Slingblade68 Loc: Charleston SC

I like to think I can hold my own in the apocalyptic doom-mongering department, but this guy leaves me in the dust: Reagan budget director David Stockman, writing in today’s New York Times. First, the numbers:

Since the S.&P. 500 first reached its current level, in March 2000, the mad money printers at the Federal Reserve have expanded their balance sheet sixfold (to $3.2 trillion from $500 billion). Yet during that stretch, economic output has grown by an average of 1.7 percent a year (the slowest since the Civil War); real business investment has crawled forward at only 0.8 percent per year; and the payroll job count has crept up at a negligible 0.1 percent annually. Real median family income growth has dropped 8 percent, and the number of full-time middle class jobs, 6 percent. The real net worth of the “bottom” 90 percent has dropped by one-fourth. The number of food stamp and disability aid recipients has more than doubled, to 59 million, about one in five Americans.

Then, what it all adds up to:

These policies have brought America to an end-stage metastasis. The way out would be so radical it can’t happen. It would necessitate a sweeping divorce of the state and the market economy. It would require a renunciation of crony capitalism and its first cousin: Keynesian economics in all its forms. The state would need to get out of the business of imperial hubris, economic uplift and social insurance and shift its focus to managing and financing an effective, affordable, means-tested safety net…

The United States is broke — fiscally, morally, intellectually — and the Fed has incited a global currency war (Japan just signed up, the Brazilians and Chinese are angry, and the German-dominated euro zone is crumbling) that will soon overwhelm it. When the latest bubble pops, there will be nothing to stop the collapse.

It’s a message for an anti-Easter: America and much of the rest of the west appear still to be living, but are already dead — walking around, shopping and spending, while underneath every vital organ has ceased to function.

I of course could not have penned this better. Having admitted that, the original author is a master wordsmith and dedicated to revealing the t***h. Not his interpretation of same. I am continually baffled as to why Americans accept what is furnished by the masses. Simply because they saw it, heard it, or read about it on CNN, or all the other blatantly biased media outlets. Seriously, take your rose colored glasses off and take a long hard look in the mirror.

rschwank

It will take a large catrastrophe for some people to believe that America is in deep trouble. Why people can see what is in front of them - I do not know, but they had better start to see the direction that the government has been going and speak up. Heaven help us all when everything explodes!

tombrady

morrally broke? certianly not democrats who supported obamacare to provide health care to poor ..Harvard Medical Journal estimated 40,000 did evry year..sounds like the moral thing to do

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

It didn't take very long to find one of THEM who can't see the forest for the trees. Somehow he thinks that Obamacare makes us all better because of what it is supposed to be. I have seen it said that Obamacare will be the final straw that breaks the camel's back and leaners just can't see how much damage it will do when it does smack us in the face.

Maybe there is just too much t***h in that little bit of bad news for leaners to accept so they run and hide behind their Glorious Leader and what he has done to us.

Slingblade68 Loc: Charleston SC

Hear , Hear, Roy,
Liberal, Progressive, democrats, will do what they do best. Deny then blame. It's much easier to divert one's attention from the t***h by pointing at another object/subject.. For example, ( I may appear to be going off topic ) rather than admit that we made a mistake in B******i, the Omnipotent one, and his entire staff , blamed it on, of all things a video. That was to divert Americas attention from the t***h. While, four courageous young Americans were slaughtered.
We have just scratched the surface of this (Health Care Bill) . I have recently started to read it. "Health care" is only part of it.. Most of our legislators, (You remember the one's you v**ed to represent you) Have themselves not even read the legislation. Moreover, been able to convince the masses that this is a good idea for the Majority of Americans. This was a no brainer from it's inception. Again , the (Health Care Reform Act) has nothing to do with keeping America healthy and everything to do with (Keeping Americans Dependent on Government) Hell, the Health Industry generates one six of our economy. I am sure that is a Conservative estimate. This is about V**es.. Just like SS, Medicare, Food stamps, etc. This should be a basic supply side economic issue. Furthermore , be left up to private enterprise with a level hand on enforcement's of preexisting regulations. In short, people that need care will be provided for.
Now that the Government is involved with (One sixth) of our economy. Do you really believe that waste is not going to be an issue? Let alone fraud? Seriously. The Government can't even run the postal system effectively or efficiently. Not to mention SS. What makes any Rational, Logical, Cognitive thinking person believe absolutely that our Government is a reliable alternative..

tombrady

you completly wrong on health care it was done becasue 40,000 americans die evry year because they too poor to get health care and they felt this was unacceptable in a rich country like ours..its all about compassion ..obamacare may be a screw up but it was done for all the right reasons

Slingblade68 Loc: Charleston SC

Tom-
Precisely my point. In fact you have the epitomize my
philosophy concerning Progressives. I deal with facts. Now I don't
have the numbers in front of me. So I am not going to talk
out of school. However, 40.000 could be a Conservative #.
Taking into consideration we are over 300 million and counting. That is beside the point. Emotions are the gas that
powers the Machine. Just look at history, FDR had the best of
intentions when he set up the SS system. It has failed miserably. Not on it's own virtues or merit. On the contrary, it failed because of the mans innate inexhaustible predisposition for Power. In my humble opinion, FDR may have had the best intentions, unfortunately I believe his ulterior motives were v**es.
With regards to being to Poor to receive quality care so these individuals perished. Again, I emphasize, you are in America. There are already statutes, legislation, services available for "Our , Poor, Tired, and Hungry". Why do you think thousands of people flock here each year from other countries.
People are not leaving America in search of a better living elsewhere. They are coming and staying here...Why? because we are the greatest Country on earth. It's basically simple Tom.
We have Unalienable rights, Life , Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If you honestly believe that the Omnipotent one or either side of the isle passed the bill without ever reading it.. I have a few books you might be interested in reading.

Navysnipe Loc: Old West

Obamacare hasn't proven to be good for anybody.

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

It isn't in effect yet in a way that it could help but it is surely hurting many, just as it was intended to do. The saddest part of it all is that it was never aimed to help health care, only intended to give the government some power and help insurance companies stay in business. In other words it reads just as it is supposed to read and HHS has over 15,000 pages of regulations written, already, to implement it. If that isn't increased government control I don't understand things as well as progressives do.

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

If that law had been written for 40,000 people somebody really screwed up badly. When did progressives turn to that argument for it? All I heard at first was that we had up to 40 million people who couldn't afford health insurance so we had to have that abortive law for them. Of course, those who argued that one didn't manage to see that small businesses would be forced out of the business of providing health insurance which would create millions more without insurance.

You people from the progressive bent just amaze me at how easy you are to convince of things like this.

Slingblade68 Loc: Charleston SC

Hear, Hear Roy-

Again the Progressives have chosen the road that has the least resistance. It's much simpler to "Pull on the Heart strings" of the poor downtrodden. Than it is, to admit my "Demagogue" just made a major mistake. I suppose I should strike that last remark. After-all, the blame is a Bipartisan one.
While researching for another topic months ago. I was reading transcripts for the Simpsons and Bowles report on fiscal responsibility and how to balance our budget. There was one disconcerting, peculiar reference to the Health Care Bill. They both agreed it will "eat the Budget alive" .. Here is precisely what the "Omnipotent one" said when recruiting these two fine gentleman to help balance the budget. Of which was feasible, only if your fearless leader would have subscribed to same.

"This is one of the most critically important challenges facing the country today and it has be addressed in a bipartisan manner," Obama said at a 2010 news conference announcing his appointment of Simpson and Bowles. "This is not a Republican or Democratic problem – this is a challenge for America..

Notice the date Progressives...

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

It seems that the history of this nation started sometime in 2010 when reading those people. Of course, none of them have heard any of that stuff from Simpson - Bowles and if they heard it they had to ignore it. I just can't see how we survive the onset of Obamacare. It is obviously not the intent of the progressives to save the nation or any of those poor people who didn't have insurance.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

Th more appalling part of the ACA is the delightful form the IRS is going to issue. You will have to complete said form providing information relative to what health care policy you have at that time. It is to be submitted with your Income Taxes. REALLY, what (to use your words) "rational, logical cognitive thinking person" would want the IRS to have such information. Are you able to understand the phrase "hack individual medical records"? Perhaps I could send a message directing them to insert it into the posterior opening to their alimentary canal!!! :mrgreen:

oldroy Loc: Western Kansas (No longer in hiding)

I am sure glad that I am a Medicare recipient and my wife is only about a year from it. I won't mind telling the IRS that I have been on Medicare for 15 years but won't want to tell them that I do have a minimal health company policy to cover some of what Medicare just won't.

We may have to stop filing our tax papers together and just go to separate since I am not going to fill out some of that stuff when the questions get too silly. Nope, I pay taxes to them and don't see them as the be all end all of spy agencies for the government.

I just saw somewhere today that Obama has said he wants a 3rd term. No wonder he has to have all that stuff to work with.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

Obviously another part of the Constitution he does not understand! :mrgreen: