Poll: Woul you be wiiling to pay more?

[idRATHERbeOUTDOORS]

No, I am not willing to pay more so that it can be so swiftly lost into more of our useless and constitutionally illegal gov't programs.

I also am amazed at the logic of spending to get out of debt. ( I know, I know) we invest the money onto "money making" programs.

However I've never personally heard of a person who was in debt, who gambled (or invested) money that they don't have, then some how made a recovery or especially wealth. Anyone seen A River Runs Through It? That tactic got Brad Pitt killed. (sorry if I spoil an ending)

 

[JSJPDX]

Haven't voted at all.


I did find this though which answers some questions about the financial impacts the war costs have on GDP and debt: <broken link removed>

It's interesting to see that the overwhelming numbers indicate that they would not pay additional taxes to help reduce the debt. I am curious what the relationship would be between those who completely supported the OIF and OEF efforts but say no to paying for them now. I would assume those folks wouldn't have wanted to pay more in tax when those wars were imminent. As the saying goes there is no such thing as a free lunch but I guess that's how some want it.

No, what is interesting is your assumption that everyone that voted no were for the "wars" but are now shirking their responsibility to pay for them. It is also interesting that your solution is to tax and spend even more. Read carefully the responses, we don't have a funding problem in our country we have a spending problem. The responders here, including me, don't trust our government to wisely spend the money they already collect and are unwilling to give them even more. Also, I find it offensive that you make a foolish statement that accuses me of wanting a "free lunch" after I pay 38% of my earnings in taxes. I don't want or expect a free lunch, I just don't want to pay $150 for a $1.50 hot dog.

 

[Burt Gummer]

Moot point. The truth is that if everyone now paid a 100% tax rate it would take 22 years to catch up. We are a bankrupt, morally corrupt nation lashing out as we slowly side into the abyss. Chances are the USA as a corporate entity won't even exist ten years from now.

Truth hurts and Normalcy Bias will change nothing.

 

[Joe Link]

Right now this thread is doing a good job of staying apolitical, lets keep it that way.

 

[Kevatc]

No, I am not willing to pay more so that it can be so swiftly lost into more of our useless and constitutionally illegal gov't programs.

Maybe I wasn't clear but I think I implied that if there was a tax to pay for OEF and OIF they would be dedicated to that and that only. Basically the tax would last only as long as it took to pay the costs of those wars.

I also am amazed at the logic of spending to get out of debt. ( I know, I know) we invest the money onto "money making" programs.

And taking on two unfunded projects was smart? They have to be paid for upfront or be added to the debt. I don't knw about you but if I have a project to do I fund it first.

However I've never personally heard of a person who was in debt, who gambled (or invested) money that they don't have, then some how made a recovery or especially wealth. Anyone seen A River Runs Through It? That tactic got Brad Pitt killed. (sorry if I spoil an ending)

My response in blue.

 

[idRATHERbeOUTDOORS]

okay? that would be one way to go about it, but I don't think it will be even remotely popular to the average joe. (it's kinda like walking up to a stranger and asking for money, cause you just lost your @$$ at the casino)

And, I don't believe that I said that the wars where a good idea anywhere in that post. Nor, did I say we shouldn't fund projects up front. Taxation is theft and stealing is not a good way to redeem lost funds from a bad investment (ie the war). Especially since it was a war(s) that was not declared and therefor not chosen by the congress (hence it was not chosen by the people who will pay for it).

 

[Kevatc]

okay? that would be one way to go about it, but I don't think it will be even remotely popular to the average joe. (it's kinda like walking up to a stranger and asking for money, cause you just lost your @$$ at the casino)

And, I don't believe that I said that the wars where a good idea anywhere in that post. Nor, did I say we shouldn't fund projects up front. Taxation is theft and stealing is not a good way to redeem lost funds from a bad investment (ie the war). Especially since it was a war(s) that was not declared and therefor not chosen by the congress (hence it was not chosen by the people who will pay for it).

You make good points but they also are moot. The fact is the wars cost and that cost has not been covered. Instead they were funded by adding their cost to the debt. Isn't there a problem with that?

 

[idRATHERbeOUTDOORS]

Yes, but the point is to stop spending and quit adding to the problem. Then figure out how to get rid of the debt. Like the suggestion to tax directly to pay for the war. It's just that I don't see that being a popular solution not to mention it only addresses one part of the problem which is the military debt. To sum up, this country needs to turn around and get it's head out of the sand. Spending to get out of debt is a pipe dream, and is in no way a reliable means of generating wealth. Live within your means.

 

[beavertonbuck]

Negative. I don't support and don't believe our current levels of defense spending or sustainable; however, at the end of the day all the government knows how to do is spend. By taxing money to pay for war debt just frees the government to borrow money for its other projects.

The government has gotten to big and has strayed from its (in my opinion) true purpose which is to provide for national defense, secure property rights, adjudicate contract disputes, enforce criminal law. If government wants to start a war then they need to prioritize their budget to find cuts elsewhere.

 

[JackThompson]

Stop spending our money on the DHS and abolish the TSA.

Stop funding drones to fly around our country spying on people.

Stop blowing up the world trade centers and blaming Arabs so you can enter into a war to profit small elite groups.

Stop messing around in the middle east and making enemies. (Those "Terrorists" didn't care about us 100 years ago...)

Stop bailing out banks and start bailing out Americans.

Send financial criminals to prison.



While I don't disagree with your concepts in a vacuum. In this context it's like asking how Jack the Ripper can afford to stock up on razors and still pay his electric bill.

 

[LyleLovett666]

If you liked my book "Spend Your Way Out Of Debt"then you will love my new book"Drink Your Way Past Alcoholism".Coming soon,"Punching Your Way Beyond Domestic Violence".

 

[Dunerunner]

Lyle, I loved your first book...."Eating yourself Thin"........

 

[LyleLovett666]

"Puking Past Bulimia" is still selling like regurgitated hot cakes.

 

[Grunwald]

Fiat money is really the root of evil that allows all these wars.
In days long gone by, when kings and qeens sent their armies to war they had to have treasure in their treasury to pay for it. If the treasury was empty, unless someone was willing to extend them a loan, they could not start a war. Nowm who cares, the money is fake and can be created at will.

Yes, I do realise that there were lots of wars back in those days as well, but they were not started by monarchs whose treasuries were empty (not usually anyway)

 

[Kevatc]

Spending to get out of debt is a pipe dream, and is in no way a reliable means of generating wealth. Live within your means.

Not to be snitty but take a step back, take a breath, and read carefully: I am not stating, suggesting, or supporting more spending. Quite the contrary I am suggesting we find a way to pay our bills by paying for money already spent. I agree about putting the brakes on spending. However, if the government didn't spend a penny from here to eternity there are still bills out there and among them OEF and OIF. If paying our bills is important (I believe it is) then isn't it responsible not to mention imperative to our future to cover our bills?

 

[JackThompson]

Abolish the federal reserve. Debt paid.

 

[unionguy]

The amount corporations pay in taxes has been cut in half since 1961. The top tax rate was 90% in the 1940's through 1960's. Now, its 35%. I don't think anyone can argue that the 'job creators' are doing a better job now than they did in the 1940's through 1960's. Some are simply not paying what they used to. So, taxes on the rest of us have gone up, we have huge deficits, and our roads are falling apart. Me, I think rich people are OK with 1 or 2 mansions...I don't think they need a dozen on multiple continents like they have today. I'd start here in funding our wars.

 

[Crazyeye24]

Me, I think rich people are OK with 1 or 2 mansions...I don't think they need a dozen on multiple continents like they have today. I'd start here in funding our wars.

I agree with you, Our taxes have gone up since then. So has the pay rates as well. Some far exceeding the tax increases, some not. We have also implemented so many social programs around the country that our tax dollars go to. Yes the war is expensive but taxing the rich is not a way to decrease the massive debt. It would help only slightly. What we think they may or may not need is really none of our business. It would be like someone who says they think you shouldn't have 2 or 3 cars so they remove the means for you to pay for them.

In my earlier post I said I believe the politicians should take part in the same programs as the rest of the US. I believe that would help also. Remove the Pension program for them as well as we cannot continue to support it. The positions they hold are for serving the country, not elitist.
Put a cap on welfare. Welfare is to help people get off their feet and I think its a good program if used correctly and wisely. The problem is we have way too many people in this country abusing it.
Unemployement should have been cut off a long time ago. I know I'll get crap for this one as I know it really helped some people. It also helped a lot more people not really care to look for a job. I saw this first hand when Hynix shutdown in Eugene.
Lastly, We went to Iraq/Afghanistan to get the bastarts that attacked this nation. Act of war on their part, yes. We liberated many cities in both countries. In turn we have also helped them rebuld on the US taxpayers dime. We give aid to them and we use our own oil and fuel while there. If we are there for another countries aid, we should be taking a portion of the oil to support our troops while there. If they want us out, leave and stop taking the oil to supplement our forces.

There are many things we can do differently besides increasing taxes on the middle and upper classes. How about IBM approaching obama saying they had a way they could cut fraudulant medical claims saving the country billions of dollars. Even saying they'd do it for free. Obama said nope we don't want to do that. Instead we'll put in place another program that's going to cost more than anyone could imagine. How about we start there!!!!

 

[PX4WA]

paying off the war debt only allows our government to look good and borrow more debt....

entitlement is the problem.... less than half of the population pay any meaningful taxes... and that majority gets to elect our leaders to make sure they keep their entitlements...

tax the rich? we already do... and if they have 10 mansions, that's their decision... we are not a socialist country (or I hope we are not)...

sadly, our country is bankrupt... and no politician (rep or dem) will tackle that face on until we are flat out broke...

all entitlements need to be cut out... if you can't afford it, you can't have it... simple as that...

 

[DMax]

How about we start with the 48% that don't pay any taxes, social programs for Illegals and non productive citizens. Cut the sized of the Fed Gov by 40% that will take care of the 40 cents of every $ we borrow and for survivial of America get back to the fundamental basics of the constitution. The major one is get back to personal responsibility and self reliance. But that would mean we need to get honest as a nation and I don't see that ever happening on this current track.