Current events

[JeffT818]

They are not terrible policies. You lack credibility having voted for Biden thinking he would be a moderate. As far as JFK being in charge of public health policies, I am all for a cleaning of the house of how the health agencies are doing business. The vaccine makers need to have liability again.

Let's not forget Musk who is going to cut 2 trillion (about 33%) from the government budget despite the fact that the fed payroll is a bit less than 300 billion. Almost 60% of the federal budget is comprised of the following: Social Security, Interest, Medicare and Defense.
Guess he is going to cut grandma's Social Security checks and Medicare coverage.

 

[bucshon]

Mixed results for the economy.

The economic index that measures 10 key economic indicators fell in September.

New job growth (not replacing jobs lost during Covid) has been weak.

While inflation has eased, prices of essential goods continue to crush families. Grocery prices between August and September jumped by the fastest monthly pace since January.

It won't get better until Congress does something about pervasive, inflationary spending.

Energy prices will remain high until we get regulatory reform. The average American is now paying nearly $300 a month just in utilities.

You wonder why D.C. insiders are desperate to continue the war in Ukraine? Orders for defense goods have been driving growth in factory orders this year. Excluding defense goods, total orders were down 0.4% in August.

Rich folks are getting richer. Good for them.

 

[djpc]

They are not terrible policies. You lack credibility having voted for Biden thinking he would be a moderate. As far as JFK being in charge of public health policies, I am all for a cleaning of the house of how the health agencies are doing business. The vaccine makers need to have liability again.

Not just vaccine makers. "Food" manufacturers as well. The present situation is that the government monitoring entities appear to be corrupted, way too cozy with Big Pharma, Big Food, and Big Chem. Needs a very big overhaul.

 

[JeffT818]

Mixed results for the economy.

The economic index that measures 10 key economic indicators fell in September.

New job growth (not replacing jobs lost during Covid) has been weak.

While inflation has eased, prices of essential goods continue to crush families. Grocery prices between August and September jumped by the fastest monthly pace since January.

It won't get better until Congress does something about pervasive, inflationary spending.

Energy prices will remain high until we get regulatory reform. The average American is now paying nearly $300 a month just in utilities.

You wonder why D.C. insiders are desperate to continue the war in Ukraine? Orders for defense goods have been driving growth in factory orders this year. Excluding defense goods, total orders were down 0.4% in August.

Rich folks are getting richer. Good for them.

At some point, taxes will have to be raised and government spending will have to be cut to get control of the federal deficit. The problem is that will never happen until the situation becomes much more dire. Heck, politicians can't even fix Social Security in a timely manner and that is a relatively easy fix.

 

[rillaman]

At some point, taxes will have to be raised and government spending will have to be cut to get control of the federal deficit. The problem is that will never happen until the situation becomes much more dire. Heck, politicians can't even fix Social Security in a timely manner and that is a relatively easy fix.

And as much as I want to see big cuts to government, that would mean a lot of people losing jobs. A not insignificant % of government workers don’t have the skills to easily move to the private sector. That would lead to a lot of short term pain.

 

[Uncoach]

Oh yeah, they were worried that Trump would win California. Didn't he lose by over 3 million there last time? Oh, that was probably due to ballot placement. LOL

Nice excuse for something that is really dumb. The 2 major party candidates should always be listed one right after the other.

 

[JeffT818]

And as much as I want to see big cuts to government, that would mean a lot of people losing jobs. A not insignificant % of government workers don’t have the skills to easily move to the private sector. That would lead to a lot of short term pain.

The federal payroll is only about 5% of the federal budget.
You will need significant tax or program cost increases/program reductions to cover SS and Medicare.
Do you cut federal aid for college? Reduce defense spending? You will lose many jobs with reductions in defense spending

Politicians don't have to do it all at once. They should start with Social Security and Medicare since they comprise 35% of the budget and will need to be addressed in the near future. If you put those two programs on sound financial footing, it would be a good start.

Medicare currently costs about $400/month including Medigap and Drug Coverage with a bit of a sliding scale for Part B.
The part B should be much more progressive in cost. Although I am 3 years away from Medicare, I will be able to easily afford a Medicare part B premium double the current amount. Wealthier retirees need to pay more for Medicare.

 

[rillaman]

We have shifted to calling them “South American theft groups”.

 

[bucshon]

At some point, taxes will have to be raised and government spending will have to be cut to get control of the federal deficit. The problem is that will never happen until the situation becomes much more dire. Heck, politicians can't even fix Social Security in a timely manner and that is a relatively easy fix.

Someone must find the courage to reform entitlements. Cutting discretionary spending alone won't come close. Politicians on both sides are getting elected by handing out goodies, so good luck....

Heck, politicians can't even manage the budget process properly, let alone get the books in order.

 

[JeffT818]

Someone must find the courage to reform entitlements. Cutting discretionary spending alone won't come close. Politicians on both sides are getting elected by handing out goodies, so good luck....

Heck, politicians can't even manage the budget process properly, let alone get the books in order.

It is why I hate new proposal such as no taxes on tips, overtime and social security income. We are going further into the fiscal abyss.

 

[BigWill]

GARBAGE !

I voted early, yesterday, because of the comment and ALSO mainly because of the lovely weather !
Not wanting to bet on maybe standing in the rain or cold, like 2020 !

We used our canes and were allowed to jump the line of about 25 people. In and out in less than 5 minutes.
But I had a Navy shirt on and another voter saw the shirt and talked to us in the parking lot for 2 HOURS ! His life in the Navy as a pilot and his 5 kids ! The line stayed constant of 25 to 15 voters.

Thursday AM is garbage day in our town W of WP. Two trucks come thru at 5-6 AM, garbage one, recyclables one, automatic lifts and dump. Just the drivers.
I gave them each a $ 20 DD gift card .

They said two homes on their route had brought out coffee, a first !

 

[ILisBest]

Let's not forget Musk who is going to cut 2 trillion (about 33%) from the government budget despite the fact that the fed payroll is a bit less than 300 billion. Almost 60% of the federal budget is comprised of the following: Social Security, Interest, Medicare and Defense.
Guess he is going to cut grandma's Social Security checks and Medicare coverage.

Did Musk state he was taking it all out of Fed payroll? Is that a one year number as people can talk in multiple year sums?

How much did the US put into Green/ Climate agenda last year? I think I asked you this before. I see some rather obnoxious numbers online, but am open to hear what you find.

 

[JeffT818]

Did Musk state he was taking it all out of Fed payroll? Is that a one year number as people can talk in multiple year sums?

How much did the US put into Green/ Climate agenda last year? I think I asked you this before. I see some rather obnoxious numbers online, but am open to hear what you find.

About 30 billion as best as I can find, which is peanuts.

 

[JeffT818]

Did Musk state he was taking it all out of Fed payroll? Is that a one year number as people can talk in multiple year sums?

How much did the US put into Green/ Climate agenda last year? I think I asked you this before. I see some rather obnoxious numbers online, but am open to hear what you find.

It is a one year number. Fed payroll is only 300 billion so it would have to come out of entitlement programs. Complete BS.

 

[BigWill]

At some point, taxes will have to be raised and government spending will have to be cut to get control of the federal deficit. The problem is that will never happen until the situation becomes much more dire. Heck, politicians can't even fix Social Security in a timely manner and that is a relatively easy fix.

Close the Border and do not pay SS benefits to illegals !

 

[BigWill]

Biden called Trump supporters garbage. Period. You can’t spin that.

It’s unlikely to hurt Harris. She didn’t say it.

Yeah calling him Fascist and Hitler is so nicer !

 

[stoneaxe27]

Nice excuse for something that is really dumb. The 2 major party candidates should always be listed one right after the other.

They are in Florida, I think the order alternates every year. But then the other "parties"/candidates complain as they are always at the bottom.

 

[bucshon]

Yeah calling him Fascist and Hitler is so nicer !

Politicians attack each other. It’s ugly but it’s the life they chose.

What’s out of bounds is to attack voters for their choices.

 

[bung23]

Like the U.S. District Court Judge, and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judges?

Nope…. Like stonedaxe

 

[bung23]

Looks alphabetical.

Lol
Because that’s how it’s typically done….
The ass is the perfect animal for the dems.

 

[djpc]

Politicians attack each other. It’s ugly but it’s the life they chose.

What’s out of bounds is to attack voters for their choices.

I don't have much sympathy for politicians, but I think there is such a thing as taking the inflammatory rhetoric too far. People other than the candidate get hurt, as in Butler PA.

 

[tjfleck6]

It is a one year number. Fed payroll is only 300 billion so it would have to come out of entitlement programs. Complete BS.

Good grief, with you in charge , yes it would fail. There is SO much fat and so much waste.

Federal buildings not being used by WFH union members. Illegals making bank. Musk or any intelligent person would find so much to get rid of. Yes, there are too many government workers. Any money spent on supporting countries or people’s that hate us - cut it. Climate change = kill all of it.

You support the status quo and unlimited growth of government and then have the audacity to say inflation is great after 3 awful years. Yes, it will only get worse thanks to people like you who vote for more of the Biden agenda which you previously renounced before saying today you are proud of your 2020 vote. Jeff vs Jeff, quite the show I imagine

 

[tjfleck6]

Made me laugh out loud. Three stooges, Tulsi and RFK add absolutely 0 to Trump's campaign.

Well, RFK had up to 8 percent support before endorsing Trump. His voters are most likely voting Trump, Stein, or no one. Tulsi is a harder one to quantify, but Calling her a stooge while thinking Tim Walz is great is pretty laughable.

Tulsi certainly makes a segment of voters consider Trump.

 

[Uncoach]

About 30 billion as best as I can find, which is peanuts.

Every peanut adds up to a lot of peanuts.

 

[Uncoach]

They are in Florida, I think the order alternates every year. But then the other "parties"/candidates complain as they are always at the bottom.

The other parties aren’t going to get any traction ever. They belong underneath both major party candidates. They always complain. Maybe they should stop being weird.

 

[JeffT818]

Good grief, with you in charge , yes it would fail. There is SO much fat and so much waste.

Federal buildings not being used by WFH union members. Illegals making bank. Musk or any intelligent person would find so much to get rid of. Yes, there are too many government workers. Any money spent on supporting countries or people’s that hate us - cut it. Climate change = kill all of it.

You support the status quo and unlimited growth of government and then have the audacity to say inflation is great after 3 awful years. Yes, it will only get worse thanks to people like you who vote for more of the Biden agenda which you previously renounced before saying today you are proud of your 2020 vote. Jeff vs Jeff, quite the show I imagine

The Federal Budget is approximately 6 trillion roughly (it is actually a bit of over 6 trillion)

Trump has stated that he will not cut the following programs:

• Social Security
• Medicare
• Defense

The total of the above three plus interest on US debt is about 60% of the budget. That leaves about 40% of the budget or $2.4 trillion subject to cuts. The idea that Musk can cut about 80% of the discretionary budget is laughable.

The only way to achieve financial stability is to tackle the big three which Trump is unwilling to do.

 

[ILisBest]

About 30 billion as best as I can find, which is peanuts.

What I found....

And it provides evidence that the wave in green energy spending sought by President Joe Biden, with passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, is starting to take root. U.S. spending on clean energy is projected to increase by $300 billion this year.

clean energy spending

 

[JeffT818]

What I found....

And it provides evidence that the wave in green energy spending sought by President Joe Biden, with passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, is starting to take root. U.S. spending on clean energy is projected to increase by $300 billion this year.

clean energy spending

It is actually $400 billion over a 10 year period. Roughly 40 billion a year.

 

[ILisBest]

It is actually $400 billion over a 10 year period. Roughly 40 billion a year.

Like I mentioned, they like to play with numbers for confusion sake. I am guessing neither of us know how much the US is spending in the name of clean energy.

 

[Uncoach]

 

[Uncoach]

 

[bucshon]

The Federal Budget is approximately 6 trillion roughly (it is actually a bit of over 6 trillion)

Trump has stated that he will not cut the following programs:

• Social Security
• Medicare
• Defense

The total of the above three plus interest on US debt is about 60% of the budget. That leaves about 40% of the budget or $2.4 trillion subject to cuts. The idea that Musk can cut about 80% of the discretionary budget is laughable.

The only way to achieve financial stability is to tackle the big three which Trump is unwilling to do.

Which candidate is most likely to sign off on deficit reduction passed by Congress, who pulls the purse strings? (Not an endorsement, just a very relevant question).

 

[Uncoach]

 

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[Uncoach]