We have borrowed almost $9 trillion from our children with no intention to repay a single dime. We did not borrow to invest in infrastructure, though we should. We did not borrow to give our kids a better chance at a quality education; in fact we reduced their opportunity. We did not borrow to help build a sustainable future for them, nor to address the devastating environmental problems they will face.

No, we borrowed from them with the specific intent of enriching the already rich, then passed new rules that aim to protect rich investors from paying any tax, while penalizing those who work for a living. And with cynical and manipulative talk of a “death tax” we attempted to protect the wealthy and their children from ever paying any tax. The so-called conservatives have attempted to establish a permanent aristocracy in this country. They have stolen from our children to do so, and rigged the rules against the poor shmucks who work for living rather than manage their pools of money. As the government went on a borrow-and-spend binge, so did the public. Our savings rate is now around 0%, while China’s hovers around 40%.

Meanwhile, we sacrificed our manufacturing sector, and relinquished our primacy in every single industry in which we were once great: computers, consumer electronics, shoes, clothes, automobiles, steel, optics, even plastics.

Oh yeah, we probably still produce the best equipment in the world for killing people. Doesn’t that just fill you with pride? (oops, except we still can’t defeat the Taliban, who again control most of Afghanistan.

BTW, CStanley, I have to disagree with your assessment. The Dems have always offered an alternative that is serious about dealing with our environmental mess, serious about fiscal responsibility, education, health care, decent wages for working people, energy security, checks and balances, civil rights and global leadership. I hope we give them a chance to turn this country around.

I think what it will take to get rid of some of the factionalism is either 1) a change from the belief that power lies in holding the biggest faction to uniting disparate people, or 2) some external cause which will make people put their differences aside. If Republicans are victorious on Tuesday, I think we can put 1) aside for two more years. If the Democrats win, it could go either way. They will have a choice – productive bi-partisanship (since even with two houses they will need Presidential signatures) or simple fighting with the hopes of smashing the other faction. I have hopes for genuine Democratic leadership. If that fails me, then we’ll either have to kick them out as well or pray for the external cause.

I posted my comment before reading your last post.

Oops

If the course continues by mid century the US will become small collections of nation states, and probably be at eachothers throats.

I’m imagining a West coast socalist republic, Rocky Mountain confederation, Upper Midwest Republic, Southern Federal republic, and New England colonies……and Texas. Ohhh the war they will wage for the grain states will be one to watch, with all the nukes hidden out there. Fun for the whole family!

Given that we already have an ongoing deficit problem if you want even lower taxes then what programs are you going to cut and to what extent?

Oooh ooh I have a suggestion (though I don’t imagine Austin will like it).

How’s about reducing our military spending a little bit?

Does it strike anyone else as a little weird that half our discretionary spending is spent on the military and that we spend about as much as the rest of the world combined?

Now I’m not suggesting we disarm, far from it, but even in a dangerous world it just strikes me as excessive.

Given that we already have an ongoing deficit problem if you want even lower taxes then what programs are you going to cut and to what extent?

and if people are experiencing fatigue, that is what the repugs goal has always been…make it seem as if there is no dif between parties

horse shite

vote the bastards out…and if the new guy doesnt do a good job, vote him out the next time

That obvious joke aside, please explain how reducing government spending would ruin us? Silly me, I would that would lead to either reduced taxes, more money for other programs, or both.

Unless of course you believe that all money belongs to the government, except what they decide to let us keep. The money the goverenment spends on defense is money they took out of the economy to begin with via taxes.

Tax greed is pathological in this country, and all other issues be damned.