|
JagLover
17,581 posts
104 months
|
unrepentant said: Romney has the classic problem of a (reasonably) moderate republican who wants to be President. To get the nomination he basically had to flip on a lot of issues to the point where he's lost credability with the wider electorate. Even then his own party still distrusts him and so he has to lurch even further right and pick a running mate from the extreme wing to try and appease the base. For Romney / Ryan read McCain / Palin and I fancy the result will be the same. Ryan is very different to Palin in that he is a serious politican who already had national prominence due to his proposals to reduce the deficit. Whether Romney will be elected depends if enough of the US electorate recognise they are on the road to bankruptcy unless the growth in entitlement spending is reduced (as Ryan proposes). I suspect they will not.
|
|
|
unrepentant
Original Poster
14,409 posts
125 months
|
JagLover said: Whether Romney will be elected depends if enough of the US electorate recognise they are on the road to bankruptcy unless the growth in entitlement spending is reduced (as Ryan proposes). I suspect they will not. How do you figure that? Social security costs $725 billion. Social security tax receipts equal $819 billion. Therefore social security (entitlements) produces a surplus of $94 billion.
|
|
|
Countdown
6,358 posts
65 months
|
Are receipts ringfenced or do they subsidise other parts of the economy? Interesting how right-wing people never have an issue about levying taxes for military spending. 
|
|
|
JagLover
17,581 posts
104 months
|
unrepentant said: How do you figure that? Social security costs $725 billion. Social security tax receipts equal $819 billion. Therefore social security (entitlements) produces a surplus of $94 billion. Medicare is also defined as 'entitlement' spending I believe. Both pensions and healthcare costs will soar as the baby boomers start to retire. Without reform the US federal government debt is set to hit 200% of GDP by around the mid 2030s I believe. Tax increases would bring that figure down of course but it is very dubious that all of the costs can be met through tax increases only, particularly only on the 'rich'.
|
|
|
Jimbeaux
25,725 posts
100 months
|
JagLover said: unrepentant said: How do you figure that? Social security costs $725 billion. Social security tax receipts equal $819 billion. Therefore social security (entitlements) produces a surplus of $94 billion. Medicare is also defined as 'entitlement' spending I believe. Both pensions and healthcare costs will soar as the baby boomers start to retire. Without reform the US federal government debt is set to hit 200% of GDP by around the mid 2030s I believe. Tax increases would bring that figure down of course but it is very dubious that all of the costs can be met through tax increases only, particularly only on the 'rich'. True Jag; the CBO itself states that the administration's proposed tax increases would only fund the government for 8 days. It is an election season class warfare gimmick.
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
unrepentant
Original Poster
14,409 posts
125 months
|
JagLover said: Both pensions and healthcare costs will soar as the baby boomers start to retire. Without reform the US federal government debt is set to hit 200% of GDP by around the mid 2030s I believe.
Demographics play a big part in the increases in medicare as you point out. Ever increasing medical costs are also a major factor as there is a profit centre at every turn in the US medical system and pricing is forever spiralling upwards. Interesting article here; http://www.pnhp.org/PDF_files/ForProfitCare.pdf
|
|
|
davepoth
19,925 posts
68 months
|
So many threads to choose from on this.
I can't help thinking that Obama has spotted a PR opportunity with this hurricane. It's nice that he's paying attention I guess, but it's beginning to seem to me that he's using it as an opportunity to stick it to the GOP and steal a bit of their thunder during the convention.
|
|
|
unrepentant
Original Poster
14,409 posts
125 months
|
davepoth said: I can't help thinking that Obama has spotted a PR opportunity with this hurricane. It's nice that he's paying attention I guess, but it's beginning to seem to me that he's using it as an opportunity to stick it to the GOP and steal a bit of their thunder during the convention. What makes you say that Dave? I haven't seen anything from him except pleas for gulf coast residents to be prepared.
|
|
|
Jimbeaux
25,725 posts
100 months
|
davepoth said: So many threads to choose from on this.
I can't help thinking that Obama has spotted a PR opportunity with this hurricane. It's nice that he's paying attention I guess, but it's beginning to seem to me that he's using it as an opportunity to stick it to the GOP and steal a bit of their thunder during the convention. Well of course he is; trust me, if the tables were turned, the GOP would do the same thing.
|
|
|
unrepentant
Original Poster
14,409 posts
125 months
|
The President takes charge during an impending natural disaster and that's a bad thing? Imagine the uproar if he sat on his hands!
|
|
|
Jimbeaux
25,725 posts
100 months
|
unrepentant said: The President takes charge during an impending natural disaster and that's a bad thing? Imagine the uproar if he sat on his hands! Of course not; he is doing his job. Parts of his decisions though are very much politically motivated. As I said, the Republicans would do the same thing if in his place.
|
|
|
Dixie68
3,081 posts
56 months
|
To me, Obama seems to be a level-headed, intelligent person, whereas Romney seems like he's totally bats  t crazy. On that assessment alone Romney will get elected, (I was convinced Bush wouldn't get a second term).
|
|
|
rohrl
3,755 posts
14 months
|
I don't think Romney is bats t crazy in the way Sarah Palin or Glen Beck, God rest his soul, is bats t crazy. I think Romney is a cold fish who couldn't give a f k if the decisions he makes benefit anyone other than people like him and his donors, other very rich old men.
|
|
|
Jimbeaux
25,725 posts
100 months
|
rohrl said: I don't think Romney is bats t crazy in the way Sarah Palin or Glen Beck, God rest his soul, is bats t crazy. I think Romney is a cold fish who couldn't give a f k if the decisions he makes benefit anyone other than people like him and his donors, other very rich old men. Which is precicesly how many feel about Obama.....or any politician TBH.
|
|
|
Jimbeaux
25,725 posts
100 months
|
Dixie68 said: To me, Obama seems to be a level-headed, intelligent person, whereas Romney seems like he's totally bats t crazy. On that assessment alone Romney will get elected, (I was convinced Bush wouldn't get a second term). How do you see a fellow that has accomplished as much as Romney has compared to what Obama has not and call him "bats t crazy"? I am genuinely curious.
|
|
|
TheHeretic
68,165 posts
124 months
|
Jimbeaux said: How do you see a fellow that has accomplished as much as Romney has compared to what Obama has not and call him "bats t crazy"? I am genuinely curious. Oh, I don't know about that. Obama has already been President. Something that Romney has yet to accomplish. 
|
|
|
unrepentant
Original Poster
14,409 posts
125 months
|
TheHeretic said: Oh, I don't know about that. Obama has already been President. Something that Romney has yet to accomplish. But in fairness Romney was a great asset stripper and exporter of American jobs.
|
|
|
Jimbeaux
25,725 posts
100 months
|
TheHeretic said: Jimbeaux said: How do you see a fellow that has accomplished as much as Romney has compared to what Obama has not and call him "bats t crazy"? I am genuinely curious. Oh, I don't know about that. Obama has already been President. Something that Romney has yet to accomplish. Um hmm. You know what I mean.
|
|
|
Jimbeaux
25,725 posts
100 months
|
unrepentant said: TheHeretic said: Oh, I don't know about that. Obama has already been President. Something that Romney has yet to accomplish. But in fairness Romney was a great asset stripper and exporter of American jobs. Can't even have a civilized conversation, even when you are met half way. 
|
|
|
Dixie68
3,081 posts
56 months
|
Jimbeaux said: Dixie68 said: To me, Obama seems to be a level-headed, intelligent person, whereas Romney seems like he's totally bats t crazy. On that assessment alone Romney will get elected, (I was convinced Bush wouldn't get a second term). How do you see a fellow that has accomplished as much as Romney has compared to what Obama has not and call him "bats t crazy"? I am genuinely curious. I was joking, Jim, I have no idea about American politics
|
|
