patrick.net

Don't forget the FHA, and just about every city, state, county, and school district.

Nobody ever saves for a rainy day.

"The “War on Poverty” started in 1964 - you have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to “the poor”; it hasn’t worked and our entire country is broke."

Let's not forget that people are starving here in the U.S. and that they have no access to healthcare services. We could do a much better job. If we took even 1/10 of our military budget and began work training programs, actual food programs that are better than food stamps, housing programs that terminate after a reasonable period of time, and access to healthcare for most. And we could better educate our children.

The earth was established 4.5 billion years ago...it is broke.

No, really. Everybody is broke. People are broke, governments are broke, and businesses are broke.

It's a fucking depression.

But...go populist rage! Nothing like the angry cries of people who pay jack-fucking-shit in taxes to protest government spending.

@Kevin

go populist rage! Nothing like the angry cries of people who pay jack-fucking-shit in taxes to protest government spending.

Lets dialogue about what will repair these programs, and not engage the rhetoric being dished out by both the conservative and liberal parties. It already looks like Obama is working hard to reverse the capital gains imbalance. Now, back to the question at hand....why are all these programs not solvent? Could it be the amount of expenses outweigh the income yet no one is willing to cut back services and engage any process improvements? This is a common theme in the non-profit or government sectors. They dont care how much money is spent as long as it keeps coming.

Obama on Capital Gains

In the United States, individuals and corporations pay income tax on the net total of all their capital gains just as they do on other sorts of income, but the tax rate for individuals is lower on "long-term capital gains," which are gains on assets that had been held for over one year before being sold. The tax rate on long-term gains was reduced in 2003 to 15%, or to 5% for individuals in the lowest two income tax brackets (See progressive tax). Short-term capital gains are taxed at a higher rate: the ordinary income tax rate. The reduced 15% tax rate on eligible dividends and capital gains, previously scheduled to expire in 2008, has been extended through 2010 as a result of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act signed into law by President Bush on May 17, 2006 (P.L. 109-222). In 2011 these reduced tax rates will "sunset," or revert to the rates in effect before 2003, which were generally 20%. President Obama's budget, announced on February 25, 2009, calls for the Capital Gains Tax to be reverted to the 20% rate before the Sunset date of 2011.

@Elliemae

We could do a much better job. If we took even 1/10 of our military budget and began work training programs, actual food programs that are better than food stamps, housing programs that terminate after a reasonable period of time, and access to healthcare for most.

This is exactly where I was going with this post....lets do what works, not what is popular. If you look at the below charts, we currently invest double our military budget (513B) into social programs like social security (613) and medicare/medicaid (682). 1/10 of our military budget (513B) would not do much to improve these programs since they are already broken and require process improvements, downsizing and cost cutting to bring them out of the red. The true problem is that neither party is willing to do this as they would lose the vote of the sheeple (American People) who are fickle.

4X says

we currently invest double our military budget (513B) into social programs like social security (613) and medicare/medicaid (682). 1/10 of our military budget (513B) would not do much to improve these programs

That's not quite true. Here's an article that talks about the true military budget:

http://www.slate.com/id/2183592/

or another--scroll down to the section on US spending:

http://www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-military-spending#USMilitarySpending

Some estimates put military spending at 50% of the budget when you take retirement benefits into account. You could probaby cut $200B off the budget and not hurt our national defense.

Would you rather spend 1 trillion on national defense or invest that back into the pockets of Americans who will spend it on stupidity in the form of a Car, TV or video game?

The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775 - you have had 234 years to get it right; it is broke.

Cut routes, reduce # employees, cuts overall costs and you have a profitable company.

Social Security was established in 1935 - you have had 74 years to get it right; it is broke.

Raise the cap to 90% of taxable earnings, Increase payroll tax rate, Extend coverage to newly hired state and local government employees, Adjust the COLA, Increase normal retirement age to 70 and you have a solvent program. Good luck getting that passed.

Fannie Mae was established in 1938 - you have had 71 years to get it right; it is broke.

Stop securitizing ARMS and you have your solution.

The “War on Poverty” started in 1964 - you have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to “the poor”; it hasn’t worked and our entire country is broke.

Require college degree, trade school in exchange for welfare, medicare and daycare and you have your solution...drop all others that wont participate. Millions will be back to work in no time.

Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965 - you’ve had 44 years to get it right; they are broke.

Stop funding university research then allowing the pharms to take those products and sell them for astronomical profits, reduce the amount of litigation involved in medical malpractice, require preventive care, insert obesity clauses for those who dont wish to participate and you have your universal healthcare.

Freddie Mac was established in 1970 - you have had 39 years to get it right; it is broke.

Freddies dead, he yo momma, he yo daddy, he was a junky in the alley...hes yo pusha!