Will the Government shut down on the 27th of March?

[merithyn]

The problem with gestures like this is it gives people the impression that progress is being made.

Not really. What it shows is that Congress is willing to give up a few unnecessary perks to save a few pennies. It's the least they can do given that they're asking for billions in taxes and trillions in cuts to health care.

[Admiral Yi]

Not really. What it shows is that Congress is willing to give up a few unnecessary perks to save a few pennies. It's the least they can do given that they're asking for billions in taxes and trillions in cuts to health care.

You know Meri, they're asking for billions in taxes and trillions in cuts so we don't go bust.  As a country.

This is really bizarre thinking to me.

[merithyn]

You know Meri, they're asking for billions in taxes and trillions in cuts so we don't go bust.  As a country.

This is really bizarre thinking to me.

I know. What is so bizarre about it? I am all for the taxes and the cuts. I'm also all for cutting the stupid little things that cost us over time but have no real value to the country as a whole.

[Admiral Yi]

I know. What is so bizarre about it? I am all for the taxes and the cuts. I'm also all for cutting the stupid little things that cost us over time but have no real value to the country as a whole.

The bizarre part is the notion is that our government is those guys over there who are taking our money, and in exchange for taxes and spending cuts they have to give up something. 

We're a representative democracy.  We elect people who decide who gets taxed and how much, and what to spend it on.  All that spending goes to us.

Also, you never addressed the issue of your sudden change of heart on deficit reduction since Teh Fiscal Cliff.

[DGuller]

However, a lot of small things add up.

No they don't.

They do, just not necessarily to a big number.

[merithyn]

I know. What is so bizarre about it? I am all for the taxes and the cuts. I'm also all for cutting the stupid little things that cost us over time but have no real value to the country as a whole.

The bizarre part is the notion is that our government is those guys over there who are taking our money, and in exchange for taxes and spending cuts they have to give up something. 

We're a representative democracy.  We elect people who decide who gets taxed and how much, and what to spend it on.  All that spending goes to us.

Also, you never addressed the issue of your sudden change of heart on deficit reduction since Teh Fiscal Cliff.

What sudden change? I still believe that we need to take it slow. That doesn't mean that I don't think it should happen at all.

[The Brain]

Did the US shut down? Please say yes.

[11B4V]

Did the US shut down? Please say yes.

I would like to know too. Could have a day off. 

[Razgovory]

I know. What is so bizarre about it? I am all for the taxes and the cuts. I'm also all for cutting the stupid little things that cost us over time but have no real value to the country as a whole.

The bizarre part is the notion is that our government is those guys over there who are taking our money, and in exchange for taxes and spending cuts they have to give up something. 

We're a representative democracy.  We elect people who decide who gets taxed and how much, and what to spend it on.  All that spending goes to us.

Also, you never addressed the issue of your sudden change of heart on deficit reduction since Teh Fiscal Cliff.

Yi's right.  Also handsome and oh so smart.

More to the point, goverment isn't an "us vs them" thing.  They are us.  We elect members of our our citizenry to represent us.  In a sense we have all contributed to the debt, we can't blame some nebulous "them", for the problems of government, it is our fault, even handsome Yi.

[Valmy]

Don't worry Yi I am not even remotely assured by the Senators having to get private sector haircuts.

[Valmy]

More to the point, goverment isn't an "us vs them" thing.  They are us.  We elect members of our our citizenry to represent us.  In a sense we have all contributed to the debt, we can't blame some nebulous "them", for the problems of government, it is our fault, even handsome Yi.

I am not sure they are as directly answerable to my will as you seem to think

But anyway who gives a flying fuck whose fault it is?  We need to get the problems fixed.

[derspiess]

we can't blame some nebulous "them", for the problems of government,

I'll just blame you.  How about that? 

[Razgovory]

Good enough.


Seriously though, I think Congress is much more responsive to what people want then we give them credit for.  The problem is that we want contradictory things.  People want low taxes and high quality services.  The result is high debt.

[Valmy]

Seriously though, I think Congress is much more responsive to what people want then we give them credit for.  The problem is that we want contradictory things.  People want low taxes and high quality services.  The result is high debt.

Oh I agree.  I have not been effective at convincing other people that my ideas are right, as is pretty evident on this forum

I have alwas been in favor of tax and spend or not tax and not spend.  Either way is fine really.  The majority of Americans clearly disagree and believe in some sort of magical debt fairy.  But they are not alone, looking at how Germany is being treated NOT deficit spending is clearly Nazi-esque Imperialism of the worst kind.

[derspiess]

Seriously though, I think Congress is much more responsive to what people want then we give them credit for.  The problem is that we want contradictory things.  People want low taxes and high quality services.  The result is high debt.

There's some truth to that.  But I think another problem is with career politicians (on both sides) who get entrenched in their positions and institutionalize bad habits, like deficit spending.

I used to be 100% against term limits but I'm much more open to the idea now.