Obama Quote On The Debt

Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
westnob said:
The analogy I have heard to the economy is that the basement is flooded and the roof is on fire. You are going to have to add more water to put out the fire, because if you get rid of the water first, the house will burn down.
Click to expand...

The obvious solution is to pump the water out of the basement and spray it onto the roof.

barfo
 
mobes23 said:
Yep, I get that spending cuts are key. And it's part of the solution for sure.

I'm asking you to take the next next and consider that maybe the tax system isn't perfect and perhaps we can raise revenue in ways that are smart, fair and won't hurt business.

Keep as much of the part that's important to you that you can, but acknowledge that "the other side" may also have valid points worth considering and that there might be a place to meet in the middle.

Let's listen to the other side, see what has value and might be workable. Let's focus on those things and try to build some consensus. We're all a whole lot better off doing that than we are sitting around trying to show how "our side" is smart and "their side" is dumb.
Click to expand...

And what if one fundamentally disagrees with raising government revenue? What if one believes that the current amount of revenue is high enough to support what a basic and functional government is actually designed for? Should that person still try to figure out a way to increase government revenue to continue supporting what has turned into a bloated, inefficient blob?
 
blazerboy30 said:
Most people also think they are smarter than average. Yeah, think about that for a second.
Click to expand...

That situation is entirely possible, if the median is higher than the mean.

barfo
 
barfo said:
That situation is entirely possible, if the median is higher than the mean.

barfo
Click to expand...

Far too many people cross over the median. I'll blame it on incessant texting.
 
blazerboy30 said:
And what if one fundamentally disagrees with raising government revenue? What if one believes that the current amount of revenue is high enough to support what a basic and functional government is actually designed for? Should that person still try to figure out a way to increase government revenue to continue supporting what has turned into a bloated, inefficient blob?
Click to expand...

As a starter, you focus in a proactive and productive way about what cuts make sense. Try listening to the other side to see what's really most important to them and cut the things least important to both sides.

As far as the revenue side, do people really think tax system is perfect and should be left as it is? I'm not talking about a full repeal of the Bush tax cuts or elimination of ALL loopholes/deductions. Isn't it worth both parties taking a good look at it and seeing if changes can be made that will help stabilize the budget without crippling the economy?

All I'm saying is it's fine (actually good) to stick to your beliefs, but we'll all be a whole lot better off doing that AND listening to the opposition. Let's see where we can meet in the middle. Wholesale discarding the opposing view doesn't get us any where.

[And anyway, where the heck have all the moderates gone? Are they just hiding from all the crap slinging? I miss 'em. ]
 
forums are the perfect medium for this conversation.
 
I don't really blame Obama for that quote. He was playing politics. If McCain were in the White House right now, he'd say much the same thing.

Obama's problem is that he's refusing to admit the 2010 elections occurred, and elections have consequences. Like it or not, he has to deal with the GOP, and they were elected on the promise they wouldn't raise taxes. They're not going to vote for a tax increase and whatever bill passes is going to have to pass the House. The obvious compromise is to raise the debt ceiling with a dollar for dollar raise (or more) in the budget. It gives us the room to pay our bills in the short term while putting us on a path toward fiscal sanity.
 
To me, I think we need to raise the debt ceiling this one last time to protect government investors. There really hasn't been time to develop a bipartisan plan since the last election. Then, once we have secured the deficit for another year, work making the cuts and hopefully switch to a flat tax so as to right the sinking ship.
 
BLAZER PROPHET said:
To me, I think we need to raise the debt ceiling this one last time to protect government investors. There really hasn't been time to develop a bipartisan plan since the last election. Then, once we have secured the deficit for another year, work making the cuts and hopefully switch to a flat tax so as to right the sinking ship.
Click to expand...

Is it asking too much to expect a budget one of these years? As it is now, it's spendspendspend until we get near the debt ceiling, with absolutely no restraint needed because there is no federal budget.
 
BLAZER PROPHET said:
“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America ’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government can not pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America ’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”

-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006
Click to expand...
Fantastic! You made my day. Do you have a link?
 
maxiep said:
I don't really blame Obama for that quote. He was playing politics.
Click to expand...
He's been playing politics all his life. It's the only thing he knows how to do. Except this quote is going to bite him in the ass big time. It's hard to stand in front of the American people with a straight face and tell them it's vital to raise the debt limit when just a few years ago he called it an example of "reckless government spending."
 
The racists show their colors by once again condemning Obama for emulating Bush and the Republican Party.

Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl. ThinkProgress compiled a breakdown of the five debt limit increases that took place during the Bush presidency and how the four Republican leaders voted:

June 2002: Congress approves a $450 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $6.4 trillion. McConnell, Boehner, and Cantor vote “yea”, Kyl votes “nay.”

May 2003: Congress approves a $900 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $7.384 trillion. All four approve.

November 2004: Congress approves an $800 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $8.1 trillion. All four approve.

March 2006: Congress approves a $781 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $8.965 trillion. All four approve.

September 2007: Congress approves an $850 billion increase, raising the debt limit to $9.815 trillion. All four approve.

After squandering/pilfering a record surplus left by Clinton, Republicans raised the debt limit nearly 4 trillion $ over 5 years time.

How much "wiggle-room" is Obama asking for to clean up their mess?
 
PapaG said:
Since Barack claimed today that 80% of the American people support higher taxes, why didn't our pResident genius explain to that 80% that the can voluntarily contribute as much of their income as they please to the gubmint? Also, why did Barack claim deductions in his 2010 taxes if he is gung-ho about increasing tax revenues?
Click to expand...

No kidding, like if he wants to stop world hunger why is he eating? Why not give away all youre own food to the hungry? He obviously doesn't care at all about world hunger.
 
Draco said:
No kidding, like if he wants to stop world hunger why is he eating? Why not give away all youre own food to the hungry? He obviously doesn't care at all about world hunger.
Click to expand...

"We need to raise our debt ceiling and raise taxes. After that's done, let's all of us rich folk fly to Chicago and have a fundraiser for me!"

It's amazing how many average people willingly swallow this type of hypocrisy and think the guy gives a shit about them.
 
Draco said:
No kidding, like if he wants to stop world hunger why is he eating? Why not give away all youre own food to the hungry? He obviously doesn't care at all about world hunger.
Click to expand...

Stupid red herring.

People can contribute as much of their income as they want to the government, up to 100% if they please. Instead, even Barack finds loopholes to lower his own tax responsibilities. What that has to do with world hunger seems to only exist in your mind.

I call bullshit on 80% of the public wanting higher taxes, anyhow.
 
Really, the best thing that could happen is debt default

A further severe shock to the US and world economy is required
 
FatJerry said:
Really, the best thing that could happen is debt default

A further severe shock to the US and world economy is required
Click to expand...

Default can't and won't happen. We're legally obligated to pay our debts first, and we have enough money to cover it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

BigGameDamian
Republicans, President Obama have "productive" meeting on debt and shutdown.
Replies
1
Views
225
jlprk
jlprk
Denny Crane
Worries Rise on the Size of U.S. Debt
2
Replies
51
Views
5K
Denny Crane
Denny Crane
SlyPokerDog
Greed and Debt: The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
mobes23
mobes23
PapaG
The Obama Economy. 33 Facts Against the Recovery
2
Replies
37
Views
1K
julius
julius
Denny Crane
For Mook
Replies
1
Views
458
Denny Crane
Denny Crane

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top