Politics
Out of context: Reply #13897
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- ukit0
So the "Debt Commission" set up by Obama (consisting of a conservative Democrat and ultra-conservative Republican because that's just how they roll in DC) issued its report today:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/20…
The main thing that would impact most peoples' lives are brutal cuts to Social Security and Medicare, cutting them by about 3/4 once everything is said and done.
Of course the part they never talk about in the media is what caused the debt. Was it Social Security and Medicare and other social welfare programs? No, those sustained themselves just fine for the better part of the 20th century and all other modern industrial democracies have them.
Nope, the direct cause of the deficit is simple - massive tax cuts for the rich. In the early 80s, Reagan began slashing the top income rate, and ever since then the debt has been steadily increasing until you get to $14 trillion we have today. It's really a pretty simple cause and effect.
But of course the media never talks about this correlation. So, collectively, by voting these dickheads into office and moving in a more conservative direction over the past 30 years, what most Americans are doing is trading away a decent retirement so the upper income bracket can get a tax cut. Is that really what those of you, even conservatives, want?
I'm just really wondering because it seems really crazy. And I'm sure if you explained it to most people they would say, hell no, let's raise taxes that small amount on the rich and close the budget gap. After all, that's was mainstream Republican policy until Reagan came along. There nothing especially "liberal" about the idea that we should have a stable middle class where people can live decently comfortable lives, start businesses and so on.
At the same time I wonder how many people will read about this and think, no I don't want all my benefits cut, but then go back and vote for Romney or whoever in the 2012 election because they are more focused on Al Queda hiding suicide bombs up their ass or an Islamic Community Center being built in New York or some other pressing issue. And of course others will probably come to the conclusion that it simply means Democrats and Republicans are equally bad and simply not vote to demonstrate how above it all they are.
Of couse, the truth is that they are not equally bad - if America simply voted more progressive Democrats into office they wouldn't have to face a brutal retirement and could live out a decent one instead like my grandparents and most other people of their generation are still doing. Anyone want to bet if they'll figure it out in time?