why don't the senators get a paycut as well, considering there are so many austerity programs going on
why don't the senators get a paycut as well, considering there are so many austerity programs going on
Because Repubs control the house and they didnt vote on a bill to cut paychecks.
Somewhere ... sarcasm was lost
When spraying 2000 bullet over a target, you statically are are bound to hit something, but doesn't mean it is the best thing to do.
''Pull the plug on Grandma'' argument is common, now we have the ''sink the US fleet '' argument ?
it is is not everything or nothing case, there is lots of shade of grey in between.
'cause they damn can.
« Le courage est toujours quelque chose de saint, un jugement divin entre deux idées. Défendre notre cause de plus en plus vigoureusement est conforme à la nature humaine. Notre suprême raison d’être est donc de lutter ; on ne possède vraiment que ce qu’on acquiert en combattant. »Ernst Jünger
La Guerre notre Mère (Der Kampf als inneres Erlebnis), 1922, trad. Jean Dahel, éditions Albin Michel, 1934
Obama's stimulus package cost more than the entire Iraq war. The funny thing is that everyone wants to point the finger at the defense budget as the reason for a large deficit, yet it's because of stupid social programs that are poorly conceived, badly applied, and horribly run that cost us most money. As recently as 2007 the budget deficit was at 161.5 billion dollars and that was after years of spending on both Iraq and Afghanistan. Now it's around 1.5 trillion. This because of the longest recession since the 1930s, depressed tax revenues, increased government cost for safety nets for programs such as unemployment, welfare, and spending by both outgoing Bush and Obama for bank bailouts and automaker bailouts as well as failed stimulus packages. To say nothing of medicare spending which seems like more of a black hole than anything. Then you have social security.
The DoD has already been doing massive budget cuts under DefSec Robert Gates and we have tried to curtail spending but lots of it is being pushed upon the DoD by congress as I explained earlier. Beyond that people take issue because there aren't easily recognizable benefits to having a strong military, but one can't seem to comprehend how big a deal it would be if we can't intervene somewhere in our interest. Just look at how the conflict in Libya has effected oil prices? How does it effect Europe and why do many European countries see it as necessary to step in stabilize the place? Consider back to the Gulf War when Saddam invaded Kuwait and also attacked Saudi Arabia. We defended major oil producing regions within Saudi Arabia and then stayed there in order to safeguard the locations (which led to severe backlash from radicals like Bin Laden). But consider that if you have volatile situations in areas like SA cracking off then you have a severely destabilizing situation where oil prices would sky rocket then you'd really have American clamoring when they are paying six or seven dollars a gallon, which btw is what most Europeans pay anyways because oil is pegged to the American dollar and not the Euro or pound. Again, if this were to change you can bet your sweet ass the American economy would take a severe nose dive, but the military is a big reason it hasn't/probably won't.
I think the best option for Senators is to have campaign finance reform. Candidates can not use their own money to run... or use a limited amount. Basically more people would be allowed to run, etc. Topic for another thread I suppose.
« Le courage est toujours quelque chose de saint, un jugement divin entre deux idées. Défendre notre cause de plus en plus vigoureusement est conforme à la nature humaine. Notre suprême raison d’être est donc de lutter ; on ne possède vraiment que ce qu’on acquiert en combattant. »Ernst Jünger
La Guerre notre Mère (Der Kampf als inneres Erlebnis), 1922, trad. Jean Dahel, éditions Albin Michel, 1934
Not to mention costs from the State Department or other governmental organizations that funnel money into countries just for the sake of goodwill. Recently I was on a protection detail for Hilary Clinton's little visit to London to discuss the situation in Libya. She was there for less than 24 hours and the trip cost about 3 million dollars. Now in the big scheme of things that's not much money, but consider her schedule and then consider it pales in comparison to POTUS and VPOTUS in regards to cost. Add to that other visits by different CoDels. There's rampant government spending, but everyone wants to point the finger at the DoD all the time, despite the fact that Gates has cut billions out of the budget.
no $$$-->riots ala london and wisconsin
should be a lively few months ahead
Nah everyone would be shot down as socialists if they rioted over cuts to education in America.
Looks like Obama fell for a trap :
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/04/0...right-for-you/Consider this a trap well set and sprung. Frustrated that the Senate won’t pass any budget bill while the House continues to negotiate to the brink of a government shutdown, John Boehner proposed a one-week CR to keep government open for a week and to secure defense funding through the end of the year.
Looks like Boehner proposed a one week general CR and a ONE year defence funding ie salary for troops et all, but Obama still responded in an e-mail that he will veto the bill ... right into the trap
There is also a new drug for all those feeling anxiety over a shut-down
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Last edited by Menelik_I; April 07, 2011 at 12:50 PM.
« Le courage est toujours quelque chose de saint, un jugement divin entre deux idées. Défendre notre cause de plus en plus vigoureusement est conforme à la nature humaine. Notre suprême raison d’être est donc de lutter ; on ne possède vraiment que ce qu’on acquiert en combattant. »Ernst Jünger
La Guerre notre Mère (Der Kampf als inneres Erlebnis), 1922, trad. Jean Dahel, éditions Albin Michel, 1934
Because the Republicans and the Tea Party Caucus is trying sneak in anti abortion legislation under the cover of budget bills.
Wait. So you guys are telling me the American Government is going out of business?
You look great today.
I see what you did there ... but using Dirty parliamentary tricks is a the rule of game and the Dems are only getting their payback. But in any case this is normal politics , you never wins you if you don't use tactics.
At least they are being civil and gentlemen, not like in the past
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
« Le courage est toujours quelque chose de saint, un jugement divin entre deux idées. Défendre notre cause de plus en plus vigoureusement est conforme à la nature humaine. Notre suprême raison d’être est donc de lutter ; on ne possède vraiment que ce qu’on acquiert en combattant. »Ernst Jünger
La Guerre notre Mère (Der Kampf als inneres Erlebnis), 1922, trad. Jean Dahel, éditions Albin Michel, 1934