Everybody but us (NC related)

[Show Heifer]

Just heard of the Dem's idea to reduce our debt:  Raise retirement age to 69, raise federal tax another 15 Cents PER GALLON, reduce Social security payments, reduce medicare payments to hospitals

And not one single peep about reducing the FREE RIDE that every single congressman gets for their "public service". Retirement pay at full salary with increases for cost of living, free medical care for LIFE, along with perks that are "unknown".... all this for being FIRED by tax payers (not being re-elected). 

I don't know about anyone else, but I sure can think of a few "money saving cuts" that are not on the Dem's list... 

 

[knabe]

it's a bipartisan panel i think.  also, people almost never vote themselves less, which is the central core value of the democracy, which was warned about during the founding of the country.  funny how the democrat party changed their name from republican to democrat. 

essentially, the people who don't pay their fair share, ie those who pay NO federal income tax (46% of the population) and the rich, ie google, only paying 2% expect the rest of us to pay for everything.

there simply are not enough taxpaying american's left to keep those who don't pay at bay.  that can only mean one thing.

 

[hamburgman]

Found this ironic that obama is in Asia and these ideas were released, i think the committee was trying to avoid an immediate reputiation.  This committee was never serious, nothing they suggest is binding in any way and there were ppl from both sides of the aisle who didn't belong on a committee that is looking at such a serious issue.

 

[knabe]

i think raising the age for SS is to 69 by 2069, hardly aggressive.

to me, this committee is just like local government where they hire some group of people to be a commission, but in reality, we elect our representatives to be the stupid commission, and then they waste money on the commission.

face it people, the only way to reduce the budget in a meaningful way is means testing at the very least on social security and cleaning up medicare.  because we can't, we will keep printing money to cover the cost increases.

think about it.  no cost of living for SS this year and everyone screams.  it HAS to happen.  there should be some means testing that if you show some limit of income, you don't get SS though you have to pay in.  then it will get into if you are land rich and cash poor, which when it comes down to it, there really isn't an outlet to give away one's assets that they have paid for and been taxed on already to do with as they see fit.  i am for passing on assets however with NO government interference.  time has shown that most people who receive these assets can't hold onto it anyway and democrats just want to take it and redistribute it as they see fit, of course without paying taxes, ie google, a total liberal company.

doesn't matter if it's a repub or democrat, there is no conspiracy on what to do to reduce the deficit.  the largest part of the budget is entitlements followed way down by the military and interest, then the rest.

people want to cut all the small programs which is fine, and i'm for, but i'm also for say cutting off SS if you make 100K in the previous year to start with.

 

[BudE]

The draft report came out this week the final report is scheduled for December 1st.  If you look at the suggestions as a whole this is a thorough review of ways to reduce our national debt.  There are some very good ideas including reducing income and cooperate taxes.  The problem is this will be attacked by the 5% on the fringe at both ends and nothing will happen.  This country can not survive at it's current rate of spending and the longer we wait the harder the fall will be.  The retirement age would be raised to 69 in 2065, I wonder what live expectancy will be then.  Benefits will be reduced and taxes increased on the highest wage earners.  I'm so far right on the political spectrum I may fall off the edge but we've got to start looking at the big picture and meet in the middle to solve the national debt crisis.

 

[hamburgman]

I lost my personal bet as to how long it would take for the ppl of the new congress to start saying earmarks aren't a big deal and they are really helpful to areas also.  I was going for like 4 months from the elections.  They made it less than 2 weeks.

 

[chambero]

Social security, medicare, and other entitlement programs are going to have to get cut big time some way, some day.  A monstrous portion of our entire budget goes to those programs.  As people keep living longer, it makes sense to raise the age.  Frankly, the whole concept of complete retirement is a failure.  None of us have a right to make ourselves useless and comfortable.  Look at what pension programs are doing to companies, cities, and even other countries.  The math doesn't work.

In reality, Congressmen make a whole lot less money than degreed professionals with other careers.  However annoying it might be, their salaries and benefits don't add up to even a blip on the budget radar.  Their salary probably doesn't offset the direct expense of being a congressman/woman.

 

[hamburgman]

very true chambero, remember though it isn't that people are living as a whole a lot longer, it is that our infant mortality has decreased significantly so the babies who used to die are now living to 65 or so, this is the big reason for the increase in age expectancy.  You are right about wages for congress people, i would extend that to federal employees wages also they are a small part of the budget, need to be addressed yes but not a big part of the problem.  I do always find it funny that people say the government needs to be like a business, so when the government pays people well so they don't leave and no retraining occurs they are criticized for paying higher than private sector wages.

 

[Show Heifer]

Social security, medicare, and other entitlement programs are going to have to get cut big time some way, some day.  A monstrous portion of our entire budget goes to those programs.  As people keep living longer, it makes sense to raise the age.  Frankly, the whole concept of complete retirement is a failure.  None of us have a right to make ourselves useless and comfortable.  Look at what pension programs are doing to companies, cities, and even other countries.  The math doesn't work.

In reality, Congressmen make a whole lot less money than degreed professionals with other careers.  However annoying it might be, their salaries and benefits don't add up to even a blip on the budget radar.  Their salary probably doesn't offset the direct expense of being a congressman/woman.

I agree with everything EXCEPT the "Their salary probably doesn't offset the direct expense of being a congressman."  Somehow, I doubt if any of those people would run for office IF they had to do it out of the kindness of their hearts. They do it for the money and power. Have you seen how some of the live after they get fired? Someone making ends meet isn't too big of a challenge.

Not sure about anyone else, but when I am broke, I save money ANYWHERE I can, even if it is 20 cents on a package of hotdogs. Everything counts.  If I was in charge NO ONE would get a free government check... EVERYONE can do SOMETHING.  And if you have babies, then you had better have a job to support them, or they will be given to someone that can.  So I agree... every entitlement program shoudl be eliminated.

 

[Freddy]

THERE SALARY IS JUST PART OF THE REASON THEY WANT THAT JOB...How many under the cover deals with all the PORK do they benifit from... An remember how they throw money away an waste it in every deal they do ...We need more new blood an less of these professional politicians ....Some one published a rap sheet not to long ago an one or two of the whole bunch made the honest list ...

 

[knabe]

In reality, Congressmen make a whole lot less money than degreed professionals with other careers.

on the other hand, one only has to watch their portfolios grow as legislation impacts who they invest with.

another thing they do is buy land in the path of development they pass like the bridge to nowhere.

happens all the time in our county with the board of supervisors which ads to sprawl and lack of planning as the path of development is weighted too heavily for personal gain.

 

[knabe]

it's worth noting the panel recommended...
The office of “safe schools” czar Kevin Jennings in the US Dept of Education and all its federal programs should be eliminated, according to a draft report released yesterday by Barack Obama’s National Commission on Responsibility and Reform.

and my favorite recommendation.  eliminating the mortgage interest deduction, offset by 4 lower tax rates.

no one should receive a tax break for buying anything, ever as all it does is create an artificial resetting of prices creating demand for a managed economy.

course no one understands that.  the private sector should be outlawed.

 

[JbarL]

on the other hand, one   has  watched this generations personal portfolios/home  equity values/  and jobs plummet to nothing at the hands of past bad legislation and corrupt practices.....then asking a  middle class all ready behind from that to contribute anything tax wise seems a slap in the face...the top 2 % got us there....let them pay to bring it back....jbarl

 

[peachy]

Lets not forget to blame the Federal Reserve .Fiat money-Big Government .They go together!

 

[oldwood]

THE REAL SHAME ,YESTERDAY WAS VETERANS DAY AND OBAMA WAS IN ASIA TALKING MUSLIM. WHAT A SLAP IN THE FACE TO OUR ARMED FORCES.AT WHAT DID I HEAR SOMETHING LIKE 200 MILLION A DAY EXPENSE .