Comments on: U.S. Heading For Financial Trouble?

Comptroller Says Medicare Program Endangers Financial Stability

[jankebenz]

Mr. walker is just exposing the tip of the debt iceberg.US treasury stats reveal a national debt of almost 9 trillion dollars, thats $30,000 for each and every citizen.Plus the debt grows at 1.3 billion every day, all in all not a very pretty picture considering that only a fraction of the populace could afford that. Drastic measures needed ? yes, very drastic

First of all... it seems to me that there wasn't much hard journalism going on in this interview. Why not ask the Comptroller General, where all the people's money went. And, why he keeps referring to Social Security and Medicare as "entitlement programs." If a person started working at age 18 in 1966 and made an average of $35K per year for 44 years and let's say, paid in to the social security about 86 thousand dollars, PLUS the 86 thousand in employer-matched funds which comes to 172 thousand over the span of his or her employment... and I think we would not be out of line to have assumed that the government would be taking that money and putting in some interest-bearing account or investment thing.... where's all that money!? So, I think the word entitlement is not suitable here. The word is worker-invested/earned program. If I were Mr. Kroft... I certainly would have been moved to ask... what about all the interest the citizens of the United States are paying China to pay for the huge trade deficit. That question should have been asked. Especially since... that is really a serious danger to this countries monetary system. And, why not ask him if the 1/2 trillion dollars we've thrown at the Iraq war would have helped the Social Security and Medicare programs. Instead this was a politically-motivated endoctrincation by the Comptroller General. Getting us ready for the bad stuff that may follow. Not your best journalism, Mr. Kroft. Thank you. Dean Vincent

[docadams3]

Is anyone listening to what he's saying?

Over twenty years ago Aaron Wildavsky wrote a piece on Ronald Reagan, entitled "Reagan as a Political Strategist," arguing that Reagan's strategy was to bankrupt the federal government. Reagan was W's political idol. Do we have a right to be surprised?

[toldyouso21]

toldyouso21,

Yes, some would be poor and some would be wealthy. On average they'd earn $43,318 and paying taxes on it. At 15% that's $292 billion per year. That's how the statistics work. And that's what abortion is costing us right now.
Posted by bsrasmus at 02:29 PM : Jul 09, 2007
They are not going to be taxed at 15% when the boomers retire. Try 70% (Like it is in Holland right now) this will be necessary, but again, the 45 million are an "if only" let's deal in reality: women can still get abortions right now---and will AND will also use contraception so we can get lots of immigrants but due to outsourcing and insourcing the incomes of most who are left will not pace with inflation. Now what?

When we first elected Bush, before 9/11, I said " that man will take us to war and screw us and the world up" now I say, the day may come when our children are voting "to eliminate a problem" (ie., the elderly draining them) I'd like to not be able to say "I told you so" about this--but the reason this is my moniker, is that I have a terrible knack for being dead on about these things. Unbelievable as they may seem at the time.

[l8c6]

Since this story focuses on health care being a major expense that will do us in, it's important to realize that healthcare in the U.S. became privatized over the past several decades and in that process billionaires such as Bill Frist's daddy have been made while healthcare is falling out of reach for millions of americans and is on the edge for millions more.

This is an internal memo from a top blue cross and blue shield exec.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/_
images/splash/Capital_BlueCross_sicko.pdf

[l8c6]

bsrasmus, You judge others consistently then deny this reality. You pray for others as though you have moral authority. You are empowered by religious self righteousness stemming from those who seek power and authority over others. You adopt the image of God created in the image and likeness of religious exploiters who lie and manipulate. I consider and seek understanding in the quotes of the bible believed to be the words of Jesus. I find much wisdom in them.

I hear hypocrisy come out of the mouths of fundmentalist christians that contradict what Jesus is stated to have said all the time. That's why I have no respect for fundamentalist chrisitians. I mean, when did Jesus advocate for the assassination of a Roman ruler or the corrupt Jewish clergy who condemned and arranged for his execution?

[glb1969]

This is why we must drive all republicans out of office forever. Had we properly increased the tax base and not repealed taxes that corporatiosn rightly owed the us people, this problem would not appear so insurmountable. In the end, the only solution is to increase taxes on corporations and citizens, it is the obligation of each and every one of us to pay as much in taxes as is needed. Only a greedy coward seeks to lower their tax burden instead of paying their fair share. Wake up people!

[toldyouso21]

45 million aborted people would likely earn $43,318 on average and be paying taxes on it. We wouldn't be in this financial mess if we hadn't aborted all those babies. Appealing to the cost of living and housing prices and any number of conspiracy theories won't change that fact.
Posted by bsrasmus at 02:15 PM : Jul 09, 2007


Wrong, at least 1 in 6 Americans lives at or below the poverty line (as perpetually est. by the gov) this means at least 8 million will live at or below the poverty line.

At least another 100,000 will never live to adult hood having died of either disease, accidents or mayhem

another 1.25 million (at 3% of population) or more will be in jail and will be contributing no taxes but will be using up some

only about 5% will make a decent or above avg income (because the amount of Americans making a decent, above avg income is 5%)

Of those that reach Adulthood at least 1 million (if present figures hold) will be on welfare.

and indisputable: of any who are left to work, they sure as hell will not want whatever they have to be taxed to death to pay for a group of people who only looked as far as their own generation and left America and the world in a big mess, financially, leadershipwise and environmentally.

[dans27-2009]

On US Heading For Financial Trouble - I'm gald to see someone up there (Mr. Walker) is fighting for survival of our country. Is the government really that much out of touch with reality. I see it everyday. Our jobs going overseas, doctors pushing for drugs (not exercise) to take care of your problems, hospitals overcharging for medical care (and Medicare still pays it). Is it that difficult to fix these problems? We don't need a great leader to save us, just someone with a good dose of common sense.


Dan

[l8c6]

l8c6,

It seems to me that you are the one writing hatred, not me.
Posted by bsrasmus

You equate the truth with hate....live by the truth and the truth will set you free. The truth hurts sometimes, it's easier to sit on a pinnacle and smoke crack and do meth to distract from the truth. Living by the truth however brings reward in the end.

[l8c6]

bsrasmus, yes, all of them on welfare as was previously stated producing a drain on the economy unless we do away with all the social safety nets. I mean, anyone having an abortion is inherently immoral so such babies brought to term surely would have been crack and meth addicted losers don't you suppose?

You are delusional and again, spinning round and round on a pinnacle in the recesses of your bunker.

[toldyouso21]

Follow Gods 10 laws and teach about God, but do not judge others as sinners as you are no better your self.
Posted by jjp735i at 02:09 PM : Jul 09, 2007


You are absolutely right about the judgement part. As for the 10 commandments, they are elaborated upon by Jesus. The initial commandments were given under the old law, for the sake of the Jews and providing parameters after they left Egypt. (Numbers) but as for those under "Grace and Truth" there are a lot more nuances, and commands than simply following the commandments. Jesus says he came not to do away with the law but to provide enlightenment. Why? Because people tried to follow the old laws and many did so religiously--but they were no closer to going to heaven. Because they just did not get it. Sort of like someone telling you, if you save your money --you will be rich ...so you do... but since you missed the fine point and did not read the rest, you failed to learn how to invest, that "saving" can have different connotations and that it all depends on how much you use and the risks you take.

I do agree with the not judging comment. That is why, everyone should first and foremost make themselves a project and leave the rest to God. Believe it or not, He is capable of handling His own business.

[l8c6]

Christian right wing religious are like their political counterparts. They are conservative with everyone but themselves.

They live in a shallow narcisstic world created in their image and likeness with a need for some of them to be told when to sit, speak and shake while the other side of them needs to control through fear and demoralization of the aformentioned subordinate lemmings.

[toldyouso21]

Real median household income remained unchanged between 2002 and 2003 at $43318, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Posted by bsrasmus at 02:03 PM : Jul 09, 2007


And what is that after taxes?

Then what is the avg price of a house or car?

Gas every day to go to work. Homeowners and car insurance (2 must haves) utilities? Food? Clothing? And for you...kids and the care, health care costs?

When you take that 43 or even 60K (for 2 working) and take out taxes (for the boomers) you are not left with very much to live on and almost nothing to dream on. This is cause then, for later depression, despair and rage as people begin to realize they are in this mess due to the poor choices and shortsightedness of those who came before. Even at over 150K, it is still hard to make it. Because with every rise, so rises the expectations, and the resultant costs. All plugging for that American dream which at 43K, many will probably never achieve--not even the house.

[l8c6]

Real median household income remained unchanged between 2002 and 2003 at $43318, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Posted by bsrasmus

Hmm, taking into account the cost of living that's pretty poor huh? Would have been excellent 30 years ago.

What's the median price of a new home? No cheating ! If the median household income is to be skewed by CEO and CFO pay then the median house price needs to be skewed by their multiple estates.

[jjp735i]

Here we go again! Christian Right Wingers telling us what the Bible says and what sinners we are. Yet once again they ignore the parts of the Bible that they do not feel includes them, such "judge not lest ye least ye be judged". They always seem to forget that and a few other things.

According to Christian teachings, God created 10 laws. The Bible it's self contains translations interpreted through different traditions during the times it was interpreted and by which cultures interpreted it. Each meaning was changed to suite the times of the writer.

Follow Gods 10 laws and teach about God, but do not judge others as sinners as you are no better your self.

[toldyouso21]

I don't put God in any box. I can accept he allows Good and evil including abortions. But if he allows it for a time or to test others, what must he think of all his little so called converts that keep mucking his experiment up? LOL. I don't dispute your point about there maybe being something good about having 45 million more, but the point I made in the beginning and now is we are not in this mess due to abortion but due to greed, shortsightedness, and selfishness and our kids will make us pay for it (the living kids) as for abortions, they have always happened and always will. The point? You will never increase a population by forcing women to have babies. Some would use a fork if they had to and scrape it out. Look at the other dynamics like outsourcing, insourcing and how the job market as is, would not support the coming calamity even with illegals and 45 million babies. Unless...you plan to roll back inflation, the cost of housing and food and gas and everything else. because they are outpacing incomes exponentially and if it does not stop, there will be a lot of so called middle class who will be the new poor and join the older poor.

[toldyouso21]

There is no reason to believe that the average income of the 45 million would be lower than what we unaborted are earning on average.
Posted by bsrasmus at 01:53 PM : Jul 09, 2007

And just what are "we" earning on average? I think if you google that information you may well be shocked. While you are at it, google the education crisis, the dumbing down of Americans and the large influx of a relatively uneducated foreign workforce. and no, making them legal won't work. When the new are legal they will demand higher wages and benefits. The remaining employers will dump them on the system for a new batch of illegals who they don't have to pay for. Government will again wink , nod and look the other way and Americans will compete with the newly amnestied for what few industry and service jobs are not already taken or outsourced.

[l8c6]

They%u2019re still denying reality
By: Steve Benen @ 5:13 AM - PDT
Even now, poor conservatives can%u2019t come to grips with reality.

On the July 6 edition of CNN%u2019s Lou Dobbs Tonight, while discussing President Bush%u2019s commutation of former vice presidential chief of staff I. Lewis %u201CScooter%u201D Libby%u2019s 30-month prison sentence, Wall Street Journal Opinionjournal.com editor James Taranto falsely claimed that %u201C[t]here%u2019s still no evidence that [former CIA operative] Valerie Plame [Wilson] was a covert age

There are people in the world today that stand by Adolf Hitler.

[toldyouso21]

You are totally making that up. There is no reason at all to believe that God planned for abortion -- apart from planning for judgement against those who do the aborting. Posted by bsrasmus at 01:43 PM : Jul 09, 2007

don't actually read the bible for yourself?
No I'm not. I believe it because God is omniscient (HE know EVERYTHING and HE is omnipotent--meaning ALL POWERFUL) Nothing exists without his permission. And nothing goes on that He does not allow it to be so. If you do not believe this. Read the books of 2 Kings when he has a conference in Heaven and wants someone to do something and a spirit volunteers to lie and deceive a King and God tells him to "get er done" or read Job (where even Satan goes up to punch a clock or read Isaiah where God says " Know ye not that I created both good and evil"

Stop trying to put him in a box, to EVER EVER EVER try to state some stuff on this planet is happening without God's control is to say HE is not really God, not really all knowing or all powerful. He is though. His agenda just is not the simple, nicey one that so many Christians are brought up with. It is a lot deeper than that. But He does have a purpose for what He allows. And since he is all powerful --ANYTHING THAT GOES ON IS SOMETHING HE ALLOWED. otherwise you are saying he is NOT all powerful. Think about it.