extremists did to Gingrich.

07-15-2011, 01:04 PM	#7
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	You, personally, would wind up paying significantly more in taxes. So would I.

07-19-2011, 10:38 AM	#9
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	I watched some news programs last Sunday trying to understand the debt ceiling. As usual,much finger pointing to the other side. From what I understand, if the debt ceiling isn't increased there will be no money to pay debts. If it is increased the government can borrow money to pay it's debts. What I do not understand is where this borrowed money would come from? From or who would the government borrow money or do they just make more? Steal more? ah-hem...I mean take from peter to pay Paul. I thought peter was broke too.

07-19-2011, 10:46 AM	#10
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	This is who they have borrowed from in the past. If you have a mutual fund, they may have borrowed some money from you, depending on the kind of fund you might have.

07-19-2011, 10:52 AM	#11
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Thanks glatt. SOoo. Off topic but relates to your comment. I am wondering, in light of the economics of the moment, if company profit sharing at a 3/1 match shouldn't be considered at this time. OR Maybe if there was a loss, I wouldn't be losing my own contributions.

07-19-2011, 11:05 AM	#12
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	If you can swing it, it's usually a good idea to tighten a belt and save, especially if the company is going to match some of it. I've been wishing I could have a crystal ball. Lots of uncertainty right now. I'm actually not sure that Washington is going to get this thing fixed. I mean, they are fucking politicians, but they aren't insane, are they? If they default, I'm afraid it's gonna be real bad. Crystal ball, tell me, is it time to cash everything in for gold and start stocking up on guns and ammo?

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