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I believe that we need both benefit cuts and tax increases to solve our problems.
Each of these is the kind news that politicians don't like to deliver.
I expect the Republicans to tell us the truth about benefit cuts but not about taxes. Paul Ryan has put something drastic on the table. I give him a lot of credit for being a "truth teller". Will the Rs presidential candidates Pawlenty or Romney or Huntsman or … be as forthcoming about the real problem?
So far they have not. (Added later: perhaps one will.)
I expect the Democrats to tell us the truth about taxes but not about benefit cuts. What we have seen from the President is a proposal to make a modest tax increase on the very wealthy. It raises $70 B per year, in the face of a $1400 B deficit. (That is for just one year.) That solves 5% of the problem. Will O offer a serious proposal?
So far he has not.
I was told by an ardent democratic friend that it was ridiculous to expect Obama to propose raising taxes. He might not get reelected. At the time of his proposal Ryan said that he knew he would be savaged for proposing a serious solution. (You should see the Ds video of "him" pushing grandma off a cliff.) Ryan said then that the problem is serious enough to lose elections over.
I agree with Ryan about how serious the problem is and it will be a major factor in my voting next year.
Does Obama think that it is serious enough to lose an election over?
Last time I voted for change. This time I might change my vote.
PS (10:30 PM)Even the Socialists in Spain are cutting back.
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11 hours ago
YA is, I believe, correct in his assessment on what the Ds and Rs will tell us on taxes and spending cuts respectively. Still, if both sides presented their arguments with crystal clear accuracy and honesty it would be a most difficult problem to solve. Consider the following.
ReplyDeleteAssociation by vote – As a fiscal conservative I would vote to reduce MY entitlements to avoid increasing taxes. Makes me a good guy, right? Not so fast. If I vote to reduce my entitlements I am also voting to reduce YOUR entitlements. How heartless can I be? A true “Catch 22”.
The video that YA refers to was produced by Agenda Projects. If they are not ashamed of themselves I will be ashamed for them. I truly hope we do not see more of this.
One final thought. Professionally I have assisted many organizations locate, select, educate, and train their designated media spokesperson. Paul Ryan has all of the attributes that we look for in a spokesperson. If the Rs use him that way he could be their best resource toward winning in 2012.