NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=MWF3BW1OUTV3ICRBAELCFFA?type=politicsNews&storyID=7426389

You know, it's amazing how fast Bush did this to the US. He probably gets the Guinness World Record for "Creator of Quick Deficits."

I mean, really, how does a President spend $663 Billion in just over 4 Years?

we are living in a bizarro world where republicans throw money at every problem and democrats want a balanced budget.

we better start worrying about the emergence of mr Mxyzptlk now THERE is a weapon of mass destruction!

Not to mention:

- our education system (including public 2 & 4-year institutions) are down in the gutters... I mean c'mon, a lot of the electives and financial aid has been cut while tuition has risen
- he wants to reform social security, which will cost even more
- the U.S. will be in Iraq for another year, if we even decide to withdrawal completely - which could be unlikely
- mutterings about Iran are starting to get louder
- the Pentagon and CIA Intelligence has been modified
- the American dollar's value has gone down worldwide

We're basically screwed. Doesn't it scare you?

Am I the only one that doesn't care? I mean, it will weaken the dollar, which is good for the US.
And btw, I expect (and sorta hope) that the deficit is much higher this year. Why? Because of the Social Security reform. The good news is that I expect its high price tag to be paid off in the long term.

I mean, really, how does a President spend $663 Billion in just over 4 Years?

...A better question is how will he halve the deficit? He promised to do so. I'm curious how that's even physically possible, when he's spending more money this year than the previous four. It must be one of those "faith-based" initiatives I've been hearing about.

Am I the only one that doesn't care? I mean, it will weaken the dollar, which is good for the US.
And btw, I expect (and sorta hope) that the deficit is much higher this year. Why? Because of the Social Security reform. The good news is that I expect its high price tag to be paid off in the long term.
If you're a citizen in the U.S. how could you *not* care... seeing as how it will affect you in/directly?

...A better question is how will he halve the deficit? He promised to do so. I'm curious how that's even physically possible, when he's spending more money this year than the previous four. It must be one of those "faith-based" initiatives I've been hearing about.
I have funny logic regarding this, but here it goes: a weaker dollar will force the President (and the equally big-spendingi Congress) to slow down. In fact, non military spending rose only 1% this fiscal year.

If you're a citizen in the U.S. how could you *not* care... seeing as how it will affect you in/directly?
Because it creates a weaker dollar, which will benefit the US immensly.

Am I the only one that doesn't care? I mean, it will weaken the dollar, which is good for the US.
And btw, I expect (and sorta hope) that the deficit is much higher this year. Why? Because of the Social Security reform. The good news is that I expect its high price tag to be paid off in the long term.
I sincerily hope you're the only one that doesnt care. To think that a massive, trully massive budget debt is not a thing to be worried about is really quite stupid, im talking creationism stupid here.

The weaker dollar allows people to buy from you more readily... at your current state of export production, that will not benifit you immensly, it will benefit very slightly, asnd the resulting economic collapse from government overspend will not be covered by a couple of extra dollars from helium.

I have funny logic regarding this, but here it goes: a weaker dollar will force the President (and the equally big-spendingi Congress) to slow down. In fact, non military spending rose only 1% this fiscal year.
how much did military spending rise?

Bush did promise to reduce the deficit by half upon 2008, correct?

I sincerily hope you're the only one that doesnt care. To think that a massive, trully massive budget debt is not a thing to be worried about is really quite stupid, im talking creationism stupid here.

The weaker dollar allows people to buy from you more readily... at your current state of export production, that will not benifit you immensly, it will benefit very slightly, asnd the resulting economic collapse from government overspend will not be covered by a couple of extra dollars from helium.
It is massive, and that is exactly what we need. It'll weaken the dollar quite a bit, and make our current account deficit at a sustainable level. It's better than printing money, which can lead to runaway inflation.

we are living in a bizarro world where republicans throw money at every problem and democrats want a balanced budget!
OMGWTFBBQ!?!??!

Yea it's weird . . . :eek:

I sincerily hope you're the only one that doesnt care. To think that a massive, trully massive budget debt is not a thing to be worried about is really quite stupid, im talking creationism stupid here.

The weaker dollar allows people to buy from you more readily... at your current state of export production, that will not benifit you immensly, it will benefit very slightly, asnd the resulting economic collapse from government overspend will not be covered by a couple of extra dollars from helium.
*applauds*

Someone will have to explain to me how a weaker U.S. dollar would benefit the U.S.

Unless the goal is to finish off the U.S.

how much did military spending rise?
I don't have a percentage, but I ithink it rose around $20 billion. There's also Homeland Security spending, which saw a huge rise in itself.
Edit: I calculated it to be at 4%. That's a slower rise than in previous years.

*applauds*

Someone will have to explain to me how a weaker U.S. dollar would benefit the U.S.

Unless the goal is to finish off the U.S.
It makes US exports cheaper, foreign imports more expensive, and overseas earnings by US companies greater when converted into dollars, thus benefiting the economy.

It makes US exports cheaper, foreign imports more expensive, and overseas earnings by US companies greater when converted into dollars, thus benefiting the economy.
And when the government defaults on its debts because of the crippling deficit that will help us how?

And when the government defaults on its debts because of the crippling deficit that will help us how?
It won't. The US economy is worth almost $11 trillion, and very little of that is taxed right now. Besides, the deficit is below 5% of GDP, and quite a few nations have it far worse. So if the deficit gets to, say, around 10% of GDP, there is plenty to fill that gap. And only an idiot can spend that much in the US.

So...deficits are good...


Ok. We should cut taxes and spend more on programs. Everyone wins.

I can see what NA is saying but
And when the government defaults on its debts because of the crippling deficit that will help us how?
is what I'm wondering.
Our deficit is extreme. Maybe if education and medical care (etc.) weren't being cut to the bone, I'd be okay. But we're seriously going to be treading water soon. Adding the military issues to that just turns everything crazier.

Also, it worries me that Bush keeps talking about halving the deficit, yet if he goes through with his intentions, it'll just increase the deficit (SS reform).

Not to mention:

- our education system (including public 2 & 4-year institutions) are down in the gutters... I mean c'mon, a lot of the electives and financial aid has been cut while tuition has risen
- he wants to reform social security, which will cost even more
- the U.S. will be in Iraq for another year, if we even decide to withdrawal completely - which could be unlikely
- mutterings about Iran are starting to get louder
- the Pentagon and CIA Intelligence has been modified
- the American dollar's value has gone down worldwide

We're basically screwed. Doesn't it scare you?

Well they should be bombing the nuke reactors in IRAN, i mean it IS Iran, it does have ties to terrorists unlike iraq.

Also, a low american dollar is not that bad, it should help to level out the trade deficit a bit... Just depends on if they take it too far, HELLO american peso!

The trouble with saying that the US deficit is low compared to % gdp is that the US government has a very poor system of taxation, that make sit very difficult for it to cover a 5% let alone a 10% one.

So...deficits are good...


Ok. We should cut taxes and spend more on programs. Everyone wins.
Well, deficits are only good when the money isn't being spent on frivolous programs or government-owned businesses. So if I advised the government, I'd tell them to stop spending after Social Security reforms, and just let it run its course.

The trouble with saying that the US deficit is low compared to % gdp is that the US government has a very poor system of taxation, that make sit very difficult for it to cover a 5% let alone a 10% one.
Well President Bush has been talking about tax reform quite a bit, indicating that it is high on his agenda. I have a feeling that this will draw more support in Congress than some of Bush's other projects.

Also, a low american dollar is not that bad, it should help to level out the trade deficit a bit... Just depends on if they take it too far, HELLO american peso!
The Argentinian peso is doing exceptionally well.

*sigh*

Can't we just kill the bastard? Or would it be worse if Cheney was president?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/markets/currencies.html
This is actually bad for the dollar, although we can partly attribute its decline to the nice growth last year.

*sigh*

Can't we just kill the bastard? Or would it be worse if Cheney was president?
*cough* Here come to the Secret Service right now! I can see them out the window!

Speaking of the budget, check it out:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/25/iraq.spending.ap/index.html

[QUOTE=

I mean, really, how does a President spend $663 Billion in just over 4 Years?[/QUOTE]

Why don't you ask him yourself the website is http://www.whitehouse.gov just go to the top and click contact.

Those complaining about Bushs campaign promises:
Seriously, has a President EVER kept a campaign promise?
As I recal, Kerry said he would ensure that %90 of all cargo containers coming into the US were inspected...I wonder how he planned to carry that out?

...and what was the war in Iraq exactly for, anyway? We just kept changing reasons, and it was sad. :(