Topic: Cuts. Are they really that drastic?
started by: grassman
Posted by grassman on Mar. 01 2013,10:12 am
NEW YORK (CNNMoney)As Washington braces for automatic spending cuts, small businesses in the military town of Colorado Springs say they have been losing government business for months.
The general uncertainty facing federal agencies has trickled down to the companies that rely on federal contracts.
"Small businesses are telling us that their government contracts are either frozen, not being renewed or canceled in anticipation of budget cuts," said Kelly Manning, state director of the Colorado Small Business Development Center network.
Colorado Springs is dominated by military installations. These include Fort Carson -- the third-largest army base in the country -- Peterson Air Force Base and the United States Air Force Academy.
About half of the area's nearly 20,000 small businesses are subcontractors, contractors or vendors that work on military and other federal and state contracts.
Shelley Pearson's company, American Wiping Rags, is one of them. Her small business makes disposable cotton rags. Peterson has been her customer for the last six years.
"They use our rags in airplanes and hangars," she said. Business to Peterson and other government orders account for about 20% of her business.
She typically supplies 400 pounds of rags, two or three times a year, to the Air Force base.
But she hasn't got a new order from Peterson in more than five months. "I spoke with their purchasing agent a month ago about an order. I usually get the order in three weeks after a call," she said.
Pearson, whose company has three employees and makes about $90,000 a year in sales, said she can't wait much longer before her business starts hurting. So she's thinking about looking for new private sector customers.
Another area small business, Navsys Corporation, is also on pins and needles. The firm makes GPS systems and other navigation and communication systems for military and commercial use.
About 60% of Navsys' business comes from Department of Defense contracts, said Alison Brown, founder and CEO of Navsys. The company logs $3 million in annual sales and has 25 employees.
"We normally get a few small government contracts every year. These contracts are our bread and butter. Since last year, we're just not being awarded contracts," said Brown.
By May, Navsys should finish work on any ongoing contracts. "After that it will really hurt us if we don't get new government work," she said.
Like Pearson, Brown is trying to mitigate the risk by diversifying the business to commercial clients.
Andrew Merritt, chief defense industry officer with the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance, said businesses are adjusting in other ways, too. "In some cases, they've had to let people go, he said.
But lack of new contracts isn't the only threat facing local businesses, he said. Civilian workers who get furloughed because of budget cuts will have less money to spend.
"Furloughed individuals will see a pay cut. They may decide to delay buying a car, a house. They might not go to the movies or restaurants as much. This will also hurt our businesses," he said.
Anyone who relys on one particular customer, is not a good business owner. If you put all of your eggs in one basket, it may get lost. I think we are being fed a whole bunch of hyperbole.
Posted by Grinning_Dragon on Mar. 01 2013,10:33 am
NO they are not drastic.It is the equivalent of cutting $85 out of $4000.
The cuts need to go way deeper, more around the 90% mark.
Posted by Botto 82 on Mar. 01 2013,12:01 pm
We're still paying down the cost of destroying the U.S.S.R. And Iraq. And Afghanistan. And coming soon: Iran (again).
Posted by irisheyes on Mar. 01 2013,2:14 pm
So many of the politicians who always talk about the need for cuts are the same ones saying how horrible these cuts would be. And nearly all repub, teaparty, or so-called libertarians keep saying any defense cut will hurt our economy and safety. Even though that's by far the largest part of the discretionary budget. You won't make a dent in the deficit without cutting thereThey sure have been spinning ever since they took the gavel. Before Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were to blame, now that Boehner is the Speaker and Paul Ryan is the budget committee chair it's all Obama's fault.
No way Congress wants their Constitutional responsibility anymore, now they want to force Obama to take the hot potatoe they set up in sequestration. I can't blame them. Anyone who makes the cuts will get blamed for them, but if they don't make the cuts they'll get blamed for being a big spender. It's much easier politically to keep tossing around the hot potato and blaming each other.
One thing is for sure, we certainly can't raise taxes to cover the bills Congress and the Pres authorizes.
QUOTE
We're still paying down the cost of destroying the U.S.S.R. And Iraq. And Afghanistan. And coming soon: Iran (again).
And anytime a politician suggests paying off those debts, the other side will change the subject and complain about NPR, Planned Parenthood, and Amtrak.
Posted by grassman on Mar. 01 2013,2:20 pm
Ah yes, Amtrak. I would recommend for everyone to try it at least once. What a nice ride. Portand is a good one.
Posted by This is my real name on Mar. 01 2013,3:04 pm
(grassman @ Mar. 01 2013,2:20 pm)
QUOTE
Ah yes, Amtrak. I would recommend for everyone to try it at least once. What a nice ride. Portand is a good one.
Tried it last year, Winona to Chicago. Great trip. My only complaint was that our train was delayed five hours because most of the route through North Dakota was underwater.
I would definitely travel via Amtrak again.
Posted by Self-Banished on Mar. 01 2013,4:27 pm
Amtrak,
Posted by grassman on Mar. 01 2013,4:45 pm
(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,4:27 pm)
QUOTE
Amtrak,
Well Mr. Know it all. Have you, yourself ever traveled Amtrak?
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Mar. 01 2013,4:46 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Homeland Security Department released from its jails more than 2,000 illegal immigrants facing deportation in recent weeks due to looming budget cuts and planned to release 3,000 more during March, The Associated Press has learned.The newly disclosed figures, cited in internal budget documents reviewed by the AP, are significantly higher than the "few hundred" illegal immigrants the Obama administration acknowledged this week had been released under the budget-savings process.
The government documents show that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement released roughly 1,000 illegal immigrants from its jails around the U.S. each week since at least Feb. 15. The agency's field offices have reported more than 2,000 immigrants released before intense criticism this week led to a temporary shutdown of the plan, according to the documents.
< http://bigstory.ap.org/article...igrants >
I know how to save the country money. Let's deport the politicians.
Posted by grassman on Mar. 01 2013,5:31 pm
I think it is job security for HLS, now they will need more agents to round those illegal rascals back up. Is it me or does it not seem like we have a totally disfunctional GOVERNMENT. They react like a bunch of pre-schoolers. These clowns have lost all sight of who they are to answer to.
Posted by Self-Banished on Mar. 01 2013,6:01 pm
(grassman @ Mar. 01 2013,4:45 pm)
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(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,4:27 pm)
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Amtrak,
Well Mr. Know it all. Have you, yourself ever traveled Amtrak?
I see trains everyday, the reason they're dumb?
How about running a deficit since their inception.
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Mar. 01 2013,6:05 pm
(grassman @ Mar. 01 2013,5:31 pm)
QUOTE
I think it is job security for HLS, now they will need more agents to round those illegal rascals back up. Is it me or does it not seem like we have a totally disfunctional GOVERNMENT. They react like a bunch of pre-schoolers. These clowns have lost all sight of who they are to answer to.
QUOTE
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warned Monday that her agency would be forced to furlough 5,000 border control agents under mandatory spending cuts, likely allowing more illegal immigrants into the country and potentially compromising national security.
< http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ecurity >
QUOTE
In December 2012, the federal government acquired the property where NBAF will be constructed. DHS anticipates construction of the NBAF central utility plant (CUP) beginning no later than March 2013.
< http://www.dhs.gov/national-bio-and-agro-defense-facility >
I wonder how much it cost for DHS to buy the property for moving the nightmare lab at Plum Island.
Moving it right into tornado alley!
Brilliant.
Posted by grassman on Mar. 01 2013,6:08 pm
(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,6:01 pm)
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(grassman @ Mar. 01 2013,4:45 pm)
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(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,4:27 pm)
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Amtrak,
Well Mr. Know it all. Have you, yourself ever traveled Amtrak?
I see trains everyday, the reason they're dumb?
How about running a deficit since their inception.
Really! You see trains. I see truckers every day and some of them are dumb as well.
You think that the gift of train travel to the American people is a total waste of money? I think there are many more wastreful things than that. At least we can get some benefit out of it if one chooses to participate. 
Posted by Self-Banished on Mar. 01 2013,7:42 pm
You want to go somewhere? Hop in the car, spend your own money and get there.
Posted by grassman on Mar. 01 2013,7:52 pm
(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,7:42 pm)
QUOTE
You want to go somewhere? Hop in the car, spend your own money and get there.
Oh, I am well traveled, you do have to pay for a train trip. One thing you will not see on the road is the backyard of the road. It is great, take a break and try it. Ride in room car and venture to the scenic car.
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Mar. 01 2013,10:13 pm
Hey SB, thanks for getting that song stuck in my head...for hours.The save verse just keeps looping over and over and over.
Posted by Self-Banished on Mar. 02 2013,4:07 am
^ so you're having fun tonight?
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Mar. 02 2013,5:58 am
(Self-Banished @ Mar. 02 2013,4:07 am)
QUOTE
^ so you're having fun tonight?
Well, that was the plan. The kids went to a sleep-over birthday party and I thought, Wow perfect time to watch a movie. Won't have to pause it every five minutes!
I am not kidding, it takes us 3 hours or more to watch an hour and a half movie. But I got distracted on the computer and fell asleep way too early. They're gonna be gone again tonight so I'll give the movie thing another try maybe.
I woke up with the song still in my head btw. Thanks
Posted by nedkelly on Mar. 02 2013,7:57 am
Are the members of the house and the senate still getting their paychecks? If so, why? Maybe we could lay them of too, they aren't doing their jobs are they?....... 
.......nedkelly
Posted by Self-Banished on Mar. 02 2013,8:06 am
^ You mean "lay them off" right ned? Unless you're Robert Menendez, then you just have to hop a plane for romper room.
Posted by grassman on Mar. 02 2013,9:21 am
I don't think they could show more disfunction than they already have. Is there any means that the citizens can step in and say enough already? They do work for us, at least that was the way intended.
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Mar. 02 2013,9:28 am
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Mar. 02 2013,9:30 am
(grassman @ Mar. 02 2013,9:21 am)
QUOTE
Is there any means that the citizens can step in and say enough already? They do work for us, at least that was the way intended.
Yes.
Posted by nedkelly on Mar. 02 2013,9:58 am
(Self-Banished @ Mar. 02 2013,8:06 am)
QUOTE
^ You mean "lay them off" right ned? Unless you're Robert Menendez, then you just have to hop a plane for romper room.
Now that we have a proofreader I will have to be more carefull, sorry! SB....Mr Nedkelly
Posted by Common Citizen on Mar. 02 2013,12:51 pm
(grassman @ Mar. 01 2013,6:08 pm)
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(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,6:01 pm)
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(grassman @ Mar. 01 2013,4:45 pm)
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(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,4:27 pm)
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Amtrak,
Well Mr. Know it all. Have you, yourself ever traveled Amtrak?
I see trains everyday, the reason they're dumb?
How about running a deficit since their inception.
Really! You see trains. I see truckers every day and some of them are dumb as well.
You think that the gift of train travel to the American people is a total waste of money? I think there are many more wastreful things than that. At least we can get some benefit out of it if one chooses to participate. The worst is traveling on I-80 between Des Moines and Omaha. Nothing irritates me more than a truck driver going 65 mph up hill and then pulling into the hammer lane to pass another trucker going about the same speed.
10 miles later the 20 cars gradually collecting behind them get a chance to blow the doors off them.
I think I've mentioned this before, but I would love to see lane restrictions placed on trucks.
Posted by Self-Banished on Mar. 02 2013,1:28 pm
^ a lot states do CC.
Posted by grassman on Mar. 02 2013,3:08 pm
In Tennessee, the left lane is for passing only.
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Mar. 02 2013,9:08 pm
The amount of cuts that has DHS freaking out is $85 billion.The amount given to the six biggest banks in subsidies by lowering the interest rate on the money those banks borrow is $83 billion.
Sorry, embed didn't work. Here's the link
< http://www.c-spanvideo.org/appearance/629194006 >
Posted by irisheyes on Mar. 10 2013,11:48 am
(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,6:01 pm)
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(grassman @ Mar. 01 2013,4:45 pm)
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(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,4:27 pm)
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Amtrak,
Well Mr. Know it all. Have you, yourself ever traveled Amtrak?
I see trains everyday, the reason they're dumb?
How about running a deficit since their inception.
What's the difference between funding a railway system and the Eisenhower interstate system? It isn't like you pay your own way when you're going down the road, we're all chipping in for those things and the highway doesn't turn a profit anymore than Amtrak does.
We're far behind Europe and Asia in terms of infrastructure, it wouldn't hurt to have more people commuting by rail than having them all drive and spend billions more on roads to handle the traffic.
Posted by Common Citizen on Mar. 10 2013,12:17 pm
(irisheyes @ Mar. 01 2013,2:14 pm)
QUOTE
So many of the politicians who always talk about the need for cuts are the same ones saying how horrible these cuts would be. And nearly all repub, teaparty, or so-called libertarians keep saying any defense cut will hurt our economy and safety. Even though that's by far the largest part of the discretionary budget. You won't make a dent in the deficit without cutting there
They sure have been spinning ever since they took the gavel. Before Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were to blame, now that Boehner is the Speaker and Paul Ryan is the budget committee chair it's all Obama's fault.
No way Congress wants their Constitutional responsibility anymore, now they want to force Obama to take the hot potatoe they set up in sequestration. I can't blame them. Anyone who makes the cuts will get blamed for them, but if they don't make the cuts they'll get blamed for being a big spender. It's much easier politically to keep tossing around the hot potato and blaming each other.
One thing is for sure, we certainly can't raise taxes to cover the bills Congress and the Pres authorizes.
And anytime a politician suggests paying off those debts, the other side will change the subject and complain about NPR, Planned Parenthood, and Amtrak.
They sure have been spinning ever since they took the gavel. Before Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were to blame, now that Boehner is the Speaker and Paul Ryan is the budget committee chair it's all Obama's fault.
No way Congress wants their Constitutional responsibility anymore, now they want to force Obama to take the hot potatoe they set up in sequestration. I can't blame them. Anyone who makes the cuts will get blamed for them, but if they don't make the cuts they'll get blamed for being a big spender. It's much easier politically to keep tossing around the hot potato and blaming each other.
One thing is for sure, we certainly can't raise taxes to cover the bills Congress and the Pres authorizes.
QUOTE
We're still paying down the cost of destroying the U.S.S.R. And Iraq. And Afghanistan. And coming soon: Iran (again).
And anytime a politician suggests paying off those debts, the other side will change the subject and complain about NPR, Planned Parenthood, and Amtrak.
Ya...some things never change. Believe it or not the fear mongers of today are using the same play book Clinton used in the 90's. Is it any coincidence that they are from the same party?
...nuff said.
Posted by Self-Banished on Mar. 10 2013,12:57 pm
(irisheyes @ Mar. 10 2013,11:48 am)
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(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,6:01 pm)
QUOTE
(grassman @ Mar. 01 2013,4:45 pm)
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(Self-Banished @ Mar. 01 2013,4:27 pm)
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Amtrak,
Well Mr. Know it all. Have you, yourself ever traveled Amtrak?
I see trains everyday, the reason they're dumb?
How about running a deficit since their inception.
What's the difference between funding a railway system and the Eisenhower interstate system? It isn't like you pay your own way when you're going down the road, we're all chipping in for those things and the highway doesn't turn a profit anymore than Amtrak does.
We're far behind Europe and Asia in terms of infrastructure, it wouldn't hurt to have more people commuting by rail than having them all drive and spend billions more on roads to handle the traffic.
With my "little" trucks I paid about 15K in assorted taxes and fees to run last year, how much did you pay?
Posted by Common Citizen on Mar. 10 2013,1:27 pm
IE,QUOTE
Before Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were to blame, now that Boehner is the Speaker and Paul Ryan is the budget committee chair it's all Obama's fault.
2012-House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan released his fiscal year 2013 (FY2013) budget proposal on March 19,2012. On March 29th, the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 228-191 the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Resolution proposed by Chairman Ryan.
The Donk led SENATE refuses to bring any resolutions to the floor for a vote. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that since the Budget Control Act set a $1.047 trillion top line spending cap, it is not necessary to bring up a Senate resolution. However, the Senate’s newly appointed parliamentarian has ruled that the Budget Control Act does not preclude the option of one or more members of the Senate seeking to offer a budget resolution.
2013 - The White House informed House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan that it will miss the legal deadline of 02/04 for sending a budget to Congress. The reason there is a deadline is so the House and the Senate have time to consider any resolutions. The White House now says they are prepared to submit the budget to Congress on April 8th. Almost 2 months past the deadline. The Obama administration has only met the deadline one time since becoming President. More than any other President since the 1920's.
Does it stand to reason he condones having tax cheats on his cabinet?
So...yes...the blame should not only be placed at the feet of Harry Reid and the Donk led Senate but also at the front door of the White house. After all, doesn't the "buck" stop there?
Part of the job of the President is to get both sides to work together and from what I can see, this administration has no interest in doing so.
...nuff said.
Posted by grassman on Mar. 11 2013,5:52 am
Sure, blame the principle for a war between the bloods and the crips. I think term limits might be the answer.
Posted by grassman on Mar. 11 2013,4:56 pm
Desperate times: Marines told to 'save every round'(CNN) – United States Marines are being told to preserve ammunition and gasoline as a deal softening the impact of automatic spending cuts continues to elude leaders in Washington.
Marine Corps Commandant James Amos urged personnel in a video posted online Friday to "save every round, every gallon of gas," and to "take every single aspect or opportunity in training to get the most bang for the buck," a reminder of the cuts' immediate effect on the U.S. military.
The Marine Corps and other branches are being forced to cut billions from their budgets as the result of the spending cuts, which were triggered March 1 when Congress and the White House failed to strike a deal reducing the federal debt. In a letter to all Marines dated March 2, Amos said his branch would cut $1.4 billion in 2013 and $2 billion in every ensuing year for nearly a decade.
It's about time! What waste there is in our military. Here is an example from personal observation. I used to take care of a property for a marine recruiter. He lived out in the sticks, nice place. I would find brass laying around all of the time. Must have been some war games going on there that I didn't know about.
Posted by Common Citizen on Mar. 11 2013,9:36 pm
(grassman @ Mar. 11 2013,5:52 am)
QUOTE
I think term limits might be the answer.
Two terms for a Senator and then done. That's 12 years.
Why not?
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Mar. 17 2013,4:30 pm
Things could be worse.QUOTE
Nervous depositors in Cyprus rushed to ATM machines on Saturday to drain their accounts following a bailout agreement with international creditors that includes a levy on all the country's bank accounts.
Lines formed at many ATMs as people scrambled to pull their money out after word that the €10 billion ($13 billion) rescue package Cyprus agreed to with its euro-area partners and the International Monetary Fund included a one-off levy on deposits, an unprecedented step in the eurozone crisis.
The levy is expected to raise €5.8 billion.
European officials said people with less than €100,000 in their accounts will have to pay a one-time tax of 6.75 percent, those with more money will lose 9.9 percent. Cypriot bank officials said that depositors can access all their money except the amount set by the levy.
But that hardly assuaged people who continued to withdraw cash from ATMs until the machines ran out, unsure what or how much would be taxed. Officials said that withdrawing funds on Saturday would not reduce anyone's levy.
The country's cooperative banks also shut their doors after depositors scurried in hopes of protecting their savings.
Unlike commercial banks that remain closed on weekends, cooperative banks customarily open for business on Saturday.
The cooperative banks, which represent about a fifth of the island's banking sector, remained open only for a short time. However, people continued to have access to their funds through ATM machines.
"Politicians and senior bank bosses have covered each other's backs for years, now it's ordinary people who are paying the price and are being punished," said Christos Demetriades, 58, milling outside a shut Nicosia cooperative bank branch.
Lines formed at many ATMs as people scrambled to pull their money out after word that the €10 billion ($13 billion) rescue package Cyprus agreed to with its euro-area partners and the International Monetary Fund included a one-off levy on deposits, an unprecedented step in the eurozone crisis.
The levy is expected to raise €5.8 billion.
European officials said people with less than €100,000 in their accounts will have to pay a one-time tax of 6.75 percent, those with more money will lose 9.9 percent. Cypriot bank officials said that depositors can access all their money except the amount set by the levy.
But that hardly assuaged people who continued to withdraw cash from ATMs until the machines ran out, unsure what or how much would be taxed. Officials said that withdrawing funds on Saturday would not reduce anyone's levy.
The country's cooperative banks also shut their doors after depositors scurried in hopes of protecting their savings.
Unlike commercial banks that remain closed on weekends, cooperative banks customarily open for business on Saturday.
The cooperative banks, which represent about a fifth of the island's banking sector, remained open only for a short time. However, people continued to have access to their funds through ATM machines.
"Politicians and senior bank bosses have covered each other's backs for years, now it's ordinary people who are paying the price and are being punished," said Christos Demetriades, 58, milling outside a shut Nicosia cooperative bank branch.
< http://news.msn.com/world/cypriots-rue-bailout-deals-bank-deposit-levy >
I'm thinking this would cause a run on the banks in several countries.
What would happen here if every person's bank account was frozen and 6 - 10% was taken with no warning?
P.S. it was really really difficult to find a mainstream news source that had any comment on this event. So far this msn article was the only one I've been able to find. Alternative news has been crammed full of information on it the last couple of days though!
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Mar. 18 2013,8:54 am
For the last year I've been fighting a nagging annoying feeling. Many things that have been happening in the US, and some things that have been happening in other countries, give the impression that the desired effect is to have people protesting and rioting. And the only plausible explanation that I can see for DHS to order almost 2 billion bullets, is that the government expects some sort of trouble here in America.
The IMF wanted the theft of Cyprus citizens bank assets to be higher than 6-10%. They wanted 30-40%.
QUOTE
Taxing deposits at relatively low rates was seen as less harsh and less risky than the alternative proposed by the IMF: Radically shrinking the two hardest-hit banks, including bailing in senior bond holders, and letting deposit insurance kick in. In that case, depositors in Laiki Bank and Bank of Cyprus would have faced losses of 30% to 40% above the insured €100,000.
< http://blogs.wsj.com/brussel...russels >
The chief economist of the second largest bank in Germany has suggested that 15% of Italian citizens bank accounts be taken to help pay off Italy's debt.
QUOTE
Ein Steuersatz von 15 Prozent auf Finanzvermögen würde wohl ausreichen, die italienische Staatsschuld unter
Translation: A tax rate of 15 percent on financial assets would probably be sufficient, under the Italian government debt
< http://www.handelsblatt.com/politik...ll.html >
Posted by irisheyes on Mar. 18 2013,12:53 pm
(Common Citizen @ Mar. 10 2013,12:17 pm)
QUOTE
Ya...some things never change. Believe it or not the fear mongers of today are using the same play book Clinton used in the 90's. Is it any coincidence that they are from the same party?
You're right, some things never change.
Good find on the video clip. Did you ever get one of those fancy Limbaugh ties? Seems like a perfect Father's day present for some.
S.B.
QUOTE
With my "little" trucks I paid about 15K in assorted taxes and fees to run last year, how much did you pay?
So how many feet can you drive on the portion of the roads you paid for? And how much do you drive on what we all collectively paid for?
The point was the same as passenger rail travel, we all pay for those roads and you won't get very far if the rest of us weren't chipping in for you to operate your business. This reminds me of when Glenn Beck complained about taxes and universal health care at the CPAC a few years ago, and then explained he learned this by using libraries since "books are free".
Posted by Self-Banished on Mar. 18 2013,1:13 pm
^ Wow, you listen to Beck? I guess whatever works for you.The thing is comercial enterprise pays for alot more than the general public. That $50 registration you pay for your powder blue Prius and the little bit of gas you buy doesn't amount to jack.
Just remember, if it weren't for free enterprise this country wouldn't be squat.
Posted by irisheyes on Mar. 18 2013,1:28 pm
(Common Citizen @ Mar. 10 2013,1:27 pm)
QUOTE
The Donk led SENATE refuses to bring any resolutions to the floor for a vote. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that since the Budget Control Act set a $1.047 trillion top line spending cap, it is not necessary to bring up a Senate resolution. However, the Senate’s newly appointed parliamentarian has ruled that the Budget Control Act does not preclude the option of one or more members of the Senate seeking to offer a budget resolution.
That's exactly what I said the right-wing rhetoric was, "now that Boehner is the Speaker and Paul Ryan is the budget committee chair it's all Obama's fault." You don't even acknowledge that aside from all the talk, neither Boehner, Romney's, or Paul Ryan even have budget proposals to balance the budget this decade. So the republicans can talk all you want, they pass the same spending bills and deficits, but I'm sure whatever they spend they'll blame Obama for.
QUOTE
So...yes...the blame should not only be placed at the feet of Harry Reid and the Donk led Senate but also at the front door of the White house. After all, doesn't the "buck" stop there?
The buck never seems to stop there when the POTUS has an R next to his name. Then the Congress controls the purse strings. Why is that?
You're proving my point, all we're doing is blaming each other. We'll never the budget balanced when revenues don't want to be increased at all, and anyone who cuts defense will be blamed for "gutting" the military. Repubs can talk about entitlements, but I'll take them more seriously when their constituents show up to townhalls willing to take a cut to their own.
QUOTE
Part of the job of the President is to get both sides to work together and from what I can see, this administration has no interest in doing so.
No, it isn't. Although some FOX pundits have made that assertion as you several times about how Obama is responsible to lead, get them to work together, etc. I've read the Constitution several times, please quote me which part of Article II says the President has to get both sides to work together.
I saw Napolitano and other FOX pundits saying the above the same week you posted it. But as they said in the Bush era, "the House controls the purse strings". Guess they reinterpret the Constitution when it suits them...
If Boehner and Paul Ryan need someone to hold their hand and lead them, then the GOP is in more trouble than I thought. But I think they know what they're doing, the rest is just a smoke and mirrors.
Posted by irisheyes on Mar. 18 2013,1:45 pm
(Self-Banished @ Mar. 18 2013,1:13 pm)
QUOTE
The thing is comercial enterprise pays for alot more than the general public. That $50 registration you pay for your powder blue Prius and the little bit of gas you buy doesn't amount to jack.
And you hauling up to 40 tons on 18 wheels, probably 50-100,000 miles surely utilizes (and does more damage) than the general public, with their little bit of gas and blue prius. The roads you use wouldn't amount to jack without the general public helping to fund it.
The general public doesn't have it if private enterprise isn't there, private enterprise isn't squat without the general public helping to fund infrastructure, public safety, research and development. Can we agree on that?
Otherwise, if you've got a beef with public infrastructure that we all pay into you can go ahead and moth ball those trucks. Save up the money and build your own roads. With that 15 grand a year you'll have your own roads in no time.
QUOTE
Just remember, if it weren't for free enterprise this country wouldn't be squat.
I never claimed otherwise. A market economy is crucial, but so are collective services in the areas mentioned: infrastructure, public safety, research and development to name a few. Without those private enterprise would be about as prosperous as it is in undeveloped third world countries.
QUOTE
^ Wow, you listen to Beck? I guess whatever works for you.
I just mocked Beck, so yes, I catch lots of stuff from conservative pundits now and then.
Posted by Self-Banished on Mar. 18 2013,4:10 pm
^ I tried watching Beck back when he was on CNBC, far too depressing. 
Park the trucks eh? You'd soon be wanting truckers to fire them back up if we all shut down. The average supermarket has only three days inventory.
Damn! Now I'm starting to sound like Moparman.
