The Fiscal Cliff

[byu71]

There is no chance all available funds are redirected to pay bonds. Computer and paper systems aren't configured for that and we don't have people to do it manually. And it isn't like the effect on the test of the economy would be zero even if we could. You are loving in a fantasy world if you think what you suggested is at all realistic.

Seriously, they can't adjust to pay the bonds. I will take you at your word. Given that, you are willing to let the government run the health care system? You will be a sad guy when you are scheduled to have kidney stones removed and a glitch in the system has you scheduled to have your stones (nuts) removed and there is no way to redirect.

[Coach McGuirk]

There is no chance all available funds are redirected to pay bonds. Computer and paper systems aren't configured for that and we don't have people to do it manually. And it isn't like the effect on the test of the economy would be zero even if we could. You are loving in a fantasy world if you think what you suggested is at all realistic.

lol at you.

[calicoug]

Seriously, they can't adjust to pay the bonds. I will take you at your word. Given that, you are willing to let the government run the health care system? You will be a sad guy when you are scheduled to have kidney stones removed and a glitch in the system has you scheduled to have your stones (nuts) removed and there is no way to redirect.

There are many things the government does well. This example has nothing to do with whether the government is competent. The system wasn't designed to "prioritize" bills. We have always assumed we can pay all bills and will. That is exactly why we are the reserve currency for the world. Now you are unhappy the system can't do something it isn't designed to do. It's like asking Wall Street to only process trades from people with incomes below $2,000,000. Could they? Sure- given enough time. Could they by next week? Nope. Does that make them incompetent? No.

[Moliere]

We have always assumed we can pay all bills and will. That is exactly why we are the reserve currency for the world.

No it's not, or at least that's not the biggest reason. We are the reserve currency because we make up around 25% of the world GDP and our economy is relatively strong and stable.

[Jacob]

17% of the government is shut down. Serious question: If that 17% were eliminated permanently would we be running a deficit?

[byu71]

There are many things the government does well. This example has nothing to do with whether the government is competent. The system wasn't designed to "prioritize" bills. We have always assumed we can pay all bills and will. That is exactly why we are the reserve currency for the world. Now you are unhappy the system can't do something it isn't designed to do. It's like asking Wall Street to only process trades from people with incomes below $2,000,000. Could they? Sure- given enough time. Could they by next week? Nope. Does that make them incompetent? No.

I know, at least am pretty darn sure you are an intelligent person. The trouble with highly partisan people is that even though they are intelligent, they say some pretty stupid things to justify their postions.

If it was important enough, Wall Street would make the change in a heartbeat. That is something you don't understand. The difference between the way the private and government sectors work.

[CardiacCoug]

17% of the government is shut down. Serious question: If that 17% were eliminated permanently would we be running a deficit?

Pretty sure if we keep the entitlements intact then we will still run a deficit.

Although it sounds like putting new enrollees into entitlement programs is on hold for now so that would help eventually.

In my mind the financial future of this country is really all about Medicare and Social Security. If we can get those programs right then everything else is chump change.

[VirginiaCougar]

Seriously, they can't adjust to pay the bonds. I will take you at your word. Given that, you are willing to let the government run the health care system? You will be a sad guy when you are scheduled to have kidney stones removed and a glitch in the system has you scheduled to have your stones (nuts) removed and there is no way to redirect.

Have you seen the customer satisfaction ratings of Medicare and Social Security?

http://fcw.com/articles/2012/05/10/a...isfaction.aspx

Government doesn't do everything well, but it does some things quite well. One of many examples, what is the most significant cause of increased life expectancy? It has been argued quite well in a number of studies that it is public health measures such as mandatory inoculations and public food/water safety. These government measures have added decades to life expectancy.

[snowcat]

17% of the government is shut down. Serious question: If that 17% were eliminated permanently would we be running a deficit?

We couldn't afford the labor to run around and erect barricades everywhere.

[byu71]

Have you seen the customer satisfaction ratings of Medicare and Social Security?

http://fcw.com/articles/2012/05/10/a...isfaction.aspx

Government doesn't do everything well, but it does some things quite well. One of many examples, what is the most significant cause of increased life expectancy? It has been argued quite well in a number of studies that it is public health measures such as mandatory inoculations and public food/water safety. These government measures have added decades to life expectancy.

The bogus shouts of the republicans don't want a government are pure bogus and the balless press of course doesn't call the accuser on it. There are only things government can do and I will admit, somethings they do well

However, are you going to stand behind that as your reason as to why the government can't prioritize payments and thus they will default? They can't rearange how the money goes out? Cali should remember when he regurgitates the dem talking points and you basically buy in, that folks on here aren't your normal, not involved, gullible American.

[Jacob]

Have you seen the customer satisfaction ratings of Medicare and Social Security?

http://fcw.com/articles/2012/05/10/a...isfaction.aspx

Government doesn't do everything well, but it does some things quite well. One of many examples, what is the most significant cause of increased life expectancy? It has been argued quite well in a number of studies that it is public health measures such as mandatory inoculations and public food/water safety. These government measures have added decades to life expectancy.

Social Security customer satisfaction ratings? Customers?

Pretty sure if we keep the entitlements intact then we will still run a deficit.

Although it sounds like putting new enrollees into entitlement programs is on hold for now so that would help eventually.

In my mind the financial future of this country is really all about Medicare and Social Security. If we can get those programs right then everything else is chump change.

This is not correct. SS began to run a deficit in 2010 due largely to the so-called "payroll tax holiday" in which we decided to not collect the tax es dedicated to fund SS. That "Vacation" was repealed at the beginning of this year, but according the trust fund report, it is running a small deficit still:

Social Security’s total expenditures have exceeded non-interest income of its combined trust funds since 2010, and the Trustees estimate that Social Security cost will exceed non-interest income throughout the 75-year projection period. The deficit of non-interest income relative to cost was about $49 billion in 2010, $45 billion in 2011, and $55 billion in 2012. The Trustees project that this cash-flow deficit will average about $75 billion between 2013 and 2018 before rising steeply as income growth slows to the sustainable trend rate after the economic recovery is complete and the number of beneficiaries continues to grow at a substantially faster rate than the number of covered workers.

But $75 billion is not much of a budget decifit compared to the total deficit. So, SS, short-term, is running a small deficit but is a long-term disaster that gets worse everyday there is no reform. http://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/

From the same report, medicare doesn't appear to be running a deficit, but is also a long-term disaster.

It's funny how people know so little about what is driving our deficits. Are you aware that if we could return to the highest Bush level spending, we would be running a surplus? Especially adding in savings from reduced spending on Iraq and Afghanistan. It's really not that hard.

The 2013 outlays are 24% higher than the 2008 outlays. IOW, if we never resumed the government functions that are currently shut down*, we would still be spending more into the next year than we spent during Bush's highest deficit years.

*assuming the 17% figure I've seen reflects outlays, and it very well may not

[imanihonjin]

Have you seen the customer satisfaction ratings of Medicare and Social Security?

http://fcw.com/articles/2012/05/10/a...isfaction.aspx

You are aware that the article you posted was about satisfaction ratings in connection with Medicare and SSA's websites, right?

[Omaha 680]

So people receiving payments from what are essentially Ponzi schemes as currently set up due to demographic shifts are pleased that their checks are still arriving? Shocker! I'll wait to see what the "customer" satisfaction ratings are after the programs either collapse under their own weight or are altered to the point of being sustainable past the next 15 years.

[Omaha 680]

Shutdown update:

Justice Department tries to shut down the Amber Alert website over the weekend but boots it back up this morning due to public backlash.

Park Rangers at Lake Mead order residents out of privately owned homes that happen to sit on federal land.

I think the Repbulicans are being ridiculous because this is a game they can't win. But the above actions are beyond petty and should show every American who President Obama is. He refuses to lead and will use anyone as a pawn to crush his political enemies.

[Uncle Ted]

Shutdown update:

Justice Department tries to shut down the Amber Alert website over the weekend but boots it back up this morning due to public backlash.

Park Rangers at Lake Mead order residents out of privately owned homes that happen to sit on federal land.

I think the Repbulicans are being ridiculous because this is a game they can't win. But the above actions are beyond petty and should show every American who President Obama is. He refuses to lead and will use anyone as a pawn to crush his political enemies.

The good news is the First Lady's website is essential! http://www.letsmove.gov