And now something totally different

[flannk]

My Solution to the U.S. budget gaps for 2015 and 2030
What do you think?

Total projected shortfall for 2015: $ 418 billion
Total projected shortfall for 2030: $ 1,355 billion

My solutions:

• Reduce military to pre-Iraq War size and further reduce troops in Asia and Europe (saves $25 billion by 2015 and $49 billion by 2030).
  Troop sizes in Europe and Asia capped at 100,000 (26% below current level). 50,000 personnel will be withdrawn.
• Reduce the number of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to 60,000 by 2015 (saves $51 billion by 2015 and $149 billion by 2030)
  Currently 100,000 troops in Afghanistan and 50,000 in Iraq. This will be reduced to 60,000 in total by 2015.
• Enact medial malpractice reform (saves $8 billion by 2015 and $13 billion by 2030)
  Reduce the chances of large malpractice verdicts and reduce rising medical costs.
• Reduce Social Security benefits for those with high incomes (saves $6 billion by 2015 and $54 billion by 2030)
  Workers below the 60th percentile of the lifetime earnings distribution will continue to have their retirement benefits grow over time with average wage increases. But the benefits of top earners will grow more slowly – with inflation – while benefits for workers just above the 60th percentile will grow at a rate between inflation and wage growth.
• Return the Estate Tax to Clinton-era levels (raises tax income with $50 billion by 2015 and $104 billion by 2030)
  First $1 million of estate is tax exempt. Level will not grow with inflation over time. The tax rate starts at 18% and climb to 55%. The 55% rate will begin at $3 million.
• Return the investment taxes to Clinton-era levels (raises tax income with $32 billion by 2015 and $46 billion by 2030)
  Households earning less then $68,000 pay 10% tax on capital gains, those above pay 20%.
• Allow expiration of the Bush tax cuts for all income levels (raises tax income with $226 billion by 2015 and $367 billion by 2030).
• Raise the ceiling of Payroll Tax of $106,800 gradually until 90% of income is again subject to the tax (raises tax income with $50 billion by 2015 and $100 billion by 2030).
• Create a millionaires tax of 5.4% surtax on incomes over $1 million (raises tax income with $50 billion by 2015 and $95 billion by 2030).
• Create a national sales tax of 5%, exempting education, housing and charitable giving (raises tax income with $41 billion by 2015 and $281 billion by 2030).
• Create a carbon tax for carbon emissions, starting at $23 per ton of CO2. The tax rate increases at a constant annual rate of 5.8%, from 2012 through 2050 (raises tax income with $40 billion by 2015 and $71 billion by 2030).
• Create a Bank Tax which taxes bank on the size of their holdings and the perceived riskiness of those holdings. Larger, riskier banks will pay more tax, both to discourage them from taking big risks and to help cover the costs of future financial crises (raises tax income with $73 billion by 2015 and $103 billion by 2030).

Result
By 2015 no deficit of $418 billion, but surplus of $234 billion.
By 2030 no deficit of $1,355 billion, but surplus of $77 billion.

[MorganH.]

Im only wondering what the real figures were back in 1783/84 when i read this,so what is the purpose of this post?

[flannk]

It has no purpose! Thats why its called: now something completely different!

BTW, these are real numbers. You can make your own solutions at:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...deficit&st=cse

[ztrain909]

Flannk, let me give you a friendly piece of advice since you are still young. There are two subjects that you NEVER talk about with people that you might be considered friendly with or even strangers. Because you are a fan of TAR then you are automatically connected with other fans of TAR. Hence, there is a certain bond that we share together(OUR LOVE OF TAR!) Those two subjects are POLITICS & RELIGION. Remember this in your life, i promise you will NOT make quick enemies of those who you think you are connected to, if you live by that credo. Many times, especially with people you don't know, it's better to keep your personal views to yourself in these matters, or reality could hit you hard in the face, sometimes "LITERALLY!"

[bwc153]

Yeah, politics is not a good idea to discuss here...
Besides, new taxes aren't really an answer to an economic problem. It never has been and never will be. The best solution IMO is to cut down on money inefficiency, closely followed by a reduction in funding for unnecessary things.

[MorganH.]

Discussing politics on the TAR forum is indeed not a good idea,so i will close this Flannk,no offense!

If anyone wants to discuss political affairs please visit the D & D sections;
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=447

Thank you.