2016 election character or issues -budget/taxes

[Guest]

The candidates may talk about these two issues at great length during the run up to the election, but nothing will ever get done. The two parties are to far apart.

A flat tax will never get off the ground. It would cripple the economy.
reforming the income tax code is nothing more than hot air. The people that are funding the candidates would be affected by income tax changes. No elected official is going to bit the hand that feeds them.

Cutting social programs while increasing the money spent on defense will never get off the ground. Democrats will block it in the Senate, whether they control the Senate or not.

There won't be any great changes in Social Security, Medicare, ACA, or Medicaid. They may increase the retirement age for people that are currently under 50 from 66 to 67, 68, 69 or 70.

The Republicans should lose this ACA repeal, and replace nonsense. I have a gut feeling all they want to do is get Obama's name off it. Both parties know what items are wrong, and should be changed. Just, do it.

By all means, add anything you want to this thread.

[Guest]

The candidates may talk about these two issues at great length during the run up to the election, but nothing will ever get done. The two parties are to far apart.

A flat tax will never get off the ground. It would cripple the economy.
reforming the income tax code is nothing more than hot air. The people that are funding the candidates would be affected by income tax changes. No elected official is going to bit the hand that feeds them.

Cutting social programs while increasing the money spent on defense will never get off the ground. Democrats will block it in the Senate, whether they control the Senate or not.

There won't be any great changes in Social Security, Medicare, ACA, or Medicaid. They may increase the retirement age for people that are currently under 50 from 66 to 67, 68, 69 or 70.

The Republicans should lose this ACA repeal, and replace nonsense. I have a gut feeling all they want to do is get Obama's name off it. Both parties know what items are wrong, and should be changed. Just, do it.

By all means, add anything you want to this thread.

Dear Guest: Generally speaking you are spot on primarily because of three factors Congress is too polarized, as you point out, also Congress has no will and is weak and finally they have been bought and paid for by lobbyist, unions or both.

It does it matter if a fair tax is created because these greedy people will always want more for their irrational and irresponsible spending.

Spending will not stop because it buys votes and spending on defense does not entice entitlement mentalities they want more free stuff.

We are in a very dangerous position concerning our military. It has been badly damaged because they have reduced troops not invested in the important weaponry, equipment, ships etc and have decimated the morale of the troops with their social experimentation. I volunteered and served proudly but today i would not join.

Social security and Medicare are sacrosant . The problem as we all know started because these greedy do nothings couldn't keep their hands off the funds. Secondly they continue to allow abuse and fraud. Third replacement workers are dwindling because our birth rate has dropped. fourth people are living longer and so the retirement age should reflect that fact.

Medicare is being decimated by Obamacare dictates its affecting health care cost in every aspect. it is creating a class system because doctors are beginning to operate as cash only sidestepping the government and insurance. Again I can't blame them. And let's not forget the abuses in the tort system by attorneys who rule with junk science..

Obamacare is a tough nut Its premise that everyone get insurance and for any benefit they want is an actuarial nightmare...think about the impossibility of insuring for a world war. People are going to get sticker shock this coming enrollment period. So it may put politicians backsides up against wall and they will be forced to do something .

But the worse of it is that the voting public is not up to the task any longer of serious, open and honest debate on which are the best leaders to choose to care for this country. Just remind yourself of the comments you read on Political Talk. I would go a step further here by saying after reading some of the comments on Political Talk I am very afraid when realizing that these folks get to vote.

Personal Best Regards:

[Guest]

Raising taxes or changing the rate structure or what ever else is discussed is for naught if no one adresses the basic issue of matching spending to revenues/input.

There is always the red herring tactic of reducing or eliminating programs that most affect we the people. There is NEVER any discussion about all the quid quo pro programs or each lawmakers favorite or the special interst-minority group programs.

The first candidate to address the current problem....which is spending beyond the means will be the only one(s) to know what they are talking about.
If it is a career politician or a lwayer traind candidate they will have no idea of the details that make a buget viable....nor do they care.

Obama will have another legacy item to add to his list of dumb things he did/did not do......demand a balanced budget. He obviously prefers the open ended, as usual no committment, kick the can down the road, oh my gosh we are gonna shut down the government if we don't do something side show!

Until someone that understands zero based budgeting gets in office there will be not much change in how the finances are run.
Who is it in the government that is responsible for going through the budget line by line and asking....what is this for?
That won't happen because there is an unwritten code in Washington, if you don't attack my favorite programs I won't go after yours. Then they all go after things like medicare and SS and continue to allow ACA to run wild on expenditures while fleecing the tax payer.

As long as it remains political there will be no progress on budgeting.

And the immigration of millions into the system only assures at some point in the future revenues will continue to decline as there will be fewer and fewer actually paying taxes.....however that most likely will not affect spending until the system finally collapses.

This subject may well be the issue that is a sleeping disaster with a cliff effect waiting to happen.

[Guest]

We are in agreement that a balance budget should their goal. Both parties are going to have to let up on their hard line principals to do so. They could avoid attacking their principals by coming in through back door.

Immigration reform is one way to increase tax revenue. You don't give the illegals a path to citizenship, or the ability to receive money from any social program available to US citizens. The exception is social security, and Medicare. Since the illegals and their employer contribute to SS, and Medicare, they should receive the benefits upon their retirement. Earned Income credit is off the table for them. Additional credit for children under 18 maybe, but not the same as a US citizen.

Increasing the minimum wage. Who knows? The employee will definitely be paying more in income, SS, and Medicare taxes. They will be spending more; therefore, increasing income of the businesses that they are doing business with. They will receive less in tax credits. However, their employer will be paying less in income taxes due to the higher salaries. The employer tax rate is higher, and could offset the amount received by a higher minimum wage.

Taking a hard look at Medicare items that doctors have to abide by. Some of them probably don't make any sense.

Have Paul Ryan update his social program changes. Go into a closed door session to see if there is any common ground. Do something that is next to impossible penalizes anyone, who leaks the talks to the press.

This is on us. Elect people that have middle of the road views, and get rid of elected officials that are on the extreme right or left. Pipe dream!