Michelle Obama makes a great point in her speech

[TheDeeble]

LOL @ "entitlement" programs bankrupting us. It's the defense spending and tax cuts that are bankrupting us.

And since when is social security an entitlement program? You put your own money into it and then get it back when you retire...how is that entitlement?

Then I should be able to opt out right? I should be able to keep my money now, and not get any payments later on in life.

 

[Gramps]

The last two presidents have spent like mad men. That's the major problem.

Our spending problems stated in the early 1980's and has not slowed down, it just keeps growing.

 

[n_huffhines]

The last two presidents have spent like mad men. That's the major problem.

Try the last....since Truman? Maybe Coolidge?

 

[vols4sure]

Then I should be able to opt out right? I should be able to keep my money now, and not get any payments later on in life.

No. That is how a ponzi scheme falls apart.

 

[dreVol]

LOL @ "entitlement" programs bankrupting us. It's the defense spending and tax cuts that are bankrupting us.

And since when is social security an entitlement program? You put your own money into it and then get it back when you retire...how is that entitlement?

you don't appear to have a basic understanding of SS's operation in real
life.

it's not a savings, investment, or trust program, so you don't get back what you paid in. current workers paying into SS are paying for benefits that are drawn by current SS beneficiaries (this includes people who've never paid into SS or paid significantly less
than what they drawing).

and, how are tax cuts bankrupting this country? are you presupposing that all money belongs to the government?

 

[82_VOL_83]

What has ANY recent POTUS done to help you get kids through college? Tuition goes up 10%-40% every year, regardless.

And the POTUS has anything to do with that how? Once again, union folks such are yourself WANT the feds in everything. The number of overtly liberal teachers from K thru PhD ought to be enough for you. You want the Feds taking over local colleges and Universities also?

 

[82_VOL_83]

To all in this thread that want to grow welfare/government benefits or not cut current welfare/government benefits (which is the same thing as exponential growth), how would you propose it is paid for?

TAX THE RICH!!!!! We can pay for 4 days of it by doing that!!!

 

[Vols520]

Try the last....since Truman? Maybe Coolidge?

True.

 

[82_VOL_83]

Tax the rich. Tell me, are the Koch brothers really going to suffer that much if they have to pay 1-2% extra in taxes? Take away the tax loopholes that allow big corporations to pay 2% in taxes (Exxon mobile).

10 Most Profitable U.S. Corporations Paid Average Tax Rate Of Just 9 Percent Last Year: Report

Stop senseless defense spending on things like jets that cost one trillion dollars and fail (The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter). Stop fear mongering and convincing ignorant people that we are not safe and need to spend more money to spy on people.

Overturn Citizens United. Get money out of politics. Stop allowing corporations to buy our politicians. This way, the politicians will represent the people, not huge corporations.

I guess you missed me talking earlier about how the fighter jets cost tax payers trillions of dollars, then the jets are sold to foreign countries...

Pentagon: Trillion-Dollar Jet on Brink of Budgetary Disaster | Danger Room | Wired.com

And have you never heard of subsidies? Bailouts?

Quick fact check, production of the F-35 has been halted at the single squadron located at Eglin AFB and the 1 trillion dollar cost you keep talking about are production and maintenance costs through 2050 for an entire fleet that thanks to Barry, probably won't be built. Check your links before you blather. Also, our fighters have ALWAYS been sold to allies as a way of offsetting the development costs. They don't get all the goodies, just the planes. Japan gets them because they can't develop their own due to treaty restrictions.

I have an idea, why don't all of the oil companies and government contractors go out of business. That way the millions of unemployed that will hit the streets can get on welfare and YOU can pay for them. Also, the millions of people that draw pensions from these companies that increase their income every year which in turn decreases or eliminates their SS and increases the tax they pay on SS they do draw, can just go broke and live purely on Medicare and SS (many of these are union members btw).

I am beginning to think that you are no more than 14 or 15 years old and the product of extremely liberal parents. You can't possibly believe half of the ideology that you are spouting.

 

[gsvol]

I was asking about corporations - not defense contractors.

I do not consider subsidies to be taking our money. The money a corporation earns is not the governments (ours) and the corp is allowed to keep some %. Just the opposite. The earnings belong to the owner and some % of that is given to the government according to tax law. Lowering the taxes owed is not giving away "our" money - it was never "ours".

Bailouts are another story and highly infrequent (AIG, GM, Chrysler being notable examples)

The Dodd/Frank bill enshrines future bailout into the system.

 

[theFallGuy]

This is what's damaging. Republican talking points always try to make you believe that people on welfare only spend the money on drugs. Did you believe that Paul Ryan and George Romney were spending their government money on drugs?

Welfare is an investment in the people who have been less fortunate to give them equal opportunity. Is it perfect? Of course not. Not everyone is able to create tremendous success after receiving welfare. But it's better than throwing people out on the streets and telling them "that's where you belong...get a job" as if they have never tried to make a living.

yea, I said it and I believe it. I live in Memphis and I see it everyday, fully capable people, driving escalades and using EBTs to get their free sh**. People who don't think that that is a regular occurence need to get their heads out of the clouds. If you want to give away your hard earned money to these wasteful programs than by all means, write them a check but don't force other people to do so with gov't force, that is called theft.

 

[Gramps]

yea, I said it and I believe it. I live in Memphis and I see it everyday, fully capable people, driving escalades and using EBTs to get their free sh**. People who don't think that that is a regular occurence need to get their heads out of the clouds. If you want to give away your hard earned money to these wasteful programs than by all means, write them a check but don't force other people to do so with gov't force, that is called theft.

Do you venture down to Robinsonville any?
I use to but haven't been in several years.

 

[82_VOL_83]

you separated defense contractors and corporations in general in your post. I never disagreed that defense contractors do get our money since they receive direct payment from the government.

I am not redefining subsidies - most of what are labeled subsidies are actually tax credits. It was those I was talking about.

In cases where the government actually gives money directly to corporations then they are getting "our" money.

You do realize that GC's ROS is limited by law don't you. At least the one that I worked for was.

 

[theFallGuy]

Do you venture down to Robinsonville any?
I use to but haven't been in several years.

down by Tunica??

 

[Gramps]

down by Tunica??

Yes

 

[BeecherVol]

LOL @ "entitlement" programs bankrupting us. It's the defense spending and tax cuts that are bankrupting us.

And since when is social security an entitlement program? You put your own money into it and then get it back when you retire...how is that entitlement?

Not exactly accurate.

Actually its a tax that is collected during your working years. When you retire they don't cut you a check for what you paid in. Mainly because they took that money out of your savings/retirement account and invested it in another government program while you were funding it.

 

[YorkVol]

When she said, "When you walk through the door of opportunity, don't slam it shut behind you. Keep it open so others can succeed just like you." (I'm paraphrasing).

The reason this statement is powerful is because Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney benefited from government programs that they now want to cut.

Paul Ryan received social security after his dad died. It helped him get to where he is today. Now what does he want to do? Cut it.

Romney's family was on welfare when they first came to the U.S. and what does he want to do now? Cut it.

So, what these potential leaders are saying is that it's okay for THEM to receive government benefits, but not okay for others.

It's hypocrisy 101, and it's amazing to me that people who have benefited from these type of programs can't see how it can also help others become prosperous.

Wow, hadn't thought about it that way. I guess the solution is to expand them by adding another 48million to the roles. We can just keep printing money to cover the cost.

 

[PKT_VOL]

When she said, "When you walk through the door of opportunity, don't slam it shut behind you. Keep it open so others can succeed just like you." (I'm paraphrasing).

The reason this statement is powerful is because Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney benefited from government programs that they now want to cut.

Paul Ryan received social security after his dad died. It helped him get to where he is today. Now what does he want to do? Cut it.

Romney's family was on welfare when they first came to the U.S. and what does he want to do now? Cut it.

So, what these potential leaders are saying is that it's okay for THEM to receive government benefits, but not okay for others.

It's hypocrisy 101, and it's amazing to me that people who have benefited from these type of programs can't see how it can also help others become prosperous.

I dunno even know where to begin.

I am obviously not a fan of either side.

Ryan's success was not because of Social Security. I don't believe there has EVER been a proposal to cut benefits to child whose parents died before they reached the age of 18. So I am not sure how Ryan or the Republicans are walking through that door of opportunity before slamming it shut behind them.

I am not sure how your claim about Romney could possibly be true given his family timeline.

There are many, many legitimate claims against Romney/Ryan and the GOP. There is no reason to make sh*t up. Stick with those legitimate criticisms to further your cause. Posting this stuff undermines your credibility and cause. :hi:

 

[PKT_VOL]

LOL @ "entitlement" programs bankrupting us. It's the defense spending and tax cuts that are bankrupting us.

Seriously? What planet are you living on?

Don't get me wrong, we should curb defense spending and eliminate waste within the Pentagon.

However, you ought to go look at the projections of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid in the future. Defense has nothing on them. Off the top of my head I believe out of every dollar collected, 63 cents goes to those three entitlements. I have read that there is over 100 trillion, that's right, trillion dollars of unfounded promises that the US government owes in the future for those combined programs.

Common man, you can't be that clueless about entitlements.

And since when is social security an entitlement program? You put your own money into it and then get it back when you retire...how is that entitlement?

Very simple really. It became an entitlement the day that you, as a beneficiary, received way more than you payed in.

 

[theFallGuy]

Seriously? What planet are you living on?

Don't get me wrong, we should curb defense spending and eliminate waste within the Pentagon.

However, you ought to go look at the projections of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid in the future. Defense has nothing on them. Off the top of my head I believe out of every dollar collected, 63 cents goes to those three entitlements. I have read that there is over 100 trillion, that's right, trillion dollars of unfounded promises that the US government owes in the future for those combined programs.

Common man, you can't be that clueless about entitlements.



Very simple really. It became an entitlement the day that you, as a beneficiary, received way more than you payed in.

this

 

[OHvol40]

And the POTUS has anything to do with that how? Once again, union folks such are yourself WANT the feds in everything. The number of overtly liberal teachers from K thru PhD ought to be enough for you. You want the Feds taking over local colleges and Universities also?

Really?

The states and schools raise the tuition to the best of my knowledge. Not unions.

Now the Fed DO have the pull to try and cap tuitions for some amount of time, but who are we kidding? That would hurt the big lenders that lobby so much.

 

[BigPapaVol]

Really?

The states and schools raise the tuition to the best of my knowledge. Not unions.

Now the Fed DO have the pull to try and cap tuitions for some amount of time, but who are we kidding? That would hurt the big lenders that lobby so much.

Seriously? Wonder how tuition pricing gets set? Is it odd that tuitions tend to grow exactly in line with lending limits?

 

[OHvol40]

Seriously? Wonder how tuition pricing gets set? Is it odd that tuitions tend to grow exactly in line with lending limits?

I agree.

Chicken? Egg?

This is the most broken aspect of education IMO.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I agree.

Chicken? Egg?

This is the most broken aspect of education IMO.

It isn't chicken v egg. Do the homework.

This isn't the biggest problem. Avoiding true evaluation is the problem. Pretending that there is inherent bias in all methodologies is part and parcel to the issue.

 

[OHvol40]

It isn't chicken v egg. Do the homework.

This isn't the biggest problem. Avoiding true evaluation is the problem. Pretending that there is inherent bias in all methodologies is part and parcel to the issue.

Tell me, what is your true evaluation?