I’m sickened by the pronouncements of ‘victory’, ‘triumph’ and an ‘historic’ agreement over the deal to avoid a Federal government shutdown. Everyone who burbles on about it in those terms is lying to the American people, and demonstrating with their every word that they’re not to be trusted. Consider the facts. The agreement will cut $38.4 billion from Federal government expenditure over the next six months: but that’s a mere 1.04% – one point zero four per cent – of what will be spent during the current financial year . . . namely, $3,651.5 billion, or $3.6515 trillion. Our government will still spend a whole lot more money than it’s got coming in, and the deficit will grow by another one-and-a-half trillion dollars or so – again!
To add insult to injury, CNS News reports: “The federal debt increased $54.1 billion in the eight days preceding the deal made . . . to cut $38.5 billion in federal spending for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, which runs through September”. Great. So the ‘savings’ have already been more than wiped out, even before they’re signed into law. Way to go, guys.
The inimitable Karl Denninger explains what the budget agreement does – or rather, doesn’t – do.
So, here’s a raised finger to the asshole politicians in Washington. They’re lying to us, just as they’ve lied to one another. They’ve done absolutely nothing to fix the financial mess in which we find ourselves – and time’s running out for them to do so.
Peter
Perhaps instead of "historic" they meant "histrionic." Then it would be correct.
LittleRed1
Has there ever been an attempt to hold the government to 'generally accepted accounting principles'?
They do things that a citizen would spend eternity in jail for.
And even people my age (35ish) are totally unwilling to even contemplate scaling back social security or medicare/medicaid.
"But the old peoples! They live on that!"
Better to scale back things now, and give their friends and children and various charities time to catch up, than to push everything to the breaking point. How do these idiot children think Gramma will fare in a second depression?
"It can't happen here" is completely and utterly moronic. Not only can it happen here, it has happened here before!
As an outsider looking in, it's going to be interesting to see what happens in america during the next 10 years. Will you have revolution, balkanization, great depression, or a zimbabwe style economic collapse? Maybe after your currency takes enough of a nosedive, you'll become the new export power? Only time will tell.
There are two types of S.S. and medicare. The first goes to those who've paid intot eh system for years; the second to parasites added by the likes of Carter and Clinton etc. Remove the latter if you will; leave thsoe who've paid into the system alone or give back what you've stolen from them. There are many more parasitic social programs that can be eliminated such as education but all those generally pounding for S.S. reduction have cildren using THAT program and whoa be to those who want to get rid of the program. They've wasted the money for their education on toys, big and small,to pay for it themselves or have provided such a sorry work ethic their children expect someone else to pay for it. I say "get rid of those programs then come talk to me about reductions for those who've paid into the system with the expectation of the promised return. If not, shutup.