Two-Faced Fiscal Conservatives

[kentuck]

Once upon a time, about twelve years ago, conservative Republicans thought "balanced budgets" were bad for our economy. Many, including Alan Greenspan, thought we needed to maintain a certain amount of debt for the health of our economy. Some, like Dick Cheney, said that Reagan proved that deficits didn't matter.

So they took a balanced budget, with a surplus, and were able to turn it into a deficit within two years. The dreams of a balanced budget and paying off our national debt disappeared when George W Bush and the conservatives took power in 2001. George W Bush defiantly stated that it "was not the government's money, it was the people's money.

Then he and they, with the assistance of many misguided Democrats, proceeded to cut taxes by $4 trillion dollars over a ten year period. At the same time, they refused to pay for any government programs, they would only borrow the money. No matter if it was an invasion of Iraq or a war in Afghanistan, we would continue to cut taxes and run up the debt. They even passed a Medicare drug program of just under $1 trillion dollars and put it on the charge card also.

Unfortunately, they institutionalized that debt when the stock market, the banks, and the economy crashed under their watch, just before Barack Obama was to take power. They left a deficit of $1.2 trillion dollars on the table when he walked thru the door. Unemployment was skyrocketing and they left no revenue possibilities for the government. Barack Obama had no choice but to borrow more and more to keep the economy from drowning.

Now, these two-faced "conservatives" want to cut spending. We need a balanced budget. They want to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and any other program that might be there for people in need. Now they love balanced budgets. They hate the big spending that they institutionalized. And what would happen if we were to miraculously get to another balanced budget? They would wipe it out once again.

"Fool me once, shame on me...Fool me twice....won't get fooled again..."

[geckosfeet]

1. If they were to be "honest" about it and look at who has benefitted the most

over the last, say 10 years, they would be cutting back on the war budget and bringing troops home.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Defense_Spending_Trends.png

on edit: United States federal budget

[kentuck]

2. Can you name one politician that has had the nerve to say this??

The support for the Defense Dept is almost unanimous within both Parties...

[geckosfeet]

4. Bernie Sanders. And there are a handful of others. However they are vastly outnumbered.

But we the people as our representatives to bring the troops home and reduce military budgets. Then take some of that saved money and bolster a national health program.

Going after social security and medicare is an obscenity.

[dsc]

5. Barney Frank has said this for years

[rgbecker]

3. Exactly correct.

Funny how the pundits on the media all talk about how Medicare and "Entitlements" have to be cut...never any talk about cutting the military budget.

In America we each are spending about 3-4 times what most of the civilized world spends. Somehow I don't think the French or English are any less "safe" than we Americans. In fact, the sensible military expenditures in those countries allow their governments the funds to take care of their citizens' health and old age needs.

As usual, here are some great graphics to show just what shit is going down.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures

[geckosfeet]

6. The PPP (Purchasing power parity) and gdp expenditure numbers are very interesting.

And you have to ask yourself, where does all this money go? Who benefits?

[LonePirate]

7. Cutting $400B yearly from defense along with ending all Bush\Obama tax cuts is needed

Those two actions alone would wipe out amassive portion of the yearly deficit. Eliminating corporate welfare, limiting deductions for the top 2% and taxing dividends and capital gains as ordinary income would almost assuredly close the rest of the gap, maybe even give us a surplus.

If Washington wanted to solve the deficit problem, that's how to do it without touching Social Security or Medicare. I'd go a step further and raise the SS cap and start paying down the debt.

[kentuck]

13. But which Party could ever suggest that??

They both appear wedded to the defense industry.

[salinen]

8. It's simple

killing fabricated enemies people destroys your own government. Mission Accomplished. They despise government and War is the easiest way to bankrupt said government while shifting power to the Military. Very Fascistic.

[Left Turn Only]

9. Pandering for votes

Obama and the Democrats had the perfect chance to undo what the Bush tax cuts did and let it slip away. Why were there no calm explanations that a country of this size with so many worthwhile federal programs can't be expected to keep them if we the people don't want to pay for them. Sure, we're in a delicate economic situation right now, but we could of gradually let the tax cuts expire, say, a percent at a time. The fact that the top 1% are now paying more in taxes is a drop in the bucket. It is the 98% where the bulk of tax revenue will come from, but the people have been lulled into thinking they don't have to pay into the very programs that will benefit themselves and their children.

[jerseyjack]

10. It's the old "Two Santa Clause Theory" in action.

[olegramps]

11. I see only one solution. A solid majority of Dems in both houses and the presidency.

The choice is continued obstructionism. The Republicans must be defeated at all costs before they absolutely destroy the nation.

[sulphurdunn]

12. In practice,

ideology and values, conservatism necessitates, hypocrisy, inequality and oppression.