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DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#42751: Dec 5th 2012 at 2:59:09 PM

A tiny Fraction?

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#42752: Dec 5th 2012 at 2:59:32 PM

[up][up]Well it's probably the only way it will ever get done. Look we can worry about social programs later. If the Republicans want the deficit gone so bad then fine. We'll remove the deficit for them.

edit: I believe contractors are on the chopping block. Logically this would give the Pentagon authority over what gets cut. Does it do this?

edited 5th Dec '12 3:00:16 PM by Kostya

Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#42753: Dec 5th 2012 at 2:59:58 PM

"We can worry about it later" is a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE economic policy.

Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#42754: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:00:50 PM

That's a pretty vague chart if 30% is in et cetera category.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#42755: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:01:05 PM

[up][up]Then why do you support the Democrats? That's their plan for the debt and deficit. Frankly I care far more about unemployment and low tax rates. If we can reverse unemployment the social programs can weather the cut anyway.

edited 5th Dec '12 3:01:30 PM by Kostya

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#42756: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:01:24 PM

As of 2011, our total spending on the budget is $683 billion.

If we go over the cliff, the budget would be cut by $55 billion in the first year. $500 billion overall. What's the budget for defense?

edited 5th Dec '12 3:03:28 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#42757: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:01:48 PM

[up]I believe it clocked in at over 1 trillion this year.

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#42758: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:04:08 PM

A 1 trillion budget for defense.

A $500 billion cut to that is, what, half?

edited 5th Dec '12 3:04:20 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#42759: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:04:32 PM

[up][up]

You talking about our budget or our deficit?

edited 5th Dec '12 3:04:46 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Ultrayellow Unchanging Avatar. Since: Dec, 2010
Unchanging Avatar.
#42760: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:04:40 PM

@Serocco: Read my post again, more carefully. I know defense is the military.

But I also believe in Keynesian stimulus, which says that cutting the budget willy-nilly isn't going to improve anything. It'll just make the economy worse.

But, since budget cuts are non-negotiable, we should cut the military. Like I said. Try to read my posts more carefully.

@Budget: The military budget is dwarfed by things like Medicare. Plus Social Security, which thanks to a legacy of irresponsibility with the funds (if you wanted a war, Dubya, raise taxes) is now bankrupt and dependent on the budget too.

Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#42761: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:05:36 PM

The debt is less of a priority than the massive shitstorm that would happen if all these cuts and tax raises happened and who knows what else if we go off the cliff.

edited 5th Dec '12 3:05:48 PM by Thorn14

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#42762: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:06:36 PM

If we do not cut at least 25 percent of the military budget, it will be impossible to continue to fund an adequate level of domestic activity even with a repeal of Bush's tax cuts for the very wealthy. Even if we cut the social programs, it wouldn't be good for us in the long run.

edited 5th Dec '12 3:07:35 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#42763: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:07:22 PM

[up][up][up]

Military spending is part of our budget.

edited 5th Dec '12 3:07:45 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#42764: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:08:13 PM

[up][up]

How many times do I have to say it? I want a cut to our military, but fucking up our economy in the process is not worth it.

Its like taking care of a raccoon problem with a flamethrower.

edited 5th Dec '12 3:08:31 PM by Thorn14

Ultrayellow Unchanging Avatar. Since: Dec, 2010
Unchanging Avatar.
#42765: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:09:07 PM

[up][up]Please tell me what part of my post implied what it wasn't.

edited 5th Dec '12 3:10:06 PM by Ultrayellow

Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#42766: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:09:29 PM

@Budget: I'm getting conflicting figures. This says 1-1.5 trillion but most other sources say 700 billion. Looking at the chart they provide it appears the latter figure is the Department of Defense only. Most of the other stuff probably shouldn't get cut though so I think most cuts should come from them.

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#42767: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:09:37 PM

Forbes doesn't believe that SS will ever go bankrupt.

It is fully funded for another two decades and will pay 75% of its benefits thereafter. Payroll taxes that finance Social Security are only collected on income up to a certain level ($110,100 in 2012), creating a regressive system that puts an undue burden on low- and middle-income workers.

Eliminating that cap would allow Social Security to pay full benefits for the next 75 years, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

edited 5th Dec '12 3:11:16 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#42768: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:11:53 PM

The problem with cuts is sadly more often than not, the cuts just fuck over our soldiers.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#42769: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:13:27 PM

Well who do you want in charge of administering the cuts, Obama or the Pentagon? I mean if the Pentagon does it then they can't really blame Obama for cutting the enlisted instead of contractors.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#42770: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:14:25 PM

Okay this my understanding of the situation:

Going off the Fiscal Cliff is bad, but its better than the Grand Bargain which has all cons of going off the Fiscal Cliff but few of its pros.

Having a large debt isn't good but its a necessary evil that needs to be taken to fix the economy. After the economy gets better we can focus on paying back our debt.

Is this correct/accurate?

edited 5th Dec '12 3:16:53 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Ultrayellow Unchanging Avatar. Since: Dec, 2010
Unchanging Avatar.
#42771: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:15:09 PM

Probably the Pentagon. I doubt Obama has a great military mind. So yeah, you can't blame Obama...but just because it won't be his fault soldiers get screwed doesn't make it good.

Edit: I don't think so. Fiscal Cliff means 2nd Recession. How is that better?

edited 5th Dec '12 3:16:02 PM by Ultrayellow

Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#42772: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:15:51 PM

So yes, Social Security is not bankrupt.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#42773: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:16:16 PM

Going off the cliff has no pros.

Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#42774: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:16:35 PM

What is this Grand Bargain, anyway?

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#42775: Dec 5th 2012 at 3:17:17 PM

The Grand Bargain is Obama's proposal to cut taxes, as well as Medicare, Medicade and Social Security.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.

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