Show of Hands

If you don't have enough to pay all your bills this month do you choose to not pay any if them? Or choose the most important? Sorry cable and clothing store your gonna have to wait a month. Social security and defense will get paid. Stop all the scare tactics!

If we taxed too high or cut too deep we would still collapse and worse then if our government went bankrupt.

@jacobck. Technically those weren't balanced because they MADE money....just sayin'

jm, that is not accurate, Clinton signed six of them.

The last balanced budget was in 1957 so you kind of have no point. Before then it was a different world and a different political landscape.

But thats just me being reasonable, feel free to continue asking asinine questions.

anyone?

anyone know the last republican president to sign a balanced budget?

Real statesman work to find the right answer; politicians work to keep themselves electable. We the People need more Statesmen. Alas, few are offered to elect by the current two party system which promotes and rewards party liners and deters free thinking statesmen from rising.

I met a couple wise businessmen on different occasions. It's funny, they both said exactly the same thing: "Never go into debt to start up a business". Both started in their garages, and both became one of those dreaded, evil millionaires.

I agree with gcgalt and the fair tax! I would also add that there should be a 2 laws passed in addition to the fair tax: 1. The budget must be balanced at the end of EVERY fiscal year. 2. It would be illegal for the fed to borrow $ without a constitutional convention. Enough games, they work for us!

I'm going to start a new business soon.
I'll need to work more, and get a new line of credit to cover expenses. I'll also need to stop spending money on other things I don't need.
It will take a little while, but I'm sure I'll be able to turn a profit soon.
I'm going to pay down my debt ASAP.

TGIF....goodnight folks

@CGGALT AND EVERYONE ELSE would you like to read an entertaining discussion of sorts?

I'd support elimination of all tax incentives if it comes with rate reductions. Simplify. Flat tax or fair tax would do this.

DoOver. u r correct. complex process.

@divided. I hear you.... And for some reason... WE KEEP REELECTING these people despite what they have done (or more often what they haven't done)

Politicians used to be called public servants, now we are all working in servitude paying more taxes while these jerks spend our money. We need to put the hammer down and get them under control before they turn us into a third world country. Congress caused the housing and financial mess not us

@CGGALT Would you be against getting rid do incentives for businesses in the form of tax breaks for corporations?

A 'bad deal' might not look bad at first, and it may seem likes it's the only choice. A 'bad deal' sticks around. It doesn't just go away after awhile. The country needs to decide on something, not try to cover it up with a 'bad deal'. A gov. shutdown is the best option, though it's not a good one.

I didn't say you have to be an adult veritas, though you seem to be the only one getting excited. Adults can deal with a heated discussion, but I see no arguments here. Let the mod handle moderation please, and just stick to the discussion. It's all good.

@fairness Open mindedness is a better trait than intelligence in my book

We need more of that

And guys I'll stop interrupting your argument now

Sorry just realized how heated this was

@CGGALT. WHOA whoa whoa. Wait a minute. Who said you have to be an adult to have civil discussion.

I am 14 and would like to think that I m capable of a good clean debate

@cggalt
I stay undecided til afew days b4 I vote. Then I weight a yr+ of info. Then decide. It's always nice to keep an open mind.

I'm talking to everyone in the country.
This is what we have become. This is how the world sees us.

@fairness, the TP also has extreme factions trying to co-opt the agenda with social (religious) issues. Will be an interesting primary. I'm undecided.

Veritas it's cool, most of us are adults, we can handle it lol. If you want to see real lack of civility check Huffpo, Fox Nation or Koz. This ain't nuthin!

Cggalt
Either that or the tea party will sideswipe the GOP election bid.

Over reacted but lox2 if u were talking to CGGALT with that comment it want necesary and Libs and extremists if duirected at Lox isn't right either

Actually, as has happened before, I only read the 3 bad comments and then responded out of context but still stop

Greedy selfish ignorant war mongers

Reallly

Lobs extremists

Come on

GUYSSSS STOPPPP!!!! I left for 20mins and I come back to this. STOP WITH THE INSULTS AND ACCUSATIONS ALREADY!!! CGGALT you said that yourself, Lox stop as well. seriously guys have a Civil discussion

@fairness, agreed. Many are growing tired of both parties, which seem driven by extremists. The I's will likely decide in 12.

Who you picking on the libs LOx2?

@cggalt
Either way it was all politics in April. On both sides. I'd love to press the reset button too. Bit unfortunately Americans seem too entrenched in their political beliefs for that. It's good to see a growing number of independents out there that may oneday bring about political change

I have to stop looking on here. It's making me physically Ill. I'm disgusted at what my country has become.
Greedy, ignorant, selfish, war mongers, dispassionate, lazy, proud, uneducated, reactive, religious bully's. Media driven fearful greedy bastards.
For these wanton sins we shall all pay.

Fairness, the R's put up a bill to guarantee military pay, but it was attached to other bills the D's wouldn't approve (don't recall what), so they were voted down. Politics as usual, playing with people's lives. Vote em all out!

NYevo, essentially you are correct. If we can no longer increase borrowing for some time period, we need to find cuts or new revenues of 20b/month. Put another way, of 200b/month in spending that is not debt service, we would need to cut or defer 10%. You got it.

@nyevo
Defiantly. But that's what u get when opposing views are trying to either stay in or gain power soon

Goodnight all

@cggalt
In April I thought it interesting how the military almost lost pay. But the night b4 the media showed how congress would still be paid. Then wham! They reach a deal. It's all politics. Just like now.

@Fairness: definitely a dangerous game.

@LOx2: I would choose D

Research what payments were stopped in 1979 and other shutdowns. That will give you an idea of what could be impacted.

@CGGALT. The funny thing is that your username now autofills. Ok Math. 20b x 12 = 240billion/year. Are you saying that this is the amount we will have to chop elsewhere if new revenues are not found?

No veritas, it is not set in stone. Why do you think folks got freaked out in April that active military pay might be deferred. Executive branch determines what is non-essential. Unless they do not service the debt there is no default.

If you have 50k in debt now, do you?
A. Cut frivolous spending?
B. Get a second job to increase income?
C. Consolidate immediate bills on a credit card with low interest to get you by until A and B are effective?
D. All of the above.
Please consider this seriously.
This is our current position.

The "debt ceiling" was established in 1917. Since then it has been raised nearly 100 times. Considering this. It seems that politicians are playing political chicken with the lives of Americans.

@NYevo. If others don't want to acknowledge facts, too bad for them. For those who will listen, I will give them. Also several states defaulted in 1841 and again in 1873. More confirmations; CNBC, TIME.com, WASHINGTON POST,

Should oil companies get subsidies?
Should companies that send jobs overseas get tax breaks?
Should we put the burden on the poorest the elderly and the weak?
Should giant companies with teams of lawyers be allowed to not pay taxes?
This is what the right is fighting for.