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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 1125 Views
Well ... at least we've been here before ... ? - 16/04/2011 06:41:00 AM 645 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 330 Views
Yeah, those old people are draining the system..... - 16/04/2011 06:57:59 PM 625 Views
You're already worse off than much of Europe, honestly. - 16/04/2011 04:08:37 PM 761 Views
Re: You're already worse off than much of Europe, honestly. - 17/04/2011 01:33:31 AM 737 Views
Balancing our budget would be easy. - 16/04/2011 06:46:32 PM 579 Views
Also on the buying drugs from Canada idea - 16/04/2011 08:17:26 PM 690 Views
Re: Also on the buying drugs from Canada idea - 18/04/2011 01:59:44 PM 730 Views
Re: Also on the buying drugs from Canada idea - 18/04/2011 05:16:14 PM 900 Views
Funny you mentioned WWII and 1968. Can you put tax rates at these times as well? - 16/04/2011 07:50:09 PM 1069 Views
Not really. Even if you can substantially raise tax revenue, the entitlement problem remains. *NM* - 16/04/2011 08:25:26 PM 288 Views
Re: Not really. Even if you can substantially raise tax revenue, the entitlement problem remains. - 16/04/2011 09:19:40 PM 732 Views
Have you ever looked at those projections for a decade or two hence? - 16/04/2011 10:13:12 PM 674 Views
Yes I have - 16/04/2011 10:44:50 PM 802 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 734 Views
Yes it's going out of control - 16/04/2011 11:17:59 PM 673 Views
Good, we agree on that much then. - 17/04/2011 09:59:17 AM 665 Views
Sorry, but that is a stupid opinion..... - 16/04/2011 08:38:35 PM 641 Views
Sounds like another bull. - 16/04/2011 09:31:05 PM 911 Views
Dude, the data is the data.....tax revenue increased all three times. - 16/04/2011 09:47:37 PM 849 Views
As I suspected, it's a bull. - 16/04/2011 10:02:05 PM 782 Views
Stop being a fool - read and react to the data provided, posting something..... - 16/04/2011 10:14:11 PM 543 Views
Response is - 16/04/2011 10:19:00 PM 764 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 760 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 720 Views
I take it you mean "rate of revenue growth decreases". - 16/04/2011 11:11:19 PM 619 Views
Re: I take it you mean "rate of revenue growth decreases". - 16/04/2011 11:26:02 PM 769 Views
Additional point - 16/04/2011 11:37:17 PM 772 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 641 Views
All the data is via CBO - do you know that the CBO is? - 16/04/2011 10:16:08 PM 651 Views
Re: All the data is via CBO - do you know that the CBO is? - 16/04/2011 10:27:01 PM 766 Views
Nice try.....care to explain why the same exact thing happened..... - 16/04/2011 10:35:44 PM 579 Views
Re: Nice try.....care to explain why the same exact thing happened..... - 16/04/2011 10:49:33 PM 709 Views
Krugman is a shill for the Obama administration. - 17/04/2011 02:34:50 AM 592 Views
Re: Krugman is a shill for the Obama administration. - 17/04/2011 03:50:24 AM 815 Views
Some obesrvations by Republican economists - 18/04/2011 12:27:04 AM 950 Views
You mean the Keynesian economist who wrote The Failure of Reaganomics - 18/04/2011 04:00:52 PM 582 Views
Re: You mean the Keynesian economist who wrote The Failure of Reaganomics - 18/04/2011 05:36:44 PM 571 Views
Useless fact about our presidents since 1945. - 17/04/2011 09:20:16 PM 816 Views
Re: Several basics facts about US Debt and Spending..... - 20/04/2011 03:51:19 PM 1000 Views

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