Ebay Alert: You've been outbid for the Presidency

[gene430]

I think the campaigning this year has really gone over the top in terms of pandering to the public. The candidates seem to be more blatent in trying to buy votes with government giveaways, etc.

http://www.politibyte.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=36&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

On the one hand the Democrats chastise Bush obout his "out of control" spending on the war; yet, they propose even more spending on entitlements. I guess they are not really against the spending, just on the program that it is being spent on. The Republicans are not much better as they are promising tax cuts when reality dictates that we really should pay off these debts that we have accrued. Tax cuts in this environment really are just a small step above the outright entitlements that the democrats want to give. There is no one speaking responsibly about what we should do. I believe we need to get this war behind us (either win the thing or get out) and let's spend a few years focused on paying down our debt. It's not glamorous, but it's the right thing to do.

[spooky3]

1. the sooner we are out of Iraq, the more $ will be available for those debts

[gene430]

2. I agree

I agree completely, I just don't want to replace one type of spending with another.

[gene430]

3. and...

also, what good will it do to eliminate $75 billion a year spent in Iraq if we turn around and spend $75 billion on entitlements? Does not the war spending at least create jobs, industry,etc.?

[Occam Bandage]

4. So you find no inherent value in medicare or social security?

The self-absorbed ultraconservative/libertarian-bastard forums are thataway.

[gene430]

9. Inherent Value

Not sure of your message, but in response to your message title, no, I see no value in one time $250 payments to people. I think it's pure politics and just another way of saying, "vote for me and I'll give you $250." Sure I would like to go out and have a nice dinner on Uncle Sam; but, in the morning we got the same problems.

[Occam Bandage]

10. So, medical care for the elderly and working poor has no value, and is equal to buying you a dinner.

It isn't "pure politics;" it's a society ensuring nobody falls through the cracks.

(Where on Earth did you get the idea that our entitlement programs were one-time payouts?)

[gene430]

11. Where did I get it?

Did you read the article, those are Obama's words not mine......."there will be a one time payment to all Social Security recipients of $250."

Don't blame the messenger.

[Occam Bandage]

7. Oh, and "Does not the war spending at least create jobs, industry,etc.?" The answer is no.

Suppose $10 million is taken out of the economy via taxes and put towards purchasing weapons.
Lock-Mart gets $10 million, and gives Uncle Same some bombs, which are then dropped.

Now, what just happened? $10 million was taken and re-inserted into the economy, but what was produced was removed from the economy. There was, economically speaking, zero productivity for that money. Sure, Lock-Mart gets some of that as profit, which it can then invest...but the money that went towards materials, labor, and overhead for those bombs was completely lost to the economy. All that's happened there is that inflation has increased.

Military spending is not good for the economy at all. The money is actually better spent on entitlements; every dollar a poor person receives is spent, and spent in a manner that increases production.

[Occam Bandage]

5. What a hilarious cartoon from your sigged site's front page!

And another!




And you hate Democrats for spending money on health care for old people and poor people!

[Occam Bandage]

6. I like the idiot recs, though, from people who think

you're referring to corporatist pandering and not, instead, bitching about welfare, medicaid, medicare, and social security.

[ljm2002]

8. Oh, the horror!

Why, Democrats would rather spend on (so-called) "entitlements" than on our grand and glorious War Machine!

"I guess they are not really against the spending, just on the program that it is being spent on."

[gene430]

12. Why does their have to be a choice

Why do you suggest that we have an "either or" situation. Why must we spend the money either on the war or on social entitlements?

Why can't we get out of Iraq and not spend the money on entitlements. Why not give it back to the people it belongs to?