Comments on: First step in ending DC dysfunction

By: OneOfTheSheep

OneOfTheSheep — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 07:47:59 +0000

The preposterous thing is that both parties are pretending to be horrified at the impending “Fiscal Cliff” but yet both are essentially committed to yet another increase in the Debt Limit. Hello?

Until BOTH parties agree to NO MORE INCREASES in the debt limit, it will be spend, spend, spend ad infinitum. I certainly agree that Democrats and Republicans would come up with an entirely different list of NEEDS to be funded, and an entirely different percentage and priority for available funds. But what I find alarming is that NO ONE is even preparing to have such a conversation.

I can forecast with 100% accuracy that politicians of both parties will continue to point accusing fingers at their peers across the isle until Hades freezes over as the “reason” nothing ever changes in Washington while every evening they get together for drinks to toast us dumb suckers who accept such drivel year after year.

By: AlkalineState

AlkalineState — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:21:43 +0000

SayHey, most of that stimulus money was given out to state and municipal governments for projects. They’re always asking for more local control and they got it. Are you admitting they blew it and most states can not handle federal money correctly? I kind of think that too. Like in the Homeland Security boondoggle days of Bush. Towns in the middle of Kansas buying bomb robots and smart phones for themselves.

I think we should go back to federal public works like FDR and cut out the Dukes of Hazzard Emergency Response Mobile Tactical Centers….. when dispersing money.

By: SayHey

SayHey — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:25:16 +0000

@johnnyracer – I’m still looking for the infrastructure created by the $800B “stimulus” package. Too bad it went to propping up public employment – not a good prescription for building the economy or creating wealth. On taxing corporations – there should be no corporate income tax – another example of progressives’ creative ideas to increase taxation (excuse me, “revenue”). To a business, taxes are another expense – just like rent, salaries, advertising, etc. And as with all such expenses, the costs are built into the price of whatever the goods or services being sold. We all pay, not the “corporations”.

By: AlkalineState

AlkalineState — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:03:25 +0000

smanchwhich, what is unprecedented is the rate of filibuster use among you teabaggers and ditto-heads. Congress has historically opted for resolution (even bitter or heated resolution) rather than half-wit tantrum. Not letting something even go to a vote means you’re scared that you’ll lose the vote. Employing a tactic to stop the vote should be rare. If you’re always scared of losing a vote, and always filibustering…. you’re position is probably out of whack with what the public wants. Time to check yourself at that point and ask yourself why your always on the losing side of votes.

By: smanchwhich

smanchwhich — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:50:20 +0000

There is nothing “unprecedented” about using the filibuster as a tactic of obstruction, and to pin it squarely on the GOP its sole user is laughable.

This piece reads like it was written after a bender of scotch and C-SPAN and belongs on the likes of MSNBC or the BBC. I come to Reuters because it is uncommonly impartial in its reporting and even its opinion pieces. post this tripe on a blog.

By: AlkalineState

AlkalineState — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:15:34 +0000

First step in ending DC dysfunction:

Send Karl Rove and Grover Norquist to dinner together. In Syria.

By: edgyinchina

edgyinchina — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:14:54 +0000

The GOP is still fighting the Civil War. They would love to return to the time when black’s were slaves, women would not vote, and white men who owned property decided what laws to enforce….
Most of the states in the old South have already filed new petitions to secede from the Union…. look it up…

By: jejohnson2749

jejohnson2749 — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 02:50:06 +0000

The U.S. citizenry elected a fascist president and Senate. And they will get what they deserve. The authors of this article are obviously disciples of Joseph Goebels (i.e propagandists) and apparently followers of Marx and Engels in economics. See comment by xit007.

By: xit007

xit007 — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 23:22:41 +0000

I suggest you take “scholars” away from the description of these authors. They just need to follow Obama’s playbook – this won’t do anything for solving the problem. This article puts a mini skirt on the problem and it ain’t that good looking. So we have a recession brewing so Obama rams through healthcare – that drives down disposable incomes. Healthcare reform has many other shapes but none should be government run. The idea of “forward” ignores history – Real Estate market meltdown – government induced magnified by the slowing of an economy – and oversold by Wall Street. There you have it – all three villains. So spend more on education – why not give tax breaks to employers will to pick up the tab for employee loans – non family. No because of the bank lobby and they talk about helping the small guy. This article just blames the GOP and the filibuster which is used to equal obstruction on the other side of the aisle. This only fans the flame of division. This is not about solving the issues – it is the politics of power. Reuters is hard up for left wing economist — I don’t see anything enterprising about this article. Just two old white guys – who look just like the ones we have in congress and make about as much sense….

By: LysanderTucker

LysanderTucker — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 22:08:24 +0000

It must be really nice to be part of a group of individuals who can do whatever they want and spend all they wish and have it guaranteed by the labor of the population.

Wait, wasn’t that slavery? I guess it’s different when the slave is told that they can elect a new master every few years. Then it’s a Democracy.

You end dysfunction in Washington by putting a box on the ballot that says “Void Position”. Then let the functions of it be replaced by voluntary associations.