The Housing Bubble

More like saving the insane public unions.

But they are worth it and it is for the children.

———–

That contention also will be part of the objections that will be filed by the city’s two employee pension systems, said Bruce Babiarz, spokesman for Detroit’s Police and Fire Retirement System and General Retirement System.

The systems are the city’s two largest unsecured creditors.

Detroit has about 21,000 retired workers who are owed benefits, with underfunded obligations of about $3.5 billion for pensions and $5.7 billion for retiree health coverage.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-08-20/news/41429162_1_kevyn-orr-emergency-manager-bankruptcy-protection

Oh, and they’re Republicans.

“focused her attention on resentment of me.”

Of course, because you pointed out how she is being evil in her support of colonization and she’s screwing her neighbors and fellow citizens. There’s a special hell for people like her. I have vowed not to lift a finger to help anyone I know who is a traitor that supports colonization. If they were getting gang-banged, I’d plug my ears against the screams and walk on by whistling.

If you really wanted to get even with her, you can report her to the IRS. Because you know neither she or the colonizers who are doing work for her are paying taxes. Heh, I know someone this happened to years ago. She had a live-in from south of the border, with a daughter no less (so she could take advantage of the school system). No taxes were taken out of her pay, and she promised to pay them. She didn’t. The IRS came after the employer. Real mess.

United States of Moral Hazard
One day she’s going to regret it. I used an illegal as a housekeeper once, and she cleaned the microwave with Lime Away on the sponge, and fumed us out of the house the next morning, when I turned on the microwave. The fire dept said we could have been seriously injured if we didn’t go outside immediately. We were sicker than dogs. The sponge was saturated with Lime Away as I found out. Could have killed us.She also destroyed the vacuum cord, and it became a fire hazard.

One of the maid firms (franchised) wanted $60/hr, so I went the cheapo route.Went back to cleaning my home myself to this day.

Your comments about the taxpayer picking up the tab is absolutely a fact. I live in So Ca.

Are you mad at the “illegal housekeeper” or are you mad that she gets services free? No person should be considered a burden on society just for existing and doing work to support themselves.

If you want to eliminate the source of your anger, don’t eliminate the possibility for human beings to support themselves, eliminate the “free giveaways” to those who don’t pay into the system…

Currently if you go to the ER, the ER MUST see/treat you. Why don’t we change that so that the ER has the choice to see/treat/triage ? Hospitals can then tell people with an ear ache to go somewhere else instead of wasting ER time. Or they can treat the ear ache free if they aren’t doing anything else.. up to the ER…

If “illegal immigration” was no such thing, for example if anyone could just come here and work legally, but you only got access to services if you worked at a job that paid taxes, etc.. wouldn’t people strive for better and better jobs that afforded them access to those services instead of hiding in the underground economy?

If the only argument against this is we don’t want to pay for the services, then lets just not pay for the services, but still let people work, and have access to the American dream…

Liberace’s Symphonic Squealing

Vote Obama and complian about republican hypocrisy. And not only keep the status-quo going but also make it stronger after all HYP graduates can fix it all. I think it’s been prescribed subtely over and over again.

Your memory is failing or your listening to too many AM radio pundits.
I thought Ron Paul started it with his moneybomb day on the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. I remember it well because I sent in $200 that day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moneybomb

Rick Santelli stole it, CNBC ran it up the flag pole and Fox News took it and gave it to Freedom Works with 6 hour a day coverage through the 2010 election. Once they had locked in their power base the dumped some of the real wackos like Glen Beck and replaced them with professional politicians.

I know how the Tea Party started. It started as a reaction to some very bad policies that were giveaways. What it has become (and why I said “today’s TP”) is quite different.

The same thing could be said about Occupy.

‘I thought Ron Paul started it’

I knew that, but most people became aware of the TP with the TARP opposition.

‘What it has become (and why I said “today’s TP”) is quite different’

And thus the opportunity to make sweeping derogatory statements about people you’ve never met or will meet. Got it.

Ben, I must disagree. The TP had to have the support of a big media network or they would have met the same fate as Occupy and ultimately, Ron Paul too. That’s how things work in the USA today. That’s why we ended up John Kerry as the Dem candidate instead of the guy who should have been the 2004 president - Howard Dean. Remember? “Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa, Yea-Haa”

I remember that many on this blog agreed with OWS when it started. Then it devolved because they couldn’t agree on a goal, as I recall. Now they do sit ins at foreclosures.

Here’s a big difference about the TP; they organized and elected a bunch of people in 2010. Having messed around in politics as a volunteer, I can say that is not easy to do in such a short time. On this day, many of these people are making a ruckus in DC.

On this day, many of these people are making a ruckus in DC.

That’s why they hate tea party. I confess I don’t like tea party. Too narrow for my tatse…I wish it was more anti wars and anti fed/wallstreet/coporations as well.

“What should these people do?”

Somehow, some way, we need to figure out how to gain some traction on campaign finance reform. Until then NOTHING will change.

Not sure why I’m considered some kind of elitist. I took this quiz (designed by Charles Murray for PBS) and I got a 25, which correlates to someone who tries to “get out into the real America” (paraphrasing). I probably would score the highest of anyone I work with.

The quiz is here:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/03/white-educated-and-wealthy-congratulations-you-live-in-a-bubble.html

‘I got a 25, which correlates to someone who tries to “get out into the real America”

Do you wave as you pass by?

http://www.allposters.co.uk/-sp/Queen-Mother-with-Prince-Charles-Waving-as-They-Ride-in-the-Royal-Carriage-c-1985-Posters_i4176526_.htm

Occupy didn’t want a single issue movement because they thought it would make them too vulnerable to a media that would discredit the whole movement by just attacking their main issue. Big mistake in my opinion. They should have made it a 2 or 3 issue protest movement. If they had made money in politics #1 and better wages #2 then many more people would have supported their goals.
The faster it collapses the sooner we can start over. Burn the constitution and let’s write a new one that can deal with the realities of the 21st. century like genetic engineering, NSA/FBI/CIA spying and money in politics.

Can I count on the Tea Party to do this or will the politicians they elect continue to be front men for ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) and the US Chamber of Commerce?

‘Can I count on the Tea Party to do this’

I don’t know. In the past I have voted for Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Libertarians, Independents, and even some guy with one of those Indian Temples (because he was the only one standing up to developers at the time). I’m glad to have the choices and wish we had more of them.

Not sure why I’m considered some kind of elitist. I took this quiz (designed by Charles Murray for PBS) and I got a 25, which correlates to someone who tries to “get out into the real America” (paraphrasing).

That’s funny. I got a 57, but I don’t really have quite that much blue collar cred. Many of the questions were worded as “ever”, and yeah, I’ve done it once. Doesn’t mean I’ve ever done it again :-).

62. Uh hyuk.

I’m thinking FPSS would probably get a 5.

Not sure why I’m considered some kind of elitist.

I don’t know either. Your posts here certianly haven’t had that whiff of elitism.

No really, none.

None whatsoever.

Really.

Reminds me more of that lady on Keeping Up Appearances.

“Not sure why I’m considered some kind of elitist.”

That’s part of your problem. “The poors” did you no favors.

46. My parents were both well educated for their time, but we teetered on the edge of lower middle class while I was growing up.

39 here. I started off blue collar but went all elitist when I stopped watching TV, I guess. I’m surprise they didn’t ask if we had a home garden and if we grew arugula. (I’m a kale gal myself.)

Does anyone else find it ironic that Joey says he’s not elitist, and then proves it with a survey carefully constructed by the PBS website? Dude, if you want street cred, you should have pointed us to some fat dude who screeches on AM radio.

Don’t feel bad Joe. I have a sofa on my front porch and you are welcome to come over and have a Schlitz anytime. Just call ahead of time.

“39 here.”

Hey, that’s exactly what I got. I think we’re a match, Oxide. jk

Pass me the Cheetos dude. I’ll trade you a liter bottle of Coke.

Pass me the Cheetos dude. I’ll trade you a liter bottle of Coke.

The “New Economy” in action… barter & trade for the poor, privatize profits socialize losses for the rich.

I’m out of cheetos, but I’ve got a sweet bag of nacho cheese Doritos. Orange finger is orange fingers, amirite?

You are correct. Pass’em over. I’m exhausted from schooling this congressman over the phone.

A guy goes to his doctor and says “Doc, ya gotta help me. My d1ck is turning orange!”
Doctor pauses to think and asks the guy to drop his pants so he can have a look. Damned if the guy’s pen1s isn’t orange! Doc tells the guy, “This is very strange. Sometimes things like this are caused by a lot of stress in a person’s life. How are things going at work?”
The guy responds that he was fired 6 weeks ago. The doctor tells him that this must be the cause of the stress. Guy says “No, the boss was a real a$$hole, I had to work 20-30 hrs of overtime every week, and I had no say in anything that was happening. I found a new job a couple weeks ago where I can set my own hours, I’m getting twice my old pay, and the boss is real cool.”
So the doc thinks a little longer and says “Well, do you have any hobbies or a social life?” Guy says, “No, most nights I just sit at home watching p0rn0 flicks and eating Cheetos.”

“wage inflation”

Did you ever see the play Waiting for Godot?

‘I ordered some jeans online because they had a sale, then I took them back because they didn’t fit and to order a different size. They wanted to charge me more to order them in the store.’

Wow, JCP does not have a clue how to sustain customer loyalty.

not have a clue how to sustain customer loyalty.

How can “customer loyalty” be sustained in the face of the constant barrage and PR of “most efficient markets” and cheaper prices?

We’re supposed to be customer loyal to companies that adhere and promote such things? While at same time they cut wages in the same name of “most efficient markets”?

American style of Capitalism is eating itself alive. Just look around.

‘American style of Capitalism is eating itself alive’

See Rio, you’re not a libertarian or Republican or a Democrat. You’re a socialist or a communist. Here’s a tip; capitalism is what gave this country the wealth that it has, and government is taking it away. Your confused political identity reminds me of the lines in the Kinks song:

‘Well I’m not the worlds most masculine man
But I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man
And so is Lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola’

BTW, people south and north of the US border are “Americans” too.

See Rio, you’re not a libertarian or Republican or a Democrat. You’re a socialist or a communist.

I’m a capitalist that knows the best capitalism has to be regulated.

BTW, people south and north of the US border are “Americans” too

Not really just “Americans”. They are North Americans or South Americans.

The United States of America is the ONLY country that has the word America in it’s official name. Thus we are simply “Americans”.

White men like De Blasio will make a woman out of most black women. Let the interracial breeding begin!

Spook:

My observation is black people are discriminated 10 times more, not based on color but because they can’t speak English.

i wonder how the people who bought at 1700 feel?

Probably not as good as the ones who bought at 500.

as i posted earlier, our contract is fully funded for fy14, so nothing is cancelled. and yes, we are still hiring. we have been short staffed for a while now, so the ‘burn rate’ of labor hours billed to uncle sugar is running well below what the contract allows.

you should meet some of the ‘rugged individualists’ i work with who are collecting a military pension, a lockheed pension, and a contractor pension. triple-dipper for the win, baby!

regards,

goon.squad.ctr@xxx.xxx.mil

contractor pension = contractor paycheck

if only i was born 40 years earlier i could have grown up to be a triple-dipper too, sigh…

if the FED is required by law to send back most of the interest it collects on treasuries back to the govt then whats all the talk about servicing the debt?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/business/economy/fed-returns-77-billion-in-profits-to-treasury.html?_r=0

So if the FED returns the profits on treasuries back to the treasury isnt the govt essentially borrowing money for nothing from the FED?

I guess the only thing you have to worry about interest payments on are all the other people and countries that own debt.

The only negative I see is an increase in the money supply but most of it is sitting as bank reserves. anyone care to add their 2 cents on this topic?

The FEDs problem is they are stuffed with hundreds of billions of low quality mortgage debt. Right now due to the suspension of FASB rule 157 they can legally carry that debt at face value and not the pennies on the dollar it’s actually worth. Treasuries will crash if mark-to-market is re-instated.

http://www.markit.com/en/products/data/indices/structured-finance-indices/abx/abx-prices.page?

Just remember all those MBS were over 100 back in 2006.

That’s true of everone. Eventually, each of us will get sick in a way that no doctor can do anything about. Death will follow.

Eventually, each of us will get sick in a way that no doctor can do anything about. Death will follow.

Death will probably follow after about 100K in end of life bills. That’s why everyone needs health insurance as our system stands. So they won’t be a dead-beat cost on the rest of us. That’s the whole reason for the mandate.

It’s because we get the wretched refuse from Mexico- the uneducated who are unemployable in their homeland and often even have a hard time with their native tongue. That’s what the Republicans like.

Not really but she spends money on clothes and other “fine things” as she puts it. She spends what she spends so I shouldn’t complain much anyway.

Not really but she spends money on clothes and other “fine things” as she puts it. She spends what she earns so I shouldn’t complain much anyway.

“And who pays the $3,650?”
the majority of supporters plan on letting the other guy pay their way.

Totally untrue. Their are millions chomping at the bit right now to buy ObamaCare insurance - to buy it.

(middle class) will pick up the co-pay, either directly or by way of ever increasing premiums.

Uhhh. This is how health insurance works and has functioned for 70 years. If you don’t like that then fight for single-payer. But you won’t. Many like to have it both-ways.

“But I thought it was free?”

No. How can they think it’s free when they are lining up to BUY it with their? That makes no sense.

what we have here is nothing more than Stage One of a massive redistribution scheme.

From citizens to private insurance companies and private medical companies, private doctors and private hospitals? What’s not to like?

The only loser here will be the middle class,

No way. In total, the middle class and some of the poor are the big winners. ObamaCare will limit their yearly out of pocket expense and provide insurance much better than much available now. The middle-class now can’t get kicked off they insurance, and sick middle-class will have access to healthcare and medical induced BK’s will slow. What’s not to like?

Correction:

How can they think (ObamaCare is) free when they are lining up to BUY it with their hard earned money?

‘Their are millions chomping at the bit right now to buy ObamaCare insurance’

‘One day away from the launch of the Obamacare marketplaces, the question most on the minds people visiting the Healthcare.gov website is not about coverage, but rather about avoiding the penalty, or tax, for not having health insurance.’

This is gonna be like the great pumpkin. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight waiting to become civilized and start thriving tomorrow morning.

I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight waiting to become civilized and start thriving tomorrow morning.

You really don’t seem to know much about the law as you didn’t know about the max yearly out-of-pocket and seem unaware that insurance will start Jan 1 2014 and not tomorrow.

I think if you knew the law and thought about it objectively, it would seem much more civilized than you are giving it credit for.

And it does fit the definition of “civilized” as no one can dispute.

about avoiding the penalty, or tax, for not having health insurance.’

I’m not surprised. The GOP Deadbeat Frees#!t Hypocrite Army is huge. And they’ve been fired up by their wackjob “leaders” to sabotage the law.

And they’ve outspend the government about 5 yo 1 on misleading ads and false propaganda. The lying foaming at the mouth by the GOP is a sight to see.

‘insurance will start Jan 1 2014 and not tomorrow’

What?

But I’m chomping at the bit! You mean I have to wait? I ordered a harpsichord and everything. I was going to play along with classical music on NPR all day tomorrow.

But you’re right about not knowing much about this law. All I do know is that it’s gonna be free, I can keep a doctor I don’t have, and I get a cell phone.

All I do know is that it’s gonna be free, I can keep a doctor I don’t have, and I get a cell phone.

But that’s what a lot of people ignorant of the law really do think.

The far-right has outspend the government about 5 to 1 on misleading ads and false propaganda on ObamaCare.

Their are millions chomping at the bit right now

I’d expect somebody like you (always on their high horse about knowledge, education, etc. along with pointing out spelling and grammar flaws in others) to spell it ‘champing’. The horse doesn’t actually eat the bit.

‘The horse doesn’t actually eat the bit’

Yeah, but I’ve got this harpsichord and I want to celebrate Obamacare and thrive and be civilized. Please don’t let the “far right” spoil my little party tomorrow!

ObamaCare is an example of a country becoming more civilized.

And there it is.

Only bigger and bigger government with higher and higher taxes and more and more regulations can do that.

Imagine what Chicago and Detroit and Newark and Camden and etc. will look like in 10 years. Compare/contrast to 50 years ago.

I am sure glad they are all getting some “civilized” going for them…

ObamaCare is an example of a country becoming more civilized.

And there it is.

Yes there it is. Right there. Snap.

If you think not, then please make a rational argument that ObamaCare does not make America more civilized as per “civilized definition of “moral and intellectual advancement; humane ethical, and reasonable:”

civ·i·lized (sv-lzd) adj.
2. Showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement; humane, ethical, and reasonable:

civ•i•li•za•tion (ˌsɪv ə ləˈzeɪ ʃən) n.
1. an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, and government has been reached……

…….7. modern comforts and conveniences, as made possible by science and technology.

“ObamaCare is an example of a country becoming more civilized.”

Spoken with all the the fervor and dewey-eyes of a true believer who has drank deeply from the magic KoolAide.

Spoken with all the the fervor and dewey-eyes of a true believer who has drank deeply from the magic KoolAide.

Written (not spoken) with all the brain-washed “fervor” and dull-eyes of a narrow-minded believer who has drank deeply from AM-radio mind-numbing and lying propaganda.

(There. Mine’s better)

Rio,

The ACA could be great. Just like Social Security or medicare could be great. The (main) problem with these programs is not the programs themselves, or even the idea of the programs. However, show me *one* of these programs that don’t allow their funding to be co-mingled with general funds.

In every case, the money and therefore power entrusted to the program is allowed to remain under general financial control of the federal government. The money is then “borrowed” for war, pork barrel spending, and other regulatory programs. A crisis in the funding of the program then materializes and since we are now reliant on that program, “taxes must increase” to “save” it.

Again, ACA could be great, but first we should address the 15 TRILLION dollar deficit this country faces. If ACA is “worth it”, we should be willing to find the sacrifices in the rest of the budget to pay for it. If it’s “worth it”, it’s worth doing it with sustainable funding.

I am against ACA for this reason. I hope people don’t claim I am racist and against Obama because he is black, or against poor people because they need health care. But if they do that is their problem not mine. All I can continue to point out is that countries who have overspent and over printed and overinflated their currencies have tended to fall apart spectacularly. Having the US fall apart in a spectacular fashion would not be good for ANY of the world, especially for citizens of this country.

I would love to support you in your push for a more “civilized” society that increases the level of care for the poorest of its citizens. I wish you could see that the finances of the nation should first be made sound before we attempt that task. I also wish that you wouldn’t discount the opinion of those who are working hard and being taxed at combined 50% rates. 28% fed + 15% SS(worker + company match) + 10% state + 1% ACA + sales taxes, auto registration and license tax, gas tax, utility taxes.. the list goes on.

We rail against large companies and their monopolies, yet no single entity gets a larger percentage of the working person’s income than federal government. And no other entity has the legal ability to take more as you make more, and legally, at risk of incarceration, at the point of a gun. Perhaps we should consider de-monopolizing government.

if it were a civilized country they wouldn’t be letting these hospitals and doctors gouge people out of their life savings.

This law did nothing to address the real problem with healthcare, its gotten too exspensive.

Again, ACA could be great, but first we should address the 15 TRILLION dollar deficit this country faces. If ACA is “worth it”, we should be willing to find the sacrifices in the rest of the budget to pay for it.

Maybe, but much or most of the ACA is funded by people paying premiums that insurance companies have deemed profitable for them. It is not at all a strictly tax funded program. And if it does lessen the rise in the rate of increase in healthcare costs, it will lower it in Medicare as well. This will help the deficit. Many studies have shown ObamaCare will reduce the rate of growth in the deficit therefor if true, it fits your goals:

CBO: Repealing Obama healthcare law will increase budget deficit The Hill dot com

I’m a pragmatist and realize life is shorter than government policies. IMO, addressing the 15 trillion dollar deficit (debt) is not politically possible at this time due to the declining tax revenue from rich and rich corporations along with extreme military spending and both entities’ power and lobbying. BUT, life goes on and people are dying and living crappy lives for lack of health care as we speak.

We’ve had decades of deficit spending - decades longer than many people’s lives. Many lives have been lost during these decades do to lack of health care - and in the richest country in the world. And the ONLY modern country without universal health-care. America was the backward outlier. We were at the breaking point.

I agree with your concepts but not your sequence of events from a humanitarian and a political point of view.

I also wish that you wouldn’t discount the opinion of those who are working hard and being taxed at combined 50% rates.

I don’t discount them. I was one in America. However, if those paying 50% taxes would join me in my opinion that the very rich are getting off lightly, then maybe the political will would be there to not allow someone making 10 million dollars a year to pay a 16% effective tax rate while putting the burden on you and others in the middle class.

That is flat-out un-American and flies in the face of American history, traditions and wishes.

Rio,

Once again,

“If ACA is “worth it”, we should be willing to find the sacrifices in the rest of the budget to pay for it.”

I haven’t seen a single politician, democrat or republican, stand up and say “we will balance the budget to make this happen”.

That would be some real leadership, some real conviction. That isn’t what the ACA is. The ACA, especially in it’s current form, is another power grab and special interest giveaway.

‘join me in my opinion that the very rich are getting off lightly’

Well Johnny grab your gun and get to confiscatin’! Oh, you don’t have the nerve to do that, right Robin Hood? You want some government thug to do that for you. How mighty an American you are.

If you can hear me up there on your high horse, why didn’t you and your “libertarian” buddies propose to take the rich people’s money and buy health insurance for poor people? Couldn’t get that passed, huh? Why didn’t you pass single payer? Didn’t have the votes, did ya? So these idiots in DC come up with this half-assed plan that has no way of working and will sock working people the hardest, and you have the gall to prance around like you are helping people! Please.

if it were a civilized country they wouldn’t be letting these hospitals and doctors gouge people out of their life savings.

I agree but if we buy it, ObamaCare allows only a maximum $6,350 per year in out of pocket costs.

It’s still a lot of money but way more civilized that hitting someone with a 200K bill if one is uninsured and unable to get insurance for a pre-existing condition.

This law did nothing to address the real problem with healthcare,

It did. It allowed interstate competition between insurance companies. Now that their competition has increased (we hope) they will use market forces and massive numbers to bargain health-care with lower prices. Why? The profit-for-themselves motive.

Remember: ObamaCare was a Republican concept well before Obama ran with it.

and you have the gall to prance around like you are helping people! Please.

ObamaCare will help millions. Now that’s a fact.

Well Johnny grab your gun and get to confiscatin

America has had taxes since the Constitution was ratified. It’s a price paid for civilization.

Why didn’t you pass single payer? Didn’t have the votes, did ya?

They traded it away without even trying. So quickly I don’t think they even wanted it. Which makes me suspect the fix was already in for the insurance companies at that early point in the process.

So these idiots in DC come up with this half-assed plan invented by the ultra-conservative Heritage Foundation as a Republican plan, and first implemented successfully by Republican Mitt Romney. Republicans dissing their own plan for political reasons is typical of a Repub Party that has gone bats#!t crazy.

Obamacare was/is the invention of the hard right.It was born in the Heritage Foundation in the early 1990′s as an alternative to single payer, should the establishment ever be threatened by single payer. the Republicans introduced it as a bill in 1993. Bob Dole ran on Obamacare in 1996 and Mitt enacted it in Mass. in the early 2000′s.
firedoglake dot com

grab your gun and get to confiscatin’! Oh, you don’t have the nerve to do that,

Is this a trick question? I’m gonna take a gun, rob someone of a few grand and send it as a check to “fund” Obamacare?

How mighty an American you are.

But if I did that, I’d be a “mighty American”?

I haven’t seen a single politician, democrat or republican, stand up and say “we will balance the budget to make (ObamaCare) happen”.

I did partially, because it happened, and was rebuffed by the Repubs. Most ALL Democrats including Obama tried to repeal TheBushTaxCutsForTheRich at the same time they were passing ObamaCare. This would have gone a long way to “balancing the budget”.

So in effect, Democrats were coming much closer to what you envision than the Repubs allowed them to do. Repubs did not want a balanced budget nor health-care for millions.

This is why health-care for millions could not wait anymore for a political balanced budget that was pie-in-the-sky fantasy.

I haven’t seen a single politician, democrat or republican, stand up and say “we will balance the budget to make (ObamaCare) happen”.

Come to think of it, the handfull of Dems fighting for single-payer were doing exactly that.

We currently pay about 18% of GDP on healthcare

Countries with single-payer pay about 11-13% of their GDP on health-care.

Those handful of Democrats were for single-payer, AND eliminating TheBushTaxCutsForTheRich AND for some cuts to the military.

If you add all three of those together, the deficit might have been eliminated and we’d be on a path to debt reduction.

So there it is. There were politicians effectively doing exactly what you envisioned on eliminating the deficit.

And they were all Democrats. Go figure.

Rio,

I would love to support you in your push for a more “civilized” society that increases the level of care for the poorest of its citizens. I wish you could see that the finances of the nation should first be made sound before we attempt that task. I also wish that you wouldn’t discount the opinion of those who are working hard and being taxed at combined 50% rates. 28% fed + 15% SS(worker + company match) + 10% state + 1% ACA + sales taxes, auto registration and license tax, gas tax, utility taxes.. the list goes on.

What are you concerned that someone would call you a racist based on that statement?

Everyone “says” they want a balanced budget. What actions did they take to balance the budget BEFORE trying to pass ACA? None. I could say farting elephants out my ass will balance the budget, doesn’t make it so. Stop idolizing democrats. I have no love for republicans, but NEITHER of them is serious about balancing the budget.

“What are you concerned that someone would call you a racist based on that statement?”

The general go to statement for anyone against ACA is that they are racist and hate the poor. Please think of the children, Ok?

Will Rio be furloughed tomorrow ?

Everyone “says” they want a balanced budget.

B.S.

I just gave you concrete examples of Democrats who had real ideas to “balance the budget” and they pushed for them in the face of an iron Repub door slammed against them.

Those Dems pushed for Single-payer with ending of BushTaxCutsForTheRich plus military cuts. This is fact.

That would do it. That you won’t accept that fact is a tribute to dogma above mathematics.

Yea. You’re right. You’d get “farting elephants out your a$$” before any Repub would be serious to “balance the budget”.

Will Rio be furloughed tomorrow ?

Why would I? I’m the “boot-strapping” self-employed, independent, capitalist business owner on two continents and two languages.

I don’t worry about me or mine. I worry about America.

The general go to statement for anyone against ACA is that they are racist and hate the poor. Please think of the children, Ok?

I’ve never heard anyone anywhere call an opponent of the ACA a racist. Where have you heard it?

Which boot strapping self employing government agency does Rio work for, if he works at all? Too many posts to be doing anything gainful.

The same one HA works for.

It will not be televised. You have to read it on newspapers.

The better question is whether the lenders want to make money or not. If they do, they will lend to anyone. Just look at Auto….housing has to be next.

Yes, lenders did learn a lesson. If you get in trouble, the Fed will spend more money than the entire federal budget to the tune of $85B/mo buying your whacked ass MBS product so you can retain profits and not go bankrupt.

IF you are in the club.