Quote:
Originally Posted by ijusluvit
I disagree that we are 'well beyond stimulating what is wrong". Again, my glass is half-full. You are open-minded enough to recognize the absolute necessity of starting the strong stimulus programs under Bush. The economic logic and principles of that are still valid. THE MONEY MUST COME FROM SOMEWHERE. Don't jump down my throat, but the deficit is relative. We have been in worse shape at other times in our history. Look at the impact of the land wars we are finally drawing down from. We can continue as we are with slow job and economic growth and a frozen deficit and taxes as the Republicans have dictated. Yes, the Republicans. But if Obama opponents, including Romney, say this is "disasterous', the ONLY alternative is to unfreeze the deficit and taxes.
I don't think the situation is 'disasterous'. But I do think the human cost of 8% unemployment is a greater negative influence on our collective well-being than whatever negative effects can result from continuing stimulus spending. Of course, I also favor raising most of the stimulus funding through increased taxation, rather than increasing the deficit. You might disagree, and prefer to leave things as they are, accepting the slow but steady recovery we've experienced for at least two years. Maybe that's really a good idea, but if you adopt it you have to stop all the hand-wringing about the President's failures, the unemployment 'disaster' etc.
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I added a PS to my last post which I hope you will read. I noticed this post while I was adding it so I am pretty sure you have not read it.
It is nice to view from a glass half full....but I suppose I am more of a realist. I have not seen the slow and steady recovery you refer to. I hope you will consider reading the depth of our unemployment situation....In my opinion there is a deepening of the recession...while certain aspects of the economy will at times show signs of life.
My hand wringing, again in my opinion, is justified...not because he is Barrack Obama...not because he is a Democrat. He had failed in leadership which is what we need...he continues, and I am assuming you agree based on your post, to think we can continue to spend our way out of this when it did not work the last time and with a deficit that amazingly is now at TRILLIONs, the future looks bleak to me. I sure wish I saw those signs of a slow and steady recovery but I see just the opposite.
I need to go but want to end with a point of agreement, sort of
We need a complete revision of the tax code and I really was cheering this President on and on loudly when he appointed the blue ribbon committee to look at it and make suggestions. BUT, as always it did not fit into his political plan thus it was pushed aside and ignored. I know you wont agree with my comment on WHY he ignored his own committee and certainly welcome reading your take on that situation, but the tax code needs to be reworked and we need to stop the rich versus poor conversations which are really tearing us all apart. The decisions to be made are difficult for sure.