Bad 2 days after SOTU

#1
volinbham

volinbham

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#1
So Tuesday night we heard vague ideas about winning the future and nothing concrete about addressing current pressing problems (jobs and debt).

Yesterday we hear:

1) CBO projects deficit to be 1.5 trillion for 2011 - a substantially higher number than previously expected.

2) The chief actuary for Medicare testified that Obamacare won't lower costs and violates the "if you like your current plan you can keep it" pledge. Two big strikes against OC.

Today the job numbers show jobless claims up and suggest that the Fall bump likely was seasonal hiring rather than any true change in the trend.


So, the SOTU was a load of platitudes that ignored the real issues facing us. Why am I not surprised?
 
#2
#2
volinbham said:
So Tuesday night we heard vague ideas about winning the future and nothing concrete about addressing current pressing problems (jobs and debt).

Yesterday we hear:

1) CBO projects deficit to be 1.5 trillion for 2011 - a substantially higher number than previously expected.

2) The chief actuary for Medicare testified that Obamacare won't lower costs and violates the "if you like your current plan you can keep it" pledge. Two big strikes against OC.

Today the job numbers show jobless claims up and suggest that the Fall bump likely was seasonal hiring rather than any true change in the trend.


So, the SOTU was a load of platitudes that ignored the real issues facing us. Why am I not surprised?
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First, I agree that states of the onion tend to be platitudinal. That's nothing knew. I didn't even watch much of the one this week.

Second, I maintain that a lot of the problem with the job situation in this country is structural. I am not sure that an improved economy, increased demand, etc, is going to do what it has done in the past. So much outsourcing, so much technology and digitialization of a lot of service-type jobs.

We may be seeing the front edge of a major shift in the way our economy fundamentally works.
 
#3
#3
agree about the structural problems, but obama seems to want to throw more money at it. if we have a structural problem we need to CUT spending, not increase it. currently obama is going on this presumption that we wil grow our way out of this debt. seems a bit naive.
 
#6
#6
Here's the most frustrating part for me. He talked about investment to "win the future" then said their would be a spending freeze.

Where is the investment coming from? Where in the budget (frozen) will he find new money to invest?

How will throwing more money at science education have any impact in the next 15-20 years?

They used the can't take the engine out of the plane when it's taking off analogy. I'd say you can't install new water lines and an alarm system when the house is on fire (put the damn thing out first).
 
#10
#10
volinbham said:
Do you think Obama has a serious plan to address our current problems?
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droski said:
agree about the structural problems, but obama seems to want to throw more money at it. if we have a structural problem we need to CUT spending, not increase it. currently obama is going on this presumption that we wil grow our way out of this debt. seems a bit naive.
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I think he is serious.

Not right, but serious none the less.
 
#11
#11
droski said:
agree about the structural problems, but obama seems to want to throw more money at it. if we have a structural problem we need to CUT spending, not increase it. currently obama is going on this presumption that we wil grow our way out of this debt. seems a bit naive.
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I agree with you. Well, let me say also that even if he believes that the problems are more structural and longer-lasting than prior downturns he is not willing to say so. Couldn't really blame him there.


volinbham said:
Do you think Obama has a serious plan to address our current problems?
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Nope. But not sure anyone else does, either.


volinbham said:
I just figured it out. High Speed Rail is the solution.
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We cannot afford it right now, but in a lot of areas/communities it is inevitable and cost-efficient.
 
#12
#12
BeecherVol said:
I think he is serious.

Not right, but serious none the less.
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I sort of agree. I think he is basically punting on the current situation in hopes he can pursue his transformation agenda which he probably believes is what America should be.
 
#13
#13
lawgator1 said:
We cannot afford it right now, but in a lot of areas/communities it is inevitable and cost-efficient.
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Agree with inevitable, question cost-efficient.

Also question the number of areas were this is needed/will be utilized at a rate to make it efficient.
 
#14
#14
volinbham said:
I just figured it out. High Speed Rail is the solution.
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every time I hear that I can't help but think of

simpsons-monorail.jpg
 
#15
#15
volinbham said:
I just figured it out. High Speed Rail is the solution.
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so they are building a high speed rail line between los angeles and san francisco where 90% of the road has zero traffic, yet expensive as hell to build for the other 10%, and plane tickets are almost less than the gas price. yet they don't build one between las vegas and los angeles where the traffic is horrible and there is a huge shipping route.
 
#17
#17
I'm also curious about why he's all USA, USA, we'll be #1 came from given his former America is no better or worse than anyone else view.
 
#18
#18
volinbham said:
I agree. He's trying to preserve a second term so he can effect more policies that fit his view regardless of consequences (short and long term).
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About the only thing he said that I've read/skimmed the past 2 days that I liked was that he is for repealing the ridiculous 1099 requirements.

I really don't think the guy has a clue what he is doing right now and is only being the mouthpiece for what those backing him want him to say.
 
#19
#19
volinbham said:
I sort of agree. I think he is basically punting on the current situation in hopes he can pursue his transformation agenda which he probably believes is what America should be.
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I don't doubt that at all.

As stated above, its survival mode for him at this point.
 
#20
#20
tigervol9802 said:
About the only thing he said that I've read/skimmed the past 2 days that I liked was that he is for repealing the ridiculous 1099 requirements.

I really don't think the guy has a clue what he is doing right now and is only being the mouthpiece for what those backing him want him to say.
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In support of this comment, he sure seemed to be phoning in that part of the speech. His heart just wasn't in the parts that were pro-business
 
#22
#22
volinbham said:
I'm also curious about why he's all USA, USA, we'll be #1 came from given his former America is no better or worse than anyone else view.
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I think he realized that is not politically accepted by most americans. Not that he doesn't feel that way, but this is part of political survival tactics.
 
#23
#23
volinbham said:
Agree with inevitable, question cost-efficient.

Also question the number of areas were this is needed/will be utilized at a rate to make it efficient.
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That's the big debate down here in the Orlando-Tampa corridor. Right now, only reasonable path is I-4, which despite being 3-4 lanes in both directions is often a parking lot for sometimes hours on end for about a 50 mile drive. State and counties been bouncing back and forth on it.

I say, like most people I think, that we really do need it. But, the reality is that unless it is done such that there are easy options for public transportation springing off of it then no one will use it.

Unless you work right next to a station, you're screwed. And the area is so spread out that everyone needs a car to be able to pick up laundry, go to the grocery, run errands, etc.

They put in light rail in South Florida, from West Palm to Miami. On game days at Joe Robbie Stadium they get decent ridership because people can leave their cars in West Palm, spare themselves the white knuckle drive on I-95 or the turnpike with all of the uninsured lunatics out there, and save a lot on parking at the stadium.

Otherwise, when the train passes, you sit there and watch empty car after empty car go on by.
 
#24
#24
volinbham said:
In support of this comment, he sure seemed to be phoning in that part of the speech. His heart just wasn't in the parts that were pro-business
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Right now in 2012 I'd support just about anyone that had a budget/economic plan and was ready to be hated by 2/3 of America to make the plan work.
 
#25
#25
volinbham said:
In support of this comment, he sure seemed to be phoning in that part of the speech. His heart just wasn't in the parts that were pro-business
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To be fair. They are just words that everyone wants to hear. Which are typical from a politician on that stage.

I love to talk about fishing, but love to fish much more.
 
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