politics

Compromise on the $250 threshold. We lost. There is nobody that believes this will solve the deficit problem. Once enacted it will be a done deal. The only option will be to cut spending. Whitehouse.gov, budget link, cuts section indicate that our king will cut $1T over 10,years. Considering the deficit is now $16T people will soon realize that more material cuts will be required. Box the insatiable spenders into a corner.

probsolver: "Considering the deficit is now $16T people will soon realize that more material cuts will be required."

The debt is $16T. The deficit is 1.1T. Just sayin'.

What democrat politicians like Walz have figured out is when you rob Peter to pay Paul you can always count on the support of Paul.

pity, So we (America) don't need to pay it back? Are you an economist, or an ostrich?

Funny how we never heard the right wingers complain about the deficite/debt when W. was ruining the economy and driving up the debt. The Bush tax cuts were temporary, end them for the top 2%, while you are at it, change all income over 1 million to earned income. No more tax breaks for the super wealthy, they have had them long enough. When all of this is accomplished, then lets talk about cutting spending some more. The spending cuts hit the people of modest means, we need a balanced approach so everyone shares in the pain, including those who can most easily afford to help solve our countries problems!

Sorry, but I am one of the 47% (I think?) that have very little to lose by taking the plunge over that cliff. I welcome the cuts to the massive military budget (the elephant in the room) and maybe it will signal the end of our empire building efforts and we can concentrate on Americans for a change. I welcome nearly everything that will happen when we are beyond the cliff, hit bottom, and start all over again.

hewonwelost: "pity, So we (America) don't need to pay it back? Are you an economist, or an ostrich?"

It's amazing how some people can take a statement of fact, then somehow turn it into a completely unrelated topic.

Jake --- so are you saying the debt size is not worrisome? If given the increase on those over $250, what then? Your post seems to be against any spending cuts? Many dems agree that a balanced approach requires spending cuts also. How do you propose to decrease the debt without spending cuts?

pitythefools....."The debt is $16T. The deficit is 1.1T. Just sayin'." Apples and oranges. One, the Debt, has been accumulated since we became an independent country, over 200+ years ago. The Deficit of 1.1T is just from only last year. Obama's tax proposal increase of 1.2T is over a 10 year period. He plans to spend it, not apply to debt. Do the math. Without significant reforms to entitlements and defense, we are on course for 1T+ Deficits for as long as you can see. It is impossible to pay down the debt without having a balanced budget plus.

The GOP has absolutely ZERO leverage after that last election thrashing. Time to do something you have never done GOP - work for the will of the people! The people chose tax increases. Suck it up and move on or prepare to lose complete power in the next mid-terms.