Republican Losing The Spending Argument

[108]

And not because of the message, but because Americans don't trust the way they are handling it

It's what happens when you spend recklessly during times or relatively economic prosperity, then do a complete reverse when spending actually becomes necessary during an economic collapse that the new president walked into....and not helping one bit to get the country back on track..


Link

For the past several years, congressional Republicans have focused relentlessly on a single message: Washington — led by President Obama — is spending too much money, and it needs to stop.

But according to new Washington Post-ABC News polling, that laser-like focus isn’t helping Republicans win the argument over federal spending — with 67 percent of those tested disapproving of the “way Republicans in Congress are handling federal spending.”

While Obama’s numbers aren’t stellar on that same spending question — 52 percent disapproval — he is in considerably stronger shape than his Republican adversaries as Washington braces for the $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts known as the sequester to take effect on Friday. In fact, Obama’s 43 percent overall approval on his handling of federal spending is the same number as those who strongly disapprove of how congressional Republicans are handling it.

[PIMking]

whats sad about this country is that we have a group of people that wont listen to Obama no matter what, then we have a group of people that wont listen to the republicans no matter what, then we have the idiots that believe everything they're told and how it's Bush's fault still and then we have the rednecks that aint trusting a muslim black man... What could possibly go wrong?

[cocodrilo]

What I don't understand is why all the arguing is about discretionary spending cuts and tax increases, which together don't amount to a hill of beans when the real problem is entitlements. I don't understand why entitlement reform seems to be a taboo subject on both sides. At least it gets no play in the media. If you listen to the news, the politicians are arguing about anything except the real problem, and I don't understand this. If it is simply an irrational fear to touch Social Security and Medicare as it is, then we are doomed. So why don't they all just shut the hell up?

[gator996]

Originally Posted by PIMking

whats sad about this country is that we have a group of people that wont listen to Obama no matter what, then we have a group of people that wont listen to the republicans no matter what, then we have the idiots that believe everything they're told and how it's Bush's fault still and then we have the rednecks that aint trusting a muslim black man... What could possibly go wrong?

That about sums it up...

[gator996]

Originally Posted by cocodrilo

What I don't understand is why all the arguing is about discretionary spending cuts and tax increases, which together don't amount to a hill of beans when the real problem is entitlements. I don't understand why entitlement reform seems to be a taboo subject on both sides. At least it gets no play in the media. If you listen to the news, the politicians are arguing about anything except the real problem, and I don't understand this. If it is simply an irrational fear to touch Social Security and Medicare as it is, then we are doomed. So why don't they all just shut the hell up?

This is brought up in every budget discussion I've heard in the last 20 years


Obama has chain CPI on the table...wants to do entitlement reform with tax reform.



Outrage is OK...knowing what to be outraged about is better.

[PSGator66]

The Dems have the advantage of the liberal media activists who spin the truth knowing that the majority of uninformed Americans will believe the tales that they spin.

[gator421]

Originally Posted by PSGator66

The Dems have the advantage of the liberal media activists who spin the truth knowing that the majority of uninformed Americans will believe the tales that they spin.

As opposed to the clear vision everybody else has?

[cocodrilo]

Originally Posted by gator996

This is brought up in every budget discussion I've heard in the last 20 years


Obama has chain CPI on the table...wants to do entitlement reform with tax reform.



Outrage is OK...knowing what to be outraged about is better.

I've seen clip after clip after clip of Obama and Boehner on the deficit in the media. If either one of them has uttered the word "entitlement," I don't remember it. That leads me to believe they don't want to discuss it. But that's just me.

[gator996]

Well then you don't have a good memory...

When was the 1st time you heard "chain CPI", ".means testing", etc


You may want to say you haven't heard anything about entitlement reform but you should have...

[Minister_of_Information]

Congress always polls below the executive. A more meaningful comparison would be the approval level of constituents for their own Congressman.

[cocodrilo]

Originally Posted by gator996

Well then you don't have a good memory...

If you say so.

When was the 1st time you heard "chain CPI", ".means testing", etc

I have never heard of "chain CPI" and don't know what it means. I've heard of "means testing," but not from Obama or Boehner, the two guys who seem to count in terms of getting something done. If I heard Obama or Boehner refer to "chain CPI," I think I would remember because I wouldn't know what the hell they were talking about. I have said before on this forum that I am an economic dummy. All I know is what these "leaders" tell me.

You may want to say you haven't heard anything about entitlement reform but you should have...

Of course I have heard about entitlement reform. To repeat (no need to respond again), I haven't heard about it from Obama or Boehner, our two "leaders" whom people tend to listen to when they speak.

[dudehead]

Originally Posted by cocodrilo

I don't understand why entitlement reform seems to be a taboo subject on both sides.

because the "greatest generation" is now enjoying the benefits of Social Security and Medicare and they will hammer any pol or media outlet that dares to suggest anything that will deprive them of their government teat. And their families agree with them because they can't afford (or don't want to pay from their money) to take care of mommy and daddy.

I can't tell you how many families come to me wanting to do long term care planning to "protect their estate from the government and the nursing home", i.e, planning to qualify parents for Medicaid and LTC benefits, who at the same time rant about government entitlement spending and those lazy "near do wells." It's surreal.

[108]

Originally Posted by dudehead

because the "greatest generation" is now enjoying the benefits of Social Security and Medicare and they will hammer any pol or media outlet that dares to suggest anything that will deprive them of their government teat. And their families agree with them because they can't afford (or don't want to pay from their money) to take care of mommy and daddy.

I can't tell you how many families come to me wanting to do long term care planning to "protect their estate from the government and the nursing home", i.e, planning to qualify parents for Medicaid and LTC benefits, who at the same time rant about government entitlement spending and those lazy "near do wells." It's surreal.

SS is there's, and there are some easy ways to fund it better...with Medicare, its about finding a way to cut costs

and there are some good ways to do that, but it won't go without a big fight from the ones profiting from it, and their puppets in government

[cocodrilo]

Originally Posted by 108

SS is there's, and there are some easy ways to fund it better...with Medicare, its about finding a way to cut costs

That's what our "leaders" need to be talking about, not about the sequester spending cuts, Obama wanting more taxes ad nauseum etc, which are virtually meaningless in terms of the deficit.

This avoidance of entitlement talk reminds me of the old story about the government not telling us the truth about flying saucers because it would cause national panic.

[108]

Originally Posted by cocodrilo

That's what our "leaders" need to be talking about, not about the sequester spending cuts, Obama wanting more taxes ad nauseum etc, which are virtually meaningless in terms of the deficit.

This avoidance of entitlement talk reminds me of the old story about the government not telling us the truth about flying saucers because it would cause national panic.

tax increases are necessary too....we just went 12 years with tax cuts without spending cuts, 2 wars, a prescription drug bill on the cc, and an economic collapse which caused temporary spending

[G8trGr8t]

Didn't they just raise taxes?

[T3goalie]

It is a false premise that a President inherited anything or walked into anything when he served in the Senate and he and his party voted for the previous administrations largesse. So long as people believe that it is always the other party's fault, nothing will get done to solve any problems. The ultimate bogey man is always the last administration.

[mocgator]

This just in: government that just cut low and middle income budgets by 2% will die if it has own budget cut by 2%.

[chemgator]

Originally Posted by 108

SS is there's, and there are some easy ways to fund it better...with Medicare, its about finding a way to cut costs

and there are some good ways to do that, but it won't go without a big fight from the ones profiting from it, and their puppets in government

Easy ways to fund SS better? Like what, steal from the rich? SS is and always was a forced savings program wherein the average person should be able to take out what the average person puts in, plus interest, and minus the minimal expense of running the program. There is a reason that there is a cap on how much of your income can be taxed as SS. If you take more from people and don't give more to them when they retire, then it's not a forced savings program, it's socialism and theft.

[gatordowneast]

So Republicans are wrong on the need to cut spending, so we follow the democrats and go bankrupt? Huh? Can someone explain this to me?

It seems real simple. Raise taxes to fund all the foolishness and the economy will tank but "some" people will keep getting their free chit, but less taxes will come in because the economy tanks and people lose their jobs.

OR- be responsible and get our fiscal house in order. Our spending is up 40% since the empororer was crowned.