(03-10-2009 07:13 PM)texd Wrote:  Let's put it this way... Odds are not insignificant that no matter what we do or don't do, we're all just kind of screwed for a good decade or so, but if there is something that can be done to legitimately accelerate the healing (i.e. without creating simply a bubble yet another sort), I trust the current administration to find it and do it -- even if it is something that was not originally proposed by them.

This belief is based upon what? Seriously. While you may like his ideas, and that is fine... he doesn't have a track record of success in reaching across party aisles OR solving economic issues... other than to vote for increased spending. Obama talks about bi-partisanship, but clearly can't control Pelosi nor apparently his own Press Secretary. We can argue about what passing an almost $1 trillion bill that not one single member of the opposition party voted for means... and carrying on much of the negotiation in a party caucus as opposed to committee, but it clearly doesn't scream at an attempt at bi-partisanship. If you want to blame the Republicans for that, fine... but I don't recall many Republicans being elected by promising to be bi-partisan. That was Obama. The burden is his to do what he said... and his press secretary completely dismissed the head of the RNC and openly called Rush Limbaugh the leader of the Republican party. The White House press Secretary of an administration seeking bi-partisanship should know better. That is something you'd expect Pelosi or Gingrich to do.

As to what Republicans have proposed... They voted against an $800byn "Emergency" stimulus bill where more money is spent beyond 2011 than in 2009. What in the world about that screams "URGENT"? Let's hurry up and vote to spend money in 2011 and beyond??

69/70... I don't believe Republicans have better ideas and Democrats have better personalities. I believe that having the government do more for you sells more easily to this generation than having it do less. Some (many/most?) Republicans have abandoned doing less in order to get elected. We blast ideas like wiretaps for suspected terrorists (while we can debate the specifics, protecting us from attack IS a primary governmental function) and support behavior like home ownership and marriage (which isn't a primary function of government) and try and regulate what consenting adults do in their bedroom.

In the simplest example... If business decides that loaning money to someone with less than 20% down, dti of over 50% and a questionable history of paying their bills is a bad idea... but they don't discriminate based on age, sex, race or sexual orientation... then WHY should the government force them to do something else?

The degree to which we have screwed ourselves is WAY beyond what most people imagine... and only the "good" of capitalism has sheltered us thus far.

If a politician came in tomorrow and said that we are going to keep taxes on individuals where they are for the moment... cut business taxes to the level of our developed peers... and cut governmental services and headcount by 50% over the next four year

how many votes do you think that guy would get??