patrick.net

Well,
Looks like the GOP finally did it to themselves. All over the news this morning what was predicted to happen is actually happening: The GOP is taking the majority of the blame for this. Its like 1995 all over again.

FortWayne says

Sounds good to me, it's not what Republicans get... it's what America gets... and it all sounds very good.

All good? You have to be kidding? Some of these are terrible. Let's go over what each means.

1. Delay Obamacare implementation
I.e., endless fighting and playing chicken in Congress.
Bad

2. Keystone XL pipleline
Bad because the oil companies have demonstrated that they are completely incapable of not causing a major environmental disaster when moving massive amounts of oil, and they are completely incapable of cleaning up the mess they leave.

3. Tax reform commitment
To Republicans, that means less taxes for the wealthy and more for the poor and middle class. It also means more debt spending.

4. Medicare means testing
Translation: cut Medicare benefits by requiring people to be more desperate before they can use it.
Bad because this means more long term costs as people use emergency rooms rather than preventative care.

5. Medical liability reform
Bad because very few medical malpractice lawsuits are accepted, and of those few are won, and when they are won the awards are small. The whole idea that medical malpractice lawsuits are money makers is a myth.

At least 80 percent of medical malpractice lawsuits involve death or serious injury. A Harvard study has shown that a majority of medical negligence claims involve death, serious, or significant injury.

No more than one-half of one percent of malpractice payments resulted in an award of $1 million or more, and judge or jury awards account for only 5 percent of all medical malpractice dollars.

Medical liability reform is code for making the truly injured have no way to get compensation for gross negligence and would result in our hospitals making far more mistakes due to lack of liability.

6. Pension reforms for federal employees
Translation: Break employment agreements and screw over the workers by eliminating their pensions, which were legally part of their employment agreement. Now, this may very well be a good thing, but it's still screwing people out of their retirement accounts after they've already worked for decades. So, if Congress is going to do this, it should start with the pensions of senators, representatives, presidents, and their cabinets.

7. Changes to Dodd-Frank
What I find most ridiculous is that you think Republican's dismantlement of the Dodd-Frank Act could possibly be good. The Dodd-Frank Act doesn't go nearly far enough to prevent the type of systemic fraud that caused the Second Great Depression. We really should re-instate the Glass-Steagall Act.

8. Easing EPA rules
Translation: Allowing more pollution.

Pollution is the destruction of wealth. It is theft. It is bad, bad economics. Even if you don't give a damn about the environment and people's health, it makes no fiscal sense whatsoever to allow corporations to pollute for doing so results in a net decrease in real GDP. The entire free market system is based on the assumption that the costs of generating a product will not be shifted to the population at large. If that assumption is false, as it is when pollution happens, than the free market theory actually says that resources will be misallocated and wasted.

So if you actually believe in the free market or simply want the total GDP to be as high as possible, you should be 100% any kind of pollution.

9. Restrictions of regulations
Translation: Less laws governing corporate behavior.

Why don't we have restrictions of regulations on drug usage, personal behavior, compliance with police, and a million other issues? Why is it called "the law" when the law applies to individuals but called "regulations" when the law applies to corporations?

The fact is that corporations can do and commit far more harm than any individual person could ever possible do. The laws criminalizing behaviors that are harmful to people do not go nearly far enough. If they did, we would see a lot of bankers in jail for their role in causing the Second Great Depression.

Think about it this way. Let's say Bob wants to murder Joe. If Bob simply shoots Joe, Bob will go to jail. So Bob founds American Oil, Corp and uses the company to dump toxic waste near Joe's property. Joe dies of cancer as a result. In the eyes of the law, Bob is perfectly innocent. If you want to legally murder someone in America, all you need to do is properly use a corporation.

10. More oil drilling

The idea that America could possibly rely on oil or other fossil fuels is ridiculous. The more fossil fuels we dig up and use, the more dependent we get on fossil fuels and the greater the economic crash will be when those fuels run out. The free market solution is to let fossil fuel prices rise greatly before we run out of them, so that alternatives are more economical and we can avoid the crash.

Dan8267 says

Think about it this way. Let's say Bob wants to murder Joe. If Bob simply shoots Joe, Bob will go to jail. So Bob founds American Oil, Corp and uses the company to dump toxic waste near Joe's property. Joe dies of cancer as
a result. In the eyes of the law, Bob is perfectly innocent. If you want to legally murder someone in America, all you need to do is properly use a corporation.

But corporations ARE people, so corporations can go to jail. ;-)

Call it Crazy says

Is it party time yet??

Sure is. The Tea Party failed, which is reason enough to celebrate.

Wonderful news ! Goal is to reduce national debt by reducing spending. Public employee wages and benefits are bankrupting USA and MUST be cut by 5-10% every year for next five years to bring spending under control.

freak80 says

But corporations ARE people, so corporations can go to jail. ;-)

I'll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one.

EInvestor says

Public employee wages and benefits are bankrupting USA and MUST be cut by 5-10% every year for next five years to bring spending under control.

Yeah, cut public employer wages and benefits 25% in 5 years and let me know if the local pizzeria, the dry cleaner, and the bookstore are still open at that point.

You do realize that working and middle class people spend almost all their income, right?

thunderlips11 says

EInvestor
says

Public employee wages and benefits are bankrupting USA and MUST be cut by
5-10% every year for next five years to bring spending under control.

Yeah, cut public employer wages and benefits 25% in 5 years and let me know
if the local pizzeria, the dry cleaner, and the bookstore are still open at that
point.

You do realize that working and middle class people spend almost all their
income, right?

Let's see, the right bitches about welfare(SNAP and TANF) because the people that SUPPOSEDLY receive those don't contribute to society. Then when any government employee that works to recieve their income, it's too much and must be hacked away to nothing.
But any large corporation that recieves millions and billions of dollars in subsidies, tax credits or rebates, or direct government contracts, or mandates from the same government, THAT'S CAPITALISM!!!!!

Is there really any wonder that the right, with all their kooks and extremists are happy about shutting down the government considering their distorted and illogical view of reality?

EInvestor says

Public employee wages and benefits are bankrupting USA

No they're not. Low taxes are BKing us.

http://ctj.org/ctjreports/2013/04/the_us_continues_to_be_one_of_the_least_taxed_of_the_developed_countries.php

This is what this kabuki is about. Cut spending or raise taxes. Conservatives want to pick off such spending as they can, before the tax bills start to hit.

The backstory with "repeal and replace" is the 3.8% tax on incomes over $250,000 that the Democrats snuck into "ObamaCare".

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/CP

upisdown says

Is there really any wonder that the right, with all their kooks and extremists are happy about shutting down the government considering their distorted and illogical view of reality?

No.

They're an army of robots programmed daily by AM radio and Fox News. There's no independent or critical thinking going on.

And that doesn't include the insanity they hear from the pulpit every Sunday morning.

$3 trillion worth of wars, a defense budget as large as all others combined, bailouts for banks, and tax rates of 15% on hedge fund operators.

Conclusion: Public employee wages and benefits are bankrupting USA

LOL!

Please share some more nuggets from your favorite Fox panelists and Cal Thomas columns.

HydroCabron says

Conclusion: Public employee wages and benefits are bankrupting USA

It's always easier to pick on the weak than the strong. That's what the far-right does. Remember, it's all the fault of poor black people on welfare. War profiteers and corporate criminals are totally innocent.

HydroCabron says

$3 trillion worth of wars, a defense budget as large as all others combined, bailouts for banks,

The government shutdown will end abruptly as soon as military contracts are loss or the banks need another bailout. The Republicans will cave rather then letting their welfare queens go without government cheese.

Dan8267 says

The government shutdown will end abruptly as soon as military contracts are loss or the banks need another bailout. The Republicans will cave rather then letting their welfare queens go without government cheese.

Military, healthcare, etc... they are all considered essential and are not affected. They are only closing national parks really and some EPA/IRS stuff.

This really is just a gimmick, world isn't going to collapse.

FortWayne says

Military, healthcare, etc... they are all considered essential and are not affected. They are only closing national parks really and some EPA/IRS stuff.

Obamacare is not affect by the shutdown. Payments to soldiers is not affected by the shutdown.

However, while the shutdown persists, it is unlikely that we will see new military projects and contracts for new development with defense contractors. And those are the Republican welfare queens.

If this shutdown persists for months, Boeing isn't going to be able to sell new products until the shutdown ends. And that will impact Boeing's bottom line and all those cushy "private" -- and I use that term loosely -- jobs that suck at the government teat.

If the Democrats had any balls, they'd use this shutdown as a means to end the military industrial complex.

Dan8267 says

If the Democrats had any balls, they'd use this shutdown as a means to end the military industrial complex.

They won't. They probably support MIC... why else would Obama be so friendly with those guys.

Dan8267 says

If the Democrats had any balls, they'd use this shutdown as a means to end the military industrial complex.

Using the debt ceiling to force legislation is not smart. Its not the time or place. This shutdown will cost us BILLIONS of dollars. The Democrats were smart to let the GOP go forward with this stupid idea and now all they have to do is sit back and watch the fun unfurl.

Dan8267 says

If the Democrats had any balls, they'd use this shutdown as a means to end the military industrial complex.

But we can't end the military industrial complex. That's the only industry we have left in this country. And it's probably the only industry that can't be sent to China.

Too many good engineering and manufacturing jobs would be lost. ;-)

Ever see the movie Canadian Bacon (1994) with John Candy?

freak80 says

And it's probably the only industry that can't be sent to China.

I wouldn't be surprised if Boeing outsourced drone production to China to cut labor costs.

Dan8267 says

freak80 says

And it's probably the only industry that can't be sent to China.

I wouldn't be surprised if Boeing outsourced drone production to China to cut labor costs.

When doing military contracting work there are regulations on what can and can-not be manufactured outside the US. I would bet with certainty that non-essential parts of the drones are manufactured in China, but the final assembly is done in the US.

Dan8267 says

I wouldn't be surprised if Boeing outsourced drone production to China to cut labor costs.

Good point.

Maybe China will make all of the guidance chips too. That way they can control the whole drone fleet when the moment is right. Checkmate!

freak80 says

Maybe China will make all of the guidance chips too. That way they can control the whole drone fleet when the moment is right. Checkmate!

You jest, but reality is even more ridiculous.

Read this.
Then read this.

And tell me the Pentagon isn't run by people who are clinically retarded.

Well, I hope you all survived the first day of government shutdown and the cannibal anarchy. I, myself, paired a bottle of Valdisanti with banker face. The youthful, rich dark fruit, berry and cassis aromas melded splendidly with a 40-year-old banker. Both the wine and the face aged to perfection.

freak80 says

But we can't end the military industrial complex. That's the only industry we have left in this country. And it's probably the only industry that can't be sent to China.

Well, not China maybe-but Dubai certainly. Halliburton moved to Dubai.

Dan8267 says

You jest, but reality is even more ridiculous.

Read this.

Then read this.

And tell me the Pentagon isn't run by people who are clinically retarded.

The headline behind the second link (to www.theblaze.com) looks like a headline from The Onion.

From the first link:

'Chinese engineers and officials have done reverse engineering, studied open source material and debriefed American drone experts who attend conferences and other meetings in China. “This can save them years of design work and mistakes,” Mr. Easton said.'

Wait, do I understand that correctly? American drone experts are "debriefing" the Chinese on our drone technology?

errc says

Why do you hate Democracy?

All this talk about democracy and not a single one exists in the world.

sbh says

Dan8267 says

bottle of Valdisanti

You needn't pay 26 buck for a 90 Parker rating. Check out some of the Rojas at Total Wine.

The Total Wine in Boca lists Valdisanti at $43 a bottle. And I thought Whole Foods was charging a lot at $30 a bottle.

The thing about wines is that its a very subjective preference. I've had 90 Parker ratings that were great and others that sucked. And I've had 97 Parker ratings that I hated. It'll all just opinionated. You just have to try and see what you like.

gov still down?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/1B_AcpzDhws

Your so insightful!
Did you know GM also built a car that can move??

egads101 says

The populace voted for a Democratic president who can veto

I usually taste the wine inside, but if you want to suck on the glass, I guess to each his own....
egads101 says

The beauty in life, is finding an unknown bottle that tastes fantastic

APOCALYPSEFUCK is Comptroller says

Anyone have a nice recipe for face marinade?

Ingredients makes 2 1/2 cups

1 cup barbeque sauce
1/2 cup steak sauce
1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons crushed garlic
2 tablespoons seasoned salt
2 tablespoons ground black pepper
2 tablespoons dried minced onion
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons habanero hot sauce
3 teaspoons curry powder
2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together the barbeque sauce, steak sauce, beer, bourbon whiskey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, seasoned salt, black pepper, dried onion, basil, oregano, habanero hot sauce, curry powder, red pepper flakes, and brown sugar.

Cover the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with approximately 1/2 the marinade. Place desired face meat in the dish, and cover with remaining mixture. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 6 hours before grilling as desired.

Tea Party is finally strangling the baby in the bathtub. Enjoy!

Vicente says

http://www.3quarksdaily.com/.a/6a00d8341c562c53ef017742efed55970d-800wi

Tea Party is finally strangling the baby in the bathtub. Enjoy!

This sign is very popular to illustrate the point that they didn't know that it was a government program. This is a fair point to illustrate ignorance, but it does nothing to refute the need for spending cuts to reign in on the debt as well as the need for a sound money system. It doesn't make a difference if they know or not, even if they knew that Medicare was given to them by the government they would fight tooth and nails to keep all the money flowing into "their" government program at the expense of all other government programs and that's why spending and debt is out of control and fiscal conservatives (libertarians, tea-partiers) generally have it right.

Vicente says

Tea Party is finally strangling the baby in the bathtub. Enjoy!

Is that for real? Or is it someone mocking the Tea Party?

I can't help but think it's a parody with the "socialized medicine" underlined and the misspelling of "your."

But what about terra?

Isn't there still terra, and aren't we engaged in a Wauh on Terra?

Doesn't terra override all concerns about gummint def-sits?

Or is it because the president is black this time, so no more debt?

I'm so confused!

HydroCabron says

Isn't there still terra, and aren't we engaged in a Wauh on Terra?

Don't knock war. It's what keeps the economy going. Didn't you ever see the movie Canadian Bacon (1994) with John Candy?

sbh says

mell says

(libertarians, tea-partiers) generally have it right.

Given their level of ignorance on the very matter, are they right by accident or simple moral cowardice?

For those who claim to be tea-partiers like these folks, maybe both, although I'd replace cowardice with ignorance ;)

Call it Crazy says

freak80 says

Is that for real? Or is it someone mocking the Tea Party?

Is it real.... or is it Photoshopped??

Is it real or is it mimezine?