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Funny you mentioned WWII and 1968. Can you put tax rates at these times as well? Skeeve the Great Send a noteboard - 16/04/2011 07:50:09 PM
No matter which side of the political spectrum you find yourself, there are a few facts that are irrefutable:

1. The US Federal debt as a percentage of GDP is at the highest point since WWII, and it is projected to continue increasing per the latest Obama budget.

2. Federal spending as a percentage of GDP is at its highest point in 60 years.

3. Federal deficits as a percentage of GDP are at their highest point in 60 years.

4. The fixed component of spending has increased over time, largely driven by entitlement spending. Many cite military spending as the culprit, but consider the change over time.

In 1968, the US allocated 46% of its budget towards the military. In 2008, that figure was 21%. Compare that to the sum of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. In 1968, these three items accounted for 17% of federal spending. In 2008, they accounted for 41%.

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Now for the opinion. We are in deep, deep trouble and entitlement spending needs to be scaled back significantly. We can't afford these reckless promises of the past. Either we start cutting now or we will end up like much of Europe and have to take extreme austerity measures when our house of cards comes crashing down.

If you disagree with this, please offer your solution.


Since you are so upset of our alleged troubles, let's be honest then. The "troubles" we are having right now are not there because of "reckless" entitelments, but purely because of Republican bullsh!t about cutting taxes.

Put the fair and honest tax system in place, cut the tax loopholes that allow banks and corporation to pay no taxes at all and see what happens next.
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Several basics facts about US Debt and Spending..... - 16/04/2011 04:41:55 AM 1183 Views
Well ... at least we've been here before ... ? - 16/04/2011 06:41:00 AM 710 Views
Guess we should have okay'd those death panels for old people then. Big money saver. *NM* - 16/04/2011 03:38:00 PM 359 Views
Yeah, those old people are draining the system..... - 16/04/2011 06:57:59 PM 691 Views
You're already worse off than much of Europe, honestly. - 16/04/2011 04:08:37 PM 834 Views
Re: You're already worse off than much of Europe, honestly. - 17/04/2011 01:33:31 AM 812 Views
Balancing our budget would be easy. - 16/04/2011 06:46:32 PM 653 Views
Also on the buying drugs from Canada idea - 16/04/2011 08:17:26 PM 759 Views
Re: Also on the buying drugs from Canada idea - 18/04/2011 01:59:44 PM 799 Views
Re: Also on the buying drugs from Canada idea - 18/04/2011 05:16:14 PM 969 Views
Funny you mentioned WWII and 1968. Can you put tax rates at these times as well? - 16/04/2011 07:50:09 PM 1139 Views
Not really. Even if you can substantially raise tax revenue, the entitlement problem remains. *NM* - 16/04/2011 08:25:26 PM 318 Views
Re: Not really. Even if you can substantially raise tax revenue, the entitlement problem remains. - 16/04/2011 09:19:40 PM 799 Views
Have you ever looked at those projections for a decade or two hence? - 16/04/2011 10:13:12 PM 744 Views
Yes I have - 16/04/2011 10:44:50 PM 874 Views
Erm, and you think total health care spending is not getting out of control? I'm a little confused. - 16/04/2011 11:02:52 PM 805 Views
Yes it's going out of control - 16/04/2011 11:17:59 PM 741 Views
Good, we agree on that much then. - 17/04/2011 09:59:17 AM 727 Views
Sorry, but that is a stupid opinion..... - 16/04/2011 08:38:35 PM 688 Views
Sounds like another bull. - 16/04/2011 09:31:05 PM 978 Views
Dude, the data is the data.....tax revenue increased all three times. - 16/04/2011 09:47:37 PM 922 Views
As I suspected, it's a bull. - 16/04/2011 10:02:05 PM 845 Views
Stop being a fool - read and react to the data provided, posting something..... - 16/04/2011 10:14:11 PM 614 Views
Response is - 16/04/2011 10:19:00 PM 833 Views
Good lord.....it's like talking to a brick. I really hope you are 12 or 13. - 16/04/2011 10:28:44 PM 822 Views
Re: Good lord.....it's like talking to a brick. I really hope you are 12 or 13. - 16/04/2011 10:47:24 PM 793 Views
I take it you mean "rate of revenue growth decreases". - 16/04/2011 11:11:19 PM 681 Views
Re: I take it you mean "rate of revenue growth decreases". - 16/04/2011 11:26:02 PM 834 Views
Additional point - 16/04/2011 11:37:17 PM 844 Views
I've just noticed that you've provided charts from Heritage Foundation! Are you f.. kidding me? - 16/04/2011 10:13:46 PM 704 Views
All the data is via CBO - do you know that the CBO is? - 16/04/2011 10:16:08 PM 717 Views
Re: All the data is via CBO - do you know that the CBO is? - 16/04/2011 10:27:01 PM 836 Views
Nice try.....care to explain why the same exact thing happened..... - 16/04/2011 10:35:44 PM 649 Views
Re: Nice try.....care to explain why the same exact thing happened..... - 16/04/2011 10:49:33 PM 780 Views
Krugman is a shill for the Obama administration. - 17/04/2011 02:34:50 AM 658 Views
Re: Krugman is a shill for the Obama administration. - 17/04/2011 03:50:24 AM 889 Views
Some obesrvations by Republican economists - 18/04/2011 12:27:04 AM 1023 Views
You mean the Keynesian economist who wrote The Failure of Reaganomics - 18/04/2011 04:00:52 PM 659 Views
Re: You mean the Keynesian economist who wrote The Failure of Reaganomics - 18/04/2011 05:36:44 PM 649 Views
Useless fact about our presidents since 1945. - 17/04/2011 09:20:16 PM 905 Views
Re: Several basics facts about US Debt and Spending..... - 20/04/2011 03:51:19 PM 1080 Views

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