Why they believe we are NOT heading down the road of Greece.?

There are not enough rich people and a country can not continue to live with only 50% contributing. We are 15 trillion in debt and rising. I have always said it is a self correcting system, which is what you are seeing in Greece.

So to all of you celebrating, I am all ears. But please, some thought into the responses. Not just talking points that can easily be proven as things that will not work.

We went over the cliff a long, long time ago. Enjoy the free fall.

I have been free falling my entire life.

and promises that cannot be kept.   If you go back and look at San Diego's, situation in '96,  it is a microcosm of what is going on in our Federal government today.  What happened,  it was short on cash. The City had many projects that it wanted to implement,  but there was no room in the budget.  The Republican NationalConvention was coming to town which put even more of a strain on the city's finances.  The City Manager went looking for money and found it, in the San Diego City Retirement Fund,  which was the City's responsibility to the Employees of San Diego.  Like other cities and states San Diego is required to make annual contributions to that pension fund,  that is to fund the current and future funds for city workers.  The City of San Diego wanted to get the projects done so they went to San Diego City Employees Retirement Fund and asked to be allowed to contribute less  (mind you,  this is ALL TAX PAYERS money)  they agreed as long as,  the increased retirement benefit was increased to workers and if the City fell below 82% of what wa need in the fund,  there would be a mandatory balloon payment.   Yup,  you read it right,  with city officials were incredibly stupid or just figured the bull market would continue. Just  in case you still think government officials are smart,  think again,  they (the City Manager and his cronies) came ups with new plan called forthe city to get a break on the amount it was required to contribute to the pension fund and in return the city would give more benefits to its worker.  Needless to say San Diego City Retirement Fund Board was quite concerned so they asked for indemnification concerning any decisions and actions taken by the City.  This did not turn out well.  The losers are the TAX PAYERS aka Capitalists of San Diego as they don't recieve any of the benefits.   Why do I present this little ditty about San Diego?  Well,  of course,  the numbers pale in comparison to the National deficit debt and unfunded liabilities we owe.  Right now the National debt is well over 16 Trillion dollars which is larger than the entire unfunded status of state pensions and healthcare obligations,  which means we are adding trillions of dollars annually to our national deficit every year.  These numbers are small in comparison to what we owe nationally in unfunded liabilities.  

If we don't stop borrowing now,  we will be Greece.

Sorry Snow,  I went off on a tangent and I know I did not answer your question,  but maybe one of the LIbs might be able to understand just a tadbit more of what is going on Nationally.

-- Modified on 11/7/2012 9:29:25 AM

Yea so the bloodsuckers can live better,  can have more blood and be bigger and fatter than what they are now because they do nothing with their pathetic lives.  You think taking from rich is going to help the bloodsuckers,  think again, their just gonna want more because "their entitled,  but ya know something Willy,  the rich will either take up citizenship somewhere else or they make more money,  ya know why they got balls and tenacity,  something bloodsuckers know nothing about.

EAT IT SCUMBAG,  elections over,  go crawl back under your rock, like ya said you would do.   Whats the matter you might lose your welfare check and your food stamps,  SCUMBAG???   GO get a life,  get laid,  do  something other than be here 24/7.  Oh,  that's right,  you can't leave the house otherwise you might get your f--kin head bashed against the wall for being such  hateful humanoid.

The ones bustin their ass are not the ones I'm talking about,  I'm talking about ones like you who sit at home collecting their entitlements.

For your information I am a raw foodist.

"The point is not to balance the budget by raising taxes on the rich.

The point is to make the rich pay more. "

So then if you are not trying to balance the budget by raising taxes on  the rich we must conclude you want  obama to waste his time to  raise taxes out of spite and  jealousy instead of using the time to do something constructive .....so what is new that is like the last 3 1/2 years, a total waste.

You're Welcome
GOP = For God and Country = Truth

I like how all conversations about the national debt ALWAYS seems to circle around these "bloodsuckers" - you know, the welfare queens sitting on a couch watching Matlock reruns.  The latest number I found are for 2006.  In 2006 (when a republican was president, no less); the US Govt spent a total of about $59 on "welfare" payments.  The government also spent about $92 BILLION on corporate subsidies - you know, like Corn and Oil.  $92 billion for industries that can stand on their own vs $52 billion for people who've fallen.  The GOP loves to remind people how much they love the Bible.  The Bible says to be your brothers keeper.  My sister teaches in a low income neighborhood.  Are there some people who take advantage of the system?  Yes.  But there are also rich people born into money who never work a day in their lives and do nothing but cause trouble (I get to represent them in court).  Does that make them better?  I personally don't think so.  There are many people on welfare who want to get off of it.  If you don't believe that, then you've never met someone on it.  I suggest you expand your horizons.  
Also, I find it amazing how the extreme right calls money to the poor welfare but any other government money (ie money they get) is either a grant or their right.  Think about it.  Government subsidizes state colleges.  So technically, anyone who received a degree from a state college is a welfare recipient.  The government also pays for the schools that educate our children and workforce.  Your kids go to public school?  Great!  You're on welfare.  The double standards applied by the extreme are always entertaining to me.  
In my humble opinion, what's hurting America now are two big things - 1)  The bi-partisan politics where "compromise" is a bad word.  And quite frankly, a lot of it comes from the Tea Part zealots (I am a registered Republican, BTW, but I do not agree with those Tea Party nut jobs).  They are SO against compromising on anything that they would rather everyone fail then compromise be reached.  That way, they can say they stood strong and ensure the failure of the President (who I think is not doing a great job, but the man is still President).  2) - Lack of revenues to the government.  Look, I hate taxes.  But I understand why they are needed.  When Clinton was President, the Federal rate for my income was about 36%.  Now it's about 33%.  That's 3%.  Would I like to have it?  Sure!  But not at the expense of my country being broke.  Those who can pay more should, it's not a punishment for success.  If you truly believe that you're only in it for yourself, then you're short sighted.  Your money is worthless if your government collapses.  To balance the budget, we need to reign in some spending and increase revenue.  Simple economics.  Any good business person knows you cannot cut your way to good health.  Problem is most people aren't business people, and most people don't want THEIR programs cut.  I love America and I believe in America, but we need to stop bickering and blaming other people and get our heads right.

And since I'm sure some will blast me and call me a "RINO" - I'd also like to point out higher taxes created a SURPLUS that one President blew through so his party could initiate tax cuts for the wealthy.  If "trickle down" economics works, shouldn't we all be rich and better off now a decade after it started?  Think about that.

Qualifying dumb is  beyond your pay grade .

Sounds like she struck a nerve with her assumptions .
Are you a lackey entitlement junkie ?  

Were implemented temporarily so the rich could create jobs.

Jobs weren't created. Therefore the failed endeavor should be allowed to expire.

Prety fucking simple really.

That's who killed America.

They were throwing rocks and eggs at the power crews from down south who went into NJ and NY to help last week . Calling them scabs . WTF is that !

little boy-willy needs his diaper changed.

You're welcome
GOP=For God and Country=Truth

I think it is an unfortunate truth that the large base of manufacturing jobs are now gone and will not return. We are in a global economy now, plain and simple.

Truth be told, the 99% is a lot more responsible for this than the 1%. It is the American consumer who DEMANDS rock bottom prices. Everyone bitches about the Wal-Mart, but the parking lot is always full.

I don't know about 30 TRILLION, but there is a lot of money off shore. I am sure you are aware it is not being brought back in because it gets hit with a big tax ding when it is brought back in. So the question is, would we better to allow that money to come back into our  economy by not taxing it?

you said

The biggest fucking Talking Point ever. Comparing the United States of America to Greece is like comparing an Elephant to a Gnat. US the largest economy in the world (believe it or not it still is) Greece is not even in the top 100.

Predictions such as yours are modeled based on the current condition continuing as is for the period of the forecast so, when one variable in the forecast, say, unemployment rate falls, forecast becomes null and void. Example, President Clinton inherited a large deficit, presided over the largest economic expansion in peacetime, balanced the budget in his first term, budget surpluses all four years of the second term, left the strongest economy in the history of the free world. Actually paid down the debt.

People like you and you nut job crazies said the same things, i.e., United States will never ever have balanced budget.

You and your wing nuts talk about re-distribution. You want to know who actually redistributed income, George W. Bush and Republicans. They took a surplus, instead of investing it in the country’s future, redistributed the surplus to the rich 1% via tax cuts. The economy was in tail spin ever since. If that’s not enough, started two wars so the rich can profit from the war by killing the poor young people for them to get rich.

Before you respond with talking points like Donald Trump latrine mouth, think just little bit, admit truth even if it is the hardest thing you will ever do then, respond.

Again, you cannot cut 20% across the board income taxes, and balance budget, won’t be even able to pay the interest on $13 trillion.

Here is another economic fact, Republican Congress should have helped pass the infrastructure bill for rebuilding the nations infrastructure, why? The money is very cheap, no sign of inflation. You borrow money when the interest rate is cheap and invest, you economic geniuses.

The answer to you question is, investment in education, infrastructure, economic growth, lower medicare and medicaid expenses through Obama Care, investments in science and technology to thwart environmental issues. You what genius, I personally would rather see the United States of America become
experts in modern technology and let the Chinese make toys and shoes. Yep, I know iPad is made in China but it is designed in Cupertino, CA where high paying jobs are. That’s how!

there are not enough rich people, even if you not only tax them but confiscate all they have (a prospect that probably make you droll like Pavlov's dog), it does not make a dent in the amount of deficit and debt we run.

I know it would make you feel better, but I am looking for real solutions.