REP. RYAN: Well, no, David, I would say they've also raised taxes, they have--this is a cautionary tale of what happens when politicians who make a lot of empty promises end up running out of the ability to borrow money at cheap rates and now they're broken promises. It's a cautionary tale of what will happen to us if we stay on the path we are on. What we're saying is let's get on growth and prevent austerity. The whole premise of our budget is to pre-empt austerity by getting our borrowing under control, having tax reform for economic growth, and preventing Medicare and Social Security and Medicaid from going bankrupt. That pre-empts austerity. The president, his budget, the fact the Senate hasn't done a budget in three years, puts us on a path towards Europeanlike austerity. That's what we're trying to prevent from happening in the first place.
MR. GREGORY: So this is the problem, Senator, whether if the president's message to European leaders is your approach hasn't worked. He wants a pro-growth agenda. What does that mean? More taxes? More spending? More stimulus? Is that his answer for the U.S. economy as well?
SEN. DURBIN: No, Paul, David, I can tell you that Paul and I agree on the basic premise. We are facing serious deficit and debt challenge in this country. Our approaches are different. President Obama, and I agree with his position, thinks that we ought to make certain that we're strong coming out of this recession, that we are creating good jobs and growing businesses.
We agree! What is wrong with these people? How about: Congressman Ryan's plan would ensure that senior citizens die in poverty due to a lack a of medical care, something that ACTUALLY HAPPENED before social security and medicare! What a profile in courage! Senator Durban agrees they should impoverish senior citizens AFTER they're sure we are out of the rescission. How noble!
But no, the Democratic Representative on this show with close ties to the White House would rather agree with Paul Ryan's completely invented premised of a debt crisis. It's easy to play this off as political posturing, but do we really know that's all it is? This quote from super conservative Senator Tom Coburn is one I haven't been able to get out of my head:
But no, the Democratic Representative on this show with close ties to the White House would rather agree with Paul Ryan's completely invented premised of a debt crisis. It's easy to play this off as political posturing, but do we really know that's all it is? This quote from super conservative Senator Tom Coburn is one I haven't been able to get out of my head:
If President Obama is president again, those problems are still there and we have to solve them. He knows that. We’ve had conversations where he’s told me he’ll go much further than anyone believes he’ll go to solve the entitlement problem if he can get the compromise. And I believe him. I believe he would.I believe he would too. Based on Obama's constant willingness to put medicare and social security cuts on the table, I have no doubt in my mind that Obama would get behind some "grand bargain" that "solves the entitlement problem". Based on the last 3 years, and Obama's lust for that type of deal, does anyone honestly think he wouldn't?
The man compromises on things he doesn't need to compromise on all the time. I'm more concerned about what the compromise will look like. Maybe benefits only for people who are protected under law and make $600K+ a year. So, you know for white guys.
ReplyDeleteJoking aside, what is the most concerning with all this is the complete disinterest from the public as if these programs are untouchable in some way and will always be there.
And for all my complaining I lack any solid recommendations for deficit reduction except cutting defense spending, a complete overhaul of how we do business in the US, and a serious come to Jesus meeting about regulation. None of which is going to fly.