Originally posted by ushomefree
King Kandy... the underlying problem is not "low tax rates." The problem is government spending. Government expenditures far exceed tax revenue. Do you actually read my posts? The US national debt is 14+ trillion dollars; entitlement programs like medicare, medicaid and social security amount to 80 - even 90+ trillion dollars. Plus, the US has a trade deficit.So... back to my original questions: what has the US government done as a result and continues to do? And what are the consequences of those actions?
As a result, the current congress has demanded a reduction in entitlements; the result of this action will be widespread death and poverty as people will no longer be able to get pensions, health care, or basic services (basically defeating the point of having a government at all).
Originally posted by King KandyThe underlying problem cannot be entitlement programs, because the countries you champion as having "good" financial systems, have even more extensive programs than those of the US.
First off, look... I have not "championed" countries. What you are talking about? I'm just telling it like it is. Brazil, Russia, India, China and (if my memory serves me correctly) Saudi Arabia, are proposing efforts to diversify out of the US dollar, because they know, the US dollar is about to tank. And how you are ignorant of this, blows my mind. The US is the number one debtor nation of the world!
Originally posted by King KandyAs a result, the current congress has demanded a reduction in entitlements;
Yes, and it is completely worthless. Congress should be cutting government spending in the tune of trillions, not millions. The US dollar is being destroyed through inflation; in the end, the United States of America will fall as a whole. You know absolutely nothing about economics, and it's pathetic.
Originally posted by King Kandythe result of this action will be widespread death and poverty as people will no longer be able to get pensions, health care, or basic services (basically defeating the point of having a government at all).
Idiot... the proper roll of government is to protect the freedoms/liberties of US citizens (guaranteed by the US Constitution). That is it! The US used to be a nation of "doer's," not sheep, dependent on government entitlement programs. That is what made American great! Politicians - over time - have destroyed this country, and we are reaping what we sowed.
As for the latter of your statement: where have you been you frickin' mo-mo? The US government is flat broke! All it can do to keep the economy afloat - while providing "cradle to the grave" health care, pensions and other entitlement programs - is to print and/or borrow money from foreign nations, primarily China.
This creates inflation, and it is destroying the value of the US dollar. We - as Americans - are bearing witness to the collapse of the US - an entire nation - and you are talking about health care and pensions? Death and poverty? When the US dollar is dumbed as the world's reserve currency, most Americans, won't even be able to put gasoline in their automobiles and/or put food on the table. Wake up!
The National Debt Crisis
The Tytler Cycle
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.
From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.
The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependence back into bondage."
Sound familiar, King Kandy?
The American form of Government
Originally posted by Tha C-Master
Our country was going up, up, up at the start of many of our entitlements, they just became a drain in the long run. All economies go up and down short term. Doesn't mean it isn't an encumbrance.
And now America exports debt. The reason the economy is failing is because the system is a failure, it just cannot exist. It has never worked, it will never work.
Pretty much, we're more of a burden than anything. Using debt for expansion only works if there is a positive balance, not a negative one. We have no assets to back up our money. Now that it is off of the gold standard, we're just printing more and more debt.
Originally posted by Lord LucienUnfortunately it is a group effort. More production and asset development takes time, education, and effort.
I hope you guys can come up with an answer to all this inflation. America is looking to its KMC and other message boards for the solutions of tomorrow.
on that "oh so amazing how could we do without it" gold standard
shockingly, its not perfect and there are reasons we moved away from it!!!! gasp, I know
not entirely, they did it because a gold standard is pretty much non-responsive in the face of financial catastrophy, which still happen when you use the gold standard, and because you need nearly draconian style regulation of any system with a gold standard
I sort of assume you aren't in favor of nationalizing the entire banking system?
Originally posted by inimalistBut you have value for your dollar in the long term. Printing debt helps short term, but artificial prices and debt just leads to recessionary periods.
not entirely, they did it because a gold standard is pretty much non-responsive in the face of financial catastrophy, which still happen when you use the gold standard, and because you need nearly draconian style regulation of any system with a gold standardI sort of assume you aren't in favor of nationalizing the entire banking system?
You mean as in one central bank? No. I'm more a free market man with some regulation.
Originally posted by Tha C-Master
But you have value for your dollar in the long term. Printing debt helps short term, but artificial prices and debt just leads to recessionary periods.
sure... like you said, nothing is perfect, and I really don't think you should assume my perspective is "print more money". tbh, I really don't think it matters if we have a gold standard or not, the problems with the economy don't have such simple solutions as "gold standard" and "free market". In fact, I hardly think the fix to the economy will fit on a bumper sticker or Tea-Party protest sign.
Originally posted by Tha C-Master
You mean as in one central bank? No. I'm more a free market man with some regulation.
ok, but to have an even remotely stable and efficent gold standard, you would need something like this to avoid catastrpohy in even the smallest of poor economic times