Comments on: Cutting entitlements is a hard and thankless task…

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:18:16 +0000

The local Democrats tell their constituents that by cutting military spending and taxing the 1% their “fair share” *zero* cuts to spending are necessary and, more, the Republicans that say any spending cuts are needed are lying to defend the 1% and the military-industrial complex.

By: expat

expat — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:59:59 +0000

I’m not sure that we couldn’t have better growth if there was some indication that uncertainty was being worked on. For instance if you approve Keystone and rule in the EPA, companies would have more confidence about energy costs. If Obamacare is delayed for 2 years, you might get a bit more hiring now.

I think Ryan is trying to reach a tipping point after which Obamamania and the victim mentality don’t totally control the mesage.

By: parker

parker — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 06:05:53 +0000

“Karl Denninger had explicitly called Paul Ryan a liar on numerous occasions, including today…. He says that Ryan’s plan assumes completely unrealistic projections of economic growth, and doesn’t allow for recessions.”

Its all cooked books, funny numbers, and smoke of any color up the chimney. We are in the calm before the tsunami crests. The calm may last a few years or only a few months. It will end with a crash and burn given the lack of reality in DC. It is impossible to predict the aftermath but it is clear we are out of time. http://tinyurl.com/blzdsok

Prepare accordingly per your means and temperament. Me & mine are prepared. Water, food, and ammo.

By: rickl

rickl — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 04:53:14 +0000

Oldflyer Says: March 12th, 2013 at 10:55 pm

I nearly gagged listening to Paul Ryan talk to Hannity about his plan. So, a bold, but doomed, plan is to limit spending to a 3.2% increase per year over the next ten years? Gag! Ryan is bragging that his plan will reach a balanced budget in 10 years. I could not believe that Hannity did not point out that we would be increasing the already intolerable debt for each of those ten years—even under his scenario.

Karl Denninger had explicitly called Paul Ryan a liar on numerous occasions, including today: Deconstructing Lyin' Ryan (Again) He says that Ryan's plan assumes completely unrealistic projections of economic growth, and doesn't allow for recessions.

By: parker

parker — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 03:09:30 +0000

“I commented how lucky we were to grow up when and where we did.”

I’m a youngster, I’ll only be 75 in ten years. 🙂 I feel the same way, I grew up in rural Iowa and it was paradise compared to 21st century America. We were not middle class, but we ate well, worked hard, and felt free.

“What happened?”

FDR, LBJ, etc. plus the general demise of a work ethic and the demise of the desire to be independent from government.

By: Oldflyer

Oldflyer — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:55:49 +0000

I nearly gagged listening to Paul Ryan talk to Hannity about his plan. So, a bold, but doomed, plan is to limit spending to a 3.2% increase per year over the next ten years? Gag! Ryan is bragging that his plan will reach a balanced budget in 10 years. I could not believe that Hannity did not point out that we would be increasing the already intolerable debt for each of those ten years–even under his scenario.

In ten years I would be 88. Strangely, the idea that I may not be around by then bothers me less every day. What passes for our government and society is becoming less and less tolerable.

Just corresponded with a high school class mate who is organizing the 60th reunion this Spring. I commented how lucky we were to grow up when and where we did. What happened?

By: sharpie

sharpie — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:03:30 +0000

“For who are a free people? Not those, over whom government is reasonably and equitably exercised, but those, who live under a government so constitutionally checked and controuled, that proper provision is made against its being otherwise exercised.” – John Dickinson, Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania (1768).

When the bulk of the populace does not understand that our government was expressly created to provide liberty and leave security to other institutions, that bulk shall get what they demand as one writer put it “good and hard.”

By: parker

parker — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:33:30 +0000

This just another example of the inherent problem with trying to reform the behemoth: http://tinyurl.com/akrefmr

Even Ryan’s math is impossible without economic growth that only happens in a fairy tale.

By: Sam L.

Sam L. — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:17:54 +0000

“The common good” is an excuse for funneling contract money to one’s cronies. Damn the unexpected consequences, full sppe ahead!

By: parker

parker — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:17:05 +0000

I am extremely skeptical there will be meaningful reform of medicare-obamacare, SS, or any of the social welfare programs. There is very little understanding on Main Street that these systems can not be sustained. But perhaps obamacare can be repealed after its predicted consequences start harming a significant majority of the public. Nonetheless, baby boomers are going to be the tsunami that crushes the social welfare system even if obamacare is repealed.

However, I will applaud Cruz and others if they manage to force an open and prolonged public debate that even the MSM can not ignore.